Press release from Buncombe County Scools:
Ms. Lisa VonDohlen, a social worker at Enka High School, has been named the 2016 North Carolina State Social Worker of the Year. She competed against seven other regional winners from across the state for this distinguished honor.
VonDohlen, who has worked at Enka High School as a social worker since 2012, serves as an important liaison between the school, students, families, and the community. Among her many duties, she counsels students who are struggling emotionally and develops plans to help them succeed in school. “I love working with at-risk teenagers,” says VonDohlen. “I am rewarded every time I am able to help a student realize their potential to succeed academically, behaviorally, and emotionally.”
Last summer, a fellow social worker nominated VonDohlen for Western Region Social Worker of the Year, which she won. As a nominee, she completed a lengthy application and video which was reviewed by the North Carolina School Social Workers Association Board. She then received her state-level recognition at a recent conference in Concord, N.C.
“It has been incredibly rewarding and humbling to have been recognized by my peers both regionally and across the state,” she says. “I am blessed to work with administrators, counselors, teachers, and staff who are vested in our students and school. I am so proud to be an Enka Jet and am grateful to represent our school and school system throughout our state.”
VonDohlen, who is fluent in Spanish, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Spanish from Lenoir-Rhyne College and a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. She was named Social Worker of the Year in 2006 by the National Association of Social Workers.
“Buncombe County Schools is grateful to have such a caring and talented social worker helping our students succeed,” says Director of Student Services David Thompson. “VonDohlen has a gift for making genuine connections with students so they know she deeply cares and will do anything to make sure their needs are met.”
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