April 2nd, 2025
The caregivers need care too.
As students, families, and teachers navigate the digital noise of 2025, providing consistent, intentional support for overall wellness is an ever-expanding priority. To help lead that effort, School Counselors and Social Workers step-up to the plate.
For Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS), having certified Counselor and Social Work professionals available at every building has become a cornerstone of educating the whole child.
“I am constantly reminded of how much the well-being of our children is the driving force to our daily interactions with our students.” Mr. Shane Campbell, a Counselor at Walnut Middle School, reflected. “Our children are our future and GIPS does not waiver from our dedication to teach the whole child to meet their unique and ever changing needs. I am proud to be in an organization that fosters an environment where children are the reason why we do what we do.”
From providing a listening ear, to helping students select classes, to sharing resources for healthcare access or finding a therapist, to building connections with families, to advocating for school attendance, to simply being a present, trusted adult — School Counselors and Social Workers are among the busiest professionals in the district. Why? Because a student cannot confidently learn and achieve in the classroom unless their basic needs are met. From food security, to emotional wellness, to healthcare services, all of it contributes to supporting and empowering students.
While Counselors and Social Workers balance numerous plates and serve as a main point of contact for many families, they remain committed to caring for students.
But sometimes caregivers need intentional care of their own too.
Which is why GIPS has established the “GIPS Mental Health Summit” — an annual Spring event gathering district Counselors and Social Workers alongside like-minded mental health providers and professionals from community organizations for a day of professional development, collaboration, and decompression. Because, ultimately, the care we provide is only as strong as the care we give ourselves.
By keeping the priority of caring for our caregivers at the forefront, it was Dr. Summer Stephens, GIPS Associate Superintendent, who worked to establish this new “GIPS Mental Health Summit” last Spring.
“As you know, GIPS believes strongly in developing the whole child and in supporting its staff.” Dr. Summer Stephens said, “We want to be in sync and share common vocabulary and similar outcomes/expectations across grades and buildings and in the community. We also wanted everyone to know that as they work to hold up the kids and staff of buildings and families up, we as the district will be there to continue to support all of them!”
What does professional support for our school’s go-to caregivers look like?
Gathering folks in a common space to share; to unpack what they are seeing across the district and in the community. Other components include bringing in professional organizations to share on vital topics like:
- Helping families and students navigate social media and anxiety.
- Coping strategies for Counselors and Social Workers handling trauma.
- Establishing common language to better share, reflect, and empower those doing the important day-to-day work.
“It is important because when we all come together there is a ton of knowledge to share. Being able to collaborate with each other helps us all learn and improve our skills to better help our students and staff.” Mrs. Rochelle Anderson, Starr Elementary Counselor, shared. “Student mental wellness is important because one of our biggest jobs is teaching and supporting them in their mental health.”
In addition to providing forums for our caregivers to share and decompress, organizations like Smart Gen Society provide timely reflections and professional development throughout the day. At both last year’s inaugural “GIPS Mental Health Summit” and this year’s second edition in March 2025, Suzie Fogarty, Strategic Development Manager at Smart Gen Society, spoke about creating positive change and equipping students [and families] with the skills they need to navigate online life and the anxiety that comes with it.
Taking it one step deeper, Dr. Sarah Griess, a Clinical Psychologist with Rising Hope, joined this year’s lineup to share with GIPS caregivers. Through sharing personal experiences and facilitating discussion among the GIPS Counselors, Social Workers, and community partners, Dr. Griess brought timely insight forward on the importance of understanding trauma and how it affects our body and mind.
“It is critical to ensure that our staff have the latest information and the time necessary to collaborate with each other.” Dr. Stephens added. “Doing this work alongside external providers and others in the field helps ensure that we all are able to provide the best resources and services to the learners, families, and staff in GIPS. We also want to ensure that we have the opportunity to bring our community partners into the same space to support our vision, mission, and expectations.”
With two installments of the “GIPS Mental Health Summit” established, the newly minted annual gathering promises to be a mainstay. If nothing else, for the valuable reminder for our vital caregivers:
We are our best selves and take the best care of our students when we model the care we ask our families to prioritize.
In that daily driven effort, school counselors and social workers work together to provide our students with many additional services and resources that help them be successful and safe. Having the opportunity to attend a summit together is a meaningful part of creating a support system that is consistent for all GIPS stakeholders.
While the work inside the schools continues, so does the invitation to partner together counselors, social workers, teachers, students, and families alike. After all, the world is not slowing down. The philosophy of educating the whole child will always be at the forefront.
If you ask Mr. Campbell what the next big step is in whole child support, he won’t miss a beat in responding.
“Educate…educate…educate yourselves with community resources that are available to help our efforts. Please reach out to your school’s social worker or school counselor for additional resources to help.” Mr. Campbell affirmed. “Unfortunately, we have seen a major decline in the happiness of our children, due to their lack of face-to-face social interactions and personal connections… We must educate our students and stakeholders with healthier alternative activities to help them form good habits with meaningful support from the ones who love them unconditionally.”
