Counselor's Notebook, March 2010

MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION MARCH 2010VOL. 46, NO. 7

MASCA

MASCA 2010 Spring Conference

Connecting Counselors in the 21st CenturyApril 11 – April 13, 2010

Crowne Plaza Boston North Shore, Danvers

GREAT PROGRAMS • GREAT PRICESGREAT SPEAKERS

Sunday, April 11Welcome Reception • Keynoter

Workshops • Graduate Student Events

Monday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 13Exciting Exhibits • MA Model Showcases

Workshops • MASCA Awards • Hospitality Events

Details, keynote speakers, agenda, exhibitors, andregistration form at www.masca.org.

Inquiries: Helen O’Donnell, Conference Chair,[email protected]

Come out and supportthe school counseling profession

March 10, 2010 • 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Massachusetts School Counselorson Beacon Hill

SurvivingMarch Madness

By CHRISTINE EVANSMASCA President

CHRISTINE EVANS

(continued on page 18)

T he month of March has thirty-onedays, but for many of us who work

in schools, it certainly feels longer.It could be that everyone is tired of the

gray skies and cold temperatures and thatwe long for the optimistic signs and soundsof springtime. The fact is: March is a longmonth, with MCAS retests at the begin-ning; parent conferences in the middle;budget talks; and, to top it off, MCASELA testing at the end of the month. Nowonder we are tired!

If you are chomping at the bit for some -thing new and exciting to spark yourinterest and get the motivation up andrunning again, I have news to share. Atthe MASCA Governing Board held inFeb ruary, the Board approved a researchstudy that will take a close look at theMA Model.

The Model has been with us for severalyears now, and many counselors through-out the Commonwealth have been work-ing toward its full implementation. Thisis the perfect time to assess the Model sothat we can make recommendations forthe future. We will look at who is usingthe Model, how it is being implemented,and its effectiveness. And the data derived

2 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

2009 – 2010MASCA OFFICERS

PRESIDENTCHRISTINE A. EVANSEast Bridgewater High School11 Plymouth Street, East Bridgewater, MA 02333Tel. 508-378-5851 • Fax 508-378-8236E-mail: [email protected]

PRESIDENT-ELECTCAROLYN RICHARDSSomerville High School81 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143Tel. 617-625-6600 x6120 • Fax 617-628-8413E-mail: [email protected]

PAST PRESIDENTKAREN M. D’AMOURManchester Essex Regional High School36 Lincoln Street, Manchester, MA 01944Tel. 978-526-7641 • Fax 978-526-2044E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT ELEMENTARYTBA

VICE PRESIDENT MIDDLE / JUNIOR HIGHRICHARD WHITEGateway Regional Middle School12 Littleville Road, Huntington, MA 01050E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT SECONDARYJENNIFER LISKMedway High School, Medway, MA 02053E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT POSTSECONDARYJAY LEIENDECKERVice President Enrollment Services, Dean CollegeTel. 508-541-1509 • Fax 508-541-8726E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATORSRUTH CARRIGANWhitman-Hanson Regional High School600 Franklin Street, Whitman, MA 02382Tel. 781-618-7434 • Fax 781-618-7098E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT COUNSELOR EDUCATORSTHERESA A. COOGAN, Ph.D.Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA 02325Tel. 508-531-2640E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT RETIREESRALPH SENNOTTP.O. Box 1391, Westford, MA 01886Tel. 978-692-8244E-mail: [email protected]

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDONNA M. BROWNAdjunct Professor, UMass BostonP.O. Box 366, 779 Center StreetBryantville, MA 02327Tel. 781-293-2835E-mail: [email protected]

TREASURERTINA KARIDOYANESP.O. Box 1007, Monument Beach, MA 02553Tel. 508-759-3986E-mail: [email protected]

SECRETARYCARRIE KULICK-CLARKBraintree High School, Braintree, MA 02184Tel. 781-848-4000 x2273E-mail: [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATORDEBORAH CLEMENCEP.O. Box 805, East Dennis, MA 02641E-mail: [email protected]

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK EDITORSALLY ANN CONNOLLY19 Bayberry Road, Danvers, MA 01923Tel. 978-774-8158 • Fax 978-750-8154E-mail: [email protected]

MARCH 2010 3

March 2010

www.masca.org

inside

Published by:Massachusetts School Counselors Association10 issues per year, September through June. The yearlysubscription rate is $30.00. Individual copies are $3.00.

Opinions expressed in the articles published herein representthe ideas and/or beliefs of those who write them and do notnecessarily reflect the views or policies of the MassachusettsSchool Counselors Association, Inc.

The acceptance of an advertisement for publication does notimply MASCA endorsement of the advertiser’s programs,services, or views expressed.

