March 15-16, 2026
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
Cambridge, MD
We hope to see you next year!
Active Minds mobilizes youth and young adults to lead a transformative movement in mental health, forever changing how it is valued and prioritized in society. By equipping, connecting, and amplifying the collective and diverse voices of youth and young adults, we are building a movement of lasting champions who are improving mental health norms for all.
For more information, contact Joy Sheppard, Director, Community Programs at (202) 332-9595 or joy@activeminds.org.
The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters represent men and women who provide safe, productive work every day. We span a variety of crafts such as general carpentry, pile driving, trade show, interior design, mill cabinet and millwrights. Our state-of-the-art, no debt apprentice training sets the standard in our industry and ensures that workers have the training to operate efficiently and safely on the job site.
Contact Patty Hapanowicz at phapanowicz@cctmarketing.org or (732) 754-0561 for more information.
Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum integrating social-emotional learning, life skills, and physical activity. The after-school program empowers girls in 3rd- to 8th-grade to recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, and confidently stand up for themselves and others across Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties & the Eastern Shore.
For more information on how to bring the program to your school, please contact Kelly Makimaa, Executive Director at (410) 635-9313 or kelly.makimaa@girlsontherun.org.
Howard Community College is the primary hub for higher learning in one of the most vibrant, best-educated counties in Maryland. We are proud to serve our community and to provide pathways to success for everyone whose life goals can be realized through education.
HCC offers outstanding two-year degree and certificate programs built around in-demand careers. Offering affordable options for degrees and certificates, HCC is a smart choice, with courses that transfer to a long list of four-year institutions and education that will prepare you for the workforce. Students of all ages and educational levels also can prepare for a new career, sharpen job skills or explore personal interests through the many programs in our noncredit, Workforce, Career & Community Education division.
HCC makes higher education accessible with flexible scheduling and online, hybrid and accelerated learning formats. We look forward to helping you on your journey and meeting you where you dream.
For more information, please contact Danny Hall, Director of Recruitment recruitment@howardcc.edu.
The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) trains and represents men and women in the United States and Canada who work in the Finishing Trades of construction – commercial and industrial painters, glass work, floor installation, drywall finishing and sign & display, among other crafts. Our apprenticeship program gives young men and women to EARN WHILE THEY LEARN. As they train in their crafts, they are also on the job site earning a good living that includes benefits.
Contact IUPAT Finishing Trades Institute at careers@iupat.org or (410) 564-5850 for more information.
For over a century, the Ironworker trade has been one of the most revered & exciting trades. Ironworkers are recognized as highly skilled, highly trained and safety conscious tradesmen.
Ironworkers Local Union #5 played a major role in the construction of the regions’ most famous structures. Some of our proudest accomplishments are the Capital Building, FedEx Field, M&T Bank Stadium, Nationals Park, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Capital One Arena, Capital One Headquarters, and Amazon Headquarters.
For more information contact Gary Armstrong,
Apprenticeship Director at (301) 599-0940 or garmstrong@iwjatc5.com.
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, please contact Deb Turnpaugh 717-696-0093 or turnpaughd@mhs-pa.org.
QuaverReady is a fully online, teacher-led curriculum supporting essential readiness skills for school and life. We provide a full year of K–8 lessons based on the five core competencies. School counselors, teachers, and all support staff may facilitate lessons on Academic achievement, Bullying, and Resilience. Visit Quavered.com/preview.
For more information, please contact Eric Wormsbaker, Director of Sales at (629) 702-7388 or EricWormsbaker@QuaverEd.com.
RethinkEd helps districts turn whole child and whole educator frameworks into everyday practice. Through one connected platform, essential supports come together with actionable insights – reducing reliance on siloed, fragmented solutions. Rather than treating academics, behavior, mental health, and educator support as separate efforts, we bring these areas into a unified system designed for consistent use across schools. Curriculum, interventions, professional learning, and data work together to support students’ academic, behavioral, and emotional growth while strengthening educator capacity and confidence. Built by educators and grounded in evidence, our platform aligns with trusted standards and research-based best practices used across K–12 education. Districts partner with RethinkEd to extend the strong work already happening in their schools and build sustainable systems where students thrive and educators feel supported. Explore what’s possible at rethinked.com.
For more information, please contact Corinne Bishop, Director of Sales at (347) 797-4756 or corinne.bishop@rethinked.com.
