October 2-3, 2022 | Embassy Suites
2501 Conference Drive | Norman, OK 73069
We look forward to having you join us at the Oklahoma School Counselor Association Conference!
Integration of MTSS and Your Comprehensive Counseling Program
Lead Presenter: Darshana Patel
This session will help school counselors and administrators learn how to integrate and align their comprehensive school counseling programs with their school-wide MTSS. Aligning with MTSS, can not only maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of school counseling programs but can also help in advocating for and advancing school counseling programs within a school.
Living Our Ethical Standards: A Candid Conversation Regarding Biases, Lies and Secrets
Lead Presenter: Michelle Taylor
School Counselors possess our own culture of ethics that move beyond ourselves as individual school counselors. We strive to be connected to the profession as well as other school counselors. School counselors fill a unique and important role as our culture and ethical standards are “in use” every day conducting comprehensive programs and from time spent in the hallways, during lunch periods, at sporting events and even graduations. Reviewing ethical standards ensures that we as school counselors strive for the highest standards, including self-awareness and emotional competence which ultimately benefits all students.
School Counselors in the Classroom
Lead Presenter: Rebecca Damron-Whitehead
Join us to learn how you can collect and analyze student data to develop and evaluate student outcome goals, create data-responsive classroom lessons, and coordinate efforts to respond to identified student needs in and beyond the classroom. We’ll discuss how counselors can transition from reactionary interventions to proactive, preventative approaches to support all students.
Trauma and the Brain: How It Impacts Students and How We Can Help
Lead Presenter: Sally Tilley
How can student trauma impact the learning environment? This session will explore the brain science behind trauma, the “fight or flight” response and what it looks like in the classroom, and ways we can teach students (and staff) how to recognize what is happening when “fight or flight” occurs. Empowering students (and staff) with this awareness allows them to advocate for themselves and creates a more trauma sensitive school culture.
UnWelcome to My World
Lead Presenter: Petra Woodard
Unreachable? Unteachable? Unmanageable?Unbelievable! The superpower of an educator is to find ways to embrace the unembraceable. We feel, see, and hear (and yes…smell) the very student who appears to not want our presence, and we appear before their eyes! How do you reach the student that doesn’t want to be reached without zapping all of your superpower? This is an interactive session on strategies to identify and connect with at-risk students.
You Can Get In the Way!
Lead Presenter: John Hodge
Resilience has never been more important than it is right now in America’s schools and communities, many of which have been ravaged by risk-factors associated with Covid-19. Today and in the near future, schools must be purposeful in their efforts to foster resilience in students and staff. In the book, You Can Get in the Way, Dr. Hodge defines resilience in the following way: “Resilience refers to the ability to avoid, navigate, bounce back from, get through, get over, go around, or survive adversities of all kinds.” This session is the perfect way to inspire your school district, schools and/or community stakeholders to take action. In this session, Dr. Hodge provides an overview of the book along with very practical solutions to help buffer the risk factors that traditionally hold kids back. It’s the perfect launch for a new school year, or a needed boost during the tough months that follow. After being shared with over 800 educators in a state-wide conference, this session has already been described as “life-changing” by many of those lucky enough to hear it.
Creating Data-Driven School Counseling Programs
Lead Presenter: Sarah Kirk
This session will cover how to define different types of data, dig deeper with data, and use data to document and drive decision-making. This training is for school counselors at all levels of experience and working in all types of settings. It will provide something for everyone as we dive into data!
Digital Tools to Help You Stay on Track
Lead Presenter: Tessica Taylor
During this session, we will be exploring a variety of digital tools to help you manage and track your time and activities. We will explore using digital planners, digital notebooks, Google Forms and GoodNotes. We will cover the benefits of digital planners and notebooks, how to use and edit digital notebooks and planners using GoodNotes for Apple devices, and how to use Google Forms to track your time and activities for easy reporting.
Everything ICAP: OKCareerGuide and Support Materials
Lead Presenter: Kathryn Willhoite
In this session, we will share ICAP resources through OKCareerGuide. We will cover best practices for meeting student assessments, goals and work-based learning requirements. This session will also include CTYou curriculum materials and resources to implement or utilize with your students for ICAP purposes.
Interventions, 504 Plans, IEP’s
Lead Presenter: Amy Mills
This presentation focuses on the latest updates to RtI, MTSS, and OTIS as they relate to the recent changes based on the new Dyslexia guidelines. Additional information will be provided that focuses on behavioral interventions and the school counselor’s role in 504 Plans and Special Education. Session information will build and expand on this topic that was presented at the 2021 Fall OSCA Conference.
You Can Get In the Way!
