November 18-19, 2024
Radisson Plaza Hotel at Kalamazoo Center
Kalamazoo, MI
We hope to see you next year!
Details to come.
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, Senior Vice President at beccab@dialcare.com.
Harmony Academy offers educators professional learning and curriculum resources promoting healthy relationships. Harmony Curriculum provides comprehensive classroom materials to foster engaged learners and peer relationships. Harmony Professional Learning empowers educators through free modules and monthly webinars led by inspirational leaders, focusing on relationship building strategies. Visit harmony-academy.org for more information.
Student wellness must include a balanced mind and positive emotional well-being. At iWellness Center, we’ve developed an innovative platform for K-12 schools that surveys students and analyzes data in real time, providing educators with critical insights to proactively support students’ emotional needs. The iWellness Center check-ins allow schools to monitor student well-being and promptly alert staff when immediate intervention is required.
For more information, please contact Whitney Foley,
Chief Executive Officer at (810) 513-6319 or whitney@iwellnesscenter.org, or email support@iwellnesscenter.org.
Joint Venture Hospital Laboratories (JVHL) includes 120+ hospitals, providing laboratory services to more than 5.4 million members. JVHL helps school counselors open new doors of exploration for students desiring a career that fuels a sense of discovery, provides lifesaving impact, and offers long-term job stability. A prepared, resilient laboratory workforce provides timely and accurate clinical data, crucial in saving lives and improving health outcomes. Connect with us to learn more!
For more information, please contact Dawn Taylor,
Recruitment Liaison at (313) 271-3692 or dtaylor@jvhl.org.
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University offers all the advantages of a conservatory college of art and design—creative immersion, expert faculty, and personalized instruction—without sacrificing the support systems and educational value of a state university. Our urban campus in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids is the perfect environment for students to make the move from creative potential to creative professional. And turn their talent into a future-proof career.
For more information contact KCAD Admissions, Office at (616) 259-1118 or kcadadmissions@ferris.edu..
With Learning Blade you can easily integrate STEM, CS, and CTE concepts into a child’s education. Appropriate for grades 5-9, Learning Blade provides 12 “missions” that contextualize learning and engage all students, including underrepresented and special populations, while reinforcing academic standards. Each of our lessons and resources is indexed so you can see what state standards are being met. Click here for the Learning Blade Michigan Account Request.
For more information contact Joshua Sneideman,
Vice President of Learning Blade at (423) 681-9733 or joshua@learningblade.com.
The Path to Leadership Program (PTL) is an alternative route to earning a School Administrator’s Certificate. The certificate is required to work as a building or district leader in the state of Michigan. PTL is 100% online asynchronous learning. The cost of the program is less than a third of the cost of earning the certificate through a traditional route. MDE fully approves PTL, which has been in existence for 11 years. You can complete the program in one year or spread it out over two years.
For more information contact Tammy Jackson, Program Director at tammy@massp.com or (231) 357-1748 .
Schools to Tools is a program of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights designed to empower students, educators, and parents to explore skilled trade career pathways. We offer free SCECH training to educators, training center campus tours, career exposure events, hiring combines, and an innovative, interactive Mobile Field Trip that brings hands-on and virtual experiences to students at their schools around Michigan.
For more information contact Lisa Canada,
Director of Special Projects at lisa.canada@hammer9.com.
Michigan Virtual is a nonprofit educational organization that is leading and collaborating to build learning environments for tomorrow. Driven by student success, we have a strong record of supporting Michigan education that spans more than two decades. While many know us for our research-based, quality online learning options for students and professional development for educators, we also do a great deal of work behind the scenes to conduct original research, test innovations in learning, and provide consulting partnerships to promote effective practices.
For more information please contact Thomas Soria, Director of School Partnerships at tsoria@michiganvirtual.org or (517) 664-5464.
MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing equality of access to student financial resources and information. Through the administration of various student financial assistance programs, students receive the guidance and funding necessary to pursue their educational goals.
For more information, please contact mistudentaid@michigan.gov.
Peer Helpers PLUS is a comprehensive, peer-to-peer, youth suicide prevention and support program. Our mission is to empower students to be academically, socially, and emotionally successful; to recognize and resolve conflict; to value diversity; and to be advocates for positive change and healthy choices.
