November 21-23, 2024
Hilton Albany
Albany, NY
We look forward to having you join us at the New York State School Counselor Association Conference!
We hope to see you next year!
Advocacy
Lead Presenter: Kelly Whitney Rivera
Your voice matters. Advocacy is a powerful tool for change. Have you ever yearned to get involved and be a change maker, yet didn’t know how? This is your opportunity to learn from those who have walked the walk and want to teach you how to talk the talk. Join NYSSCA’s Government Relations Chairperson and NYSUT’s representative for an informative session on advocacy.
Collaboration Between an Alternative High School and a Community College
Lead Presenter: Carolyn LaSalle
This presentation will review year one of a partnership between OHM BOCES Middle Settlement Academy and Mohawk Valley Community College. Discussions will include how we arrived here, the trials and tribulations of this partnership and where we are headed next year. Topics will also include our successes and our failures which led to new ideas, as well as the wonderful growth of our students and opportunities made available to them.
Family Engagement Strategies for Student Wellness and Success
Lead Presenter: Shari Heyen
Family engagement is an essential sub-system of education. School counselors have long been aware of the power of engaging families in the spirit of student wellness and success. However, family engagement often does not receive the attention and educator training that it deserves. This session reviews best practices for engaging families as well as how to support our teaching and administrative colleagues in growing their skills in this area.
Is College the ONLY Ticket to a STEM Career?
Lead Presenter: Ashley Gastel
We have been telling students that they need a college degree to be successful. While we push students into college at a 70% clip, the economy tells us that 70% of careers in demand today do not require a college degree. The skills gap in this country is real and you need to understand the Rule of 1-2-7. Skilled trades are in demand and provide students with a great career that pays well. Come join Ashley Gastel to learn what those careers are and how you can reach more of your students. Learn what Gen Z students are looking for in a career. Discover ways to get more parent involvement. Learn how you can get industry more involved in your school. See what UTI is doing to get girls involved in STEM Careers. Finally, learn how students can make school more affordable to avoid debt after graduation.
Positive Behavior Principles: Shifting Perspectives and Aligning Practices in Schools
Lead Presenter: Dan St. Romain
Although behaviors in the school system have changed a great deal in the past few decades, our strategies for supporting those behaviors have not. By examining all the information we have learned about the brain, we are in a better position to design effective interventions. In this fast-paced session, participants will learn nine principles for positively shaping the behavior of our students.
TBD
Lead Presenter: Raychelle Lohmann
Description: TBD
TBD
Lead Presenter: Emily Goodman-Scott
Description: TBD
YouTube Fluency: Empowering Educators and Students in the Digital Era
Lead Presenter: Ashton Stone
This presentation offers a glimpse into the YouTube space for children. From understanding the algorithm to fake content, educators will be equipped with ways to support parents and faculty in promoting safe and enriching online student experiences.
We cannot control streaming content, but we can become conscious of dangerous or misleading content. The best way to connect with our students is to understand what they engage with online.
Dream Big, Start Small: Empowering Elementary Students for Future Success
Lead Presenter: Zoe Chodak
Unlock the potential of our youngest learners! This session will focus on implementing an engaging career curriculum for elementary students. We will also walk through the process of developing a career fair from initial planning stages to execution.
Elevating Your School Counseling Program Through Technology
Lead Presenter: Justin Arini
This presentation explores innovative ways to leverage technology to enhance and elevate your school counseling program. As the educational landscape evolves, so too must our approaches to supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being. Harnessing the power of technology allows school counselors to reach more students, personalize interventions, and streamline administrative tasks, ultimately maximizing their impact.
Starting from Scratch: Developing a Comprehensive Elementary Curriculum
Lead Presenter: Stacy Gidley
This session will discuss the development of a comprehensive counseling curriculum map for grades K-5 in a large suburban district. We knew good things were happening in our schools across the district, but our challenge was streamlining the delivery of those Tier 1 services across eleven elementary buildings and 4,400 students. Come chat with us about how we started this process from scratch and the things we’ve learned along the way.
The Collective Care Team
Lead Presenter: Lysa Mullady
Student success takes more than effective teachers and a rigorous curriculum. The members of the Collective Care Team — school counselors, school nurses, school psychologists and school social workers — play an integral role in ensuring the growth and achievement of our students, both academically and personally. The Collective Care Team collaborates to ensure that every student’s needs are met, throughout their school-age years and beyond.
TBD
Lead Presenter: Jeannie Gainsburg
Description: Coming Soon
Access Opportunity Programs in Higher Education
Lead Presenter: Marcus Watts
Join staff from SUNY Geneseo as they discuss various federal and state access opportunities in higher education. Programs such as New York State’s Education Opportunity Program (EOP), Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), and Federal TRIO programs such as McNair Scholars will be discussed. We will cover eligibility criteria, program benefits, and outcome data.