Lead Presenter: John Hodge
Resilience has never been more important than it is right now in America’s schools and communities, many of which have been ravaged by risk-factors associated with Covid-19. Today and in the near future, schools must be purposeful in their efforts to foster resilience in students and staff. In the book, You Can Get in the Way, Dr. Hodge defines resilience in the following way: “Resilience refers to the ability to avoid, navigate, bounce back from, get through, get over, go around, or survive adversities of all kinds.” This session is the perfect way to inspire your school district, schools and/or community stakeholders to take action. In this session, Dr. Hodge provides an overview of the book along with very practical solutions to help buffer the risk factors that traditionally hold kids back. It’s the perfect launch for a new school year, or a needed boost during the tough months that follow. After being shared with over 800 educators in a state-wide conference, this session has already been described as “life-changing” by many of those lucky enough to hear it.
Alternatives to Traditional Education: Non-Baccalaureate STEM Career Pathways
Lead Presenter: Steven Coyle
Almost 50% of high school students are no longer considering Bachelor’s degrees, and more than 50% are open to other career pathways. Yet 85% of students feel pressure to pursue a college degree! Join Dr. Coyle as he will focus on your students and how you can give them the information they need to make important career decisions. Learn how to get more of your female students involved in STEM careers. Learn how to get industry involved in your school and how to get parents more engaged in your programs. Find out about new scholarship opportunities that will benefit your students.
Galaxy Elementary Career Awareness
Lead Presenter: Nathan Brubaker
This session will assist attendees in preparing students to enter middle and high school and to complete their ICAP experience.
Motivating Challenging Students
Lead Presenter: Amie Dean
Like many of you, I have had classes, and often students, which led me to think, “How will I make it this year?” I have spent my career as a classroom teacher searching for and learning which strategies work with students. My only criteria: positive and practical! This session is designed for teachers who believe that every student has a gift to offer the world. We have to find ways to help them realize it.
Tackling Test Anxiety
Lead Presenter: Amy Mills
This session will address the identification of test-related anxiety. We will focus on strategies to reduce and manage test anxiety for students at all developmental levels. Including techniques to reduce anxiety and improve ACT scores.
Using Data to Build Resilience in Students
Lead Presenter: Leslie Singleton
Resilience is important because it gives people the strength needed to overcome hardship. Those lacking resilience get easily overwhelmed, and may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Many of our students are struggling with being successful after the stress of the last few years. Our schools have used data from Intellispark to help find ways to help our students be successful in middle school and continue that success into high school and beyond.
What’s in Your Toolbox? Building Brighter Futures, One Student at a Time
Lead Presenter: Letha Huddleston
Join us for this informative session as outreach specialists from the Oklahoma College Assistance Program introduce you to the many free resources and services available to all ages that will assist you in your college readiness and post-secondary planning efforts. Other topics include College Application Week, the Oklahoma FAFSA Data Portal, and the newest changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Anti-Bias In Action: Having Clarifying Conversations About Anti-Bias Issues
Lead Presenter: Jacqueline Coplen
We know that diversity, equity, and inclusion are key to students’ sense of belonging in school, so what do you do when you hear a student say something prejudiced? What do you do when a teacher does or says something biased? How do you handle difficult conversations about race and cultural differences? This session will discuss your role as a school counselor in anti-bias education and help you engage in courageous conversations at your school.
Motivating Challenging Students
Lead Presenter: Amie Dean
Like many of you, I have had classes, and often students, which led me to think, “How will I make it this year?” I have spent my career as a classroom teacher searching for and learning which strategies work with students. My only criteria: positive and practical! This session is designed for teachers who believe that every student has a gift to offer the world. We have to find ways to help them realize it.
Moving Beyond Self-Care – How to Collectively Care for Your School Community
Lead Presenter: Leanne Campbell
It’s time to think beyond Self-Care and create a collective of care and support among one another. Collective care is a system where staff feels safe, empowered, encouraged, seen, and heard. Implementing a Trauma-Informed System of Support in your school becomes a protective factor to offset burnout and fatigue, protecting your most valuable resource… your people.
SEL and SPED: Creating a Common Vocabulary
Lead Presenter: Tara Chase
Based on the supports outlined in conscious discipline, create lessons that connect the counseling office with students in the direct instruction classroom. The lessons help students learn communication skills and create a common SEL vocabulary that will help them build relationships in school and be successful in their post high school goals.
What Documenting My Time and Using My Data Has Done for Me and Others
Lead Presenter: Lee Acers
This session will illustrate: 1) why it is important to document your time; 2) how to effectively schedule your time; 3) how to work with your administrator/supervisor; 4) how to make your data do the talking and 5) real-world examples that improved school counseling programs.
