On an average day, you might find Sam Cossen reading books with the Early Childhood and Lower School classes in the morning, hanging out with the Middle School students at lunch, and ending the day by meeting with Upper School students about their futures. As Roycemore’s new School Social Worker, Ms. Cossen works with the school to ensure that every student’s emotional well-being is given the same attention as their academic success. She’s an invaluable resource for our Griffins and embodies Roycemore’s value of Community in her work with the school.

Sam is a Colorado transplant who moved to Chicago in 2018 to pursue her Master’s in Social Work with a sub-specialization in group work from Loyola University Chicago. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she worked in various settings, including a juvenile detention center and a residential and day treatment center. Sam’s passion for social work comes from her family and her experience growing up with four adopted uncles. 

Sam describes education as “the most important gift we can give to a child” and believes that in order for students to be successful in the classroom they must be emotionally prepared to learn. When working with students Sam incorporates tools from diverse sources, including mindfulness and neuroscience to create individual and student-driven experiences. However, the best part of her work is watching the “get-it moment,” or the moment when a student realizes that they have achieved mastery of a skill that they initially struggled with. 

When she’s not at Roycemore, you might find Sam exploring the lake shore, reading (her #1 rec is Where the Crawdads Sing), or visiting a new restaurant. We’re so excited to welcome Sam to Roycemore and can’t wait to share more about her work as the school year progresses!