District 5 Employee Named State Social Worker of the Year

Lexington-Richland School District Five social worker Cheryl Cooley has been named Social Worker of The Year by the South Carolina Association of School Social Workers.

Cooley currently serves three District Five schools: Leaphart Elementary, Nursery Road Elementary and Irmo Middle School. 

“Being named Social Worker of the Year has been a humbling experience because there are so many great social workers,” Cooley said. “There’s a popular saying that you’re only as great as the people you surround yourself with. And I can definitely say that about the social workers and staff I work with at District Five. There’s really none better.” 

Cooley began her career as a social worker for the Department of Health and Environmental Control in the Children’s Rehabilitative Services Program.

At District Five, she has created an emergency food pantry at Irmo Middle School and helped secure a $5,000 grant for the pantry. Cooley also works with District Five families in need to locate resources needed to address housing, financial and other needs. She has been named Irmo Middle School’s Support Employee of the Year for 2013-2014. 

Jennifer Felkel, District Five Coordinator of Social Work Services, said: “Cheryl’s leadership and determination to meet the needs of our students and their families has made a significant contribution to our school district and our community. She is a change agent … able to empower not only students and their families, but our community as a whole to see the need for change.”

From Lexington-Richland 5's Office of Public Information