Brenda Leggiadro — School Social Work Association of Nebraska Friend of School Social Work

Background

The Friend of School Social Work award honors a professional or volunteer in Nebraska who has made a significant impact supporting the field of school social work, specifically in the areas of family and children’s services, education, community support/outreach and advocacy. The School Social Work Association of Nebraska is dedicated to promoting the profession of School Social Work and the professional development of school social workers in order to enhance the educational experience of students and their families.

Explanation

The School Social Work Association of Nebraska has honored LPS Supervisor of Counseling and School Social Work Brenda Leggiadro with its Friend of School Social Work award.

Here’s what LPS school social workers Whitney Brown and Carrie Erks said in their nomination letter for both Leggiadro and LPS Director of Student Services Russ Uhing, who also won the award:

“Under their leadership, the number of school social workers in our district has doubled. They have advanced many of our ideas through their advocacy, planning, collaboration with district administrators and community stakeholders as well as their search to secure funding for these ideas. These efforts include the district’s adoption of a social emotional learning curriculum, increasing the district’s expertise in the area of substance use screening, referral and coordination of treatment via the adding of a school social worker specifically for this purpose, and adding a school social worker to the district’s threat assessment team. Under their leadership, social workers have been charged with increasing services provided to students who have experienced trauma through the facilitation of trauma therapy groups and trauma walkthroughs in each building within the district.”

Proposal

That the Lincoln Board of Education adopt the following resolution: 

WHEREAS, Brenda Leggiadro understands the importance of school social workers; and

WHEREAS, Brenda Leggiadro has been a strong advocate for the increased role of school social workers; and

WHEREAS, Brenda Leggiadro has a deep appreciation for the impact that school social workers can have on students and families; and

WHEREAS, Brenda Leggiadro has earned the respect and admiration of colleagues;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lincoln Board of Education

does hereby congratulate Brenda Leggiadro for winning the Friend of School Social Work award from the School Social Work Association of Nebraska.

Updated May 13, 2021