October 15-17, 2025
Embassy Suites & Hampton Roads Convention Center
Hampton, VA
We hope to see you next year!
Details to come.
CharacterStrong is a Multi-Tiered Solution that provides vertically-aligned, researched backed curricula and training at the Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 level PK-12 to increase belonging, well-being, and engagement for students and staff.
For more information, please contact Schlonda Gates at schlonda.gates@characterstrong.com or (253) 234-7043.
Dialogue by DialCare is designed to provide students, ages 11 and up, with a safe, secure and private means of seeking virtual mental health assistance from licensed mental health professionals (LMHP). This unique program offers an app-based interface, connecting students with our LMHPs over the phone or video session. LMHPs are standing by to assist students with conditions such as depression, anxiety, grief, relationship problems and more.
Contact Becca Finnegan, DialCare Sales Manager, at beccaf@dialcare.com or (817) 308-5665 today!
Milton Hershey School is one of the world’s best private schools, where qualifying students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade live on campus. Students receive an exceptional educational experience, nurturing home life, college and career readiness support, and comprehensive health and wellness care, including medical and dental services, food, and clothing—with all costs covered.
For more information, please contact Jessica Lidle at 717-833-6283 or lidlej@mhs-pa.org.
Welcome to Old Dominion University – an institution known for its ideal location, excellent education, and affordable tuition! ODU is Virginia’s forward-focused public doctoral research university with more than 24,000 students, over 90 academic programs, and an energetic residential community.
Our waterfront campus is located in the vibrant city of Norfolk, VA. From internship opportunities, shopping and dining, to beautiful beaches and historic sites, there’s always something to discover.
For more information contact Jaira Rahman-Bowman, Admissions Counselor and Coach at jrahman@odu.edu or (757) 683-6103.
QuaverReady is a fully online, teacher-led curriculum designed to support essential readiness skills for school and life. We provide a full year of lessons for grades K-8 based on the 5 core competencies. Our curriculum is fully aligned to ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors. All lessons include resources for MTSS and progress monitoring. School counselors, teachers, social workers, and other supporting staff may facilitate relevant lessons on topics like Academic Achievement, Bullying, and Resilience.
For more information, contact Colleen Storey, Director of Sales at (629) 702-7060 or colleenstorey@quavered.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 Olivia at olivia@myscuta.com.
The Barry Robinson Center provides a holistic environment that sets military-connected youth and their families on the path to healing. Our staff includes qualified and compassionate therapists, teachers, counselors, doctors, nurses, and more. Our beautiful, open, college-like campus provides a safe and serene setting for programs designed to help military-connected youth and their families overcome emotional and behavioral difficulties.
In addition, we offer several community-based services.
For more information, please contact Lauren De Simone,
Regional Director of Military Relations at (757) 347-0123 or LDeSimone@barryrobinson.org.
For busy school counselors and district administrators, Xello is the only K-12 software that genuinely engages every student in creating a plan for future success. With a program students love to use, Xello helps educators work more efficiently, effortlessly meet college and career readiness goals, and easily equip kids with the skills and knowledge to be future ready.
Learn how you can help every student, regardless of background, ability, or pathway, build their plan for future success!
For more information contact Meghan Foster, Director of Sales at (800) 965-8541 or meghanf@xello.world.
Opening Keynote Session
October 16, 2025| 8:30 a.m.
In this keynote, we will explore how centering the assets and strengths of students, families, and communities can transform school counseling programs and schools to drive positive student outcomes. Attendees will gain practical strategies to cultivate these strengths, fostering the critical elements of hope and belonging. Hope is a stronger predictor of post-secondary achievement than ACT, SAT scores, or high school GPAs, while a sense of belonging can revolutionize school culture into a catalyst for student success. Join us to reenergize your school counseling practices and create environments that embrace cultural strengths and family assets—fueling hope and belonging to support every student’s holistic growth and lifelong success.
