Shakita Speaks

Shakita Speaks serves as a school social worker in Houston, Texas. She earned a B.A. in Biology and Religion from Temple University and later completed her Master of Social Work at the same institution in 2016, marking 10 years in the field. After beginning her career as a teacher's assistant in a special needs classroom at a Philadelphia charter school, she pursued social work to better support students and went on to work as a social worker at Mastery Charter Schools, where she specialized with students diagnosed with emotional disturbance and received a five-year service award. Shakita transferred her LMSW license to Texas and has now been at her current school for five years, focusing on adolescents and the most challenging students through one-on-one support, group sessions, and family engagement. She is currently working toward her LCSW. Shakita volunteers with the kids camp at her church, Gather Hub Houston, and credits her faith in God for providing unexpected scholarships, grants through AmeriCorps and the ACE-IT program, and overall guidance through her education and career.