Questions concerning submission of articles, publi cationdeadlines, advertising rates, etc., should be addressed toSally Ann Connolly, Editor.

©2010 by the Massachusetts School Counselors Association.All rights reserved.

4 Professional Conferences and National CertificationBy Theresa A. Coogan, Ph.D.

6 21st Century Skills and School CounselorsBy Donna Brown

8 Youth Health ConnectionBy Ruth Carrigan

10 Research Notes

12 MA Model Implementation: One Day at at TimeBy Elizabeth Schuster

14 MASCA Spring Conference Registration

16 People, Places, and Programs

MASCA


Professional Conferences and National Certification:Opportunities for Active Involvement

By THERESA A. COOGAN, Ph.D.MASCA VP Counselor Educators

Whether you are a graduate studentcompleting your professional train-

ing program, a new professional schoolcounselor, or a veteran in the field, main-taining active involvement is important.It can also be a challenge because mostfolks have very busy schedules.

In this article I want to remind my fel-low school counselors of two great waysto maintain active involvement in the pro-fession and to continue contributing toprofessional growth and development:(1) attendance at professional conferences,and (2) obtaining National Certification.The latter can also be an option for ob -taining your professional licensure inMassachusetts.

Professional conferencesProfessional conferences are a wonder-ful opportunity for people of all experi-ence levels to come together and sharetheir excitement, enthusiasm, and know -

ledge about best practices for professionalschool counselors. Conferences providea forum for ongoing professional net-working, collaboration with peers fromacross the state, region, and/or country,and the opportunity to establish andbuild new connections.

It can be very refreshing to be in anenvironment with your peers, knowingthat you share a common interest – thefield of professional school counseling.Personally, I always find myself renewed,reenergized, and eager to get back towork, so that I can apply some of the newideas, techniques, or approaches that Ihave learned.

In 2010 there will be two professionalconferences that I encourage you to at -tend: our local MASCA spring confer-ence and the national ASCA conference.We are fortunate to have both conferencesright here in our back yard! It has beenyears since ASCA has come to Boston,and the more local support we have atthis conference the better.

A quick word to graduate students whoare completing their degree. I strong lyencourage you to consider attending theconferences. They provide a fantastic op -portunity to continue building your pro-fessional network. You might even hearabout a job opportunity. Have copies ofyour resume on hand. A conference allowsyou to not only engage in your profes-sion but also get an informal job inter-view. Make a good first impression.

MASCA and ASCA conferencesThe MASCA Spring Conference will beheld April 11-14. Information about thepresentations, registration, accommoda-tions and directions can be found onMASCA’s website, www.masca.org.

A special opportunity for graduatestudents will be the Graduate StudentPoster Presentation. Students are en cour -aged to submit a proposal to prepare aposter presentation, which could focuson an ongoing research project and/orcomprehensive class project or paperfrom a recent or current semester.

The ASCA conference will be held July3-6. This conference is a great opportu-

nity to connect with colleagues fromacross the nation and learn about effortsbeing made throughout our profession.Topics will range from practical tech-niques and approaches being used in theschools to theory and research being con-ducted about issues concerning the schoolcounseling field.

In addition to workshops and sessions,a professional bookstore will be availablefor exploring the various topics and re -sources for our field. For practitionersinterested in Continuing Education Cred-its (CEUs), the first day offers multipleworkshops and sessions.

You can register now. For informa-tion, go to ASCA’s website, www.schoolcounselor.org.

National certificationA final recommendation for getting in -volved in the school counseling field isobtaining national certification. Thisdirectly contributes to obtaining yourprofessional licensure in Massachusettsas well as to your growing professionalidentity as a school counselor.

The National Board of Certified Coun-selors (NBCC) offers certification creden-tialing to professionals across all areasof counseling. According to the stateregulations for professional licensure (603CMR 7.11), achievement and mainte-nance of certification or licensure fromthe National Board of Certified Coun-selors (NBCC) or the National Boardfor School Counseling are alternative op -tions to obtain your professional license.The other option is to obtain 60 gradu-ate credits. The NBCC offers an exam(National School Counselors Exam) tobe a National Certified School Counselor.More information and registration in -formation can be found at www.nbcc.org.

Active involvement is a part of ourprofessional identity, and although ourschedules can feel overloaded at times, wemust make the extra effort. In additionto attending conferences and nationalcertification, there are many other waysthat you can stay involved. I encourageyou to explore them and to share thoseideas with your peers. ■

MARCH 2010 5


UTI sponsors ASCA celebration

Universal Technical Institute was a platinum sponsor of the recent ASCA SchoolCounselor of the Year Gala, which was held in Washington, D.C. Shown: UTIRegional Admissions Directors Scott Adler (left) and Jerry Ellner.

