What the job entails:
Jorge is a school social worker at the Charles Sumner Elementary School, a Boston Public School for Pre-K-5 students in Roslindale, Massachusetts. In this varied, rewarding role, he provides one-on-one counseling, crisis intervention, and group therapy, as well as supports students with individualized education plans (IEPs). Overseeing a caseload of 24 students, he works closely with the school's psychologist and other members of the social-emotional learning team. After school, Jorge assists with clubs, including running an anime club he founded. "Whether a student needs help with a situation at school or at home," he says, "I connect with teachers and families to put services and supports in place."
What brought him to Simmons:
A career-changer from law enforcement, Jorge was drawn to social work, he says, "as a way to impact communities and systems in a different capacity." He chose Simmons for its established clinical program. "Developing my clinical knowledge and skills," he reports, "was my primary focus. I knew Simmons stood for that kind of education."
How Simmons prepared him:
Jorge enrolled in the Social Work+Trauma Practice Certificate program to gain specialized knowledge and expand his career options. He particularly enjoyed the realistic in-class simulations. "I gained so much," he explains, "from hearing the multiple perspectives of my professors and classmates." For his first placement, he interned at the King Open School, a Pre-K-5 public elementary school in Cambridge, where he led groups and provided counseling. Building on that experience, he completed his second placement as a therapeutic mentor at Luminosity, a behavioral health center in Brockton, Massachusetts. There, he offered one-on-one support services to help adults, teens, and children meet their behavioral health goals. These opportunities, he says, "formed the foundation for the work I love now." In addition, Jorge served as a Research Fellow for Professor Johnnie Hamilton-Mason. He now plans to apply to the Doctorate in Social Work Program at Simmons to research disparities in education.
Why it's rewarding:
"Children are optimistic and resilient," says Jorge. "Even when it's tough to see them facing challenges, I appreciate being able to offer them a positive environment where they can create routines and habits that are obtainable. I'm so grateful to work with them."