Creating and Sustaining an Effective Crisis Response Team
Lead Presenter: Benedetta Gerardi
Do you know what to do following the sudden loss of a member of your school community? Do you know who is responsible for what tasks, and when those tasks should be implemented? This workshop will guide you through the process of creating a post-vention response team equipped to respond to the tragic loss of any school community member.
Girls Are Not OK: What 17,502 Girls Say About Stress, Pressure & Connection
Lead Presenter: Angel Mensing
The session will highlight findings of The 2023 Girls’ IndexTM, which delves into the thoughts, behaviors, and perceptions of 17,000+ 5th-12th grade girls. This research sheds light on the social, emotional, and personal challenges faced by today’s girls, including the impact of social media, stress and confidence issues. This session will identify trends and actionable insights to inspire action to empower girls to thrive!
Motivate K-8 Students for School Success Through Career Exploration
Lead Presenter: Anna Kleyman
Is career exploration a part of your current counseling program? Do you know that student motivation and sense of purpose could be greatly impacted by it? Or that Career Exploration can be easily infused into existing Tier 1 counseling structures? Get energized for Career Exploration with a step-by-step guide for a school-wide career fair, activities for different grade levels, working with community partners, and using interactive technology.
Social/Emotional Learning in School: Make Time! It’s Worth It!
Lead Presenter: TBD
Don’t think it can be done? Yes, it can! Join us! We can share how we successfully integrated Social/Emotional Learning in our Pre-K through 5th grade classrooms this year across 4 schools. Teachers and mental health professionals have collaborated to deliver a robust program for Social/Emotional Learning in a culturally diverse school district, providing a SEL program for over 2500 of our youngest learners.
Vaping Me Crazy
Lead Presenter: Michael DeLeon
Vapes are not just being used by adults trying to quit smoking; kids were the intention of this product. Many of these devices have become drug delivery systems. The most current and relevant information is presented in a way where audience members will be able to not only understand the seriousness of this issue, but also be able to articulate it and deliver these facts to their youth, families, and communities in informative and engaging ways.
Who Counsels the Counselors?
Lead Presenter: Cynthia Fitzgerald
This workshop acknowledges the hard work of school counselors, the emotional and physical demands of the job, and how to stay positive and energized. Examples of practical self-care techniques will be shared, along with department-wide initiatives that can help counselors manage the stress of the ever-growing list of professional responsibilities.
A Presentation on Child Labor Law
Lead Presenter: Sarah Decker
The Wage & Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor is charged with enforcing the nation’s child labor laws. In the last five years, the WHD has seen an 88% increase in child labor violations – an alarming trend. The purpose of this presentation is to educate school counselors about the federal and state child labor laws and inform attendees as to how both the state and federal governments can address issues or concerns.
Cleaning the Closet: Reframing “Coming Out” as Identity Management
Lead Presenter: Brittany Harden
School counselor training focusing on LGBTQ students often includes terms which oversimplify the conditions by which they navigate disclosure about their identities. Learn to facilitate effective discussions with students that will lead to students making intentional decisions about where, when, to whom, and how to disclose information about LGBTQ status in K-12 settings.
Fun With Tier 1: Engagement Strategies for Whole Group Instruction
Lead Presenter: Danette Jewell
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!
Incorporating More Movement into Your Elementary Counseling Practice
Lead Presenter: Rebecca Roberts
Let’s talk about utilizing movement within elementary counseling. From mindful walking to the ASCA curriculum, we will discuss ways to incorporate physical activity into meaningful practices. The presenter will share ideas and resources with time being allocated for participants to share what’s worked in their schools.
School Counselors Can Reboot Their Resilience
Lead Presenter: Deb Alverson
School Counselors spend their days serving students from many different backgrounds, cultures, and life situations. They hear about the trauma and inadequate living conditions of their students. School counselors are by nature very empathetic. Sometimes they may feel burnout, compassion fatigue, etc. This session will show educators how to reboot their resilience when the struggles of their students begin affecting their own thoughts and actions.
Using Community Circles To Deliver SEL Lessons
Lead Presenter: Carol Miller
Unlock the potential of classroom community circles for delivering Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons and discover how circles not only foster classroom unity, but also serve as an effective conduit for SEL curriculum. Learn the steps to facilitating your own circle and how to facilitate discussions that promote self-awareness, empathy, and responsible decision-making.
Giving Students a Reality Check
Lead Presenter: John Rossillo
Dr. Glasser’s Choice Theory is a great insight for how and why we make our choices. The theory describes our basic needs and how they effect our decision making. Learn how Choice Theory is a way to motivate students to work towards their “quality world.” A basic premise of Reality Therapy is that we only have the power to control ourselves and not others. Learn to use the WDEP method as a tool to help individuals reach their inner excellence.
