Kim Jones

2023 Ruth Schwartz
School Social Worker of the Year Awardee

Kim Jones is a School Social Worker at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, Buffalo Public Schools PS 192. Kim is one of those SSW who is tireless and always looking for ways to reach her students and families. She initiated a Kindness Project for her school, grades 5-12. With this project she teaches students throughout the year the importance of kindness and the variety of ways in which to show one another kindness.  Kim is also responsible for bringing “Therapy Goat Day” to her school. Not only are there therapeutic goats, but a whole day filled with self care stations including the making of mandalas and a bike that makes smoothies. 

Colleague Stephanie Sacco noted:  "Kim has a special touch when it comes to resolving conflict between students or groups of students. She brings a refreshing approach to interventions, teaching students that the most effective communication can be direct, as long as they are – what's her favorite word?? -- KIND. If a student reports bullying, she calls the alleged bully right down and they work it out with each other in her office, oftentimes walking away with new understanding of each other and a changed perspective on how to solve problems and differences with their peers. Kim always keeps academics as the priority, and you would be amazed to see just how quickly she can help students to get to the heart of whatever the issue is, clear the air, hear each other out, and get back to class and back to learning. Our entire faculty has grown to depend on her for the magic that she works in teaching students the skills that they need to be able to cope with challenges and stay on task with their academics."

Kim also attends to the students’ families, in a big way. If she’s not out in the community helping parents to get connected to needed services and supports, she’s often on the phone with them or otherwise in touch with the families who need a helping hand."  Over the past year Kim has concentrated her efforts on helping families affected by the mass shooting at the local grocery store that serves the families in her school.  

"Kim Jones is a shining example of the work ethic, passion, and dedication that Ruth Schwartz brought to the field of school social work. As a member of the New York State School Social Worker’s Association, she sets the bar extremely high for the standards of what a school social worker can be, not only to our students, but to our school and the entire community...Kim Jones is a shining example of the work ethic, passion, and dedication that Ruth Schwartz brought to the field of social work. As a member of NYSSSWA, she sets the bar extremely high for the standards of what a school social worker can be, not only to our students, but to our school and the entire community."

Award presented by Wendy Castiglia, NYSSSWA President

  Hot Off The Press!  

On 2/29/2024 Kim was featured in a news article by NYSUT regarding her award and the incredible work she is doing!   Source:  Kara Smith. 2/29/2024. NYSUT Communications.

Read Article Here

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.