What’s in Your Toolbox? Building Brighter Futures, One Student at a Time
Lead Presenter: Letha Huddleston
Join us for this informative session as outreach specialists from the Oklahoma College Assistance Program introduce you to the many free resources and services available to all ages that will assist you in your college readiness and post-secondary planning efforts. Other topics include College Application Week, the Oklahoma FAFSA Data Portal and the newest changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Advocating for Admin Support of Comprehensive School Counseling Programming
Lead Presenter: Jessica Hogaboom
Does your admin truly understand the role of the school counselor? Do you know how to advocate for your role in a meaningful way that actually brings about change? In this session, we will share ways that we are bringing systemic change to the school counseling department at Union Public Schools through advocacy and professional development of school counselors and admin across the district.
Compassion Fatigue or Burnout: Can I Make it One More Year?
Lead Presenter: Kathy Hoppe
The calling to be a counselor in education requires courage, confidence, and hope. But the past few years have challenged everyone in the field, causing them to doubt if they have the capacity to continue. Is this the time to reconsider a career change? Can you move beyond emotional exhaustion, depletion, and low morale? This session will help you gain a new vision for the future to inspire fellow counselors, educators, and students.
Explore the New Digital SAT Suite of Assessments
Lead Presenter: Joshua Romberg
This presentation will provide an overview of the new Digital SAT Suite of Assessments. Topics include: What is changing, What is staying the same, The assessment framework, How the assessment supports college readiness, and How the SAT Suite of Assessments supports Advanced Placement.
Practical Strategies for Supporting Student Mental Health & Resilience
Lead Presenter: Christian Moore
How do you help students bounce back from what they have been through? From trauma, isolation, and poverty, to mental health challenges, our students have faced many obstacles over the last two years. Come see a formula to help you guide students through the challenges that destroy motivation and make it difficult to find success.
Roadmap to Resources: Creating a District Resource Map
Lead Presenter: Amy Whitewater
Are counselor waitlists and mental health deserts creating difficult terrain for your districts? Come along as we navigate the landscape of diverse needs of Oklahoma students. In this session, we will discuss ways to build connections to a variety of critical resources and how to create an effective and useful resource guide. Participants will learn to nurture meaningful partnerships to bolster support for the ever-changing needs of all students.
What’s Group Got to Do With It? How You Can Maximize MTSS Tier 1 & 2
Lead Presenter: Erica Fenderson
School Counselors have a myriad of responsibilities on their campuses. How can they possibly meet the needs of all of their students while also practicing self-care and healthy boundaries? One way is by maximizing student supports through the implementation of effective groups in Tier 1 & 2 of MTSS. In this session, school counselors will learn how to approach whole group guidance (Tier 1) and form targeted support for small groups (Tier 2).
Fight the Burn-Out: Practice Self-Care
Lead Presenter: Deana Edgar
This session describes what self-care is and how to build it into our lives as counselors. There are many myths about taking care of the counselor, but many of them do not dive into what and how counselors should be intentional in providing care for themselves. It is so much more than just going for a walk or taking a bubble bath. We have to take care of ourselves first if we are going to take care of others.
Hope-Centered Response to Suicide Ideation
Lead Presenter: Jessica Hogaboom
Suicide ideation has increased significantly since the start of the pandemic. Students, parents, school counselors, teachers, and admin are seeing higher mental health needs than ever before. In this session, we will discuss the process we walked through to completely revamp the policies, procedures, and practices of our Student Safety Assessments and how we did so using the Science of Hope, resources from ASCA, and resources from the OSDE.
How to Build and Grow Successful Student Assistance Programs
Lead Presenter: Allison Wheeler
Do you want to learn how to boost your student student assistance programs? Come learn how we serve students and families by providing for their clothing, food, and holiday needs.
Human Trafficking: What to Look for in Your School and Your Community
Lead Presenter: Cindy Swearingen
Educator awareness can facilitate prevention. This session provides an overview of human trafficking as well as how social media can play into the grooming process.
Navigating Ethical Standards and Expectations in School Counseling
Lead Presenter: Amber Lewis
School counselors face ethical dilemmas such as dual relationships, confidentiality, and record-keeping, in addition to occasional “grey areas” in suicidal ideation and child abuse reporting. There are also multiple sets of expectations to consider from administration, ASCA Ethical Standards, professional licensing standards, and even parents, colleagues and students. Join us for a guided discussion of navigating these complexities.
Stress Management: The Art of Embodying Our Message to Clients
Lead Presenter: Alexie Foster
This presentation discusses the need for the clinician to manage their own stress in order to best serve their clients/students.
National Center for Youth Issues
ATTN: OK-SCA
P.O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185
