April 3-4, 2023
Boston Marriott Newton
2345 Commonwealth Ave. Newton, MA 02466

Massachusetts School Counselor Association logo

April 3-4, 2023
Boston Marriott
2345 Commonwealth Ave.
Newton, MA 02466

Massachusetts School Counselors Association Conference April 3-4, 2023 header
Massachusetts School Counselors Association Conference April 3-4, 2023 header
Massachusetts School Counselors Association Conference April 3-4, 2023 header

Thanks for joining us for the 2023 Massachusetts School Counselor Association Conference!​

We look forward to seeing you next year.

Learn more about our Sponsors

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program of the United States armed forces present on college campuses to recruit and educate commissioned officers. It is designed as a college elective, and studies focus on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics. Army ROTC teaches the skills needed to be a successful leader. It combines classroom time with hands-on experience while students also learn leadership and management skills. Offered at more than 1,000 colleges and universities, students can get the college experience along with a guaranteed career after graduation as a highly respected second lieutenant in the Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.

To learn more about Army ROTC and the scholarship opportunities available, please reach out to one of our local Scholarship and Enrollment officers:

Assumption University offers students the opportunity to pursue a Master of Arts or a certificate of advanced graduate study (C.A.G.S.) in School Counseling, 100% online. We are one of only four schools in Massachusetts to be “Approved with Distinction” by DESE. Whether you want to become licensed as a school counselor or school adjustment counselor or would like to enhance your knowledge base, Assumption’s program provides an exceptional academic experience that fits into your busy life.

For more information please contact Karissa Mongeau, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at kh.mongeau@assumption.edu or (508) 767-7511.

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College Aid Pro is the “Naviance/Scoir” for financial aid and scholarships. CAP gives counselors and families an instant net price calculator at every college in the country. CAP also provides FAFSA/CSS Profile  guidance and the ability to read award letters and determine if the student received a fair award.

For more information please contact Matt Carpenter, Co-Founder at counselor@collegeaidpro.com or (888) 717-0389.

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DialCare is a virtual and telephonic counseling service. You can give your students ages 11 and older access to mental health assistance no matter where they are. Members can use their phone, tablet or computer for sessions with mental health professionals from the comfort of their home or on the go. Let our mental health professionals help give you peace of mind.

For more information contact Becca Bean, Assistant Vice President at beccab@dialcare.com.

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Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. A wish can be a spark that helps a child believe anything is possible. In the face of life-threatening medical conditions, wishes enable children to experience profound joy, renewed strength and resiliency, and lasting hope to keep striving and dreaming for the future. Together with generous supporters and 300+ volunteers, the organization has granted the wishes of over 9,000 children.
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Since our founding, MEFA’s mission of college affordability has been to help students and families access and afford higher education and reach financial goals through education programs, tax-advantaged savings plans, low-cost loans, and expert guidance. All of our work aligns with our ever-present goal to support the independence, growth, and success of students and families.

For more information please contact Jennifer Bento-Pinyoun, Director of MEFA Pathway, at jbento@mefa.org or at 617-224-4827.

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Milton Hershey School is one of the world’s best private schools, where qualifying students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade live on campus. Students receive an exceptional educational experience, nurturing home life, college and career readiness support, and comprehensive health and wellness care, including medical and dental services, food, and clothing—with all costs covered.

For more information contact Charlie Harcourt at harcourtc@mhs-pa.org.

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The Oasis Education Platform integrates with your MTSS Program to address student, faculty, and staff mental health needs.

We offer 24/7 prevention and early intervention support through MI-based chat support and engaging life skills content. Together, we can meet the current and future mental health demands of your district.

With Oasis, you will drop wait times, reach more students, and better allocate your resources.

For more information please contact Patricia Perata, Director of Sales & Customer Success at patricia@oasisapp.com or (724) 252-4559.

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Porter & Chester Institute is helping committed students attain rewarding careers  through industry-modeled, student-centered, training and support of the highest caliber. Our program offerings lead to diplomas in the Automotive, Computer, Healthcare and Skilled Trades fields and prepare graduates for professional certifications in those fields.

For more information please contact Jack Burke at jburke@porterchester.com or at 860.402.9173. You can learn more about Porter & Chester Institute online at https://porterchester.edu.

