Awards & Recognition

2011 Elsie Nesbit Trailblazer Award

Nora Aaron , Fulton County Schools

Nora Aaron has served the students and families of Fulton County schools for over 34 years. Beginning as a classroom teacher in 1977, she exposed her students to learning at its best, by providing competent instruction, nurturing and a safe environment for students to flourish. In 1985, she became a school social worker. Nora is currently a school social work providing services to McNair Middle School and Bethune Elementary School.

Nora’s favorite quote is “Don’t Count the Days, Make the Days Count”. She truly exemplifies this quote daily. She is a school social worker that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to seeking resources for students and families. Jackie Cathey, Lead SSW for Fulton County Schools, states “Nora is a beacon of light in the community that she serves and is a valuable asset to our department and system as a whole.”

Nora has been a lifelong member of SSWAG at both the state and district levels for over 25 years. Nora is the currently the Co-Chair of the Long Range Conference Committee. She has held the past positions of 4th/5th District President and Secretary /Treasurer when the two districts were combined as one, State Treasurer for several years, SSWAA National Conference Planning Committee, and Awards Chair. She is the 2000 GA School Social Worker of the Year. Nora is best known for the countless years of service, leadership, and dedication for her organization, guidance and sounding board of SSWAG Fall and Spring Conferences. Nora has always been one to lend a helping hand for any area of need within SSWAG. One can often hear, Nora saying “Don't Worry We Got This” and she with her recruited team would have the task under control. Nora’s positive energy is contagious and she is a joy to be around. Nora is a true trailblazer for the field of school social work.

Congratulations Nora Aaron on being selected as SSWAG’s 2011 Elsie Nesbit Trailblazer Award!

The Elsie Nesbit Trailblazer Award first began as the Elsie Nesbit Friendship Award. It was established to honor the contributions of Elsie Nesbit to the profession of Visiting Teachers/School Social Workers. Ms. Nesbit was a trailblazer who worked tirelessly to implement Georgia’s first Compulsory School Attendance Law in 1945. She worked with the University of Georgia School of Education to develop professional training program for Visiting Teachers who were responsible for helping children get in school. Later the Visiting Teacher Program was merged with UGA’s School of Social Work.

TheElsie Nesbit Trailblazer Award recognizes outstanding members of SSWAG who have been a certified SSW or VT and member of SSWAG for at least five consecutive years. This individual promotes services to students and/or their families and has made a significant contribution to the profession of School Social Work, locally and statewide.

The prestige of the Award is such that it is not necessarily awarded on an annual basis. Each district has an opportunity to make a recommendation. The recipient will be determined by the Awards Committee by March 1st and presented at Spring Conference.

*Prior to the formation of the Friends of Children award, non-school social workers received the Elsie Nesbit Trailblazer award.

1991	Dewayne Hamilton – GA Legislator / Chatham County
1994	Don Lyons – Decatur City
1995	Robert Chapman – Fulton County
1996	Jeff Townsend – Gordon County
1997	Wesley Boyd – Atlanta City
1998	Jim Bell – GAE Rep
2001	Randall Smith – Cobb County
2004	Margaret Prentiss – Marietta City
2005	Bobbi Butler – Whitfield County
2006	Deborah Jones – Ware County
2007	Melanie Holt – Laurens County Roy Keen – Savannah –Chatham County
2008	Donna Greeson – Catoosa County
2010	Linda DeWaay – Gwinnett County Schools

2011 School Social Worker of the Year

Kristin Hanfland, Marietta City Schools Social Worker

Picture: left: Margaret Prentiss (former SSWAG President, Elsie Nesbitt Winner & Mentor to Kristin)

right: Kristin Hanfland (2011 -2012 SSWAG School Social Worker of the Year)

Marietta City Schools (MCS) school social worker, Kristin Hanfland was recently named the 2011 Georgia School Social Worker of the Year by the School Social Workers Association of Georgia (SSWAG). Selected from among 200 school social workers across Georgia, and one out of 11 district winners statewide, the recognition is the highest honor awarded Georgia School Social Workers.

Kristin provides school social worker support to Hickory Hills Elementary, Marietta Center for Advanced Academics, Marietta Sixth Grade Academy, Marietta Middle School, and to the school district at large.

Kristin is an active member of SSWAG at the district and state level. She has served on the SSWAG Executive Board for several years as past State Treasurer, past PLU chair and is currently the Membership chair.

“To be selected the Georgia winner from among the 11 districts throughout the state is a tremendous honor,” said Kristin, MCS School Social Worker.

