Standard 8.

35B
Skylar A Tomblin
West Virginia State University
Educ 650- Internship
 I interviewed Kerri Smith, social worker, at Lincoln County High School. Along with
being the school social worker, Kerri has many other responsibilities such as being the Upward
Bound Coordinator, S.A.D.D (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Advisor, Community in
Schools Site Coordinator, Grand-families Support Group Coordinator, coordinator of the
clothing and food pantries, and serves on the Crisis and Trauma teams.
By interviewing Kerri, I can conclude that she works with all students but focuses on
ensuring that the needs of traumatized students are met. She will make home visits to see if
families need food, utilities are working, etc., provide school supplies, find tutors when needed,
and simply build relationships with those students so they know that she will make a way to get
anything they may need. In our interview, it turned into more like a deep conversation, as Keeri
was very good at building a relationship from the moment you speak to her. She gave me a tour
of the food and clothing pantries. These pantries have hygiene products and students are allowed
to go in and fill their backpack with whatever they need, no questions asked.
Kerri feels that she has much support from the school and they are very good to meet her
needs, which are the needs of students. However, the budget is tight and the food and clothing
pantries would not be possible without the enormous support from the community and local
businesses and churches that donate.