Kids know they're special
Jefferson social worker Jan Carpenter says she enjoyed the children’s ‘unique personalities.’By Kremena Spengler Staff Writer
Article Photos
NEW ULM - On her next-to-last day of work, I intercept Jan Carpenter, Jefferson Elementary social worker, giving away pillows and stuffed animals to appreciative kindergartners.
The pillows have been made by members of CAST, a group that engages retired people in an active community life. A "guardian angel" from CAST has collected the new or gently-used teddy bears. The items are part of Carpenter's system of rewarding kids for good behavior - or reaching milestones on behavior charts developed in one-on-one or small group sessions.
It's a way to motivate kids, Carpenter says. Her students need "a little love and attention" - "just a little more care," she says.
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Carpenter, one of the District 88 employees retiring at the end of this school year, has worked for District 88 for 19 years - and in this field, for 34.
After receiving her undergraduate degree, with a double major in psychology and social work, at Winona State University in Winona in 1972, she worked as a social worker in Staples for five years; then for the Baudette school district for another five.
She was then offered the position of special education coordinator in Bemidji. As part of that position, she supervised teachers in 10 school districts - traveling, appraising and hiring special education teachers, to work with students with multiple handicaps and emotional and behavior disorders.
Carpenter holds two teaching licenses, in early childhood and early childhood special education; and, in 1990, she also earned her master's of education degree at Bemidji State.
When her husband, then a pilot with the Department of Natural Resources, was transferred to New Ulm, Carpenter applied for a job with District 88. Their two sons completed District 88 schools, starting in first and fifth grade.
At first, her position was districtwide. She worked with students at Jefferson, Washington and the Middle School, as well as now closed District 88 schools in Hanska and Lafayette. For five years, she also traveled to Sleepy Eye once a week, to serve elementary students there.
After a Jefferson Elementary counselor retired eight years ago, Carpenter was assigned to Jefferson, taking up social work and counseling duties.
Carpenter works with Jefferson students individually and in small groups.
She helps the kids work out day-to-day problems, at the playground or in the classroom. She assists students at all levels, grades K-3, in dealing with family change - divorce or death, for example. She also teaches social skills to groups of students; and co-facilitates, twice a month, a play therapy group, along with a clinical social worker from the medical center.
In addition, she teaches classroom lessons. The lessons focus on study skills, career education, self-esteem, diversity, anti-bullying and related topics.
She is the school's state testing coordinator and also helps out with district tests and reading probes under a program called Response to Intervention.
Her door is always open, Carpenter emphasized.
She tries to ensure that kids feel safe in her office. The issues they bring remain confidential.
"Kids need somebody who will listen and assist them," Carpenter says. "They need to know that they are special."
Carpenter says she enjoyed the children's "unique personalities."
"I've always been drawing to the acting-out, fun ones," she smiles. "I like the spirit of them."
They present a challenge, yes, she says. She likes to help them resolve the issues - linked to home or to school situations - that may interfere with the learning.
While she will miss the faculty and staff, even more so, she will miss the kids. "Once I'm gone, there will be a void, I know. ... They have such positive perceptions, such a great sense of humor..."
When asked about the most difficult aspects of her job, Carpenter pinpoints the occasions when she had to help students deal with tragedies - the death of a student in the district, or a parent, or a family member.
At this age, it is usually a grandparent or a pet that has died, she reflects. It is generally the first time ever these younger children have experienced death, and they need help working it out.
Sometimes, it is dealing with divorce, with the kids up caught in the middle. Sometimes, it is a parent or sibling in jail, or hospitalized.
Younger children tend to see themselves as the center of the world; they need help realizing they are not the cause of tragedy, she says.
When asked to share some ideas that may help people taking up the job, she says they'd need energy and the ability to listen.
Let the kids help you, she says. "Let them be part of the resolution - then they'll feel 'ownership' in that resolution."
Kids need to know that this office is a safe place; kids should always come first, she adds.
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As stuffed animals and pillows show, Carpenter has gone beyond the formal requirements of the position.
Some years ago, she started a puppet theater, to teach self-esteem, with the help of parent volunteers.
Last year, she initiated a milk fund at Jefferson, ensuring that every student had milk money.
Through her efforts, hundreds of dollars have been donated to the fund, said the principal, Pam Kirsch.
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Carpenter notes that over the years, she has worked with people aged from birth to adult.
She has led parent support groups, worked as parent educator in the Early Childhood and Family Education Program and taught child development classes at South Central Technical College.
She is grateful for the variety of experiences.
"No two days are alike," she says. "There's no such thing as a set schedule in this job."
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Carpenter is retiring to the family's lake home in Bemidji, looking forward to the opportunities to enjoy along the lake - boating, hiking, biking She is looking forward to the tranquility - reading in the porch swing.