Brett Zyromski is an award-winning Associate Professor and Program Chair of the Counselor Education Program at The Ohio State University. His scholarship focuses on how school-based counselors can enhance protective factors and positive childhood experiences for students that have experienced adverse childhood experiences, while at the same time deconstructing the systems that create the need for such interventions. His research also explores the impact of socially-just evidence-based interventions in school counseling, and socially-just evidence-based school counselor education and evaluation in school counseling. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Professional School Counseling journal. Dr. Zyromski has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters related to school counseling issues, delivered over 150 international, national, regional, and local presentations and has served as numerous international and state conference keynote. A research Fellow at the University of Massachusetts Ronald H. Fredrikson Center for School Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation and a Faculty Affiliate at The Ohio State University Center on Education and training for Employment, Dr. Zyromski is also co-editor of School Counseling Research: Advancing the Professional Evidence Base (2023) and co-author of Facilitating Evidence-Based, Data-Driven School Counseling: A Manual for Practice (Corwin, 2016). He co-founded and is co-chair of the annual Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference (ebscc.org). Dr. Zyromski has been recognized with numerous leadership and teaching awards, served as keynote for multiple international, national, and state conferences, and he has served as co-primary investigator or project manager for over $12,000,000 worth of federal and state grants.
Brett will also be presenting a breakout session.
Closing Keynote Session
October 17, 2025| 12:00 p.m.
Gain a deeper understanding of code-switching to effectively engage with your students in an authentic manner. Explore the various masks individuals wear, including generational gaps and cultural differences, and learn strategies to connect with students and colleagues. Diana Virgil, 2024 School Counselor of the Year, also delves into human growth and development, focusing on working with parents/guardians and diverse family structures to enhance your school counseling approach.
After attending the session, you will be able to:
Diana Virgil, Ph.D., ACSC, of Alabama’s Daleville High School
Virgil has been a school counselor since 2015 and works on a campus that serves 346 students in grades 9–12. She is the 17th person to receive the national recognition and the first from Alabama. Virgil received her bachelor’s, master’s and educational specialist degrees from Mississippi College and a doctorate degree from University of the Cumberlands. She is an ASCA-Certified School Counselor, a National Certified School Counselor and a National Certified Counselor.
Many Daleville High School students are trailblazers in their families, aiming to be the first to graduate from high school. When Virgil was hired, she noticed a significant number of students weren’t participating in dual-enrollment classes due to a lack of awareness, limited college aspirations, transportation challenges and financial constraints. Virgil promptly established a partnership with the local community college to boost student enrollment. A significant turning point came when the college received a grant to provide eligible students with free tuition and books for dual enrollment, revolutionizing the opportunities for students to earn both high school and college credit. To address transportation challenges, Virgil worked with the college to implement online courses and enlisted teachers to teach dual enrollment courses at the high school. Her approaches increased the number of students in dual-enrollment courses from four to more than 40 each semester. This year, the school is on the cusp of graduating its first student with a high school diploma and an associate degree in science, along with its first student with a mechatronics certification from the aviation college. As a result of Virgil’s extensive collaboration and advocacy efforts, Daleville High School now offers dual-enrollment courses in science, English and math. For Virgil, the most rewarding part of her work as a school counselor is the opportunity to be a support system for her students.
Diana will also be presenting a breakout session.
Click the session to title to learn more
Pre-Conference Session
October 15, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Small groups don’t happen unless you make them happen. To run a comprehensive school counseling program rooted in the ASCA National Model, small groups must be part of your program. In this pre-conference session, we will take a deep dive into the barriers that keep us from running groups in our school settings. From feelings of self-doubt and scheduling logistics, to obtaining parent permission and choosing appropriate curriculum, we will tackle these and several others, and we will provide you with tips and tricks for running successful and meaningful groups. We cannot wait to share our passion for small group counseling with you!
