After entering into education as an English teacher in 2020, William Villaflor had a realization during the pandemic. Students needed their social/emotional needs met, and he wanted to fill that need.
Villaflor became a social worker, and for the last two years, he’s filled that position at Franklin STEAM Academy, where he’s gone above and beyond to support kids and staff through challenging times.
I find my work important because … I’m able to support students and families with some of their most fundamental needs; whether it be their mental-health challenges, social skills or connection to vital community resources, I get to be a facilitator and support system for others. Sometimes navigating these resources or experiences can be a very isolating experience.
I became a school social worker because … My first year of teaching was during the height of the pandemic — a time that particularly highlighted the rising need of mental-health support and the disparities in accessible resources for families. While I was honored that so many of my students would confide their struggles in me, I felt wildly unqualified to support them through their traumas and mental-health challenges. I also found that I cared so much more about students’ social/emotional needs than I did teaching them about topic sentences and Shakespeare. I transitioned to social work to better invest in myself and our community.
My most fulfilling moments on the job are when … The times this year that I’ve felt most fulfilled and relieved were when I’ve been able to help secure housing for our students’ families. While schools are not the primary housing resource in our community, families will typically come to their student’s school for support because we’re a familiar public resource for them. When families are faced with the threat of homelessness, it can be so overwhelming, scary and oftentimes feel so helpless when they’re just trying their best but are stuck in the slow, bureaucratic systems of housing support resources. Being able to walk alongside families while they navigate such a traumatic process and share a sigh of relief when they secure housing has been very fulfilling.
Something else I’m passionate about is … I love live music! The energy and connection between the performers and audience is really beautiful. I love NPR’s Tiny Desk especially! Best Tiny Desks in no particular order: Mac Miller, Tank and the Bangas, Girl in Red, and Noname.
My favorite teacher and subject to study in school was … Dr. Roi Kawai was my favorite teacher I’ve had! He was my Education 201 professor at the University of Wisconsin — La Crosse, and he was the first Asian American teacher I ever had. Seeing an Asian male in education was such big source of representation for me, and it gave me so much validation against my family’s dismay at my decision to enter education.
I’m spending my summer … Trying to learn how to rest and play for the sake of play! It’s a skill I find we lose as we get older, and I think it’ll help slow down the speed of the world a bit. I’m also hoping to go backpacking this summer!
— Anthony Zilis