With 16 years of dedicated service to education, Matt Langlois has been named School Social Worker of the Year for the State of Michigan by the Michigan Association of School Social Workers. The association chose Langlois not only for his outstanding years of service to the profession but, more importantly, for how he plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between students, families, and educational staff and fostering a supportive environment for students’ academic and personal growth. His work continues to address the social, emotional, and behavioral challenges he sees in students, ensuring all students have the resources they need to succeed.
Langlois attributes part of his success to the district’s rich history of having school social workers and the support the district gives to provide educational and mental health support for students. Langlois is the fourth school social worker from FHPS to receive this honor. Previous employees and state honorees include Bev VanDyke in 1995, Donna Secor-Pennington in 2000, and Ginny Grit-Googe in 2015.