Mary Malloy-Rhee, a licensed school and clinical social worker, has helped countless students work through social, emotional, or mental difficulties.
“My job is to work with students who are going through some emotional struggles,” Malloy-Rhee said. “They might be having some difficulty with anxiety, stress, depression, maybe grief, or it could be they had a difficult breakup or are having some challenges with friends or families; any kinds of problems like that, I help.”
Along with counseling students, Malloy-Rhee has also helped create and sponsor the Railroad Club. Starting last year, the club now meets every Thursday after school. Malloy-Rhee and Mrs. Specker were asked to sponsor the club by three students who love trains.
“We have a nice group of people who are part of it. I came into this not knowing anything about model trains, so I have learned a lot, and it’s been really, really fun,” Malloy-Rhee said. “We mainly wanted to support these students, and we have had nothing but fun ever since. So it’s been a good experience.”Malloy-Rhee has quite the journey to becoming a social worker at CPHS, starting in public relations and communications, and then switching to social work in 2010. Malloy-Rhee started at CPHS in 2016 but worked as a social worker at Taft Middle School, Lake Street Elementary, and Solon Robinson Elementary before.
“My first career was in public relations and communications, I took some time off when I had my family, and then I decided to come and work part-time in the schools,” Malloy-Rhee said. “I realized ‘Oh my gosh, I love this,’ I love working with kids. I had no idea it would be so exciting and challenging and rewarding, and I decided to do this job.”
Working with so many students, it is important for Malloy-Rhee to ensure she is always taking care of herself as well as others.
“This job can be hard. Some of our students are going through some tough things, and it can be emotionally draining to be helping them. It’s rewarding, and I love it, but it can be sad, and I have to really be thoughtful about self-care and taking care of myself so that I can help others,” Malloy-Rhee said. “I’m fortunate, I have a really great support network. I have great friends here in this building and at home, and that kind of keeps me recharged, the support, the humor, the fun, I have to remember that and make that a priority.”
Malloy-Rhee’s office allows students to come in for support, recharging, counseling, and all-around help with difficulties. Whether Malloy-Rhee is helping students in her office or providing a fun after-school club, she always tries to give students an outlet to be themselves.