GAMS Tech Magnet School Social Worker Honored by Mid-Hudson School Study Council & SUNY New Paltz
On Weds., October 12, 2011, GAMS Tech Magnet School Social Worker Carrie Frost was honored with the 2011 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Pupil Personnel Services by the Mid-Hudson School Study Council, during a dinner for the region’s honorees at Anthony’s Pier 9. Frost, a nine year employee of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, recently began her fourth year as a school social worker at GAMS Tech Magnet School.
As a school social worker, Frost provides instruction and support in behavioral skills that assists students in meeting academic standards, builds home-school connections, and works to identify and target stressors that impact learning. Since her arrival, Frost has partnered with her colleagues to develop and grow a school-wide behavior support model (PBIS-Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)-which teaches students about school expectations while developing a reinforcement system for positive behavior. The program also reaches out to parents to assist in applying the model at home.
In addition, Frost runs a daily "check-in" reinforcement program for students identified as chronically absent, which aims to significantly decrease absenteeism for many students, and coordinates a "Building Buddy" program in which students in need of a more positive connection and relationship with school are paired with volunteer building adults for daily support and encouragement.
For the past several years, Frost has also coordinated a fall food drive for GAMS families and runs a clothing closet for GAMS students. “Students are involved in advertising, collecting, and organizing food and adult volunteers deliver the food to GAMS families. We utilize the clothing closet for everyday needs of our students as well as for donations to families in times of need. We use this as an opportunity to teach our students the concept of our school as a community and family in which we all take care of each other,” she explained.
According to Frost, one of her upcoming initiatives is the development of a classroom-based initiative targeting bullying and coping with social conflict. Last year, using a curriculum based in the Positive Behavior Support Model, she piloted a program with the third grade and now hopes to expand to other grade levels in the coming months.
