Engaged Alumni: Kasey McKinney, MSW ’20

UAlbany alums Kasey (O’Brien) McKinney, MSW '20 (left), and Sara (LaNoir) Paszko, MSW '22 (right), are best friends and supportive colleagues.

Kasey McKinney, MSW ’20, is a School Social Worker at Moreau Elementary School in the South Glens Falls Central School District.

What is a typical workday like for you?

Well, mornings I leave open because when the kids first arrive there is a good chance that there will be a little crisis, either getting a student off the bus who doesn't want to come off the bus, or picking up Pre-K students who sometimes don’t want to come into the school. So, we kind of give them an extra boost. Many times, using a calm and quiet voice to help persuade them to come in does the job. Or there might be some drama in the hallway; there's always drama with my girls.

Then from 11 to one, I’m in lunch group where four or five kids come to my room. We watch a short film on self-control or frustration and do a frustrating activity. I always say to parents, “I love getting kids angry.” I'm right here to help them through it. For example, today we watched a drawing tutorial on YouTube, and they weren't allowed to pause it. We talked about imperfections and how nothing is going to be perfect. 

I'll also have one-on-one time with kids. We might go outside and cloud watch or go to the playground. That’s a lot more fun for kids. This morning, I was with a first grader who gets very frustrated and then it turns into a low self-esteem issue. Well, we went out on the playground and did handstands. 

You have to be really creative during your sessions with kids. There’s a lot of counseling but also a lot of crisis management, too. Our school is so small, about 250 students. I know every single student’s first and last name, where they live, who their parents are… half the time I even know what kind of car their families drive! 

I have a caseload of about 50 students on my schedule, but all the students know they can come in to see me anytime they want or need if they’re having a hard time. There is always something that pops up.

What kind of crises might you have to deal with?

Right now, the biggest challenges stem from helping kids deal with issues related to frustration and self-control. And we sometimes have to work with Child Protective Services. That’s something you're never really prepared for. If you’re new to it, you may not be comfortable making those calls, but the more experience you gain, the more you realize you have to do it. 

And you’re going to have tough conversations with families. It can be uncomfortable and awkward, and they may hate you at the end, but working with the families and trying to help them through challenging situations is something that can be very rewarding.

It sounds like it can be frustrating for you, too. Why did you choose to do this kind of work?

I truly had no idea what I wanted to do. Initially, I thought I wanted to work with the elderly or in a nursing home. But my first placement as a grad student at UAlbany was within the Argyle Central School District, grades K-12. That was the best thing to ever happen. It pushed me so far out of my comfort zone and really opened my eyes to what school social work is like, because truly, I didn’t know.

I think there's a stereotype about working with school kids. You know, you think you’ll be working with kids who are in trouble, and you’ll try to work with families, but not necessarily always in a good way. So, it was just really eye opening and cool to see how you can actually work with a student. It's not about carrying a clipboard and seeing things in black and white and just talking to kids. Not at all! You can get so creative! And that's why I love, love, love doing the more creative — sometimes weird — things.  

UAlbany really helped to push me to do what I wanted to do. And then I got to choose my second placement and I chose Jackson Heights Elementary School in Glens Falls. That was even better because I was working with younger kids in grades K-5. It was just really cool to work in both those schools and realize this is what I was meant to do.

What would you say are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities in your work?

I think social workers do the work they do because they have big hearts and really care and want to help. But that has a side effect; you take your work home with you and can’t stop thinking about it. You get so involved. My principal has told me many times that there is only so much we can do, but I think no, I want to go to their house or go to the hospital with them. So, I think being so invested is a huge challenge. Nowadays, our students and their families have such needs; it’s heartbreaking. 

As far as opportunities, I think we do what we do because being able to help these kids, even if it’s just with little things, is the best thing ever. To have a student come in to see me so he can tell me he was able to get through a test without getting mad is incredible. It’s the best feeling in the world to see how proud the kids are of their accomplishments!

What would you advise another social worker — or any other professional who might feel overwhelmed and stressed at work — to do to better manage those feelings?

It's so ironic. Social workers preach self care. I remember a lot of my professors at UAlbany stressed how important it is to focus on yourself. And I was like, yeah, yeah… and then you're deep in your work one day and you ask yourself how you can possibly find time to do that. I work very closely with another social worker at Moreau Elementary, Sara Paszko. 

Sara is a fellow UAlbany alum. We are absolutely best friends! I can't even tell you how amazing it is working with someone who gets it, who gets you, and who is just there for you. I think having someone to talk to about all of this — and that could be a co-worker or family member — helps tremendously. Unfortunately, not everybody’s lucky enough to have that.  

One thing I always do is walk. I go outside every day, and I just walk. There are woods by the school and sometimes Sara and I go for a walk together. I think finding time and scheduling it for yourself is really important. Having a support system at home is so important as well. We all need someone who will listen and be there for us.

Do you have a favorite memory or story you’d like to share about your time as a student at UAlbany?

I had a professor at UAlbany who taught me so much about play therapy. She was the best! So many of my ideas came from her. She was hands down so informative. She gave me so many ideas for strategies to use when I’m working with school children. I still have a positivity rock she gave me in class. The rock helps remind you of something you’re grateful for or something positive that you experienced.

 My instructors at UAlbany really shaped me. The information they provided was incredible. UAlbany really did prepare me, more than I think I realized at the time. Nothing can fully prepare you for this line of work, honestly, with all the stuff that pops up, but I felt really comfortable when I was hired here. I felt like, okay, I’ve got this because of what I learned at UAlbany.

What is your guilty pleasure away from work?

I love walking my dog. I love hanging out with my friends, a.k.a. Sara. My mom and I are very close. So, I'm always hanging out with my mother. And I’m obsessed with pickleball. It’s addicting!