Our Mission

KSSWA Mission: KSSWA is a professional organization dedicated to promoting school social workers through advocacy, professional development and communication within the profession.

KSSWA History

We were established in 1974 by a group of school social workers and their clients in the educational arena.

Our state association is part of the Midwest School Social Work Council, an eleven state regional organization that works to promote best practice and support social work in education.

KSSWA has a voice in developing policy at the state level, as well as regionally and nationally through our association with the Midwest School Social Work Council and the School Social Work Association of America.

KSSWA's executive board meets four times a year, and we hold a general membership meeting annually

Constitution and Bylaws

Current Board Members

President

Tracie Chauvin, LSCSW is the Director of Student Support Programs for Kansas City Kansas Public Schools.

Vice President

Shelby Burnett

Shelby Burnett, LCSW, LSCSW, RPT, has been a passionate school social worker since August 2018. Shelby completed her Bachelor's and Master's in Social Work at the University of Kansas. She is working towards her Doctorate of Social Work degree, focusing on school social work leadership, expanding opportunities for social workers in the school system, and expanding youth mental health services in schools. Shelby has been on the KSSWA board since 2022, first serving as the Legislative Chair. In addition to her time on the board, Shelby was awarded the KSSWA Kansas School Social Worker of the Year in 2024 and serves as a member of the Deans Student Advisory Board at KU. When she is not doing social work things, she enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 kids, and her two dogs.

Past President

Cheri Koochel

Cheri was a SSW in the Manhattan/Ogden school district for 26 years at the elementary school level. Before that she worked with DCF for 8 years. She retired 5 years ago and currently lives in Salina. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, traveling with her husband, and spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren.

Secretary

Nicole Gilmore

Nicole Gilmore, LMSW, is an Assistant Principal at Winfield Scott Elementary in Fort Scott, Kansas. Previously, she was a Special Education School Social Worker with the SEK Interlocal #637 at The Learning Center (an alternative day school program) in Girard, KS servicing students K-12 across 13 districts for 6 years.
She received her MSW from the University of Washington-Seattle, and her BSW from the University of Kansas. Additionally, she obtained her principal certification through Pittsburg State University.
She was the Social Work Speciality Team Member for KU Medical Center's Project ECHO for School-Based Mental Health Professionals for the 2023-24 school year, and is currently an Adjunct Instructor through the University of Kansas.
She serves as Secretary of KSSWA, and has been on the KSSWA Board since 2021.

Treasurer

Gerri Blaisdell

Gerri Blaisdell, LMSW, has been the School Social Worker at Chase County Elementary School, USD 284 for the last 5 years. Prior to that she was an outpatient/in-home therapist, worked in child welfare, and as a Hospital Social Worker. Outside of work Gerri enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 kids, and dogs, reading, spending time with friends, and taking naps.

Membership Chair

Sara Nowak

Sara Nowak, LMSW is the School Social worker at Dexter Schools, USD 471 since August 2025. This will be her 4th year as a school social worker. Previously she has also been a School Based Clinician in Wichita, USD 259, for 2 years, and worked for 3 years in parochial schools that were part of the Wichita Diocese. Sara enjoys advocating for the profession and for those we serve. Sara also enjoys spending evenings with her husband playing video games and spending time with family and friends.

Member-at-Large

Kristina Mayhue

Communications Chair

Amanda Harlow

Amanda Harlow, LMSW has been a school social worker in the Shawnee Mission School District since 2018. Prior to being in a school setting, she worked at Johnson County Mental Health (Children and Family Services Case Manager), KVC (Foster Care and Adoption Case Manager), and at KidsTLC (Case Coordinator and Milieu Therapist). Amanda received her Master's in Social Work from the University of Kansas (ROCK CHALK!). In her free time, she enjoys watching Chiefs games, spending time with her family and friends, and playing with her dog. She is a huge advocate for women's sports and is a former women's tackle football player.

Legislative Chair

If interested in being Legislative Chair please e-mail KSSWA

Professional Development Chair

Kasey Bossard

Northwest Representative

If interested in being an area representative please e-mail KSSWA

Northeast Co-Representative

Jill Francis

Northeast Co-Representative

If interested in being an area representative please e-mail KSSWA

Southwest Co-Representative

Lindsey Sill

Southwest Co-Representative

If interested in being an area representative please e-mail KSSWA

Southeast Co-Representative

Brenna Forbes

Brenna Forbes, LMSW, is a second year Special Education School Social Worker with the SEK Interlocal #637, working at TLC (The Learning Center) in Girard, KS. She primarily works with students with autism and elementary. Brenna received her MSW from the University of Kansas and her BSW from Pittsburg State University.