City Schools’ social workers are an integral part of our team to ensure students learn effectively and thrive as we focus on student wholeness as part of our Portrait of a Graduate strategic direction. These skilled professionals support the holistic development of students, remove barriers to learning, and provide the emotional support students need to succeed academically and in life. During School Social Work Week, we celebrate our team for their tireless commitment to our students as they promote equity, collaborate with families, provide crisis intervention, build positive school climates and help teachers and school staff.
What does that look like in our schools? Read these testimonials to learn more:
Tierra Sydnor-Diggs: "My name is Tierra Sydnor-Diggs, and I have been the School Social Worker at New Song Academy since December 2019. I specialize in a whole-child approach, providing social, emotional, and mental health support to help students thrive. Through counseling, crisis intervention, resource coordination, and innovative programs, I work closely with students, families, and educators to create a nurturing, trauma-informed school environment.
My impact includes being a part of securing over $45,000 in funding for student mental health initiatives, founding the Whole Child Youth Advisory Board, launching the C.A.L.M. program (Connecting Art, Love & Mental Health), and implementing schoolwide initiatives like coping kits, L.I.T. Lunch Bunch, Mental Health Pop-Up Days, being a part of receiving the Henrietta Lacks award for youth mental health, having First Lady Dawn Moore participate in our youth led wellness assembly, and the annual Wellchella wellness festival. I also lead the Community Leader Reader Initiative, exposing students to diverse career paths, and have facilitated enriching experiences such as a visit to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, where students met its first African American conductor.
Beyond my work with students, I actively support parents and staff through workshops and activities, ensuring our entire school community is uplifted. At my core, I am deeply invested in my students’ well-being—both in who they are today and who they are becoming."
Kristine Zwerlein Rose: "I serve as the school choir coordinator in addition to my social work role. Each year, for the past 10 years, I have been able to plan, fundraise, and execute an end-of-the-year performance trip for the students and parents to show off their skills. These trips have included Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, Disney World, Universal Studios, Nashville, and NYC.
Each year we offer opportunities for parents to earn sweat equity toward their child's trip by selling snacks at our bi-weekly hot dog and snack sale. We promote the sale amongst the entire school community and prepare hot dogs, burgers, popcorn, juice, soda, chips, and Nachos to sell. Each parent who donates items to sell or serves as a cook in our school store participates in profit sharing that goes directly to their child's trip costs. The parents love this opportunity to take ownership and offset their costs by working. The staff loves to support the event because four to seven people work each week and take ownership of the store. Our average sales for two to three hours of work has been $475. Additionally, I have reached out to members of our charter board and staff who can donate matching funds to parents who work at least five shifts a year.
Parents who work multiple shifts or demonstrate leadership skills are also given 'bonus dollars' for outstanding work. Arriving early, helping with clean up, and serving as a team leader are some ways they earn the bonus money.
This year we have raised over $5,000 since October, and last year we raised $12,000 by our May deadline. In addition, parents who receive matching funds from a sponsor are asked to write a thank you letter sharing how this donation made a difference to them or their child.
We will be open on Friday, March 7, and Friday, March 21, this month if you want to support this project or just check on its progress."