21st Century Skillsand

School CounselorsBy DONNA BROWN

MASCA Executive Director

S ometimes we all wonder how schoolcounselors fit into education reform.

All too often it seems as if we are on theoutside looking in; that we have to relyon others to define our position and ourfocus. Recently, I had an experience thathelped me understand the role schoolcounselors can and should play in edu-cational reform.

I had the opportunity to attend an ab -solutely fascinating conference at RutgersUniversity. Sponsored by the Committeeon Teaching About the United Nations,“Developing Globally Literate Students:21st Century Skills, Emerging Technologyand the United Nations” brought togetherexperts in 21st Century Skills, global edu -cation, curriculum development, newtech nologies, and, of course, the U.N.By the end of the day my head was spin-ning. Ideas had been presented “rapid-fire” and resources had been shared atwarp speed. The room was electric.

The keynote speaker was curriculumand instruction expert Dr. Heidi HayesJacobs. A national and international edu-cational consultant, Dr. Jacobs is bestknown for her work with curriculummapping, dynamic instruction and 21st

century strategic planning. Before beginning her presentation, Dr.

Jacobs placed an empty chair on the stage.She explained that the chair representedthe student because in all discussions ofeducation, there is one firm rule: All con-siderations must address the question,“What is in the best interest of the stu-dent?” She challenged participants byask ing, “What year are you preparingyour students for? 1975? 1991? 2010?”Her contention is that schools are stuckin the last century, using a model forschool that had been developed at theturn of the century.

During the next hour and a half, shediscussed curriculum design, impedimentsto growth and change, adaptations, andnew versions of schools. She stressed thatlearners create and share knowledge dif-ferently from previous generations.

She suggested that curriculum designdepends on three considerations: (1) whatto cut; (2) what to keep; (3) what to create.

MARCH 2010 7

Continuing, she described a two-tieredmodel for curriculum development andcatalogued the many ways to begin work-ing to improve.

By the end of her presentation, I wascompletely energized. Virtually everythingshe discussed and highlighted was haunt -ingly familiar, and the points she mademirrored the basic concepts of the ASCAModel and the MA Model. I purchasedher new book, Curriculum 21: EssentialEducation for a Changing World, and itis fascinating and challenging.

A conversation at the conference withMolly McCloskey of ASCA was very pos-itive. A former middle school counselor,Molly agreed that the correlation be tweenthe 21st Century Skills and our Modelwas great and that indeed we should betaking a leadership role in school reform.She also told me that Massachusetts wasa 21st Century Skills state.

I had been excited to discover how cut-ting edge ASCA and the Model were. Wewere right on target. In designing a schoolcounseling curriculum, we had made choi -ces about what is essential now to helpour learners for their future.

School counselors missing inactionI started researching 21st Century Skillsin Massachusetts. I wanted to find outhow school counselors had been involved.What I found was really discouraging.

Not only was Massachusetts a 21st

Century Skills state partner, but in 2008,we were one of six states honored as aleadership state. According to the web-site article, “Massachusetts’ Common-wealth Readiness Project, the third first-time winner, received the award fordev eloping a blueprint for integrating21st century skills throughout a state’seducation system.”

I checked out the rest of the website(http://www.21stcenturyskills.org) andfound our description. There was plentyabout teachers and administrators, butabsolutely nothing about school coun-selors. I looked at the state advisoryboard and there was no representationthere, either. We’ve been tweaking andrefining first the benchmarks and thenthe Model for over ten years. And yet,there was no acknowledgement of howclosely aligned we are to the concept of21st Century Skills.

Getting the message outThe school year is almost two-thirds overand the promise of spring is in the air.

It’s the ideal time to reevaluate our rolein changing and reforming education.

Our whole professional lives are guidedby the question “What is in the best in -terest of the student.” We need to workto get the message out that we are ex pertsin this area. In reality, we were promot-ing 21st Century Skills BEFORE they weregiven that title!

The following sites can help you planand implement lessons and activities thataddress 21st Century Skills:

• Intel® Education Free ProfessionalDevelopment and K-12 Tools and

Resources for 21st Century Skillswww.intel.com/education

• U.N. Cyber School Bushttp://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org

• Innovative Guides on Global Learningwww.asiasociety.org/education

• Making “show and tell” fun againhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/PhotoStory/default.mspx

• For a fact-based world viewhttp://www.gapminder.org/ ■


Youth Health ConnectionBy RUTH CARRIGAN

MASCA VP Administrators

A s the March issue of CN reachesyou, I know that most schools and

school counseling departments are fac-ing difficult budget issues. We are con-stantly asked to do more with less at atime when many of our students are fac-ing real challenges. Parents have lost jobs.Homes have been lost due to foreclosure.And some of our kids are in crisis.

