Diana Pelaez is a clinical social worker for the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) — the largest voluntary school-integration program in the country. Based at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LSRHS), Pelaez works with 90 students, helping them discover their strengths and overcome academic, emotional, and behavioral challenges.
In addition to conducting one-on-one counseling, she supports students’ Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs), collaborates on extracurricular programming, and assists in planning for college and other postsecondary paths.
“I want my students to access their full potential through this amazing opportunity,” she says. Pelaez also serves as a liaison to the students’ families, she adds, “to cultivate their relationship with the school community.”
On Choosing Simmons
A graduate of Dartmouth College with a BA in sociology, Pelaez was working in the corporate world when she found herself more engaged with a part-time job at a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. She decided to switch careers and pursue an MSW. Her top priority, she says, “was a program that offered hands-on learning.”
After attending an information session at Simmons Social Work, Diana came away appreciating not only the curriculum’s experiential focus but also its close-knit learning environment.
“Community is one of my core values, and Simmons felt like a place where I could build that,” she says.
Preparation for Social Work Career
Pelaez entered the program with the goal of working with youth, yet she remained open to other areas of social work.
“I thought it was important to come with an open mind and explore different classes,” she says.
Pelaez particularly enjoyed courses with faculty members Gary Bailey, Rebekah Gibbons, and Shella Dennery.
“Their humanity and approach left a mark on me,” she says.
For her first placement, Diana interned in Lincoln-Sudbury’s METCO program, providing therapeutic support to students and paving the way for her current position. Her second internship was at the Child and Family Counseling Center (CFCC) School-Based Program at the Beethoven-Ohrenberger School in West Roxbury. She counseled nine students dealing with depression, anxiety, and social challenges.
“Simmons helped me discover a career that reflected my values,” says Pelaez. “I graduated with great relationships and a strong sense of why I entered the field.”
Why Social Work is Meaningful
“It is so important to have an education that expands and exposes kids to the world,” says Pelaez. “I am honored to be a part of my students’ journey as they figure out who they are. I get to be proud of these kids.”