MSCA Conference | November 15-16, 2026 | Grand Rapids, MI
We look forward to seeing you next year!
Lead Presenter: Samantha Zill
This session helps school counselors guide students toward a wider range of health careers while also addressing systemic barriers that limit access, especially for first-gen, low-income, and underrepresented students.
Lead Presenter: Jacinta Nafziger
Did you know that ASCA has over 40 position statements for school counselors? Get tips and recommendations on how to use ASCA position statements to advocate for appropriate school counseling roles and to inform your school counseling practice. Walk away with knowledge about the recently developed or revised position statements.
Lead Presenter: Sarah Thompson
Starting at a new school can feel overwhelming for students, and supporting those transitions can be challenging for counselors. This session focuses on two key areas. New student connections: Learn how to build a student welcome team that fosters belonging through peer support. Whole-school one-minute meetings: Explore efficient check-in practices using clear frameworks, key questions, and quick assessments to better understand and support students.
Lead Presenter: Kate Felcyn
We will discuss how having a local, centralized organization that is run by counselors, for counselors, can promote comprehensive counseling programs across all grade levels & counseling domains, while focusing on sustaining multi-tiered supports. We will emphasize how to band together to empower leaders within a community to be the voice for both counselors and students.
Lead Presenter: Zach Rich
Schools to Tools’ Pre-Apprentice & Journeyman Program
This in-service is for all educators to explore new venues to expand Career & Technical Education (CTE) opportunities for their students. Participants will also learn about Schools to Tools programs.
Our FREE Mobile Field Trip has been to over 300 stops and engaged over 60,000 students in the past three years. We have also trained over 1,400 educators through our SCECH program.
Lead Presenter: Loren Dittmar
Supporting others can be deeply meaningful—and deeply exhausting—especially when personal hardships collide with professional demands. In this powerful session, Loren explores how vulnerability can fuel resilience, deepen connection, and renew your sense of purpose. Walk away with practical tools and a fresh perspective on how life’s toughest moments can strengthen both your work and your well-being.
Lead Presenter: Maureen Smith
Discover the next evolution of TRAILS and how it will better support schools in day-to-day practice. This session highlights a redesigned website, flexible online training, customized learning pathways, embedded resources, and on-demand implementation support that make it easier for educators and staff to access evidence-based strategies and apply them with students across school settings.
Lead Presenter: Christopher Kasper
Want to help your students grow their Executive Functioning skills? Want to see your students soar with confidence and turn previous weaknesses into strengths? Then, this workshop is for you!
Lead Presenter: Elizabeth Hill
Civil Engineering offers high-demand career opportunities, yet many students are unaware of the pathways available. This session equips participants to help students explore diverse specializations and prepare for college programs. Participants will learn how to guide students through relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, and strategies to build the skills and experiences needed for successful civil engineering careers.
Lead Presenter: Betsy Kanagawa
Learn how a comprehensive school counseling program can create meaningful impact for students while strengthening advocacy for the school counselor’s role. Participants will explore practical, data-driven strategies to support equitable student outcomes, increase program visibility, communicate impact to stakeholders, and demonstrate the value of school counseling through intentional leadership and programming.
Lead Presenter: Emily Hurtado-Arboleda
Michigan is investing heavily in student futures; last academic year more than $672 million in state financial aid was awarded to over 166,000 college students! This session will provide information on state financial aid programs and highlight successful outreach strategies to help build a college going culture in your school. Discover how MiLEAP is expanding access, simplifying financial aid, and partnering with schools and organizations to open more pathways to postsecondary education.
Lead Presenter: Chris Ferrell
Equip your students to thrive in a rapidly changing economy! This high-energy session delivers the latest data on high-wage, high-demand career pathways and emerging workforce trends. Gain exclusive postsecondary resources and actionable strategies to confidently guide students toward lucrative, future-proof careers. Leave with the tools you need to launch your students into successful postsecondary journeys.
Lead Presenter: Katelynn James
This collaborative level sharing session is designed for virtual school counselors and any school counselors interested in learning more about virtual school counseling practices and digital engagement tools. Participants will connect to share ideas, resources, and strategies for supporting students in virtual and hybrid learning environments.
Lead Presenter: Robyn Emde
This presentation summary outlines five actionable coping strategies for students—mindfulness, structured time management, physical activity, social support, and cognitive reframing—designed to help manage academic pressure, build resilience, and improve overall well-being.
Lead Presenter: Christopher Kasper
Come meet with MSCA Legislative Committee team members to get updates on recent actions and upcoming calls to action—including the 2027 ‘Counselors at the Capitol Day’ in Lansing. Come check out how you can get involved in important work centered around our school counseling profession!
Lead Presenter: Melissa Waters
A collaboration with middle school/junior high school counselors to discuss common topics and experiences amongst counselors. Discuss what’s working well in each building/district, identify common challenges, discuss strategies and resources to reduce barriers, and discuss ways to collaborate with all stakeholders.