One resource that I encourage you tocheck out as you strive to support yourstudents is the Youth Health Connectionat South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.

According to the agency’s website,YHC is a unique community-based part -nership dedicated to advancing the healthof children and adolescents through in no -vative health promotion, education, train-ing, and advocacy services. Its mission isdedicated to the positive mental healthand physical well-being of youth. Theprogram advances positive youth healthoutcomes through knowledge sharing,

risk prevention, respect, and collabora-tion and connectedness.

In addition to many great local pro-grams and an excellent speaker’s bureau,one of the goals of the YHC is adolescentsuicide prevention. In the How Not toKeep a Secret program, trainings for stu-dent leaders are held each year where stu-dents are taught the signs and symptomsof adolescent depression. They also learnhow to identify an at-risk peer and the

dire importance of telling a trusted adultwhen such a concern arises.

At a one-day training hosted by a localschool, students develop skits that theywill perform for students in their ownschool communities. These dramatic pre-sentations are designed to help studentsraise awareness of teen depression. Ac -cording to Susan LeMay, adjustmentcounselor at Whitman-Hanson RegionalHigh School and YHC advisory boardmember, the power of peers educatingpeers is invaluable and, in many cases, alife-saving tool.

YHC is proud to report that they haverecently published the first edition ofHow Not To Keep A Secret, a manual forschool advisors to provide a Peer Lead ertraining day focused on teen depressionawareness and suicide prevention.

Another great resource of the organi-zation is the Youth Health ConnectionWeekly, an electronic newsletter for pro-fessionals working with students. Eachweek, I am impressed by the useful andtimely information it contains.

A recent edition included a wide rangeof topics. Included among them were theupcoming workshop, Reality Check:Help ing Students Make the Transitionfrom High School to College and theReal World; Teen Dating Violence Aware -ness Week; SADD mini grants; andmuch more. Reading the YHC Weeklyis well worth my time, and I often for-ward it to the rest of the school coun-seling staff in my district.

For more information about all of thegreat programs and services of the SouthShore Hospital Youth Health Connection,I encourage you to check out their web-site, www.sshosp.org/yhc/yhc_home.html.If you have any questions about YHC,you are welcome to contact Kim Noble,Program Director, at 781-794-7415 [email protected].

As professional school counselors inMassachusetts continue to be asked todo more with less, I hope you will contactme at [email protected] to shareyour favorite resources and best prac-tices with your professional colleaguesacross the state. ■

RUTH CARRIGAN

MARCH 2010 9


MASCA DIRECTORY OFMASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS

The Directory lists school counselors in K-12 public, private, parochial, and re gionaland technical high schools. Phone, fax, and e-mail information is in cluded. EachMASCA member will receive one (1) complimentary copy.

PLEASE USE THE ORDER FORM BELOW to order more copies. Download theform at www.masca.org or order online and use your credit card.

1-5 copies @ $30.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. ____ $_________

Additional Copies6 or more @ $25.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. ____ $_________

Shipping/Handling @$3.50 each copy . . . . . . . . No. ____ $_________

P.O. Processing Fee (per order) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_________

Make checks payable to: MASCA TOTAL: . . $ __________

If mailing this form, send to:Ms. Marla Schay, Weston High School, 444 Wellesley St., Weston, MA 02493

Questions? E-mail [email protected]

Your name and contact information:

Name: ______________________________________________________________

School District/Business: _______________________________________________

Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

E-mail Address: ______________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________________________________________________

5.00

RESEARCH NOTES

Abnormal lipid levels found inAmerican youthTwenty percent of young people aged12-19 years in the United States have atleast one abnormal lipid level, accord-ing to a study from the Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention. The re -search ers found that young people whowere overweight or obese were more like-ly to have one or more abnormal lipidlevels compared to normal weight youth.Fourteen percent of normal weight, 22percent of overweight, and 43 percentof obese youth had one or more abnor-mal lipid levels.

Abnormal lipid levels are major riskfac tors for heart disease, the leading causeof death among adults in the United States.

— Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, 1/21/10

Childhood obesity tied toexcess mortalityA study reported in the February 11 issueof The New England Journal of Medicinefound that “obesity, glucose intolerance,and hypertension in childhood werestrongly associated with increased ratesof premature death.”

Obesity screeningrecommendedBased on new evidence that children andadolescents can be effectively treated forobesity, the U.S. Preventive Services TaskForce recommends that clinicians screenchildren ages 6 to 18 years for obesity andrefer them to programs to improve theirweight status.

The recommendations are explainedin the February issue of Pediatrics.

Beating obesity takes a villageThe prevalence of obesity in children ap -pears to have plateaued but the data stillshows that nearly one third of childrenand teenagers are overweight or obese.This is not just a medical issue but ratherinvolves the whole family, society and edu-cation . . . . By taking a long term, pos-itive lifestyle, collaborative approach webelieve progress can be made in helpingour children, teens and their parents cre-ate a plan to address obesity and hope-fully reduce the number being diagnosedwith diabetes and high cholesterol.

