November 20-21, 2025
Indianapolis Marriott East
Indianapolis, IN
We hope to see you next year!
Details to come.
We will NOT be accepting on-site registrations.
QuaverReady is a fully online, teacher-led curriculum designed to support essential readiness skills for school and life. We provide a full year of lessons for grades K-8 based on the 5 core competencies. Our curriculum is fully aligned to ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors. All lessons include resources for MTSS and progress monitoring. School counselors, teachers, social workers, and other supporting staff may facilitate relevant lessons on topics like Academic Achievement, Bullying, and Resilience.
For more information, please contact Eric Wormsbaker, Director of Sales at (629) 702-7388 or ericwormsbaker@quavered.com.
SCUTA is a technology platform designed specifically for school counselors to develop a data-driven, evidence- based school counseling program. Offering confidential, comprehensive documentation, and use of time analysis system, it is an invaluable tool for school counselors who want to utilize best practices, keep accurate records, and develop a data-driven school counseling program. With SCUTA, school counselors will achieve the characteristics of a high performing school counseling program and can clearly illustrate the nature and impact of their work to their supervisors and stakeholders.
SCUTA was initially designed for school counselors; however, we have recently expanded services to include utility for school social workers. Additionally, the functionality for school counseling district supervisors, regional coordinators, and state directors includes reporting at individual, school, district, and state levels. These managers can access real-time data reflecting students’ needs, including how they are being addressed by the school counseling program, and school counselor use-of-time. This valuable insight can inform professional development and advocacy efforts.
We look forward to supporting your schools, districts, and states in having a positive impact on student’s needs.
For more information, please contact Olivia at olivia@myscuta.com.
The College Funding Coach® was founded in 2002 to help families better understand the complex strategies for saving and paying for college, making higher education more affordable. Through our free comprehensive educational workshop, Little-known Secrets of Paying for College, The College Funding Coach® team has helped thousands of elementary, middle and high school families save and pay for college without going broke! During this time of uncertainty, significant changes to the FAFSA, and lingering questions, The College Funding Coach has an unwavering focus on adding value for the parents, counselors, friends, and families we know and meet.
For more information please contact Matthew Milburn at mmilburn@thecollegefundingcoach.org or at (317) 705-8173.
For busy school counselors and district administrators, Xello is the only K-12 software that genuinely engages every student in creating a plan for future success. With a program students love to use, Xello helps educators work more efficiently, effortlessly meet college and career readiness goals, and easily equip kids with the skills and knowledge to be future ready.
Learn how you can help every student, regardless of background, ability, or pathway, build their plan for future success!
For more information contact Meghan Foster, Director of Sales at (800) 965-8541 or meghanf@xello.world.
ALL PRO DAD® is the fatherhood program of Family First, a non-profit organization encouraging every parent to be actively involved in the lives of their children. The ALL PRO DAD® School Chapter program is an exciting and impactful monthly experience that builds great relationships and transforms school communities.
For more information, please contact Keith Schumacher, School Engagement Specialist at (678) 859-6139 and keith.schumacher@familyfirst.net.
Luncheon Keynote Session
November 20, 2025
11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
In a world filled with division and anxiety, Houston will talk about practical ways to infuse compassion into the schools we serve and our daily personal routines. From his experience speaking in over 700 schools and working with over 10,000 schools as co-founder of CharacterStrong, he will share powerful insights and exercises to help create more kind communities.
Houston Kraft has spoken at over 700 events internationally. In 2016, he co-founded CharacterStrong which currently serves 10,000 schools across 50 states and 45 countries helping to support the teaching of kindness in education. In 2019, his face was featured on Lays BBQ chip bags as someone who helps “spread smiles.” In 2020, his first book Deep Kindness: A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness was published by Simon & Schuster. In 2023, the companion guide Be Kind: A 52-Week Journal for Practicing Kindness was published. He has been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, Hallmark, Huffpost, and more as an expert on developing a more empathetic, kind world. His mom is his hero and her best life lesson is to “hug like you mean it.”
Houston will also be presenting a breakout session.
Closing Keynote Session
November 21, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
School counselors encounter legal and ethical dilemmas in 21st century learning environments almost every day. The ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors provides an opportunity to have difficult conversations regarding ethical dilemmas, while also providing direction for navigating the legal and ethical dilemmas encountered through the profession. Participants will develop an ethical decision-making framework for analyzing and resolving ethical and legal dilemmas through the application of the ASCA ethical standards, case and statutory law, and the most recent research in counseling. Through the discussion of the purpose of ethical standards, professional responsibilities, ethical concerns for practice, and current research and case law, participants will be given the opportunity to increase their understanding regarding the complexities of respecting a minors’ right to confidentiality, sole possession notes, caregiver rights, duty to warn, implementing suicidal ideation response efforts, AI/Chat GPT, and personal conduct.