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The Princeton Review has been helping schools help students for more than 40 years. As the college admissions process becomes more competitive every year, we provide students with the tools they need to get into their dream schools. The Princeton Review is proudly partnered with schools across Massachusetts that enjoy free resources and discounted programs for middle and high schoolers.

To learn more please contact your local outreach specialist, Sarah Cao at Sarah.Cao@Review.com or at 857-226-0136

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QuaverReady is an online program designed to help all students succeed in school. It includes an evidence-based social and emotional learning curriculum and intervention and behavioral resources.

For more information contact Sean Smith, Director of Sales at sean@quavered.com or (615) 585-0337.

Rethink Ed’s innovative solutions create healthy school climates, promote a greater awareness and understanding of mental health and wellness, empower educators with training and instructional tools that drive whole school success. Powerful education Solutions and Professional training programs. There’s a Rethink Ed solution for every educational challenge-from on-demand Professional Development, to fast digital data management, active learning strategies and streamlined IEP goal writing.

For more information contact John Henyecz, Senior Account Executive at john.henyecz@rethinked.com or at (201) 398-6953.

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SCUTA is used by school counselors and school districts to develop a data-driven, evidence based school counseling program. It follows the ASCA National Model® recommendations and offers confidential, comprehensive documentation and use of time analysis system. It is an invaluable tool for School Counselors who want to do best practice, keep accurate records and develop a data driven school counseling program.

School Counselors using SCUTA, have the ability to clearly illustrate the nature of their work and school needs with supervisors and stakeholders.

For more information please contact Kathy.

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What does “Building Your Future. Not Your Debt.” mean? It is asking you to let our program provide the education you need to advance your career without incurring any debt. Sounds crazy, right? It’s not. We are investing in your talent and future so that you can grow your career without a heavy financial burden. Our model allows you to focus on learning and growing, not how much it is costing you. Let’s do this together.

For more information please contact Ann Baker, Dean of UFP Business School at ann.baker@ufpi.com or (616) 365-1574.

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Quick Facts

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Testimonial Videos

William James College, a dynamic and forward-thinking institution, is home to the Center for Behavioral Health, Equity, and Leadership in Schools (BHELS). The BHELS Center offers graduate training and consulting for educators, school administrators, and aspiring leaders who want to be a change agent in school districts. Graduate programs include the Graduate Certificate in Classroom Mental Health for teachers, and the online Graduate Certificate in School Leadership, a principal-prep program.

For more information please contact Julia Ogden, Admissions Counselor at info@williamjames.edu.

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IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE or VIRTUAL OPTION

IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE or VIRTUAL OPTION

We are excited that the 2023 MASCA Conference will offer both an in-person experience and a virtual option! Whether you would like to getaway from your routine or stay in the comfort of your own home we have options for you. See the breakdown for what each offers.

All who register will have access to the virtual conference portal. The virtual conference portal will stream the general keynote sessions live and will have those recorded live sessions available to view about one week following the conference if missed on those dates. The online portal will also have prerecorded breakout sessions covering multiple topics available to view when the conference begins on April 3, 2023. The pre-conference sessions will only be live and in person. They will not be available with the virtual option.

All sessions in the online portal will be available to view until May 31, 2023.

Keynote Sessions

In-Person Experience: Live and access to recorded sessions.

Virtual Option: Stream live and access to recorded sessions.

Pre-Conference Sessions

In-Person Experience: Live. (These sessions will not be recorded and made available online.)

Virtual Option: N/A

Breakout Sessions

In-Person Experience: Live and access to all pre-recorded sessions.

Virtual Option: Access to all pre-recorded sessions.

Professional Development Points and Graduate Credit

In-Person Experience: Receive credits for viewing sessions (Keynote, Pre-Conference, and Breakout) in person and earn additional credits for viewing sessions in the online portal. A minimum of 10 PDPs from MASCA or the option of 1 or 2 graduate credits from Lindenwood University are available for attendees who complete the requirements.

Virtual Option: Receive credits for all sessions viewed online (live-streamed and recorded). A minimum of 10 PDPs from MASCA and the option of 1 or 2 graduate credits from Lindenwood University are available for attendees who complete the requirements.

Exhibitors & Sponsors

In-Person Experience: Live only

Virtual Option: N/A

Networking

In-Person Experience: Live only

Virtual Option: N/A

Meals and Refreshments

In-Person Experience: Live only

Virtual Option: N/A

SPEAKERS

SPEAKERS

Wendy Rock

Wendy Rock headshot

Rodney Robinson

Rodney Robinson headshot

The Keynote Sessions are available to in-person and virtual attendees. These sessions will be streamed live and recorded for later viewing on the online portal.


