Celebrating School Social Worker Appreciation Week

At the Academy of the Holy Angels, we are fortunate to have a dedicated and compassionate school social worker who plays a vital role in supporting our students’ well-being. As we celebrate School Social Worker Appreciation Week, we recognize the invaluable contributions of Elizabeth Hackett.

School social workers serve as a bridge between students, families, and the school community, ensuring that students receive the emotional, social, and academic support they need to thrive. They provide counseling, crisis intervention, and resources for students facing challenges such as anxiety, stress, and personal hardships. Social workers also collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to create a positive school environment that fosters growth, resilience, and success.

At Holy Angels, Ms. Hackett is a trusted resource for students, offering guidance and support to help them navigate their high school experience. Whether assisting students through personal challenges, advocating for mental health awareness, or connecting families with helpful resources, her work makes a lasting impact.

Prior to Ms. Hackett, Sister Mary Foley, SSND, served as AHA’s school social worker. Today, Sister Mary continues to work with our Angels as the Director of the Auditorium Services, offering support, kindness, and guidance to our students in a new setting. 

Ms. Hackett brings a wealth of experience to her role, having worked in traditional and alternative school settings across California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and New York. She holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas Aquinas College and a master’s degree from the University of Southern California. Her background includes experience in medical social work, applied behavior analysis (ABA), and multisystemic therapy, equipping her with a diverse skill set to support our Angels. Elizabeth’s compassionate approach and deep commitment to student well-being make her an integral part of the AHA community.

Outside of her role at Holy Angels, Ms. Hackett has taken her passion for student well-being even further by launching a new program designed to educate and empower teens in building and maintaining healthy relationships. Through workshops, she helps young people recognize the importance of personal boundaries and fosters a culture of respect and resilience in their relationships and connections. By equipping teens with these crucial life skills, Ms. Hackett continues to make a profound impact both within and beyond our school community.

Ms. Hackett also coaches the AHA middle school volleyball team, where she helps young athletes develop confidence, teamwork, and perseverance through sports. Ms. Hackett even emceed the 2024 Holy Angels Fashion Show! Her commitment to our school and our community extends far past her counseling.

She shared her favorite quote: “Helping one person might not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person, and that makes all the difference for me.” This sentiment embodies the heart of her work—one student, one conversation, one act of kindness at a time. 

As we celebrate School Social Worker Appreciation Week, we thank Ms. Hackett and all school social workers for all they do to support students and their families.