Jenny Hubler, Hungary Creek Middle School
Jenny is the School Counseling Director at Hungary Creek Middle School in Henrico County, Virginia. Mrs. Hubler has 21 years of school counseling experience in Henrico, ten at the elementary level and eleven at the middle school level. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and her Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. A previous President of the Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA), Mrs. Hubler currently serves as the VSCA Conference Chair. She was named VSCA’s elementary school counselor of the year in 2010 and the secondary school counselor of the year in 2017. In 2018, Mrs. Hubler had the honor of being named the School Counselor of the Year for Virginia by the American School Counselor Association. She is also a Nationally Board-Certified Teacher in School Counseling.
Lauren White, Freeman and Godwin High Schools
Lauren is a Tiered Intervention School Counselor at the high school level for Henrico County Public Schools in Henrico County, Virginia. Ms. White has 16 years of experience as a school counselor, 6 years at the high school level in both Virginia and Washington State, and 10 years at the middle school level in Virginia. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2004 and her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Old Dominion University in 2007. Ms. White served as the Membership Committee Chair for the Virginia School Counselor Association for five years and is now a member of the VSCA Conference Committee. Ms. White earned National Board Certification in School Counseling and became a Trauma-Informed Educator for Henrico County Public Schools in 2024.
Pre-Conference Session
October 15, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Child and adolescent anxiety is ubiquitous and on the rise. Working with anxious kids (and their parents) is stressful and can feel like a never-ending uphill battle. In this fun session, participants will learn more about anxiety, and will build skills so that they can better support anxious kids. We will focus on coping skills and building resilience so that school counselors can help teens to turn down anxiety and re-engage in life.
Tori Stone, PhD, LPC, has 24 years of experience as a school counselor, counselor educator, and national presenter. As an Associate Professor and the Clinical Coordinator of the Counseling program at George Mason University, Dr. Stone trains both School and Clinical Mental Health Counseling students in counseling skills and theories, creative counseling interventions and practical, theory-based approaches to work with children, teens, and adults. Dr. Stone has delivered more than 400 presentations at the local, state, and national level on Anxiety and Depression, Trauma Informed Education, Brain Development and the Nervous System, Creativity in Counseling, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and many other related topics. She is known for her creative presentation style, humor, and approachable expertise.
Click the session to title to learn more
School counselors are uniquely positioned to be front line responders to students presenting in crisis. This workshop is designed to enhance a school counselor’s knowledge on current suicide statistics, explore strategies to provide effective screening, and demonstrate how to create meaningful safety plans. Special emphasis will be placed on empowering student voice through this process.
Makenzie Perkins, MS, currently serves as the Counseling Specialist for Collierville Schools (TN). In this role she is responsible for coordinating and supervising school counseling, threat assessment, health facility transitions, and crisis response across the district. Previously she served as the Prevention Counselor at Collierville High School, where she helped students and staff navigate mental health concerns and crises at the largest high school in the state.
Makenzie is a National Certified Counselor and earned her Master of Science degree and Clinical Mental Health Specialist degree from the University of Memphis. She is also the author of 30-Minute Groups: Grief. Makenzie is passionate about training professionals in the areas of threat assessment and management, suicidality, school safety, loss and grief, and understanding the everchanging mental health needs of today’s youth.
Did you know new studies estimate 1 in 12 children will lose a parent or sibling before the age of 18? This presentation will allow school counselors to leave with creative ways to help students process their own grief journeys. A variety of expressive counseling techniques will be explored (and practiced!) that can be utilized in both individual and group sessions for all ages. Although we can’t control if a student experiences loss and grief, we can help give their grief a voice.
Makenzie Perkins, MS, currently serves as the Counseling Specialist for Collierville Schools (TN). In this role she is responsible for coordinating and supervising school counseling, threat assessment, health facility transitions, and crisis response across the district. Previously she served as the Prevention Counselor at Collierville High School, where she helped students and staff navigate mental health concerns and crises at the largest high school in the state.
Makenzie is a National Certified Counselor and earned her Master of Science degree and Clinical Mental Health Specialist degree from the University of Memphis. She is also the author of 30-Minute Groups: Grief. Makenzie is passionate about training professionals in the areas of threat assessment and management, suicidality, school safety, loss and grief, and understanding the everchanging mental health needs of today’s youth.