Working with Minors in Schools: Legal and Ethical Considerations

Wendy Rock

Opening Workshop Speaker
Monday, April 3rd | 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

ABOUT THIS SESSION: School counselors must balance parents’ legal right to be the guiding voice in their children’s lives with students’ need for confidentiality. Participants will explore topics such as responding to potentially suicidal youth, supporting youth from marginalized populations, working with sexually active minor students, FERPA and counselor notes, the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), and other sensitive topics. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Ethical Standards for School Counselors (2022) will be reviewed and an ethical decision-making process will be applied to case studies that will support participants in their understanding of the complex nature of around minor’s rights to confidentiality and parent’s rights while building confidence in their approach to challenging ethical dilemmas.

SPEAKER BIO: A professional school counselor with almost two decades of experience, Dr. Rock joined the Southeastern Louisiana University faculty full-time in the fall of 2017 as an assistant professor. She is a licensed professional counselor/board-approved supervisor, nationally certified counselor, and nationally certified school counselor. She currently serves as the school counseling coordinator. Dr. Rock received her M.Ed. from the University of Texas at Austin in Educational Psychology (concentration in school counseling) and her Ph.D. from the University of Holy Cross (New Orleans) in Counselor Education and Supervision. She presents on a variety of topics at both the state and national levels. She served as a past president of the Louisiana School Counselor Association (LSCA). She is a past co-Chair of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Positions Statement Committee, a past member of the Louisiana High School ReDESIGN Professional School Counseling Task Force, and a past Associate Editor of The Professional School Counselor. She is a member of the Louisiana ACT Council, a member of the national ACT Steering Committee, a member of the Louisiana Counseling Association Government Relations Committee, Chair of the LSCA Counselor Ethics and Professional Standards Committee, Co-Chair of the Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES), School Counselor Interest Network, Secondary School Counselors Workgroup, and Chair of the ASCA Ethics Committee. Research interests include school counselor professional identity, the school counselor’s role in student mental health, school counselor-principal relationship, school counselor advocacy, and school counselor ethics.


What is Equity and Why Do All Children Deserve It?

Rodney Robinson

Keynote Speaker
Tuesday, April 4th | 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

ABOUT THIS SESSION: Rodney will define what equity means in education today. He will give concrete examples of inequities and how school counselors play a solid role in ensuring all students receive an equitable education. Participants will leave speech energized with practical solutions to help end education inequities.

SPEAKER BIO: Rodney is a 21-year education veteran working with marginalized black and brown communities in Richmond, Virginia. He has received numerous awards for his accomplishments in and out of the classroom, most notably the 2019 National Teacher of the Year. His current role is as a senior policy advisor with Richmond Public Schools in charge of Teacher Pathways with a specific focus on the RVA Men Teach Program to recruit and retain male teachers of color in Richmond Public Schools.

The Pre-Conference Learning Sessions are only available to in-person attendees. They are not available for the virtual option. The Pre-Conference Learning Sessions are an additional opportunity for more professional development and CEU contact hours. The sessions generally cover more in-depth information and allow more opportunity for discussion. These sessions are not included in the conference registration fee.


Self Care and Communities of Care for School Counselors

Jacqueline Zeller

Pre-Conference Speaker
Monday, April 3rd | 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. with lunch break

ABOUT THIS SESSION: This interactive session will describe the importance of self-care for school counselors. The session will incorporate literature and research that describes self-care, vulnerabilities to stress, the connection of self-care to school professionals’ professional duties and ethics, and self-care strategies. The session will also discuss the importance of creating a school climate of care to support self-care of individuals.


Mental Health in the Classroom

Christie Rogers-Larke

Pre-Conference Speaker
Monday, April 3rd | 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. with lunch break

ABOUT THIS SESSION: One in five students will receive, or have, a psychiatric diagnosis during their school age years. This presentation allows participants to get a brief overview of ‘common’ diagnoses, symptoms and effective interventions that can be used.


