James Wogan (he/his) is a school social worker, school and administrator, and author known for innovation and collaboration in support of youth mental health, equity and shared vision. In Mt. Diablo Unified School District, James supervises the school social workers and fieldwork placement for social work interns. As part of the Student Services Leadership Team, he manages School Wellness Centers at large public schools and partnership programs with child-serving agencies, He developed positions and programs to support recent immigrant students, suicide prevention, youth at risk of sexual exploitation, and prevention of sexual harassment / Title IX. As the Educational Liaison, he developed award-winning programs for foster youth and homeless students. In 2022, he was appointed to be a member of the Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup. James was a founding advisory member of Breaking Barriers CA focused on inter-agency collaboration. In 2023, he was elected to the board of CASSW.
James graduated from UC Berkeley (MSW, PPSC), is a credentialed school administrator, and a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California. James was a child and family therapist in Tokyo, Japan where he served international children and families. His book on Student Support Teams (Blonksy, Berta, Wogan 20222) can be found on Amazon and Rutledge Press.
James brings stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to the table and engages openly in dialogue about race and privilege. For many years, James has been a panelist and presenter at the ACSA Symposium, including sharing his work on Parent Engagement through the Lens of Equity. His educational leadership has earned recognition and awards from the United States Congress, MDUSD, NASW CA, CA Association of PTA’s, and the City and County of San Francisco for nonviolence work in Bayview Hunter’s Point.
James Wogan, LCSW, PPSC
www.jameswogan.com woganj@mdusd.org
Mobile / Text: 925.250.5500
James spent several years in a wheelchair as the result of a car accident when he was young; this shaped his work in public education and serving children with unique educational needs. His career in family therapy, social work and public education has included program development, publications and workshops on systems change at the leadership level, child and adolescent mental health, social and emotional learning (SEL), suicide prevention, parenting children with special needs, family relocation, interagency collaboration, family therapy, LGBTQ youth, and trauma-informed practices. James wrote “Parent Engagement Through the Lens of Equity,” and “Kindness in a 3rd Grade Classroom,” and other articles that can be found on his Flipboard Magazines.
James brings stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to the table and engages openly in conversations about race and privilege. His work has earned recognition from the United States Congress, California Senate and Assembly, and awards from the Council of California PTAs, the NASW, and the Teacher’s Union in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. James is an active and vocal advocate, bringing youth, parent, and caregiver voice to local and state government. James is an Executive Advisory Board member with Breaking Barriers CA www.breakingbarriersca.org.
James graduated from the School of Social Welfare at UC Berkeley (MSW, 2001) and was also educated at CSU East Bay: Educational Leadership / School Administration, the California School of Professional Psychology; San Francisco State University: Dept. of Special Education, UNC – Chapel Hill: Practicum in ADHD and Positive Psychology, Harvard University: Family Engagement, Edx, and Guilford College, a Quaker College in Greensboro, North Carolina where he received a Bachelor’s in Science (B.S.) with honors. He has the learned the most from the children he served.
James is a teacher / adjunct faculty in the School Psychology / School Counselor PPSC program at Brandman University in Walnut Creek. He has a private practice on College Ave in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, CA. James provides clinical supervision for candidates pursuing licensure as LCSW or LMFT.
James loves mountain biking, being outdoors and traveling with his amazing wife and two teenage boys in the Bay Area, CA.
James Wogan LCSW 