Hi!  I’m Valerie Davenport, the school social worker for J. Glenn Edwards Elementary School. My role is to identify obstacles that may be interfering with a student’s ability to reach their full personal potential and academic success.  I also provide a link between school and home, which means I make a lot of phone calls and send a lot of text messages to parents, and I also make home visits.  This is all in an effort to help improve the communication between schools and home.  Another important service that I provide is to help families connect with community agencies that may be able to help them in a time of need.  I also provide assistance for student enrollment and provide McKinney Vento services to families that may be displaced from their permanent residence.  

One issue that I frequently talk with parents about is attendance, especially unexcused absences.  Chronic absenteeism (missing more than 17 days in a school year) is a leading cause of poor school performance and an indicator of the potential that a student may dropout of high school. Please contact me if you have any questions about your child’s school attendance or the North Carolina Compulsory School Attendance Law.

You can reach me directly at J. Glenn Edwards Elementary School, 919-774-3733, ext 3550 or you can call or text my work cell number, 919-356-3671.  If you get my voicemail please leave me a message and I will return your call as quickly as I can.  You may also email me at vdavenport.sw@lee.k12.nc.us .

 Please check out these links for more information:

When is sick too sick?

Attendance in the early grades: Why does it matter? 

What does the McKinney Vento Legislation mean and what services are provided?

Lee County Schools Student Services