Critical Conversations on Improving the Fidelity of Implementing College and Career Plans

Kimberly Howard, V. Scott Solberg, and LaVonia Montoute

Pre-Conference Speaker
Monday, April 3rd | 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. with lunch break

ABOUT THIS SESSION: This pre-conference session provides a tool and resources that enable school counselors and educators to assess the effectiveness of college and career planning implementation and improve implementation fidelity in their district/school. Using the Career Advising Self-Assessment Tool the session is comprised of three parts where participating educators a) complete a self-assessment, b) discuss in small groups, and c) connect with ideas and resources.


Use of Bibliotherapy Through a CBT Lens to Reduce Anxiety for All Students

Laurie Dickstein-Fischer

Pre-Conference Speaker
Monday, April 3rd | 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. with lunch break

ABOUT THIS SESSION: Marked increase in student anxiety poses a growing challenge as counselors look for creative evidence based strategies to assist students. Using bibliotherapy through a CBT lens can help students recognize and understand their own emotions and thoughts in a non-threatening manner, while learning new coping tools & strategies. We will also discuss how to use bibliotherapy individually, in small groups and large classroom settings.


Advocating to Reduce Systemic Barriers for Our Gender Expansive Humans

Lisa Koenecke

Pre-Conference Speaker
Monday, April 3rd | 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. with lunch break

ABOUT THIS SESSION: YOU can save lives with this session! We will explore ethics, trauma and laws. Starting with resources from ASCA, GLSEN and TSER, walk away with FREE resources and toolkits. Share your stories, bring your questions and have some fun. Data is a key to advocating for our LGBTQ+ and Gender Expansive Humans!


Youth Mental Health First Aid

Christine Shaw

Pre-Conference Speaker
Monday, April 3rd | 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. with lunch break

***Registration has Closed***

ABOUT THIS SESSION: Youth Mental Health First Aid is an internationally recognized program for preparing adults who work with youth to respond to emerging, worsening and crisis mental health situations. Please note:

  • Limit of 30 spots for the training.
  • Registration for this pre-conference workshop will end on March 9.
  • This is a 6.5 hour training with 2 hours of pre-work prior to this in-person session.
  • All contact information for this pre-conference session will be sent to Youth Mental Health First Aid at least two weeks before the MASCA Conference to be enrolled for the two hour pre-work for the workshop.
  • An email will be sent to registrants at least two weeks prior with information on completing the two hour pre-work workshop.
  • Attendees have the option to view the online booklet for the workshop at no cost, or pay an additional $25.00 for a hard copy of it. More details to come in email mentioned above.
  • Workshop attendees must take a test afterwards to receive a certificate from Youth Mental Health First Aid. The certificate is good for three years.

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

PDP Information

MASCA is an approved PDP provider. Attendees can earn by attending the Full Conference on April 3-4, 2023. PDP info will be shared with all registrants.

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION

Become a Member

Please visit the MASCA website and become a member or renew your annual membership. Please contact MASCA directly for all membership questions.

Main Conference | April 3-4

Professional Member*

In-Person: $160

Virtual: $145 

Save $15 if you register by January 31st!***

Student or Retiree Member*

In-Person: $95

Virtual: $80 

Save $10 if you register by January 31st!***

Non-Member**

In-Person: $205 

Virtual: $190

Save $15 if you register by January 31st!***

Pre-Conference | April 3

Available for In-Person attendees only.

Professional Member*

In-Person: $65 

Student or Retiree Member*

In-Person: $50

Non-Member*

In-Person: $85

*Your MASCA membership must be good through April 4, 2023 to qualify for these rates.

**If you register for the Main Conference as a Non-Member you will receive a complimentary MASCA membership. Pre-Conference Only registration does not include a complimentary MASCA membership.

***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.  

Please Note: If we are forced to cancel the MASCA 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 March 3, 2023. All cancellations before March 3, 2023 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 MASCA Conference will conform to all necessary regulations/guidelines that are in place as of the date of the conference.

If you transfer your registration from Virtual to In-Person (or vice versa), a $25 transaction fee will apply.

ACCOMMODATIONS

ACCOMMODATIONS

VENUE & HOST HOTEL:

Boston Marriott Newton

2345 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02466

Map

Massachusetts School Counselor Association Conference April 3-4, 2023 Boston Marriott Newton Hotel exterior

CONTACT INFORMATION

866.318.6294

Fax 423.899.4547

registrations@ncyi.org

National Center for Youth Issues
ATTN: MASCA
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 MASCA directly with all membership questions.

Sponsors receive attendee contact information.