— Barbara Green, Ph.D., Youth HealthConnection, Vol. 2, Issue 1, 2/4/10 ■

Make Wellness Part of the Game Plan

T he National Dairy Council has joinedforces with the National Football

League to help students eat right and stayactive. Its program, Fuel Up to Play 60,previously known as Do Amazing Things,seeks to tackle childhood obesity by givingyouth a voice in changing the school nu -trition and physical activity environment.

The program is based on the 2005Dietary Guidelines for Americans, whichrecommends consumption of nutrient-richfoods (such as low-fat and fat-free dairy,fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and60 minutes of physical activity a day.

Schools enrolled in the program re ceive• a free Fuel Up to Play 60 Wellness

Kit with posters, banner, display “cubes,”and more,

• creative ways to increase healthyeating and physical activity and motivateyouth to take control of their health andwellness, and

• a chance to participate in the na -tional Fuel Up to Play 60 competition.

This school year, the program will reach36 million youth in 60,000 elementary,middle, and high schools. To enroll, go towww.FuelUpToPlay60.com. ■

MARCH 2010 11

“In these dire economic times, we cannot afford to be complacent. All students mustgraduate from a Commonwealth high school with a diploma in hand, well prepared toembark on postsecondary education or a viable career.”

— Making the Connection: A Report of the Massachusetts Graduation and Dropout Preventionand Recovery Commission, October 2009

Significant Dropout Risk: Overall FindingsIndividual Domain

Individual Background Characteristics • Has a learning disability or emo-

tional disturbance

Early Adult Responsibilities • High number of work hours • Parenthood

Social Attitudes, Values, & Behavior • High-risk peer group • High-risk social behavior• Highly socially active outside of

school

School Performance • Low achievement • Retention/over-age for grade

School Engagement • Poor attendance • Low educational expectations • Lack of effort • Low commitment to school • No extracurricular participation

School Behavior • Misbehavior • Early aggression

Family Background Characteristics • Low socioeconomic status • High family mobility • Low education level of parents • Large number of siblings • Not living with both natural parents • Family disruption

Family Engagement/Commitment to Education • Low educational expectations • Sibling has dropped out • Low contact with school

Family Domain

— Dropout Risk Factors and Exemplary Programs: A Technical Report, National Dropout PreventionCenter (NDPC) at Clemson University and Communities In Schools (CIS), 2007

“


MA Model Implementation: One Day at a TimeBy ELIZABETH SCHUSTER

Maynard High School Counselor

D uring this school year I have beenparticipating in the MA Model

Im ple mentation Institute. I went intothis without any concrete knowledge asto what the MA Model was, much lesshow to implement it.

The first session I attended was in Julyof 2009, and I was nervous thinking thatI would be so far behind everyone elsein my working knowledge of the Model.I did not need to worry, however, becauseit was a very supportive environment foreveryone, from schools that had almostcompleted their implementation to schoolslike mine, just starting out. I left that firstsession very excited with the prospect ofmoving our department forward.

The first thing that we worked on wasdeveloping a mission statement.

With input from the three people inour department, we created a missionstate ment that we are all proud of. Itnot only defines who we are but also

what we hold to be the most importantelements of what we do for our studentsand our whole school community.

Working on a master calendar waseasy because we already had one thatwe revised every year. In looking over acalendar that spans the whole schoolyear, we were amazed at all the items onit, things that took place during the schoolday as well as events that we participatein on nights and weekends. As our schooladministrator says: The counseling de part -ment truly is at the center of the school.

Working on our programmatic deliv-ery is a work in progress.

Like most school counseling depart-ments, we are always running out of timeand working in a responsive mode ratherthan a preventative mode. We have beenworking with the same ten percent ofour students and finding little time leftover to reach the other ninety percent.

As a whole department we are work-

ing on guidance curriculum that alignswith our school improvement goals andthat will allow us to manage our timemore effectively, so that we can reach outto all students and deliver the servicesthey need.

As a department we are striving tospend twenty-five percent of our timedelivering guidance curriculum; twenty-five percent in individual student plan-ning; fifteen percent in system support;

and only thirty-five percent in responsiveservices. We are still working to reachthis lofty goal, and we have found waysto continually improve our services to stu-dents while better managing our time.

Developing curriculum and headinginto the classrooms has not been toooverwhelming for our department. Weare all former teachers, and it has beenenjoyable to step back into that role fromtime to time.

