Wisconsin School Social Workers Association:

Connecting and serving practitioners as they care for students, families and schools.


WSSWA board members met virtually in July for their annual board retreat.

Recent News

Thanks for Attending Our April 2022 Conference!

Thanks everyone for a great conference! It was so great to be in community with you all and to take in so much learning to better our practice.

Nominate the 2022 School Social Worker of the Year!

Nominate a colleague whom you feel is deserving of the 2022 SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR AWARD!  This is a wonderful  chance to recognize, honor, and celebrate a school social worker who is making a difference in our communities. 

To nominate a school social worker, please use the nomination form found here.  In your submission, you will need to share how the nominee is exceptional in 2 of the 4 areas on the Wisconsin School Social Worker Evaluation Framework.  Read about past recipients in the awards section on our website.  Deadline for submissions: June 1st, 2022

Request for Proposals for WSSWA’s Annual Conference November 10-12th now open

We are now accepting workshop proposals for the WSSWA conference taking place November 10-11th, 2022. The theme for this conference is Supporting Mental Health in Schools Through a Continuum of Supports. We are excited to share that our conference will return to the newly remodeled Heidel House in Green Lake.

Our members are invaluable sources of information and education for our profession. If you are interested in sharing your expertise and leading a workshop at our conference, please submit your proposal here. Proposals are due by August 1st, 2022.

Please visit our sponsors from our April conference. Clicking on the logo will bring you to their website:



Board Welcomes New Members, Regional Reps

Our board met with our regional reps and welcomed new board members Joseph Liverseed and Karen Spann Turner at our November board meeting! We also welcomed our new president, Leah Kutschke, and said goodbye to treasurer Alex Schirmacher and Katie Eaton. Angela Baerwolf will now serve as past president. Learn more about our current board and regional reps in the 'About Us' section of our website.



Congratulations Tabatha Veum, 2021 School Social Worker of the Year!

Here's what one of her colleagues said of her:

"Beyond her incredible service to the students, families, and staff in the School District of La Crosse, Tabatha is always providing a great service to the profession of School Social Work. She is very passionate about what School Social Work offers to the educational setting. The tirelessly advocates for an understanding of what School Social Work, how it differs from other student service professions, and for the need to have more School Social Work FTE. She advocates for the discontinuing of dual role positions and the discontinuation of moving School Social Work responsibilities to under-licensed positions labeled school-community liaisons, community social workers, and community service coordinators. Although it is a lot of extra time, work, and energy, Tabatha will always take a School Social Work intern. She is always encouraging students into the profession and works hard while they are with her to impart as much of knowledge and experience as she can, to set them up for success in their own positions after graduation."

WSSWA Testifies Against Anti-Trans Athlete Bill

President Angela Baerwolf and board member Sara Lennertz (pictured left) testified before the Assembly and Senate respectively on May 26th at the state capitol in opposition to AB 195/SB 323 and AB 196/SB 322. WSSWA had a big impact on the debate, giving legislators something to think about when it comes to mental health and removing barriers for transgender youth. Read the testimony here.




Congratulations Nichole Carlisle, 2020 School Social Worker of the Year!

Nichole works at Kromrey Middle School in Middleton, advocating for systems change to increase culturally responsive & trauma-sensitive practices throughout multiple systems while acting as a role model in these practices. She goes above and beyond making connections between home and school and is an amazing liaison between the two or more environments. Nichole will not stop working until she knows that our most marginalized students are getting what they need to find success academically, socially and emotionally. 

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Events

  • Fall Conference Nov. 10th-12th, Green Lake

Board Meetings

  • July 27, 2022

Land Acknowledgement:

The Wisconsin School Social Workers Association (WSSWA) is an organization based in Wisconsin. Throughout Wisconsin’s history, indigenous and First Nations individuals have been murdered, forcibly removed from their homelands, and involuntarily and violently assimilated to the culture of the white colonizer.

WSSWA recognizes and respects the inherent sovereignty, strength, beauty, and resilience of the twelve First Nations that reside in the boundaries of the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s dark history of colonization, oppression, and genocide towards native peoples must continue to inform our work as social workers and our commitment to the dignity and worth of all persons, the self-determination of all persons, and our fight for social justice for all.

Wisconsin First Nation Tribes: Brothertown Nation • Forest County Potawatomi • Ho-Chunk Nation • Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin • Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians • Oneida Nation • Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa • Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa • Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa • Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa • Sokaogon Chippewa Community • St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin https://wisconsinfirstnations.org/native-land-map/

Visit these other professional organizations devoted to school social work:

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