Mary Kaess

2026 Milestone Achievement Award

Retired School Social Worker, Chicago Public Schools

Mary Kaess, AM’71, has dedicated more than five decades to strengthening the lives of children and families through social work and community service. She spent 36 years as a social worker with Chicago Public Schools (CPS). In this role, Mary worked with young people facing complex emotional, behavioral, and family challenges while mentoring new social workers entering the profession.  

Since retiring from CPS, Mary has continued her commitment to service through her work with Maryville Crisis Nursery, where she serves on the Advisory Board and leads outreach initiatives connecting families to vital crisis childcare and support services. Through decades of advocacy, mentorship, and community engagement, Mary has helped build stronger systems of care for children and families in Chicago