School social workers are mental health professionals licensed to provide services that promote social, emotional and behavioral adjustment in school and in society.

School Social Workers

School social workers are mental health professionals licensed to provide services that promote social, emotional, and behavioral adjustment in school and in society.

I have been working in the Social Work field since 1997 and LOVE helping others. I started out attending Community College by receiving my Associate's degree in Human Services in 1998 in my hometown of Lima, Ohio. As I worked in the helping field, I found that I wanted to do more. With some excellent Social Work mentors' guidance, I went back to school and finished my Bachelor's Degree in Social Work in 2003 at Wright State University and in 2008 received my Master's Degree in Social Work from Florida State University. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I get to help those who are struggling to find a healthy and successful way to cope when life gets tough. Throughout my Social Work career, I have worked in early childhood development, domestic violence awareness, crisis intervention, rape and suicide prevention, with older adults, and adoption.

We moved to the Monument area in June 2015 from Texas. As a military spouse, I have had the opportunity to live in Nevada, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Alaska, Missouri, Texas, and Colorado. My husband retired from the Air Force and is working in the civilian world. I have two boys. My oldest graduated from LPHS in 2022 and my youngest is at LPMS. We have two dogs and one cat.

Please feel free to contact me at DSell@lewispalmer.org or (719)867-8663
Hours: Lewis-Palmer High School Monday-Friday 7am-3pm

There is incredible power in showing care, empathy, and acknowledgment -Mary Abbott, 2017 Illinois School Social Worker of the Year

I have been a social worker for over 30 years. I decided to get my Masters in Social work 1993 and finished in 1997. I have had the distinct privilege of living in various places that offered me opportunities to work in a variety of different fields in social work. My husband at the time was active duty Marine and I have lived in New York, Scotland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, California, Hawaii and finally made Colorado my home in 2006. I have worked in community mental health, foster care/adoption, child protection, nursing homes and for the last 10 years school social work. I enjoy being in the schools where the kids spend the majority of their day. I love being able to help students and their families navigate issues that may or may not get in the way of their education. I believe in the work I do every day at the school, I work to help make connections, compassion and understanding a key component of the school environment. I love living in Colorado and spend my free time doing yoga, hiking, and walking my dog.