Lead Presenter: Michael Swathwood
Discover engaging, hands-on strategies for teaching coping skills that can be immediately implemented with students. This interactive session provides ready-to-use interventions and resources designed to support emotion regulation, reduce challenging behaviors, and improve academic success. Participants will experience activities firsthand, learn effective counseling techniques, and leave equipped with practical tools for use with all grades at the elementary level.
Lead Presenter: Jennifer Thomas
Every day, school counselors use data to help students navigate education and career choices. What happens when the data we rely on tells only part of a student’s story? Through case studies and discussion, participants will examine how incomplete information, institutional practices, and implicit assumptions can unintentionally limit access to College in High School opportunities. Attendees will explore strategies to identify barriers, rethink readiness, and expand access.
Lead Presenter: Amy Kuzniar
School Counselors can deepen connections with students, staff, and families using creative skills founded in allied fields such as Play Therapy and Art Therapy. The presenters represent both fields in addition to School Counseling and will highlight tools that help build connections that strengthen relationships not only with students, but also within the entire school community.
Lead Presenter: Faith Crosby
The effects of teacher turnover extend far beyond staff logistics and student academic outcomes, reaching into the realm of social/emotional well-being and feelings of connectedness for students. This presentation will include analysis of surveyed student responses to teacher turnover through discussion, reflection, and development of a personal toolkit for supporting teacher departures and alleviating negative social/emotional effects of teacher turnover within your school building.
Lead Presenter: Thomas Soria
School counselors are often the first to see students leave for virtual schools and, in some cases, return without the credits needed for graduation. This session highlights how Caro Community Schools and Chippewa Valley Schools are building local virtual pathways that keep students connected to counselors, teachers, activities, and their community. Participants will learn practical strategies to help families make informed decisions and support student success.
Lead Presenter: Raquel Evans
A tough test, a fight with a friend, a first job: students face stress everywhere, and the skills to handle it carry from the classroom to the workplace. Together, the Grand Rapids Public Schools SEL team and Wayfinder share how they partner to teach coping skills as life skills, tied to real situations students recognize. Hear what’s working in GRPS classrooms, explore practical strategies, and leave with a plan to make coping skills stick beyond your office.
Lead Presenter: Annie Kim Sytsma
School counselors are surrounded by valuable information, from attendance data and MTSS resources to graduation requirements and course planning materials, but often lack the time to turn it into actionable support. This workshop demonstrates how to use existing resources to identify student needs, personalize communication, and simplify planning. Participants will explore attendance, MTSS/PBIS, and planning tools to streamline communication, reduce workload, and create more time for students.
Lead Presenter: Jessica Sinarski
As a counselor, you’re often tasked with leading the adults who support your students. But when staff are drowning in “initiative fatigue,” listening to even the best advice starts to feel like a burden. This session shares 10 brain-aligned strategies to transform staff meetings into active, connected experiences. Avoid common pitfalls and gain a practical toolkit for high-impact training that respects teachers’ time, boosts buy-in and ensures your trauma-informed mission translates into classroom reality.
Lead Presenter: Marshall Nagy
Looking for fresh activity ideas to incorporate into your Tier 1 lessons? New to whole-group instruction? Join us as we discuss and model a variety of ways to make your Tier 1 content engaging and memorable for elementary students. This session will be interactive and full of movement, music, and fun. You will leave with ideas and resources to take back to your school and use immediately!
Lead Presenter: Gina Garner
Since 2015, Michigan has implemented several significant reforms of teacher preparation, increasing access to teacher preparation and expanding programming to support diverse needs of teacher candidates. The teacher preparation experience has transformed from what it was just 5 to 10 years ago. This session will describe the changes to teacher preparation to support school counselors with advising students who are interested in pursuing careers in education.
Lead Presenter: Beatrice Harrison
This presentation provides information on credentials that should be attained/renewed by School Counselors. It is important to be appropriately certified in order to provide the best service as School Counselors to the K-12 population. The School Counselor Professional Development Law has specific requirements mandated for renewing a school counselor credential that will be highlighted in this workshop. Administrators and School Counselors need to be aware of hiring and compliance issues.
Lead Presenter: Darien Wilkerson
Student belonging is a key factor in academic success, engagement, attendance, and well-being. School counselors play a vital role in creating environments where students feel connected, valued, and supported. This presentation explores the impact of belonging on student outcomes and provides practical, evidence-informed strategies that school counselors can implement at the individual, group, and schoolwide levels to foster connection, engagement, and student success.
Lead Presenter: Matt Krawczyk
Explore how the Student Intentions Dashboard in Xello helps counselors connect real-time student data to Michigan advising expectations. Matt Krawczyk from Xello will demonstrate how students’ pathway interests, saved careers and colleges, applications, FAFSA completion, GPA, and acceptance trends can support EDP updates, Talent Portfolio development, and the Michigan Career Development Model.
Lead Presenter: Kelley Yell
Traditional behavior systems often fail neurodivergent students with ADHD and PDA profiles, increasing overwhelm, shutdowns, and school resistance. This presentation explores practical executive functioning strategies school counselors can immediately implement to support emotional regulation, flexible thinking, task initiation, and student connection. Participants will learn relationship-based approaches that reduce power struggles while improving engagement, self-awareness, and school success.
