This week, IDEA Public Schools proudly celebrates National School Social Worker Week. In honor, we’re proud to shine a light on a remarkable professional whose guidance and advocacy have truly made a difference. As a founding Social Worker on her campus, Amanda Jackson’s work has been crucial to the launch and establishment of IDEA Lakeland, located in our Tampa Bay region.
Finding Her Purpose
Originally born in New York, she was interested in theater, the arts, and youth ministry growing up. Thinking that one of these areas would be where she’d pursue a career in, it wasn’t until her 8th grade year where things began to shift. Little did she know a staff member’s role at her school would be something she would aspire to be like.
“At the time, I didn’t know her or what her role was,” Mrs. Amanda shared. “Everyone loved being with her in her office and whenever I was in her presence, I just felt her help and support. Looking back, I know now she was the school social worker.”
After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, she started her professional career with the Healthy Families program, which focused on preventative care for young mothers. Shortly after obtaining her master’s in social work from the University of Southern Florida, she gained more experience through her work with the school board for Polk County, Florida. In her role, her time and responsibilities were spread thin as she worked for multiple high school campuses across the county.
“It felt like the majority of my work was about putting out fires and handling situations like urgent matters,” Mrs. Amanda said. “There was little time to do the deeper work like planting the seeds for kids through preventative work.”
Breaking Ground and Building Relationships
Fast forward to present day, where she is approaching the end of her second school year with IDEA Lakeland. Her first year was all about adjustment and learning. With everything being new and the challenges that come from that, she praised her team for how everyone was able to grow from the experience. Building a strong foundation for a new campus isn’t easy; however, she acknowledges that through time, she was able to create her path and establish herself as a strong leader.
As the end of the 2025-2026 school year is a few months away, Mrs. Amanda continues to face challenges head-on and with a positive attitude. “With the school doubling in size and more students enrolled, it’s like we are continuing to break ground again”, Mrs. Amanda stated. Whether it’s seeing the positive endings in stories or getting hugs and words of gratitude from parents, Mrs. Amanda added she is reassured that she is in the right place. She works hard to break down barriers and focuses on the whole child. Through it all, she wants her students to feel valued and know that they have resilience. Once scholars graduate, she hopes that she was able to give them the tools they need to navigate life.
“No matter the trauma or hardships, I want them to know that wholeness is possible.” Mrs. Amanda added.
Interested in building your career with IDEA Public Schools? Check out open roles for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year on our careers website and apply today.