For more information, please contact Tam Larnerd, Regional Sales Executive at (702) 249-6356 or tam@thriveway.com
ROX trains female school counselors & educators to deliver evidence-based programs to girls in grades 5-12. The ROX Program for Girls is a co-curricular experience with a 20-lesson curriculum that has been proven effective with more than 40,000 girls since 2006. Curricula focus on: Girl drama & bullying, healthy relationships, social media, body image, stress and coping. 90% of participants report that ROX is the thing they like best about School. Partner with us to empower your girls with ROX!
For more information, please contact Nancy Willis, Program Director at (614) 783-1058 and nancywillis@rulingourexperiences.com
With RV sales increasing and more and more Americans taking to the road to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle, skilled RV technicians are in high demand. The RV Technical Institute’s hands-on training and instruction, created by top RV industry experts, provides the experience and expertise needed by manufacturers, dealerships and repair shops nationwide.
For more information please contact Curt Hemmeler, Executive Director, via email at rvti-info@rvti.org or at 800.664.0154.
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 Indiana’s initiatives for improved student outcomes and postsecondary readiness.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Lillard at JLillard@schoolinks.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 Stephanie.
“Tuition Now Costs a Whopping $90,000 a Year or More at Some Universities” (https://www.msn.com/en-ph/money). Our comprehensive educational workshop, Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College, is designed to empower families by understanding the complex strategies for saving and paying for college. Unlike standard financial aid presentations, we educate parents with students of all ages and demographics, helping families figure out HOW to pay for higher education and still retire one day.
Founded in 2002, The College Funding Coach® mission remains steadfast: empowering families with the comprehensive knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions. Parents don’t know what they don’t know! Partner with us to bring this critical information to your parent community.
For more information please contact Bernadette Boyle,
Director of Educational Programs at (800) 969-2362 or (571) 296-4075, or email bboyle@thecollegefundingcoach.org.
The U.S. Army provides state-of-the-art education and skill training in a multitude of career fields from Culinary to Aviation to Medical and Engineering to name a few. Learn about free education resources the Army offers to students and teachers. Connect with the Education Services representative who can provide presentations on these resources, ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP), March 2 Success test prep course and Army benefits to you, your parents, or your school!
For more information please contact Anglea Trotter, Education Services Specialist (ESS) Education Services Specialist (ESS) at angela.trotter3.civ@army.mil or (517) 862-5047.
Xello is an engaging, online program that helps K-12 students define their future goals and transform their aspirations into actionable plans for success.
It helps them build self-knowledge, explore their options, create a plan, and develop the skills needed to thrive in the world of work.
For more information please contact Oliver Browne, Territory Manager at oliverb@xello.world
Keynote Session
November 18, 2024| 1:00 p.m.
Are you an educator feeling stuck in a rut? Do you yearn for a sense of purpose in your work? “Passion. Purpose. Position” – a call to action for educators to unleash their unique gifts and transform their communities. Join Ashley for an inspiring keynote session where you’ll discover how to harness your passion, find your purpose, and position yourself as a change agent in education.
When you identify your strengths and align them with your goals, you’ll truly discover the impact you can have in your school and beyond, and leave a legacy with every individual you encounter. Become transformed and motivated to make a difference in the lives of your students, staff, and community.
Born and raised in Houston, TX, Ashley Wright has been an educator for the past 14 years, and a certified school counselor and licensed professional counselor for the past 5 years. Her experience as an elementary classroom teacher helped her to realize students were having endless challenges that dealt with home, school, and peers. She later decided to become a school counselor in order to fully serve and connect with students campus-wide and in her community. This move enabled her to reach more students with social-emotional support and strategies/tools to enhance their resilience and relationships.
Recently recognized as the 2022 American School Counselor of the Year Finalist and 2021 Texas School Counselor of the Year, Ashley continues as a national speaker and advocate of the profession to teach students and educators to accept diversity, increase self-esteem, build character and maintain resilience. It is her divine belief that “Every human being has the unlimited potential to make positive change in one’s life.”
Keynote Session
November 19, 2024| 8:30 a.m.
Over the last few years it has become evident that the plates of school counselors across the nation have become increasingly full of challenges, such as staff shortages, increased mental health needs for adults and students, increased rates of truancy, decreased rates of academic achievement, and a noticeable lack of social skills and conflict resolution across all developmental stages. This list could go on!
