School Social Worker Appreciation – Joshua Smith – WALC

March 4, 2026 –For National School Social Work Week, we are proud to highlight Joshua Smith, a School Social Worker at the Washington Alternative Learning Center who was voted School Social Worker of the Year by his peers during his very first year in the district. Smith also supports the district’s justice-involved youth by coordinating with school administration and student support teams during transitions to and from the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC). Smith’s path to the school setting initially began in juvenile corrections, then by taking on the challenge of children’s advocacy and child welfare, where he realized that “at-risk youth was where my heart was”. During his time with the state, he began noticing significant system gaps and felt that students were “too often labeled as ‘bad’ or ‘just having behavioral problems’ without anyone understanding the “why” behind those actions”, which he identifies as frequently being rooted in stress, trauma, or unmet needs. Drawing on a decade of child welfare experience, he transitioned into school social work to intervene in systemic issues before they intensified—a mission he carries out daily by supporting students at Washington and serving as a bridge between the JDC and the classroom.

Now in his third year at Washington, Smith finds the most fulfillment in being a consistent presence for his students. He often arrives an hour early to prepare for the day, though he admits his to-do lists rarely go as planned once the students arrive. He makes a point to be in the cafeteria every morning to get a “temperature check” on how students are doing and to identify those students who might need a ‘little pep talk’ to start their day off on a more positive note. Whether he is providing a student with new shoes or delivering food to a family’s home, Smith views every interaction as an opportunity to gain the trust of his students and their families. As he describes it,

Building these relationships requires a level of consistency that Smith calls his foundation. He enjoys the challenge of working with students who enter his office determined not to trust him or anyone else. He explains that “the more consistent you are, the more that they’re seeing you, and having even the smallest of conversations…  that leads to trust…and the bigger conversations”. Because Washington serves students from all over the county, Smith focuses on individualizing support and reminding them that they are not alone in a system that can often feel like it is against them. He is quick to offer students a perspective shift, frequently telling them, “You are not stuck. You are not your worst moment”. Smith is equally dedicated to supporting his colleagues, often acting as a sounding board for teachers who need to “debrief” or “let off steam”. 

Smith believes that while social work is inherently challenging, the “quiet wins” at the end of the day make it rewarding. When asked what he is most proud of, he reflects on the importance of showing up every day: “Looking back over the last two and a half years, I think what I’m most proud of is not in a single moment… it’s the consistency of showing up for students every day, and just helping to create those spaces where they feel seen, heard, supported, and start to learn…that they’re capable of a lot more than they realize”. He views growth as a “slow and steady” process, often picturing a ladder with rungs missing for his students, and sees it as his job to help them climb regardless of the barriers.

Ultimately, Smith’s commitment to his students is rooted in a deeply personal “why” that he wrote specifically for his work in the school system. He believes that his own life experiences led him to this field, stating, “As cliché as it may sound, I didn’t choose social work. Social work chose me through my own life experiences. I try my absolute best to be the person I needed when I was growing up. We all have our promises, stories to tell, and our dreams. I strongly feel I was chosen by this profession to keep those promises, finish those stories, and make those dreams come true—not only for me, but for everyone I had or will have the opportunity to encounter and be even a small part of their journey”. He hopes his students leave Washington with the emotional tools to handle life’s setbacks and the confidence to know they have what it takes to be successful. He tells them to “write their story in pencil because mistakes are a part of life” and “pencils have erasers to fix the mistakes.” But, Smith says, “Even with erasers, those faint, erased lines remain, reminding them where they tripped up. And that’s the point—you can often fix the mistake, but you don’t forget the lesson” 

He also hopes students leave Washington with a stronger sense of who they are and what they are capable of. “Setbacks are okay,” he said. “They really do have what it takes to be successful. They just have to put their mind to it.”

This National School Social Work Week, we celebrate Joshua Smith for his heart, his honesty, and his commitment to showing up day after day. Our students are better because he chooses to be that steady presence in their lives. 💙