Salisbury University sets success in motion with a community where students are seen, heard, supported and challenged. SU is home to 7,500 students and offers over 60 graduate and undergraduate programs across business, education, health and human services, the liberal arts, and sciences. At Salisbury, professors become mentors, connecting ideas to real-world experiences. SU propels students forward to a better tomorrow in their lives and careers. Make Tomorrow Yours at SU: www.salisbury.edu
For more information, please contact Beth Skoglund, Director of Admissions at (410) 543-6161 or admissions@salisbury.edu.
SchooLinks is a modern college and career readiness platform that supports districts’ implementation of a comprehensive curriculum and framework to prepare students for the post-secondary pathway of their choice. Containing more than eighty interactive student experiences from interest discoveries, academic planning, and soft skill development – SchooLinks offers internship matching, career mentorship, industry partner management, and more to help districts support holistic postsecondary readiness. Our unified solution supports South Carolina’s initiatives for improved student outcomes and postsecondary readiness.
For more information, please contact Adam at adam@schoolinks.com.
SCUTA (School Counselor Use of Time Analysis) equips school counselors and district leaders with clarity, evidence, and a common language to develop high-impact, comprehensive school counseling programs. Aligned with national and state standards, SCUTA transforms daily work into meaningful data that increases visibility, improves alignment, and supports student-focused decisions. Using confidential documentation tools and precise use-of-time analysis, SCUTA helps counseling teams demonstrate the scope of their work, advocate for appropriate roles, and identify opportunities to improve services and close gaps. For leaders dedicated to best practices, accountability, and equitable outcomes, SCUTA offers an efficient way to monitor program implementation, support counselors, and communicate results with confidence and accuracy.
For more information, please contact Alani at alani@myscuta.com.
Sheppard Pratt is the largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, developmental disability, special education, and social services in the country. A nationwide resource, Sheppard Pratt provides services across a comprehensive continuum of care, spanning both hospital- and community-based resources – caring for every age at every stage.
For more information, please contact Lauren Shiro at Lauren.Shiro@sheppardpratt.org or (443) 842-1089.
Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is in almost 1,000 colleges nationwide. It is an elective course that provides unrivaled leadership and management training. It allows students to maintain a regular academic schedule like any other college student while participating in ROTC training both in and out of the classroom. After graduation and completing the ROTC requirements, students will become an Officer serving full-time or part-time while still pursuing a civilian career.
For more information please contact Rich Hutson, 4th BDE ROTC Recruitment Operations Officer at richard.e.hutson2.civ@army.mil or (910) 528-4450.
Wellpoint is a leading Managed Care Organization (MCO) dedicated to improving lives and promoting healthier communities.
For more information contact Nykol Robertson, Community Relations Representative at (240) 319-0110 or Nykol.Robertson@wellpoint.com.
The EAS Carpenters represents close to 43,000 of the most skilled carpenters in DE, Washington DC, MD, NJ, PA, VA, and WV. The Council is made up of 25 Local unions, operate 17 state-of-the-art training facilities, and are part of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. EAS Carpenters are trained in many different trades, including: commercial/residential carpentry; heavy highway; piledriving; floor-layering; mill cabinet work; millwright; and tradeshow construction.
For more information, please contact Patty Grant, Industry & Media Relations Manager at pgrant@cctnetwork.org.
Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is in almost 1,000 colleges nationwide. It is an elective course that provides unrivaled leadership and management training. It allows students to maintain a regular academic schedule like any other college student while participating in ROTC training both in and out of the classroom. After graduation and completing the ROTC requirements, students will become an Officer serving full-time or part-time while still pursuing a civilian career.
For more information please contact Rich Hutson, 4th BDE ROTC Recruitment Operations Officer at (910) 528-4450 or richard.e.hutson2.civ@army.mil.
Opening Presentation
March 15, 2026 | 12:30 p.m.
Dr. Dalton will discuss the growing phenomenon of school avoidance and evidence-based interventions to help students return to school and to maintain attendance. He will discuss the important distinctions between anxiety-based school avoidance and autism-based school avoidance with a focus the proper role and limitations of accommodations for both groups of students. In addition, practical strategies to increase parent involvement and provide parent education regarding how avoidance fuels the maintenance of anxiety will be highlighted.
.
.
Dr. Dalton is a licensed psychologist who founded the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change (CABC) in 2011. CABC is dedicated to providing evidence-based treatment for individuals experiencing anxiety and related disorders.