The biggest hurdle for us, as with otherschools, is getting permission from class -room teachers to use their class time.They have an incredible amount of cur-riculum to deliver in a limited amountof time. One idea that was brought upin the Institute is heading into classroomswhen there is a substitute teacher. If wehave our counseling curriculum organizedand ready to go, this would work reallywell for us. I hope that we will be readyby the start of the next school year.

The more work we do to implementthe MA Model, the more I realize howmuch more work we have ahead of us.It has been a tremendous learning expe-rience. And we want to continue to learnnew things and grow in our professionas school counselors.

As Helen O’Donnell, Jan Tkaczyk, andKatie Gray have said throughout all ofour sessions, everything we do as schoolcounselors has to be driven by the ques-tion, “What do our students need?” ■

The challenge for counselors isto work in a preventative, ratherthan responsive, mode.

MARCH 2010 13

ED’S VIEWSBy ED BRYANT, NCC

MASCA Life Trustee

ED BRYANT

T he spring MASCA conference willbe held next month. I hope you are

planning to attend.A good topic for sharing with your

colleagues at the conference is how todeal with a friend or colleague who haslost a job. Most likely we all know sucha person.

Another topic is the relationship thatwe have as school counselors with inde-pendent educational consultants. Theyalso assist students and families with edu-cational decision-making.

Still another is counselor overload. Isthis still a problem? If so, what are thenegative results?

Hope your holidays were fun and re -laxing. Each year at Thanksgiving wehave our family touch football game. Thisyear tendonitis in both shoulders pre-vented me from throwing the ball, but notfrom catching. There are many good ca -reers in the health fields for your students.

Another good area is construction.Contractors and engineers had to connectmy septic tank along the driveway to thetown sewer line. This provides work inthese difficult economic times. There aremany careers, but where are the jobs?

This may be “old hat,” but communi-cation—between MASCA and its affiliatesand among affiliate organizations—is im -portant. Officers need to work together,share ideas, and pool resources. All canbenefit.

Regarding flu shots. This year I got theregular flu shot, and my wife Mary Lou,who works with children, had the swineflu shot. How about you and your family?Have you avoided getting sick?

Do you agree with Dr. F. D. Warihaywho says that there are simple ways tomake work more fun? He says theyinclude:

• smiling more• using enthusiastic language

• not waiting to celebrate• bragging• promoting silliness Would these recommendations help

make a happy guidance office?My latest USN Academy interview as

a BGO revealed that one candidate wantedto be a Navy pilot and another wanted tobe a nuclear power officer on a subma-

rine. The third wanted to be a MarineCorps officer. At the 20th Annual ServiceAcademies /ROTC Night in November,we had 279 parents and students. Onecounselor from Danvers High Schoolattended.

David Starr Jordan tells us: “Be lifelong or short, its completeness dependson what it was lived for.” ■

Massachusetts School Counselors Association Annual Spring Conference

April 11-13, 2010 Crowne Plaza Boston North Shore, Danvers, MA

(formerly Sheraton Ferncroft) Conference Inquiries: Helen O’Donnell, Conference Chair, [email protected]

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

• Member registration rates: MASCA membership must be current (PAID by credit card or check) by March 17. Purchase orders in process are NOT considered paid. Check membership status at [email protected].

• Paper registration: Print clearly, one registration form per person. Mailed form must be accompanied by check or PO. • If you are employed as a full-time professional school counselor, you may not register at the graduate student rate. • To request online CVENT registration, e-mail Ron Miller, [email protected]. Confirmations by e-mail only. • Payment options: (1) online with credit cards (M/C or Visa, no debit), (2) offline with check or purchase order. • Refund policy: Send requests in writing by March 30 to [email protected]. A $20 processing fee will be charged.

No refunds after March 30 without written approval by conference chair (Ex., bereavement). Payment expected for registrant non-attendance.

• Registrant name and work mailing address will be shared with select sponsors. To opt out, send e-mail to • Hotel reservations ($89 MASCA rooms), 978-777-2500, http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/bosns • If you have special needs or require an accommodation, please notify us by April 2.

FIRST NAME _______________________________ LAST NAME__________________________________________

Elementary Middle School High School Administrator Retired Grad Student Counselor Educator

E-mail address (required for automated electronic confirmation): _____________________________________________

Preferred mailing address: Home Work/School name: ___________________________________ Street address: __________________________________________________________ City/town: __________________________________________ State: ______________ Zip: ________________

Requesting vegetarian meals Yes First MASCA Conference? Yes No

MASCA Professional

Member by 3/17

Non-MASCA Member

Retiree or Graduate Student* (*not employed as a school counselor) Member Non-member