Lead Presenter: Cassie Watts
The Student Success Program for high school students used a student-centered evaluation approach, placing participants’ voices at the center of program assessment as they worked through modules focused on professional identity, problem-solving, career exploration, personal values, and self-care. Outcomes influenced students’ self-awareness, career awareness, confidence, and motivation. Qualitative data were used to inform program administrators for future program & curriculum development.
Lead Presenter: Emily Gay
Modern career development demands high-level alignment, yet administration and counseling too often operate in silos. In this workshop, the 2026 MI Counselor of the Year, alongside district leadership, will discuss bridging this divide. Using a successful career pilot as a case study, presenters will highlight actionable strategies for integrating career development into Tier-1 lessons, ensuring these practices become part of a comprehensive counseling program.
Lead Presenter: Angela Hook
Students today face increasing academic pressure, social challenges, and emotional stress. As school counselors, you are uniquely positioned to equip them with essential coping skills that promote resilience, well-being, and long-term success. This interactive 60-minute session will provide practical, research-based strategies for teaching coping skills in developmentally appropriate ways.
Lead Presenter: Dina Rocheleau
This session explores the “invisible gears” in schools—adult behaviors, routines, and structures that shape student success. Participants will examine how consistent schoolwide practices reduce cognitive load and strengthen Executive Functioning skills such as organization, planning, time management, and self-regulation. Together, we will explore how aligning adult practices creates a strong Tier One system that increases efficiency, joy, and success for all learners.
Lead Presenter: Lisa Micou
Chronic absenteeism is more than an attendance issue. It is a key predictor of academic achievement, graduation, and postsecondary success. This interactive session explores how educators can combat absenteeism by strengthening students’ social-emotional competencies (SEC), belonging, and future readiness. Participants will learn how SEC can signal attendance risk and protect against disengagement, while gaining practical strategies to build resilience, decision-making, and sustained engagement.
Lead Presenter: Aylex Cunneen
Discover how the Michigan Air National Guard provides students with alternative postsecondary pathways through career training, educational benefits, and military service. This session will equip school counselors with information about career opportunities, eligibility requirements, tuition assistance, and the ability to pursue higher education while serving part-time. Attendees will gain valuable resource to help students make informed decisions about their futures.
Lead Presenter: Anne Perez
It’s true…those little bricks have the potential to unlock powerful conversations. Join us as we use LEGO bricks to facilitate a session that allows you to both experience as a participant AND plan how to utilize these game-changers in your own context. We will share our processes and resources to allow you to bring these powerful tools (that you likely have in your own home or school) into conversations in a meaningful and impactful way. Get ready to learn, build, and have a little fun!
Lead Presenter: Dina Rocheleau
Students often absorb the emotional exhaustion of adults, and nonverbal communication can strongly influence school behavior and climate. This session explores how trauma responses, applied neuroscience, and connection can be woven into daily practices that create safe, steady relationships for students & staff. Participants will leave with practical strategies, creative resources, & schoolwide ideas while also reflecting on how an educator’s own nervous system impacts relationships and learning
Lead Presenter: Sarah Pilarski
Starting your journey as a school counselor can feel both exciting and overwhelming. This breakout session is designed specifically for emerging counselors navigating the early stages of their career. Join us for an honest, grounding conversation about how to establish your identity and role within your school community, build meaningful relationships with students, staff, and families, and develop the confidence to do this work with purpose and intention.
Lead Presenter: Angela Breese
Worried about how to implement an effective suicide prevention plan that doesn’t cause your office to fill with tearful students? Is there such a thing as a positive, peer-led mental health approach to students? Come away with hands-on strategies that will fill you and your students with hope! Focused on resilience, joy, and a call to action that will inspire and motivate, we will dive into the realities and challenges we face as school counselors who must find a way to balance it all.
Lead Presenter: Heidie Ciesielski
Learn how you can leverage your school counseling skills and expertise to become a school leader not only in title but in certification as well. Path to Leadership is an alternative certification route to PK-12 Admin Certification in the State of Michigan. Our path is not only economical but extremely efficient at preparing you for this next step.
Lead Presenter: Betsy Kanagawa
When a student is in crisis, preparation matters. This interactive session equips school counselors with practical protocols, resources, and confidence to navigate suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
Lead Presenter: Kim Phillips-Knope
Michigan educators often don’t know what to do when it comes to supporting LGBTQ+ students. They’ve heard contradictory messages at the federal and state levels and are at a loss for how to proceed. No matter the political landscape, these students deserve access to the same quality education as their peers. This interactive workshop will provide practical strategies for following state civil rights laws, school policies, and best practices when supporting LGBTQ+ students.
📧 mi-sca@ncyi.org
📞 866.318.6294
National Center for Youth Issues
ATTN: MSCA
P.O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185
Legal & Copyright Information
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.
