Cook Elementary is not your average Austin elementary school. Despite several elementary schools struggling with low enrollment numbers in the Austin school district, Cook is bursting at the seams.  The school is home to over 900 students, and recent reports predict enrollment to increase significantly in coming years. It is one of the schools most over capacity in the entire district. Additionally, Cook Elementary is a school with tremendous need. Many of its students are experiencing family poverty, temporary homelessness, domestic violence, parent incarceration and high rates of mobility. According to Cook principal, Mr. Orlando Salazar, the rate of students moving schools within a given year is around 30% and homelessness rates are near 10%. 

While enrollment numbers at Cook warrant a second Counselor, Valerie Reyes was managing this extraordinary workload alone as the school’s only Guidance Counselor. Last school year (2009-2010) Reyes got some much needed support. The help came through a collaboration between the University of Texas School of Social Work, Austin Independent School District, and CapCity Kids. CapCity Kids is a non-profit organization created to help children facing homelessness beat the odds and get a quality education. CapCity Kids develops innovative programs and provides direct resources to help these students stay in school. Through the collaboration, one social work intern was placed at Cook fulltime to help meet the needs of both students and their families, and a second intern also spent much of her time onsite at the school.

The social work interns were able to meet with students both individually and in group settings. They also played a key role in connecting with students’ families and helping them access community support and resources. The staff and administration at Cook saw how these interns were positively affecting both students and families. Mr. Salazar said, “The interns did an awesome job at working with our families. But it doesn’t matter how many interns we have; they still have so much on their plate.” He envisioned social work playing a more permanent role in the school. “I wanted more for the students,” says Salazar. “Academics is one side and we can work on that, but I needed solid support for the other side.”

After an Instructional Coach retired at the end of last school year, Salazar requested to use those funds to hire a fulltime social worker rather than filling the open position. Katy Marvel was selected for the job after impressing Cook staff as a social work intern the previous year. She is currently the only fulltime district-employed social worker at an elementary school in Austin. Salazar’s decision and Marvel’s position are truly unprecedented. Katy is working hard to provide students with a safe and consistent relationship, connect families with the resources they need, and bring a systems approach to the problems staff and students are facing. She brings a unique perspective from the field of social work. “People see that my approach is different,” she notes. Salazar agrees. “A social worker is able to connect with the family and community,” he says.

Valerie Reyes and Katy now work very closely together to better serve students and families together. They are also working with the school’s School to Community Liaison, Ron Armbruster, and Parent Support Specialist to integrate school services. “We have a really good team,” says Reyes. This integrated approach to support students and families is critical.  Salazar sees the academic and family aspects having equal importance in student success. “These kids live through one episode after another… school is often the last priority. If we can help get that part [home life] stable, the academics will come.” Katy has become the bridge between the school and families at Cook. She is also forming strong relationships with external agencies such as Life Works, Pebble Project and Phoenix House to broaden the assistance offered to Cook students and families.

These efforts at Cook Elementary are already gaining traction, and it would not be possible without the leadership of Mr. Salazar. Marvel spoke about how Salazar sees the macro issues affecting his school and yet also cares enough to be involved with each student and family. “Cook is receptive to help, and it starts with Mr. Salazar,” says Ron Armbruster. “It’s a positive environment.” Salazar believes that all parties must work together to be a successful school. “Everyone needs to contribute because we cannot do it on our own,” he says. “Educating is not just about the books.”

Cook Elementary is a small, but admirable example of the impact social work can have in a school setting. Marvel says, “I know I have been successful when I walk down the halls and they [students] know my name and what I do. They know where to go for help and they trust their needs will be met.” None of this would have been possible without the collaboration of the AISD Social Work Intern Program, CapCity Kids, Cook Elementary administration and staff, and the school’s students and families. In fact, collaborations like this are the essence of social work: working together to better meet needs.

Interviews for this article included Cook Principal Orlando Salazar, Guidance Counselor Valerie Reyes, School to Community Liaison Ron Armbruster, and Social Worker Katy Marvel.