Details to come.
We look forward to seeing you next year!
Details to come.
Click the sponsor logo to learn more about that sponsor.
We’re finalizing an exciting lineup of educators and thought leaders to create a meaningful conference experience. Check back soon for speak annoucements.
November 15, 2026 | 12:00 p.m.
A powerful, uplifting and interactive keynote that equips participants with practical tools to protect their own well-being, maintain balance, and stay grounded—so they can continue showing up with compassion, energy, and joy for the individuals and families they support.
Loren will also be presenting one breakout session.
Session information
Loren will also be presenting one breakout session.
Once an at-risk youth, Loren Dittmar, PhD, is now a nationally recognized speaker and consultant specializing in school mental health, suicide prevention, and the well-being of the adults who serve youth. He partners with schools and organizations nationwide to expand mental health supports, strengthen staff resilience, and build cultures where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to live authentically.
With over 25 years of combined experience in clinical and educational settings, Loren brings a rare blend of frontline insight and scholarly depth. His background includes five years in the mental health field, 18 years as a school counselor, including service as a Director of School Counseling, and 13 years as an adjunct professor. He served as a Lead Professional Learning Specialist with Hatching Results, supporting districts in implementing data-driven, ASCA-aligned comprehensive school counseling programs. He was also the lead expert for the mental health section of the international resource covid19k12counseling.org. Loren has held various leadership roles within multiple state school counselor associations and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Palmetto State School Counselor Association.
Through courageous conversations and healthy vulnerability, Loren equips audiences to ignite purpose, inspire change, and transform the way they lead, live, and connect.
November 16, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.
With everything on your plate, it’s easy to lose sight of the inherent hope that education provides. We can get stuck in spirals of disruptive behavior, disconnection, and even despair. Luckily, that’s not the end of the story. This uplifting keynote demonstrates a simple yet powerful approach to interrupting these negative cycles. Equal parts heartwarming and practical, you’ll discover how small shifts can lead to big changes for you and the future world-changers in your school.
Jessica will also be presenting one breakout session.
Session information
Jessica will also be presenting one breakout session.
Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH is an award-winning author, dynamic speaker, and the founder of BraveBrains. She has spent her entire career working with children who have challenging behaviors and the caring adults in their lives. She is the author of the award-winning Riley the Brave series, Your Magic Backpack series, Your Amazing Brain, and Light Up the Learning Brain. She loves spicy food, Diet Coke, and her sweet, silly family…not in that order.
Jessica has worked with thousands of teachers, counselors, and administrators to get to the root of problematic student (and staff) behavior. She translates neuroscience into action steps through comprehensive professional development, diverse books, and practical tools for the classroom and beyond. Learn more at BraveBrains.com.
Additional speakers will be announced soon.
Additional speakers will be announced soon.
Schedule highlights are subject to change.
Schedule highlights are subject to change. A detailed schedule will be available closer to the conference.
Become a MSCA Member and save on your conference registration! Get the benefits of advocacy and affiliation, continuing education and resources, and networking and leadership. Non-Members get a free MSCA Membership with your registration.
For questions about MSCA membership please contact Sarah Dickman at msca1964@gmail.com.
Early registration through 9/15/2026**
Early registration through 9/15/2026**
Members: $65 renewal
Non-Members: Included in Registration
Members: $35 renewal
Non-Members: Included in Registration
*You must have a MSCA Membership good through November 16, 2026 to receive the Member Price. To take advantage of the discounted Member prices, renew your membership if needed, which can be done below when you register.
**To qualify for the Early Registration Rate, 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.
Attendee contact information may be shared with conference sponsors.
👥 MSCA Membership →
Click here to learn more about MSCA membership and how it provides discounted conference registration rates.
📄 Supervisor Approval Letter →
Need help requesting approval or funding? Download this editable template, modeled after ASCA.
To pay by check or purchase order, download and submit the registration form with payment.
Please download the Registration Form and bring it with your method of payment to the conference.
CANCELLATION POLICY: 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 15, 2026. All cancellations before October 15, 2026 will be refunded less a $25 handling fee. The conference is not responsible for and cannot give refunds due to problems beyond its control such as weather or school closings.
On social distancing and other health and safety measures, the MSCA Conference will conform to all necessary regulations / guidelines that are in place in as of the date of the conference.
Reservation information coming soon.
