Maia Gleason-Teener grew up right in Ann Arbor, where she attended Dicken, Slauson, and Pioneer before going on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Michigan.
She always knew she wanted to work with children, and throughout high school and college, she worked with kids in various roles. She served as a docent at the Museum of Natural History, where she led field trips and summer camps, worked with the Child Life Department at Mott Children’s Hospital, and completed an AmeriCorps program, mentoring and tutoring students at an elementary school in Washington, D.C.
In college, Gleason-Teener became more involved in social justice-oriented activities, which led her to pursue her social work degree. Once she earned her MSW, she started as a school social worker in Detroit, where she worked for five years before moving on to Logan Elementary in 2022. She now lives in Ypsilanti with her husband, Sam, and their 6-month-old daughter, Livy. This year, she’s learning how to balance work and new parenthood.
What does a typical day look like for you as an elementary school social worker?
I think most social workers would say there is no “typical day!” Generally, my days are a mix
of working with students on social-emotional skills, responding to crises or other urgent needs
that arise, meetings with my school team and families, assisting students in their classrooms,
helping families access community resources, and collaborating with our amazing teachers and
teacher assistants to better understand and support our students. Oh, and lots of paperwork!
What originally drew you to working with children in the school setting?
My mom is a retired teacher, and I grew up watching her shape the lives of her students. She
made me want to be a teacher. But then I discovered the world of social work and felt it was my
calling. School social work was the perfect combination of social work and teaching.
What are some of the most common challenges you help elementary students work
through?
Emotional regulation and navigating big feelings in safe ways, as well as friendships/social conflict.
How do you explain your role to young children who might not understand what a social
worker does?
I always tell kids that my job is to help them feel their best at school. Some kids also call me the
“feelings teacher.”
What strategies do you use to help children feel comfortable opening up to you?
I try to be visible and present throughout the school so that all students know who I am and that I
am a safe adult they can come to for support. When students come to see me, I listen to them and
affirm their feelings and experiences.
How do you work with teachers and families to support a child’s social and emotional
needs?
We will talk through a child’s background, their skills and needs, and specific strategies or
approaches that may be most beneficial for them. I may also refer families for outside counseling
or other resources if needed.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job working with elementary students?
Seeing students grow in the skills we work on together, and have more positive experiences with
school. School can be hard, and I am often working with the students for whom school feels
the hardest, so to see them grow and just enjoy school more makes me really proud.
How do you handle situations when a child is experiencing difficulties at home that affect
their school performance?
First and foremost, building a trusting relationship with them and their families. We can’t solve
the myriad challenges that families face in our current world, but we can ensure that when
students are at school, they are fed, loved, and uplifted. We try to partner with families as much
as possible to offer support with any difficulties they are experiencing, and connect them with
community resources.
What advice would you give to parents who are concerned about their child’s social or
emotional development?
Ask for help! Counseling can be such a great tool to help kids navigate challenges, but also help
parents learn more about how their child processes their environment, and how to best support
them. While us school social workers must prioritize school-based concerns, we also love
helping families get connected to outside services to support the whole child.
How has your role evolved since you started working in elementary schools?
I would say I am now trying to be more focused on providing the most effective services for my
students and collaborating with my fellow school staff and families to help our kiddos have great
school experiences. In my previous roles, I was spread really thin across too many
responsibilities and wasn’t able to really dedicate my time and energy to any one of them. Social
workers often have to wear many “hats”.
What resources or programs do you find most helpful when working with young
children?
Play! With elementary-aged kids, play is such a powerful tool for learning, practicing, and
gaining confidence with these “soft skills.”
What would you want parents and teachers to know about when to reach out to the
school social worker for support?
If you have tried what you know and are still concerned, or are unsure of what next steps to take,
reach out! We are here to help. And, please remember that social workers are resources, not
magicians. We can’t magically solve every problem, but we do have tools, strategies, and
knowledge of resources to help find solutions.
What do you like about working at AAPS, and at Logan in particular?
It feels very full-circle to work in the district that I graduated from, and I feel really fortunate that
I landed here at Logan. Logan is such a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive community. We have
an incredibly hard-working and dedicated staff. I am constantly inspired by my colleagues, and I
learn so much from them.
What would surprise co-workers to know about you?
Most don’t know that I love to sing! I sadly don’t have the time anymore, but I used to do
musical theater and a cappella. Now, my musical outlet is mostly singing along to songs in the
car and singing lullabies to my daughter!
Favorite local hang-outs:
Lots of local breweries, Hyperion Coffee, Hudson Mills and Kensington metroparks.
How do you spend your summers?
Travelling, camping, gardening, and spending time with my family and friends.
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