Franciene Sabens, M.S. Ed., LPC, NCC, is a litigation paralegal turned school counselor with nearly two decades of experience. Franciene serves as a board member for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and is a member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Ethics Committee, and the National Council for the Advancement of Educator Ethics (a special NASDTEC Committee). In 2014 Franciene was named Illinois high school counselor of the year and honored by ASCA in 2016 at the White House as the Illinois state representative for the School Counselor of the Year ceremony. She contributed to the current Developmental Counseling Model for Illinois Schools, co-edited the second edition of the School Career Development Advisor Curriculum for the National Career Development Association, and is a frequent ASCA presenter and publication contributor. Franciene is passionate about enhancing the counseling profession by helping school counselors implement ethically aligned comprehensive programs that maintain the highest standards of integrity, leadership and professionalism while supporting students as they strive to reach their greatest potential.
Franciene will also be presenting a breakout session.
Click the session to title to learn more
November 15, 2024
8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Deb Thompson, School Counselor at Mishawaka High School, will present QPR: Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training. This certified training program will teach you the warning signs and the skills to help save lives from suicide. You will earn an official certification for your training. This special session will run during the Core Skills time slot.
Click the session to title to learn more
Tentative
7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. On-Site Conference Registration and Information Desk Open
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Exhibits Open
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Closing Keynote Session – Franciene Sabens
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Transition Break
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Session 5
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Break with Exhibitors – Last Chance!
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Session 6
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Closing Awards Luncheon
Attendance certificates will be located in the program (Participant’s Manual) which may be used for PGP and CEU credits if your district accepts this documentation.
Please visit the ISCA website and become a member or renew your annual membership. Please contact ISCA directly for all membership questions.
Do you need help justifying this conference to your Supervisor? Vying for a good funding source can be challenging sometimes. We have created a letter (modeled from ASCA) you can customize to support your efforts to attend the 2025 ISCA Conference!
Professional Member*
$225
Student & Emeritus Member*
$170
Non-Member
$305
Professional Member*
$175
Student & Emeritus Member*
$140
Non-Member
$255
*Your ISCA membership must be good through November 21, 2025 to qualify for these rates.
**To qualify for the early registration discount, your registration form AND payment (copy of your purchase order, check, or credit card) must be received or postmarked by the early registration cutoff date.
The online registration portal is now closed, but we will be accepting on-site registration at the event. Please bring the Registration Form (see below to download) with your method of payment to the conference.
To pay with a check or purchase order please download the registration form and send it in with your check or purchase order. Registrations cannot be processed without payment. Contact us with questions.
Please Note: If we are forced to cancel the ISCA Conference because of a “force majeure” event, such as a government restriction on large gatherings that cover the intended size of the conference, then we will issue full refunds of the registrations. Otherwise, our normal cancellation policy will be upheld: There will be no refunds after October 20, 2025. All cancellations before October 20, 2025 will be refunded less a $25 handling fee. The association is not responsible for and cannot give refunds due to problems beyond its control, such as weather and school closings.
On social distancing and other health and safety measures, the regulations/guidelines that apply to hotels and conference centers may change. The ISCA Conference will conform to all necessary regulations/guidelines that are in place as of the date of the conference.
Register online below using a credit card, or download the registration form and send it in with your payment.
To pay with a check or purchase order please download the registration form and send it in with your check or purchase order. Registrations cannot be processed without payment. Contact us with questions.
VENUE & HOST HOTEL
7202 E 21st Street
Indianapolis, IN 46219
Reservation information coming soon.
All events of the conference will be located at the Convention Center. Standard rooms at the hotel may be reserved at a special conference rate of $145 plus tax. This rate is valid through October 27, 2025 while rooms are still available.
You can also book a room by calling (888) 236-2427 or (317) 352-1231. Be sure to mention the code ACNACNA.
In the evening, make sure you take time to relax and enjoy the surrounding area. Shop at places like the Ann Taylor or Saks Fifth Avenue and eat at restaurants like Maggianos or The Cheesecake Factory. Shop at places like Forever 21 or H&M or go to the AMC Theater to catch that movie you have been wanting to see!
We hope this conference will educate and equip you to do your job well, and we also hope you will take advantage of the wonderful ways you can relax and be refreshed!
National Center for Youth Issues
ATTN: IN-SCA
P.O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185
Make all checks and purchase orders payable to:
National Center for Youth Issues
The Attendee will receive an email confirmation to the email address provided when their registration is processed. (Make sure to check Junk/Spam folders.) Please allow ample time for processing.
Please contact ISCA directly with all membership questions.
Sponsors receive attendee contact information.
All intellectual property rights in and to the ISCA Annual Conference (“the Event”), the content and all materials distributed at or in connection with the Event are owned by the Indiana School Counselor Association and/or the Event sponsors or speakers presenting at the Event. You may not use or reproduce or allow anyone to use or reproduce any trademarks or other trade names appearing at the Event, in any Event content and/or in any materials distributed at or in connection with the Event for any reason without the prior written permission of Indiana School Counselor Association or the presenting speaker.