INCLUSIVE REGISTRATION includes ALL conference days and attendee events. Sunday: First-Timers/Graduate Student Reception, Graduate Student Events, Poster Sessions, Workshops, Keynoter, Welcome Reception Monday: Breakfast, Keynote, Workshops, Exhibits, Poster Sessions, Snack Breaks, Luncheon, Afternoon Reception, Evening Party Tuesday: Breakfast, Keynote, Workshops, Exhibits, Poster Sessions, Snack Breaks, Luncheon, Administrator Partnership events SUPER-SAVER: CK/CC, no POs, ends 3/1 $225 $280 $145 $160

EARLY BIRD ends 3/17 $240 $299 $155 $170

REGULAR registration begins 3/18 $265 $315 $165 $180

OTHER REGISTRATION OPTIONS: Sunday only - Early Bird ends 3/17 $ 90 $105 $50 $ 65 Sunday only - Regular registration begins 3/18 $100 $145 $60 $ 70 Monday only - Early Bird ends 3/17 $115 $165 $70 $ 85 Monday only - Regular registration begins 3/18 $135 $185 $80 $ 95 Tuesday only - Early Bird ends 3/17 $115 $165 $70 $ 85

Tuesday only - Regular registration begins 3/18 $135 $185 $80 $ 95

Sun. & Mon. - Early Bird ends 3/17 $200 $265 $115 $145

Sun. & Mon. - Regular registration begins 3/18 $230 $305 $135 $160

Mon. & Tues. - Early Bird ends 3/17 $225 $305 $135 $165

Mon. & Tues. - Regular registration begins 3/18 $265 $345 $150 $180

SUBTOTAL

WALK-IN registration: Add $20 to total $20 $20 $20 $ 20 MASCA PDPs: Add $25 to total $25 $25 $25 $ 25 PO processing fee: Add $10/invoice $10 $10 $10 $ 10

TOTAL TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED $____________ CHECK No.____________ PURCHASE ORDER #_______________

[email protected].


Connecting Counselors in the 21st Century50YEARS

1961

2011

Registrants using POs will be electronically sent an invoice, which should be submitted for payment via school/business protocol.List registrant names on PO.

Make checks payable to MASCA and mail to Joe Fitzgerald, Registrar, 5 Progress Street, Weymouth, MA [email protected]

MARCH 2010 15

Connecting Counselors in the 21st CenturyMASCA Conference Keynoters

Dr. Carol DahirDr. Joyce V. Brown

Laurie Young of Laughter Works

Carol Dahir, Ph.D., co-author of ASCA’s

Na tional Standards, is an accomplished

national presenter, trainer, and program

evaluator in the areas of standards-based

school counseling, school counselor ac -

countability, and career development. Dr.

Dahir is co-author with Caro lyn Stone of

School Counselor Account a bility: A Mea -

sure of Student Success and The Trans -

formed School Counselor.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Dr. Joyce V. Brown, a National Board

Certified Counselor (NBCT), is a frequent

presenter at conferences, including those

for the American School Counseling Asso-

ciation, National Association of College

Admission Counselors, The College Board,

NOSCA, Education Trust’s Counselor

Summer Academy, and the Utah Coun-

selors Association.

She is the only urban public school

counselor to have served on committees

sponsored by The College Board, the Task

Force on Admissions in the 21st Century,

the NACAC Commission on the Use of

Standardized Tests in Undergraduate Ad -

mission, and others. Her article, “High

School Counselors: Achievement, Strug-

gles and Dreams,” was featured in The

College Board Review Journal, and she

was a panelist on ABC TV’s Stop the Vio-

lence series.

Dr. Brown served for thirty-four years

in the Chicago Public Schools as a teacher,

counselor, SLC lead teacher, AVID coor-

dinator, and guidance department chair.

She developed numerous programs fo -

cused on student leadership and student

engagement and led a city-wide coun-

selor professional development initiative

designed to create guidance programs cen-

tered on the use of data to impact stu-

dent achievement.

Dr. Brown’s expertise is in the area of

transition practices with a focus on sup-

porting students as they move from ele-

mentary to high school. Her “12 Touch

High School Transition Model” outlines

personalization practices for counselors to

use in helping students feel that they be -

long and are wanted in their high schools.

In 2005, Dr. Brown’s efforts resulted

in The Illinois School Counselor Associ-

ation’s recognition of Chicago Public

Schools as the outstanding counseling

program in the state.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

In addition to the keynote address, Dr.

Brown will present a workshop with

Jibril Solomon, higher education con-

sultant with the Boston Public Schools

and BATEC. They will discuss strategies

for merging the “12 Touch Approach”

with the delivery of critical assessment

information for college and career

readiness.

Solomon brings a wealth of experience

and knowledge to his research efforts

around college and career readiness. For

more than ten years he served as a higher

education and K-12 administrator in

such areas as enrollment management,

student services, college access, and stu-

dent achieve ment research. Currently, he

works for TechBoston, a division of the

Boston Public Schools and teaches part-

time in the Boston Public Schools.