He received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fordham University with a specialization in child and family psychology. He completed two years of pre-doctoral training at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine – Kennedy Krieger Institute, and advanced postdoctoral training at the Maryland Center for Anxiety Disorders at the University of Maryland.
Dr. Dalton believes strongly that providing professional training is a cornerstone of his professional mission. To that end, he has provided extensive training and consultation to dozens of schools and school systems locally and nationwide and values presenting to community, regional, and national organizations on his areas of expertise.
Click the session to title to learn more
Keynote Presentation
March 15, 2026 | 1:45 p.m.
School counselors carry a lot. You listen, advocate, support, problem-solve, and show up for students, families, and schools every single day. In the process, it’s easy to quiet your own voice, downplay your impact, or push through exhaustion without naming what you need.
This keynote is an invitation to pause and reconnect with your clarity, your confidence, and your sense of agency. In it, we’ll explore the subtle ways self-silencing shows up in our work and lives: hesitation, self-doubt, overextending, or feeling like you have to hold it all together on your own. Through storytelling, reflection, and practical insight grounded in psychology and wellbeing, you ’ll be reminded that your voice matters, your presence makes a difference, and how you show up shapes the future you ’re helping create every day.
When counselors live and lead unmuted, they don’t just support students; they model courage, self-trust, and possibility. And that’s how we unmute the future.
Learning Objectives
1. Recognize common ways self-silencing shows up in your professional lives and how it affects energy, confidence, and wellbeing
2. Reconnect with a stronger sense of agency, clarity, and confidence in your role and impact
3. Identify simple, meaningful ways to communicate more courageously and authentically for yourselves and the students they serve
.
.
Too many high-potential employees are holding back—hesitating to speak up, lead initiatives, or share ideas, right when organizations need bold thinking and proactive leadership the most. Rachel Druckenmiller helps shift that dynamic. Known for her energy, authenticity, and practical insight, she equips people to lead with confidence and contribute more fully, so teams come alive and elevate performance.
As a Certified XCHANGE Guide and Certified Virtual Presenter, Rachel has facilitated hundreds of interactive learning experiences for companies ranging in size from 25 employees to 60,000 employees globally representing a wide range of industries. After spending the first 13 years of her career in the workplace culture, wellbeing, and employee engagement within the employee benefits industry, Rachel left to speak and train full-time. Through interactive trainings, keynotes, and workshops, she supports organizations, leaders and teams to ignite clarity, confidence, connection, and engagement to help people come alive at work. Rachel has a Master’s degree in Health Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is a Health Coach.
Rachel has over 15 years of experience as a thought leader in the well-being industry and has been honored with the following recognitions:
• 2023 Best of Stage Speaker by Smart Meetings
• Maryland’s Top 100 Women of 2022 by The Daily Record
• Forbes Next 1000 Honoree 2021
• One of the Leading Women of 2020 by The Daily Record
• 40 Under 40 Game Changer by Workforce Magazine in 2019
• #1 Health Promotion Professional in the U.S. by the Wellness Council of America
• (WELCOA) in 2015
Click the session to title to learn more
Afternoon Workshop
March 15, 2026 | 3:00 p.m.
Adolescents are my favorite population to work with. Sometimes they make me laugh out loud and sometimes I find myself tearful in clinical supervision. They are often insightful, genuine, appreciative, respectful, emotional and humorous. However, they also get a bad rap. I have heard many colleagues say that adolescents are the hardest population to work with. Adolescents can also be guarded, untrustworthy, angry, disrespectful and resistant. This workshop is a brief look into the interventions used by a professional who has been serving teens for over 30 years. We will talk about Evidenced Based Practices like Motivational Interviewing and Motivational Incentives. You will also get the opportunity to learn about using experiential activities to engage teens in counseling groups. This workshop will give some willing participants the opportunity to participate in some experiential activities designed to engage people. I look forward to seeing you, let’s have a little fun.
.
.
Mr. Shannon Garrett is a licensed social worker and a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor. He graduated from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 1997 and continued to be involved with the university as a field instructor for 18 years. He completed his undergraduate internship in 1992 at Mountain Manor Treatment Center in Baltimore, MD, and was hired afterward as a substance abuse counselor. He worked with adolescents at Mountain Manor for over 21 years, where he assisted in the vision and implementation of a co-occurring continuum of care model for adolescents, young adults, and their families. Shannon has been the clinical coordinator for several NIDA, CSAT, CTN and SAMHSA research studies and is a master trainer with the Addiction Technology Transfer Center. Shannon served as the program director for Austin Addiction and Mental Health Center from 2019 to 2021. He is currently the director of adolescent services for Congruent Counseling Services in Maryland. Shannon is a husband, a father, and has been in recovery since 4/4/1985.
