Annie Berg brings a welcoming and comfortable environment to any student in need. photo by Mikey Cooper
TJ Social Worker Annie Berg provides growth and strength in her counseling office at TJ.
At Thomas Jefferson High School, embracing mental health and reaching out for help is a virtuous practice that is encouraged. Each student attending TJ has their own counselor based on their last name, but in room 114 D, there are several different social workers, counselors, and psychologists who specialize in assisting students who struggle with learning disabilities. Whether students have a mental or physical disability, they will always have the opportunity to speak to the hardworking team of mental health staff to grow and pursue their future at TJ. One of these outstanding staff members is Annie Berg.
Berg has been a social worker in Denver Public Schools for nine years, six of those years being spent here at TJ. Because of her strong love for providing aid to others, she has been an asset to the mental health community. In high school, she always stood up for her community by volunteering and standing up for her peers around her, and deep down she knew it was her passion to do so. She attended Bates College in Maine for her undergraduate degree in Anthropology, eventually working for Big Sister Association. After moving to Denver from New Jersey when she was only 26 years old, she had yet to earn a master’s degree. For years, she had been incredibly motivated to carry out her career in the social work field. She then graduated with a Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Denver in 2016. Having a career as a social worker brings both happiness and stress, and Berg is a fantastic example of providing joy to all of her students. Her favorite part of being a social worker at TJ is seeing her students grow and evolve from freshman year all the way to graduation. Berg especially enjoys the bittersweet aspect of seeing her students “go into the world as real people.” She further mentioned that another reason why she enjoys working with high school students so much is “watching them sort of discover themselves, and their values, and what they want in life, and their passions.”
Berg works in the counseling office in room 114 B four days out of the week, excluding Fridays. Specifically, she assists TJ students with registered 504 plans, which offer accommodations and modifications for those with disabilities that affect their learning. She spends time helping her students grow and ensure that they are given access to an education suited for them and their needs. She adores helping students around the school with the struggles they experience, and explains that she has always loved to volunteer and provide for the community around her, stating, “People are my passion.” Berg described her involvement in social work as interesting because, “You never know what your day is going to be like.” Throughout her life, Berg has always spent time helping out her community and enjoying watching others develop into the best versions of themselves. Although she mentioned that she never had a talent in sports, she still spent time playing them because of her love to help others, eventually evoking her desire to become a social worker.
Berg frequently checks in with all of her students, providing her office as a resource to come to when feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or burnt out from school. She gives her students various different strategies and ideas to help them learn and grow as people. Each year, she conducts a meeting with students in order to discuss their specific needs while they learn. This could include using noise-canceling headphones, having check-ins with teachers, and extending test-taking time for students who need it. Berg has worked her absolute hardest to make sure each kid at TJ feels safe and comfortable while they learn and prepare for the future. Any student struggling with a disability has the option to get a vast amount of resources and assistance with Berg. She is an absolutely outstanding social worker in the Student Support Team, and she will continue to provide fantastic opportunities for growth and healing for all Spartans in need.
