Connecting Schools and Communities Through Social Work
When Will Villaflor began teaching English at Urbana High School in 2020, it didn’t take long for him to recognize a deeper need in his students’ lives—one that couldn’t be met through textbooks or essays alone. “Students’ social/emotional wellbeing was not only what I realized I cared about most,” he reflected, “but also their level of functioning in the school environment was so often dependent on their mental health.”
That realization, sparked in the early days of the pandemic, led Villaflor to pivot into social work—a field where he could meet students where they were and support them holistically. Deeply connected to the Urbana-Champaign community, the choice of where to pursue his Master of Social Work (MSW) was clear. “I fell in love with the Urbana-Champaign community after building relationships with so many of my students and fellow teachers. When I decided to transition from teaching to social work, I knew I wanted to stay in the area and continue serving this community. The MSW program at Illinois was the only program I applied to!”
Now a school social worker at Franklin STEAM Academy, Villaflor spends his days helping students and families navigate complex mental health needs, trauma, and systemic barriers. “Being able to wrap-around clients and their support systems has been instrumental in keeping our most vulnerable students in our community safe,” he shared. His work includes crisis response, emotional regulation support, and building relationships with teachers and families.
Villaflor found particular value in courses like SOCW 589: Social Work and the Law. “Having a foundational understanding of the legal system, parental rights, and the role and limitations of a social worker in legal cases have made some of the most intense situations this year feel manageable,” he said. “I’ve also been able to protect myself and my license through Professor Sandie Kopel’s lessons.”
Through Project ACCESS, Villaflor had the opportunity to enroll in SPED 471: Learning Environments II with Professor Cheryl Light Shriner. “This Special Education Course taught me about seeing behavior as communication, the underlying functions to student behavior, the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) process, and so much more about the Special Education world.”
A cornerstone of his MSW experience was working with the Community Learning Lab (CLL). As a Student Liaison—a role he continues to this day—Villaflor supported partnerships between university students and community-based organizations. “What I love most about the CLL is that this mutual partnership between the Community and the University is baked into the CLL mission,” he said. “Every initiative the CLL engages in truly attempts to listen to community partners’ needs and subsequently facilitate partnerships to meet those needs.”
One project that left a lasting impression was the CLL’s collaboration with the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. “The CLL invites community members and their families to a free Krannert performance, followed by an interactive, age-appropriate Expressive Arts Workshop connected to themes from the performance. This collaboration has been a really wonderful way to engage the community in a family-friendly, educational experience.”
His experience with the CLL shaped his professional vision: “One of my goals as a school social worker is to embed community-engaged services into our public schools. By building relationships with community partners and inviting them into our schools, we can provide a more holistic range of services to students and their families.”
Villaflor believes the CLL plays a vital role in grounding classroom learning in lived experience. “Much of the University’s curriculum centers heavily on theory and research. Through the experiential service-learning projects that the CLL facilitates, students are able to obtain real-world experience to ground their studies in, acknowledge the real systemic gaps and challenges that nonprofits face, and provide support to our local community.”
For students considering a shift into social work, Villaflor offers this advice: “Volunteering with community partners may be a great way to gain quick experience with different facets of Social Work, such as macro-level policy work, micro-level service provision, or work with specific populations.”
Above all, his time at the School of Social Work deepened his sense of purpose. “Working with Katie and the CLL has been a highlight of my time,” he said. “It’s taught me so much about partnership, trust, and truly listening to the community we serve.”
Interested in pursuing your Professional Educator License for School Social Work? Learn more and apply now!