Click the session to title to learn more
Keynote Presentation
March 16, 2026 | 11:15 a.m.
Danielle R. Crankfield, the 2026 School Counselor of the Year, invites school counselors to claim their professional identity and confidently own their lane. Grounded in the ASCA National Model and professional standards, this keynote will clarify the school counselor role; examine how language like “guidance” and “help with anything” fuels burnout and diminishes the profession; and suggest practical, respectful ways to respond when administrators and colleagues suggest you “stay in your lane” — even when they don’t fully understand the boundaries of that lane in the first place.
.
.
The first national School Counselor of the Year from Maryland, Danielle Crankfield is a school counselor and department chair at Crofton High School in Gambrills, Md. The school serves 1,900 students, grades 9–12.
Crankfield, who has been a school counselor since 2010, received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Temple University and a master’s degree in counseling (school counseling concentration) from Johns Hopkins University.
Click the session to title to learn more
10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Registration & Information Center Open
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Welcoming Refreshments
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Exhibits Open
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | MSDE Updates
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Opening Presentation with Dr. Jonathan Dalton
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. | Sunday Keynote Presentation with Rachel Druckenmiller
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Afternoon Workshop with Shannon Garrett
7:00 p.m. – until | Awards Soirée (additional cost required)
7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Registration & Information Center Open
7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Exhibits Open
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. | Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | MSCA President’s Welcome and Information Session
8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Break – Visit Exhibitors
9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. | Breakout Session 1
9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. | Coffee Break with Exhibitors
10:10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Breakout Session 2
11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Break – Visit Exhibitors
11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Keynote Luncheon – Danielle R. Crankfield
12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Break – Visit Exhibitors
1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. | Breakout Session 3
1:50 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. | Break – Visit Exhibitors
2:05 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. | Breakout Session 4
Please visit the MSCA website and become a member or renew your annual membership, or you can add your membership to your conference registration. Please contact MSCA directly for all membership questions.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBER*
$255
STUDENT MEMBER*
$120
NON-MEMBER
$315
*Your MSCA membership must be good through March 16, 2026 to qualify for these rates. If you register as a member and your membership lapses before the conference, you will be asked to renew your membership. If you do not renew, you will be charged the difference between the member rate and non-member rate.
**To qualify for the Early Bird Registration Rate, your registration form AND payment (copy of your purchase order, check, or credit card) must be received or postmarked by January 31, 2026.
Please Note: If we are forced to cancel the MSCA 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 February 15, 2026. All cancellations before February 15, 2026 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 MSCA Conference will conform to all necessary regulations/guidelines that are in place as of the date of the conference.
VENUE & HOST HOTEL
100 Heron Blvd, US-50
Cambridge, MD 21613
All events of the Conference will be located at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay. Standard rooms at the hotel may be reserved at a special conference rate starting at $137 per night plus tax. This rate is valid through February 20, 2026, while rooms are available.
Please note from the hotel: Keep in mind that the rate showing is the average rate per night. Please continue with selecting your preferred room type and on the last page, the group rate will be reflected in the pricing summary. The resort fee will be waived at the time of check out. The card you put on file will not be charged until after you depart.
You can also book a room by calling (800) 233-1234.
Corporate or Group Code: G-MSC6
The Hyatt Regency in Chesapeake is on the Choptank River in Dorchester County. Savor regional specialties at Water’s Edge Grill located in the Hyatt, or visit many fine restaurants for fresh seafood and waterfront dining. If looking for some retail therapy check out the antique stores, boutiques, and country stores you will find nearby. Visit local landmarks like the Choptank River Lighthouse, or experience the local heritage by taking a historic tour or visiting the Harriet Tubman Byway. There is tons to do around Cambridge, so you can work and play!
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: MSCA
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 MSCA directly with all membership questions.
Sponsors receive attendee contact information.
All intellectual property rights in and to the Maryland School Counselor Association (MSCA) Annual Conference (“the Event”), the content and all materials distributed at or in connection with the Event are owned by MSCA 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 MSCA or the presenting speaker.
