CAMDEN — The Caesar Rodney School District has named Caesar Rodney High School school psychologist Maria Romanko as its first Behavioral Health Professional of the Year.

The award was recently established by state legislation and is coordinated by the Department of Education. The statewide winner will be announced later this spring.

The program is designed to recognize outstanding service by school employees who are health care practitioners or human service providers and offer services to improve mental health, such as counselors, social workers, licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, licensed professional mental health counselors and nurses.

“The support and care that Maria has provided to the students at the high school during her years here (have) had a lasting effect on their lives,” said CRHS principal Sherry Kijowski. “Sometimes, school is the only place students have the freedom to express themselves or talk openly about their fears or hopes. Through the pandemic restrictions, Maria’s job was even more important. I am very grateful for all the ways Maria helps the students of the district, and we are very proud of her.”

Ms. Romanko began working in the district in January 2004, as a psychologist at W. Reily Brown Elementary and John S. Charlton School. After nine years, she moved to the high school.

Prior to joining CR, she began her career working in therapeutic staff support and as a mobile therapist and behavioral therapist.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Ms. Romanko graduated from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She completed a master’s degree in clinical child psychology from Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania.

It was at Marywood that she earned certification in school psychology.