Click the session to title to learn more
Tentative
VSCA has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6066. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. VSCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
To receive NBCC hours you MUST complete an evaluation for each session attended via this link: https://tinyurl.com/VSCANBCChours. All session evaluations must be completed by October 31st.
If you would like to print out a Certificate of Attendance for attending this year’s conference please go to https://dashboard.ascaconferences.org. Please note that this certificate may satisfy most division’s continuing education requirements, but does NOT meet the requirements for the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
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 2025 VSCA Conference!
MEMBER*
Professional
$50
MEMBER*
Retiree
$40
NON-MEMBER
$80
Graduate Student
$40
MEMBER*
Professional
Registration
$170
Registration + Membership
$220
Save $20 if you register by September 15th!***
MEMBER*
Retiree
Registration
$70
Registration + Membership
$95
Save $10 if you register by September 15th!***
NON-MEMBER
Registration
$240
Save $20 if you register by September 15th!***
Graduate Student
Registration
$70
Membership Included!**
Save $10 if you register by September 15th!***
Registration after October 12, 2025 will be onsite and will add $20 to the Regular Registration rate.***
Thursday ONLY
Registration
$130
Registration + Membership
$180
Save $20 if you register by September 15th!***
Friday ONLY
Registration
$130
Registration + Membership
$180
Save $20 if you register by September 15th!***
Registration after October 12, 2025 will be onsite and will add $20 to the Regular Registration rate.***
*Your VSCA membership must be good through October 17, 2025 to qualify for the discounted Member rates.
**All Grad students receive a FREE VSCA Membership. Visit vsca.org to sign up for your free membership!
***To qualify for the Early or Regular Registration discount, your registration form AND payment (copy of your purchase order, check, or credit card) must be received or postmarked by the Early or Regular 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.
Cancellation Policy: If we are forced to cancel the VSCA 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 September 15 2025. All cancellations before then 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 VSCA 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.
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.
VENUE & HOST HOTEL
1700 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA 23666
Reservation information coming soon.
The Embassy Suites, the Conference’s host hotel, has a conference rate of $159. This rate is valid while rooms are available. The price includes full, cook-to-order breakfast and evening Manager’s Reception. This rate is valid through September 15, 2025, while rooms are available.
You can also book a room by calling (757) 827-8200 or (800) 362-2779. Be sure to mention the Group Code: 91G.
OVERFLOW HOTEL
1999 Power Plant Pkwy
Hampton, VA 23666
The Hilton Garden Inn has a conference rate of $131 per night, plus tax, which remains valid for reservations made by September 9, 2024, while rooms are available.
You can also book a room by calling (757) 310-6323 or (800) 445-8667. Be sure to mention the group code VSCA24.
OVERFLOW HOTEL
1917 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA 23666
The Courtyard Hampton Coliseum Central has a conference rate of $119-$159 per night, plus tax, valid for the nights of Wednesday, October 18th and Thursday, October 19th. This rate remains valid for reservations made by October 4, 2023, while rooms are available.
You can also book a room by calling (800) 304-9288. Be sure to mention that you are with National Center for Youth Issues Virginia School Counselor Association Conference.
In the evening, make sure you take time to relax and enjoy the surrounding area. Visit the Peninsula Town Center, less than a mile from the Embassy Suites! At the Town Center, enjoy shopping at the Loft, Yankee Candle, Sephora, Forever 21, Barnes & Noble, and many more. You can sit back and relax at the many restaurants, such as Abuelo’s, Avenue Blue, Outback and My Pi, along with others. The Peninsula Town Center has a premium movie theater with leather recliners and gourmet food, so you can finally watch that movie you have been wanting to see.
Click here to see all the fun you can have at the Peninsula Town Center.
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: VSCA
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 VSCA directly with all membership questions.
Sponsors receive attendee contact information.
