Meet Sydney Sroka, LCSW at Oneida City School District

Sydney Sroka graduated from Utica University in 2017 with a degree in psychology and earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University at Albany in 2019. She began her career as a clinician at The House of the Good Shepherd, focusing on youth in foster care. Following that, she transitioned to The Tilton School on the HGS campus as a school social worker before joining the Oneida City School District at the start of the current academic year. 

In her role, Sydney describes the essential functions of school social workers:  
"School social workers provide a space for students to express their feelings/thoughts and learn emotional regulation skills to promote success academically, behaviorally, and socially. We provide evidence-based interventions to address different mental health diagnoses/behaviors that influence a student’s academic participation."

Sydney shares one of her notable success stories:  
"When I started, a student struggled to get into the classroom due to anxiety. With consistent check-ins and learning about coping with anxiety, this student does not need my support and is a model student in the classroom after overcoming that anxiety."

Being a school social worker is a highly rewarding profession for Sydney.

"I appreciate helping students overcome their difficulties emotionally, socially, and behaviorally to work to the best of their ability in the classroom. Being successful in the academic setting can provide children with different opportunities in adulthood/in the future. Being successful academically opens up new doors for each student."

Outside of her professional duties, Sydney enjoys solving puzzles, spending time with her two dogs, attending musicals, and cherishing moments with friends and family.