Librarians and Counselors: Collaborating to Support Student SEL
Lead Presenter: Lindsay Armbruster
Join us for this session all about the powerful partnership between our school’s library media specialist and counselors. Discover how we blend social/emotional and library skills in all grade levels and what (mostly free) resources and books we utilize to support student well-being. We hope to inspire you to foster this unique collaboration, because LMS + SC = a perfect match!
Supporting Success for Students in the Foster Care System
Lead Presenter: Gerald Corbin
There are over 6,000 students currently in the foster care system. This special population can benefit from targeted interventions provided by school counselors. This presentation will briefly cover statistics and facts regarding students in foster care. The focus will include practical and real-world interventions for school counselors to better serve this vulnerable population, utilizing best practices and research.
The Key to Effective Communication With Your Students
Lead Presenter: David Emma
Communication with students is crucial for several reasons. It fosters trust and creates a supportive environment in which students feel valued and understood. Effective communication allows educators to identify students’ individual needs, strengths, and challenges, enabling tailored support and personalized learning experiences. However, effective communication doesn’t always come easily, and students don’t always communicate in the same way.
The Mindful Awareness Practice Program: MAPPing a Path from Chaos to Calm
Lead Presenter: Maureen Martinez
In response to a devastating suicide contagion in 2016, a Bronx high school launched the Mental Health Action Plan (MHAP) to bolster student health and safety. However, more was needed to navigate the challenges wrought by the 2020 pandemic. Thus, school counselors created the Mindful Awareness Practice Program (MAPP) to meet community-wide needs. Leave with concrete ideas and resources to enhance your suicide prevention and wellness efforts.
Turning Ordinary Materials Into Extraordinary Counseling Materials
Lead Presenter: Carol Miller
Supplying resources for your counseling program doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. This session will show you how you can turn everyday materials you have lying around into extraordinary counseling materials that will engage your students, get them talking, and liven up your counseling sessions, all while keeping it purposeful.
Becoming a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in School Counseling
Lead Presenter: Ann Marie Tucker
Thinking about becoming a Nationally Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in School Counseling? Learn about the 4 components of the NBCT process, the Shanker Grant, and the timeline. “National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It’s the highest certification a teacher may obtain in addition to being the most respected one.”
Creating Culturally Responsive Mental Health Education
Lead Presenter: Zachary Pearce
The US is becoming increasingly diverse, and standard Eurocentric messaging isn’t relatable to many immigrant kids and their families. This workshop will provide an overview of the experiences of immigrant youth and families and guide participants in framing mental health messaging and experiences from a culturally responsive lens. We will discuss strategies, including using cultural language and values, leveraging our members’ cultural beliefs.
Finding Your Inner Leader
Lead Presenter: Lysa Mullady
We all must harness inner leadership skills to be a transformational school counselor and advocate. This workshop will address steps you can take to overcome obstacles when creating your comprehensive school counseling program.
Fostering Success for Newcomer Students
Lead Presenter: Gerald Corbin
It is estimated that over 700,000 students arrived in the U.S. in the year 2022. This number is predicted to be comparable in 2024 and beyond. These students have a right to a public school education though they may face barriers including language acquisition, lower socioeconomic status, mental health concerns, and trauma from migration. This presentation will offer an overview of a newcomer program that can be implemented by school counselors.
Master Counselor: The Journey of the Inaugural Cohort of 2023
Lead Presenter: Katie Baldo
Master Counselors from the inaugural cohort will provide a detailed account of the Master Counselor Program. Participants can expect to receive information on what is required to apply, the process of admission into the program, and the results of our work thus far. The panel will highlight individual topics we are currently exploring as well as future projects we will initiate this fall. A Q&A will be offered to further clarify our experience.
School Counselor and Administrator Collaborative Framework
Lead Presenter: Sarah Whipp
Research shows that effective collaboration between school counselors and administrators is crucial for student success. This session will present a practical framework, informed by research, to foster a collaborative partnership between these key stakeholders.
Starting with Self: Harnessing Adult SEL for A Better Work & Personal Life
Lead Presenter: Walter Benedict
The world of education in 2024 is a crazy time to put it mildly! The main goals of this session are to: 1) Discuss unprecedented levels of educator trauma and burnout; and 2) Discuss Adult SEL skills as a way to not only strengthen, teach, and model SEL skills to students, but also to develop and leverage our own SEL skills to mediate the effects of burnout and trauma. Participants will walk away with specific strategies and resources to assist.
The Starting Point for Creating and Maintaining a GSA Club in Middle School
Lead Presenter: Orfelina Cisneros
This session will address the starting point for creating and maintaining a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Club in middle school and will showcase ideas beyond getting the approval for designating an all-gender bathroom, and more about how to develop and deliver opportunities all year long for students to engage in affirming and joyful spaces.
National Center for Youth Issues
ATTN: NYSSCA
P.O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185
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