Redesigning our systems to be more proactive is an essential part of breaking the cycle of reactivity that oftentimes leads to burnout and frustrations. Discover frameworks, strategies, and best practices that will leave you feeling empowered to embrace new concepts that may be unfamiliar and uncomfortable at first, but might be exactly the new approach that is needed to transform our student supports to be more comprehensive across all service providers, preventative in practice, and inclusive of ALL students.
As Executive Director of Transformational Partnerships for Hatching Results, Terri leads a team of nationally recognized consultants who work with school counselors and administrators across the country to develop comprehensive, data-informed programs that are centered on supporting the needs of ALL students. Prior to Terri’s current role with Hatching Results, she served 18 years in education as both a high school English teacher and school counselor where she was able to lead her department in becoming one of the first schools in the state of Michigan to become a Recognized ASCA Model Program and was named the 2017 National School Counselor of the Year. As Terri travels the country to support the development of comprehensive school counseling programs, she continues to fuel her passions for both career development and the state of school counseling in Michigan as most recently having served as an Advisory Panel Member for the US Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Education, as well as the President of the Michigan School Counselor Association.
Click the session to title to learn more
Tentative
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Open
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Exhibits Open
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Welcome and Keynote Speaker – Ashley Wright
2:50 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Breakout Session 1
3:50 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Coffee Break with Exhibitors
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Breakout Session 2
5:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. President’s Reception with Exhibitors
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration & Breakfast
7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Exhibits Open
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker – Terri Tchorzynski
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Breakout Session 3
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Breakout Session 4
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Celebration Lunch
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Breakout Session 5
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Breakout Session 6
4:00 p.m. Adjourn
Conference attendees will be able to choose which breakout sessions they’d like to attend and will be eligible for college, career, military and general SCECHs, depending on which sessions they attend. More information on SCECH’s will be available at the conference.
Please visit the MSCA website and become a member or renew your annual membership. Or you can renew you membership below. Non-members receive a complimentary membership with their registration.
For questions about MSCA membership please contact, Sarah Dickman at msca1964@gmail.com.
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 2024 MSCA Conference!
Monday, November 18, 2024 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join us on the WMU campus to see the new Student Center and Dining Facility—designed to connect the lines between the classroom and student life—and learn more about Western to help advise your students. During the event, you will experience our recent campus renewal first-hand, including the student center, central campus landscaping and other building improvements. If you have previously been to the WMU Main Campus, this is your chance to see our campus makeover! Click “Learn More” to hear more about the event and to register to attend.
Professionals or Affiliates
Member* $200
Non-Member** $265
Save $20 if you register by September 15th!***
Graduate Students & Retirees
Member* $135
Non-Member** $170
*Your MSCA membership must be good through November 19, 2024 to qualify for these rates.
**Non-Member registrations include a one year membership to MSCA.
***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 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 October 18, 2024. All cancellations before October 18, 2024 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.
Register online below using a credit card, or download the registration form and send it in with your payment.
VENUE & HOST HOTEL
100 W Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Reservation information coming soon.
All events of the conference will be located at the Radisson Plaza Hotel at Kalamazoo Center. Standard rooms at the hotel may be reserved at a special conference rate of $169 plus tax. This rate is valid through October 25, 2024.
You can also book a room by calling (269) 343-3333. Be sure to mention the Michigan School Counselor Association Fall Conference.
Please note the Radisson will manually go in and adjust each guests’ overnights self-parking rates that are in the block to the discounted $10.00 per car per night. Please do not hesitate to call or email Reservations@ghgkz.com for questions or concerns in regards to making or changing a reservation.
Located in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo, you will find tons to do with your free time. Adjacent to the hotel is the Kalamazoo Mall, the first outdoor pedestrian mall in the United States. The Mall features revitalized Art Deco buildings, specialty shops, chic restaurants, unique coffee shops and lively brewpubs. You can also visit one of the many museums downtown, such the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts or the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. A short walk from the hotel is Bronson Park, sometimes referred to as Kalamazoo’s “front porch,” where you can enjoy the outdoors amidst the concrete jungle. There is tons to do around Kalamazoo, so you can learn 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: MI-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 MSCA directly with all membership questions.
Sponsors receive attendee contact information.
