Challenges and Rewards of Elementary School Social Work: Insights from Cooper’s Article

Key Issues and Concepts Learned

After reading Cooper’s “Elementary School Social Work,” I learned about the two most important issues associated with school social work: a high caseload and a chaotic setting involving multiple tasks. A social worker is often employed at several schools and works with many children during the day, which requires professional competence and developed time-management skills.

For instance, Cooper (2019) reports leading numerous student cases simultaneously. Furthermore, this job involves working in a diverse and chaotic environment and performing various tasks, emphasizing the importance of organizational skills. For example, Cooper (2019) mentions that “no two days are ever the same” in this position.

Additional Duties of a School Social Worker

There are many other duties associated with elementary school social work. In particular, they include implementing crisis intervention, assisting teachers with managing students’ conflicts, addressing behavioral challenges, and developing strategies to enhance children’s performance (Cooper, 2019). Moreover, a school social worker runs groups, provides referrals to other professionals, attends meetings with teachers and parents, makes home visits, performs playground duty, and arranges guest lectures and lessons on special topics.

Average Salary and Feasibility of Working as a School Social Worker

Social work is generally considered to be underpaid despite such benefits as summer vacation and the rewarding experience of working with children. In particular, the average salary for a social school worker in Tucson is $41,491 (“School social worker salary in Tucson, AZ,” n.d.). This would be enough to cover my basic needs, but I would need a higher income to lead a comfortable life.

Working Independently: Support Systems and Resources

Furthermore, if I were virtually on my own, I would feel isolated doing this job. It is important to discuss the challenges of social work with others familiar with the field. Therefore, I could engage in a professional network as a support system. Participation in events or workshops for social work specialists could help me process the difficulties associated with the job and gain knowledge. In addition, I could collaborate with other school staff, including counselors and teachers, to share ideas and develop a support system for effective work.

References

Cooper, C. L. (2019). Elementary school social work. In L. M. Grobman (Ed.), Days in the lives of social workers: 62 professionals tell “real-life” stories from social work practice (5th ed., pp. 87-91). The New Social Worker Press.

School social worker salary in Tucson, AZ. (n.d.). Salary.com. Web.

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StudyCorgi. (2025) 'Challenges and Rewards of Elementary School Social Work: Insights from Cooper’s Article'. 7 October.

1. StudyCorgi. "Challenges and Rewards of Elementary School Social Work: Insights from Cooper’s Article." October 7, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/challenges-and-rewards-of-elementary-school-social-work-insights-from-coopers-article/.


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StudyCorgi. "Challenges and Rewards of Elementary School Social Work: Insights from Cooper’s Article." October 7, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/challenges-and-rewards-of-elementary-school-social-work-insights-from-coopers-article/.

References

StudyCorgi. 2025. "Challenges and Rewards of Elementary School Social Work: Insights from Cooper’s Article." October 7, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/challenges-and-rewards-of-elementary-school-social-work-insights-from-coopers-article/.

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