Join us at the conference venue, with comfortable onsite lodging designed to make your conference experience seamless!
Hotel Features:
Conference Rate: $179 per night
Plus applicable taxes and fees
Discounted Parking for Conference Attendees:
Rooms are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend making reservations early.
Room Block Cutoff: November 11, 2026
After this date, rooms and rates are subject to availability.
Prefer to book by phone? Call 800-253-3590 and reference the MSCA26 group code.
Click any image to learn more about the hotel
After full conference days, it’s nice to have easy options nearby to relax or enjoy a change of pace — and on-site at the Amway Grand Plaza or nearby you will find dining, shopping, and entertainment all in one convenient location.
📧 registrations@ncyi.org
📞 866.318.6294
National Center for Youth Issues
ATTN: MSCA
P.O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185
Checks and purchase orders should be made payable to the National Center for Youth Issues.
Please check junk/spam folders and allow ample time for processing. Attendees will receive an email confirmation once registration is processed.
All intellectual property rights in and to the Michigan 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.
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.
Heidie Ciesielski
(989) 413–4166
heidie@massp.com
Michigan Virtual is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1998 that advances K-12 learning through innovation, research, and collaboration. Through the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute, we conduct original research, pilot emerging approaches, and work directly with districts to design and implement solutions that improve teaching and learning statewide. We translate that work into practice through high-quality online courses for students, professional development for educators, and partnerships with more than 500 schools and districts across Michigan. Learn more at michiganvirtual.org.
Thomas Soria
Director of School Partnerships
(517) 664-5464
tsoria@michiganvirtual.org
Help your students thrive with My Virtual Academy! We partner with Michigan districts to offer tuition-free K–12 virtual learning tailored for at-risk, alternative, and non-traditional students. With 24/7 access, certified teachers, mentors, and personalized pacing, we support your efforts in keeping students engaged, on track, and graduating—without any upfront cost. Empower your counseling impact and give students a fresh path to success!
Aaron Brown
Director of School Partnerships
586-232-0528
aaronb@atsedu.net
Unionized skilled tradespeople build Michigan: our roads and bridges, solar fields and power plants, factories and office buildings. The men and women who pursue careers in construction are crucial to our economic future. It’s rewarding work that offers competitive salaries and meaningful benefits. Union skilled trades members also take pride in what they build, and are empowered to live fulfilled lives.
School to Tools® aims to provide students, parents, teachers and school counselors with the awareness of training and career opportunities available in the construction trades apprenticeship programs.
Zach Rich
Program Administrator
(248) 320-7934
zach.rich@nmrcc.com
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 visit Michigan.gov/mistudentaid or contact mistudentaid@michigan.gov.
Name
Title
(555) 555-5555
email@email.com
For the first time, districts can approach student behavioral health as a truly connected system, rather than a collection of separate tools. By combining DESSA’s evidence-based screening, assessment, and progress monitoring with Move This World’s engaging, easy-to-use PreK–12 instruction, Riverside Insights delivers an end-to-end MTSS experience that links insight to action across all tiers.
Educators can identify needs early, deliver aligned instruction and interventions, monitor growth over time, and deepen support when needed within a coherent framework. The result is greater consistency, clearer evidence of impact, and a more personalized approach to student behavioral health that supports all students while ensuring timely, targeted care for those who need it most.
Jaimee Doucette
Director of Partnerships
jaimee.doucette@riversideinsights.com
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 Kyle Taylor at ktaylor@schoolinks.com.
Kyle Taylor
ktaylor@schoolinks.com
Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) is the nonprofit authority on girls. ROX conducts large-scale national research with girls, delivers evidence-based programs in schools nationwide and equips adults to better support and empower girls. ROX’s mission is to create generations of girls who control their own relationships, experiences, decisions and futures. The 20-session ROX Program for Girls is in over 900 schools across 50 states, led by certified ROX Facilitators.
(614) 488-8080
info@rulingourexperiences.com
QuaverReady brings readiness skills to life for students. Our curriculum equips students with the skills necessary for success in school and beyond. Our engaging, fully digital, and standards-aligned Pre-K–8 curriculum program ensures students are ready to face the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Tony Daniels
(629) 702-7385
TonyDaniels@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.
Corinne Bishop
Director of Sales
(347) 797-4756
corinne.bishop@rethinked.com