Congratulations Kristin Hanfland on being selected as SSWAG’s 2011 GA School Social Worker of the Year !

During the summer of 1984, SSWAG constructed the School Social Worker of the Year Award which is given annually to a fellow School Social Worker who is an active member of the organization at the District and State level. This individual’s service has been judged as exemplary. Each district has the opportunity to enter a candidate for this award. The award is presented at the Spring SSWAG Conference. The nominees are rated in the following categories:

Professional preparation and school social work experience
Civic contributions
Professional membership
Philosophy of education
Personal efforts on behalf of his/her job
Professional school social work contributions

1985	Sammy Boykins – Thomas County Louise Eddings – Whitfield County
1986	Rosalind C. Folsom – Valdosta City
1987	William Mitchell – Bibb County
1988	Betsy Storey – Rome City
1989	Jeff Townsend – Gordon County
1990	Penny Szwast – Glynn County
1991	Bobbie Butler – Whitfield County
1992	Dianne Barber – Muscogee County
1993	Melanie Holt Spurling – Laurens County
1994	Nathaniel Shelton – Gainesville City
1995	Diana Shiley – Savannah-Chatham County
1996	Gloria Chisholm-Boyd – Liberty County
1997	Sandro Blalock – Tift County
1998	Sylvia McGee – Bibb County
1999	Mary Smith – Dalton City
2000	Nora Aaron – Fulton County
2001	Donna Greeson – Murray County
2002	Ken Greene – Barrow County
2003	Rebecca Mathis – Douglas County
2004	Cynder Sims-Verheyen – Whitfield County
2005	Patricia Goodwin – Clarke County
2006	Sandra Wilcher – Lowndes County
2007	Tracie Hogan – Murray County
2008	Ida Hafford-Brown – Cobb County
2009	Amanda Schutz – Calhoun City
2010	Christa Kirksey Huggins – Gwinnett County Schools

Friend of Children Award

School Social Workers Association of Georgia

2011, Susan R. Fort, Executive Director, NASW GA

SSWAG presented the Friend of Children award this year to Susan R. Fort, Executive Director of NASW- GA for her continued support of SSWAG and the school social work profession. Susan has served as Executive Director of the NASW Georgia Chapter since 1999. Since coming to this position, she has been actively involved in SSWAG and an active member on the SSWAG Executive Board. Through this role, she informs the SSWAG Executive board on current social work trends and legislative issues effecting social workers. She has been instrumental in arranging the partnership between NASW and SSWAG for a lobbyist at the state capital.

Susan’s career has been primary in field of medical social work. However, she has said many times if she switched social work careers it would be to school social work. She has a heart and compassion for school social workers.

Susan has held several elected leadership positions as a member of NASW on the local and state levels, serving as the Unit Chair and on the Florida Board of Directors and the Nominations and Leadership Identification Committee. As a member of the Society for Hospital Social Work Directors she held state and nationally elected positions: President of the Florida Chapter; Chair of the National Committee on Nominations; and the National Board of Directors. Currently, she is a delegate to the Blue Ridge Institute for Southern Community Service Executives, serves on the Board of the Georgia Rural Urban Summit and the Executive Board of the School Social Work Association of GA. She is on the Georgia State University and Dalton State College School of Social Work Advisory Boards. She is a member of the, American Society of Association Executives, the Georgia Society of Association Executives and NASW.

Congratulations Susan R. Fort on being selected as SSWAG’s 2011 Friend of Children Award!

This is an award presented to an administrator or community leader who has:

Supported and advocated for school social work services.
Been involved in the development of an innovative program(s) to enhance the delivery of services to students and families in the school/community environment.
Been actively involved in a civic or youth organization or board that positively impacts students and families.

The prestige of the Award is such that it is not necessarily awarded on an annual basis. The nominations may be from within the district or from another district in the state. The recipient will be determined by the Awards Committee by March 1st and presented at Spring Conference.
Previous recipients have been:

2010, Carol B. Johnson, Executive Director of United Way of South Central Georgia
2008, Delthia T. Conrad, Coastal Plains RESA
2003, Mary Smith, Director of Student Services, Dalton Public Schools
1998, Representative Carolyn Hugley
1992, Senator Nathan Deal
Wendy Clifton, NASW Lobbyist
Bibb County School Resource Officers
Senator Nan Orrack
Robert Chatman, Fulton Co. Schools Director of SSWs

If you know of a recipient not listed and/or the year of receipt for existing or new receiptients, send an email to tracie_hogan@whitfield.k12.ga.us.