Kristina LaMendela

2021 Ruth Schwartz
School Social Worker of the Year Awardee

Kristina “Tina” LaMendola was selected as the 2021 New York State School Social Workers’ Associations’ recipient of the Ruth Schwartz School Social Worker of the Year Award.

Tina is a very dedicated School Social Worker who epitomizes the role. She is always stepping outside of her regular routine to better herself, the students she serves, school staff and the School Social Work community. She is tirelessly innovating to meet the needs of her students-running after school support groups which teach coping strategies, and involving the students in school wide mental health initiatives. She always seems to meet students where they are regardless of the situation, and this student-centered approach plays a crucial role in the overall success of our students. The connection that she has with students results in her being quite skilled at identifying students' needs as a whole.

Tina also possesses the vision and drive to turn plans and ideas into successful outcomes. The amount of effort that she has put into furthering the district's goal of "Creating a Culture of Kindness" has not gone unnoticed.  New School Social Workers have been expertly mentored by Tina.

Tina helps her school community as a whole as a Mental Health First Aid trainer, a Suicide Prevention trainer, and teaching staff development mental health trainings. In addition, throughout the pandemic she hosted numerous webinars that addressed the needs of both students and other School Social Workers. The webinars taught coping strategies to use with students as well as ways in which we, as adults, could cope with the additional stressors that accompanied the pandemic.  Colleagues turn to her for support and advice as she willingly shares her wealth of knowledge and experience with all who ask.

Award presented by Wendy Castiglia. 

The Ruth Efron Schwartz School Social Worker of the Year Award is awarded to a School Social Worker who exemplifies the qualities that Ruth Schwartz exemplified throughout her career as a School Social Worker. Ruth Schwartz believed in the importance of School Social Workers. She believed in helping the children and families in her care. Ruth often went the extra mile, including delivering coal to family’s homes when needed. Ruth was a founding member of NYSSSWA. She was responsible for picking the organization’s colors-blue to encourage students to reach for the sky, and white to encourage School Social Workers to be pure and true in their work with children. The award is given to a School Social worker who is both dedicated to helping the children and families in their care and to promotion of the profession of School Social Worker.