Terri is a nationally recognized school counselor, educator, and passionate advocate for comprehensive, data-informed programs that emphasize intentional, proactive systems. With nearly 25 years of diverse experience that encompasses classroom instruction, school counseling, professional coaching/consultation, and leadership at both state and national levels, she has earned a reputation as a go-to speaker for impactful, practitioner-focused strategies that drive immediate implementation and results.
As a former National School Counselor of the Year and a pioneer in leading the transformation of her department from a reactive program into one of Michigian’s first schools recognized as an ASCA Model Program (RAMP), Terri possesses a wealth of expertise and experience. Her approach is rooted in repositioning current realities and challenges to develop solution-focused strategies that deliver immediate results.
Guided by her passion for fostering educational excellence, Terri thrives on facilitating professional learning by equipping school counselors and educators with practical strategies, best practices, and resources to positively impact student outcomes. She is dedicated to redesigning systems to be more equitable and inclusive, ensuring they reflect the diversity of the entire school community. She is committed to developing accountability frameworks that place students at the heart of desired outcomes.
Over the last few years it has become evident that the plates of school counselors across the nation have become increasingly full of challenges, such as staff shortages, increased mental health needs for adults and students, increased rates of truancy, decreased rates of academic achievement, and a noticeable lack of social skills and conflict resolution across all developmental stages. This list could go on!
Redesigning our systems to be more proactive is an essential part of breaking the cycle of reactivity that oftentimes leads to burnout and frustrations. Discover frameworks, strategies, and best practices that will leave you feeling empowered to embrace new concepts that may be unfamiliar and uncomfortable at first, but might be exactly the new approach that is needed to transform our student supports to be more comprehensive across all service providers, preventative in practice, and inclusive of ALL students.
Ripple effects are created by small disruptions that have the power and potential to continue to spread far beyond the starting point. In education, we are given daily opportunities to begin ripple effects with our students that have the power and potential to transcend the walls of our schools and positively impact their life trajectory. These are opportunities that we should not take lightly and should be done with thoughtfulness and intentionality.
Discover proactive strategies that are designed to reimagine systems and processes that are centered on student outcomes. From the integration of student mental health and well-being to academic achievement, to transformational teaming that is centered on data-informed decisions, to the development of a multi-tiered system of support that is designed to meet the needs of ALL students. Each of these strategies will encourage us to think differently about how we can best support the students we serve and is centered around this guiding question – “what ‘ripple effects’ are you hoping to start with your students and how do you hope they spread far beyond the walls of our schools?”
As the focus on social-emotional learning (SEL) and student mental health intensifies, many educators often express concerns about the potential impact on college and career readiness initiatives. This concern is particularly pressing given the current decline in college enrollment and completion rates alongside rising employment demands. In this thought-provoking session, participants will discover developmentally appropriate K-12 strategies that integrate SEL competencies to enhance postsecondary readiness.
By weaving SEL into college/career readiness frameworks, school counselors can take a proactive stance in fostering the development of confident and emotionally resilient students, fully prepared for their chosen postsecondary paths. Participants will gain practical insights and actionable strategies for effectively merging SEL with college/career readiness efforts, ensuring that all students have the support they need to thrive.
In today’s educational landscape, school counselors often face the challenge of developing effective Tier 2 interventions, but many find themselves in a cycle of identifying solutions that yield limited results. This session seeks to disrupt that cycle by introducing a robust continuous improvement process that leverages data and root cause analysis to identify and address the genuine barriers students encounter.
Participants will learn how to effectively analyze student data and utilize root cause analysis techniques to gain a deeper understanding of the specific challenges their students face. By uncovering these fundamental barriers, school counselors can tailor interventions that go beyond surface-level fixes, enabling them to implement “magic” Tier 2 intervention that resonate with their students’ unique needs and circumstances.
Are you tired of generating innovative ideas for the development and implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) that ultimately fade away? This interactive session will provide school counselors and educational leaders with the essential tools to create and sustain MTSS practices that not only enhance student behavioral health, but also promote academic success, attendance, and social-emotional well being. In this dynamic and engaging workshop, participants will delve into the principles of implementation science, empowering themselves to refine leadership, enhance coaching practices, and optimize data systems for accountability to strengthen the fidelity of implementation. Leave with a personalized action plan, ready-to-use tools, and strategies to move from ideas to impact.
Unlock the true “magic” of improving student outcomes by skillfully blending the art of building trusting relationships with the science of data-driven decision-making. In this engaging session, school counselors will explore how to effectively blend reflective listening and meaningful inquiry with robust data analysis to enhance student success across academics, behavior, and social-emotional well-being.
Participants will dive into the concept of Street Data by recognizing its potential to place students at the very heart of educational decision-making. Through practical strategies, you will learn how to balance both relational and analytical approaches, fostering deep connections with students while harnessing data to inform responsive interventions. Walk away with actionable tools designed to elevate student voice, enhance engagement, and drive measurable improvement in various aspects of student achievement.
