• About
  • Homepage
Cobb  Courier

Cobb Courier

Your Source for Local News

  • Acworth
  • Austell
  • Kennesaw
  • Mableton
  • Marietta
  • Powder Springs
  • Smyrna
Hot Topics
  • September 10, 2022 | The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz
  • June 20, 2025 | Cobb climate summary & weather forecast for Friday, June 20, 2025
  • June 20, 2025 | “My name is Midas, and I’m in need of a loving home!”
  • June 20, 2025 | “My name is Biggins. Are you here to adopt me?”
  • June 20, 2025 | Grok’s ‘white genocide’ responses show how generative AI can be weaponized
  • June 19, 2025 | Lockheed Martin announces C-130J Super Hercules wing design extends life of aircraft more than originally estimated
Home Education

Cobb’s Petrina Fowler recognized as School Social Worker of the Year

TOPICS:Cobb County School DistrictPetrina FowlerSchool Social Worker of the Year
Petrina Fowler is the SSWAG School Social Worker of the Year for 2024.

Posted By: Larry Felton Johnson April 16, 2024

Photo: Petrina Fowler is the SSWAG School Social Worker of the Year for 2024

by Rebecca Gaunt

Petrina Fowler has been named the 2024 School Social Worker of the Year by the School Social Work Association of Georgia.

She has worked for the Cobb County School District since 2002. Fowler currently serves at Acworth Intermediate, Barber Middle School, and McCall Primary School.

“You are a true leader and a shining example in the field of school social work. Your tireless efforts have made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals, and your dedication to improving the well-being and success of students is truly commendable,” Rasha Portis, the awards committee chair, and Jacqueline Brown-Pinkney, SSWAG president, wrote in the award letter.

“Our role is to bridge the gap between home and school,” Fowler told the Courier.

A typical day might include visiting the homes of students with attendance issues, assisting families experiencing homelessness with finding financial support, dropping off food baskets, and working with students on prosocial behavior and conflict resolution.

Fowler started a group called Boys 2 Men.

“I take these young men out into the community once a month,” she said. “They assist at the Acworth Business Association luncheon on a monthly basis to bridge the gap to help them to see other men who look like them, who own businesses in the community where they live, so they can help mentor these boys and help put them on the right track.”

She also works with teachers to help them understand the challenges a student living in a car or coming to school hungry might face.

The need for more social workers, school counselors and psychologists, three very different jobs that share the goal of improving mental health, has been a national conversation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Legislators across the country have proposed bills to put more in the schools.

The nationally recommended ratio for social workers to students is one social worker per 250 students, or one to 50 students if there are students with intensive needs on the caseload. Fowler estimated she serves around 2,300-2,500 students at all three schools with around 600 kids on her caseload at any given time. 

“A lot of times it’s working with the families. It could be a situation like they’re experiencing homelessness, needing food, a student might need clothes, a parent might need assistance with their bills, a student might need glasses. And these are just some of the things I’m thinking of that just happened this week,” she said.

Fowler will be formally recognized at the SSWAG spring conference.

  • Previous post
  • Next post
Photo of Veterans Memorial Highway on a clear day with the Cobb County Courier logo and the words "Weather forecast"

Posted By: Norhasnima Dimacaling June 20, 2025

Cobb climate summary & weather forecast for Friday, June 20, 2025

The National Weather Service forecasts sunny skies here in Cobb County on Friday, June 20, 2025, with a high near 89 degrees. Tonight it is expected to be mostly clear,…


A tri-color hound with a red scarf looking at the side

Posted By: Norhasnima Dimacaling June 20, 2025

“My name is Midas, and I’m in need of a loving home!”

The Cobb County Courier’s Dog of the Day, selected from the Cobb Animal Services Shelter website, is a male tri-color hound. The following information on this potential family member is…


A black/white cat in loaf position inside a metal cage

Posted By: Norhasnima Dimacaling June 20, 2025

“My name is Biggins. Are you here to adopt me?”

The Cobb County Courier’s Cat of the Day, selected from the Cobb Animal Services Shelter website, is a male black/white domestic short hair. The following information on this potential family…


A diagram of a microchip with the letters "AI" in the center

Posted By: Norhasnima Dimacaling June 20, 2025

Grok’s ‘white genocide’ responses show how generative AI can be weaponized

by James Foulds, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Phil Feldman, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Shimei Pan, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, [This article first appeared in The Conversation,…


A Lockheed Martin C-130J turboprop airlifter in flight

Posted By: Larry Felton Johnson June 19, 2025

Lockheed Martin announces C-130J Super Hercules wing design extends life of aircraft more than originally estimated

[Photo above courtesy of Lockheed Martin] In a company press release, Lockheed Martin announced results from a recent testing program showing a significant increase in the expected wing life of…


Advertisement

Copyright 2025 | MH Newsdesk by MH Themes