GOBLES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, GOBLES, MICHIGAN
TEAM GOBLES
  • Home
  • District
    • Board of Education
    • Superintendent >
      • Introduction
      • Biography
      • Press Releases
    • Departments >
      • Facilities
      • Food Service
      • Transportation
      • Technology
  • Schools
    • Elementary
    • Middle/High School
    • Virtual Academy
  • Staff
    • Communications
    • Google Apps
    • Infinite Campus
    • e2020 Login
    • AESOP Login
    • Clever - Algebra Nation
    • Global Compliance Network
    • TieNet Login
    • United Streaming
    • School Specialty
    • Safari Montage
    • Hapara
    • Pivot
  • Students
    • Lunch Menus
    • Google Apps
    • Infinite Campus
    • Clever - Algebra Nation
    • E2020
    • MI Virtual School
    • Media Center
    • Career Cruising
    • Handbooks
  • Parents
    • Lunch Menus
    • Transportation
    • Infinite Campus
    • Voice Messenger
    • Handbooks
  • School Community
    • Alumni Directory
    • Gobles Foundation
    • Capital Program
  • Link Page
  • Core Curriculum
  • Instructional Models
  • Home
  • New Page

Gobles’  Karla  Vandenberg  Named  Michigan  School  Social  Worker  of  the  Year

9/4/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Michigan Association of School Social Workers recently announced that the recipient of the 2013 State of Michigan School Social Worker of the Year award is Karla Vandenberg, school social worker for Gobles Public Schools. Vandenberg will be honored at an awards dinner in Lansing on November 1, and then again in Davenport, Iowa on November 7 during the Midwest Regional Council Awards Dinner.
Vandenberg has been with Gobles Public Schools for thirteen years as part of the itinerant staff assigned to the district by the Van Buren County Intermediate School District. As school social worker her primary role is to work with students and assist teachers in the creation and implementation of plans and strategies that develop successful academic behaviors in the students she serves.

In Gobles and across the county and state, Karla has developed a reputation as a compassionate and accomplished clinician and a tireless advocate for her students, respected by students, staff, peers, and administrators. She has also devoted much time and energy advancing the profession of school social work. She recently began teaching graduate courses in school social work at Western Michigan University.

Like all school social workers, Karla spends a great deal of her time “behind the scenes”, and much of the work she does can be invisible to the larger school and community. Her work has included securing grants and developing programs to benefit students and educators in Gobles, and she has been instrumental in helping create the systems and policies used in Gobles to take care of kids.  

After thirteen years in Gobles, Vandenberg’s work is no longer invisible, especially to her students. She has become a fixture for students who call her Miss Karla and depend on her support and encouragement as part of their school experience.

“During open times in Gobles my office fills with kids who want to share their lives with me and the stories of their successes,” Vandenberg said. “There are times when my job requires tough love for kids, but the payback is to see them succeed.”

She has also become a fixture for her colleagues on the Gobles teaching staff who call her a tireless advocate for students, social work services, and programs.

“Karla is never off the clock,” said high school teacher Corey Harbaugh. “Her work has benefitted every teacher in Gobles and virtually every student and family we serve. We’re lucky to have her here.”

Vandenberg is quick to deflect the praise. “I love being part of the Gobles staff,” she said. “People really care about kids, and that’s what we’re all about.”

“One of my greatest joys as a social worker is to see my kids cross that stage during graduation and receive a diploma,” Vandenberg said. “To see a student grow into a confident young man or woman with a bright future makes all the work worthwhile. I’m honored for this award, but really, it’s for the kids.”

0 Comments

    Archives

    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Categories

    All
    5th Grade
    Art
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Biology
    Blood Drive
    Competition
    Elementary School
    Fifth Grade
    Football
    Foundation
    Fox 17
    Gobles History Club
    Golf
    Greece
    GSRP
    Hall Of Fame
    High School
    Interview
    Magic
    Marching Band
    Math
    Middle School
    National Honor Society Inductions
    Parade
    Parent
    Poetry
    Racing
    Reading
    Robotics
    Scholarship
    School Board
    Science
    Socal Work
    Sophomore
    STEM
    Student Of The Month
    Superintendent
    Tax
    Teacher
    Technology
    Tigers
    TRIG
    Turkey
    Upgrade
    Voleyball
    Volleyball
    Volunteerism
    Wellness
    Winter Driving
    WMU
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Gobles Public Schools - 409 North State Street | Gobles | MI 49055​| 269-628-9390

HOME
Welcome
Key Contacts
Calendars
Map and Directions
School Closings
Enrollment
Employment
Feedback
DISTRICT
Board of Education
Superintendent
     Introduction
     Biography
     Press Releases
Departments
     Facilities
     Food Service
     Transportation
     Technology
     Communications
SCHOOLS
Elementary
Middle/High School
Virtual Academy
STAFF
Communications
Google Apps
Infinite Campus
E2020 Login
AESOP Login
Global Compliance Network
TieNet Login
United Streaming
School Specialty
Safari Montage
Hapara
STUDENTS
Lunch Menus
Google Apps
Infinite Campus
E2020
MI Virtual School
Media Center
Career Cruising
Handbooks  
PARENTS
Lunch Menus
Transportation
Infinite Campus
Voice Messenger
Handbooks
SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Team Gobles
Alumni Directory
Gobles Foundation
Capital Program

✕