Now in the process of developing an

educational outreach manual linking K-

12 and higher education, Solomon served

on the Massachusetts’ Governor’s Readi -

ness Project for the Massachusetts Com-

prehensive Assessment System (MCAS)

and Education Assessments.

Included among his publications are

Boston Area Advanced Technology Edu-

cation Connections Community College

Outreach Manual, Ready for 21st Cen-

tury Success: The New Promise of Pub-

lic Education, and the forthcoming Accu -

placer Curriculum Guide. ■


Guidance Administrator MA Model TrainingCo-sponsored by MASCA and Franklin Hampshire Guidance Association

“Using Data to Effect Change and Movethe Profession FORWARD!”

Dr. Trish Hatch, co-author of the ASCA National Model

March 30, 2010For more information, contact Bob Bardwell,

[email protected]

WSGA has active year

West Suburban Guidance Association has

held four meetings this year. Sponsors have

been: New England Institute of Tech nol -

ogy, ITT Technical Institute, Southern

New Hampshire University, and North-

eastern University. Wheaton College will

sponsor the affiliate’s meeting in March.

ISPRC plans diversity conference

Each year Boston College’s Institute for

the Study and Promotion of Race and

Culture sponsors a conference to address

a racial or cultural issue that could ben-

efit from a pragmatic, scholarly, or grass -

roots focus.

The theme of this year’s two-day con-

ference will be the examination of race

and culture in teaching, training, and

supervision.

The conference includes discussion/

symposia, workshops, structured discus-

sions, a poster session, and individual pre-

sentations by invited experts and selected

guests including educators, ad minis tra -

tors, researchers, mental health profes-

sionals, and community organizations.

If you would like to present at the

conference, check the ISPRC website. At

the website you will also find more in -

formation as well as pre-registration.

Go to www.bc.edu/isprc.

MASCA plans Model Institutes

Plan to attend the MA Model Institutes

to be held on July 14, July 15, and

No vember 18. Attendees are required to

also attend the MASCA fall and spring

conferences. For details, go to www.masca.org. ■

PEOPLE, PLACES, ANDPROGRAMS

MARCH 2010 17

ArtBiology

Business ManagementChemistry

CommunicationComputer Info. Systems

Computer ScienceCriminal Justice

EconomicsEducation / Special Education

EnglishEnvironmental Science

General ScienceHistory

Liberal StudiesMathematics

Movement ScienceMusic

Political SciencePsychology

Regional PlanningSocial Work

SociologyTheatre Arts

Westfield State Office of AdmissionPost Office Box 1630 · Westfield, MA 01086

(413) 572-5218 · wsc.ma.edu

Westfield StateWestfield State

The Right Fit

MASCA Seeks to Fill Leadership PositionsEmerging Leaders Program

A re you a professional school coun-selor who has not been an elected

or appointed member of the MASCAGoverning Board and who wants to bein volved in our profession in some way,but you’re not sure exactly how? Thenthe Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) isfor you.

The ELP was approved in early 2007by the MASCA Governing Board. Itsmain goal is to identify potential leadersin the school counseling profession inMassachusetts and to get them involvedwith MASCA. Emerging leaders have tobe a professional school counselor andMASCA member who wants to give backto our profession but has not been an elect -

ed or appointed Governing Board member.Emerging Leaders must present at a

MASCA-sponsored conference, attend aGoverning Board meeting and one of theaffiliate meetings, write articles for theCounselor’s Notebook, and participatein EL trainings. ELs are also expected toattend the annual MASCA LeadershipDevelopment Institute (LDI) in earlyAugust as well as the ASCA North At -lantic Region fall workshop usually heldthe weekend before Thanksgiving.

In return, Emerging Leaders receive afree one-year MASCA membership, re -duced conference registration, and freeleadership training.

The major project that ELs worked on

this year was to assist MASCA’s Govern -ment Relations Committee by supportingthe hearings on Beacon Hill in Octoberand planning for the March 10 Leader-ship Forum at the Statehouse.

Interested candidates must submit aletter of interest, resume, and letter of rec -ommendation from his/her supervisor byApril 1 to Bob Bardwell, MASCA PastPresident, Monson High School, 55 Mar -garet Street, Monson, MA 01057. Or youcan fax the information to 413-267-4157or e-mail [email protected].

Don’t miss out on this unique and ex -citing program. It will forever impact youas a professional school counselor.

Government Relations CommitteeMASCA seeks to fill the position of Gov -ern ment Relations Chair. A job des crip -tion can be found on MASCA’s website,

www.masca.org. To apply, send a res umeand letter of intent no later than April 1 toCarolyn Richards, Somerville High School,

81 Highland Ave nue, Somer ville, MA02143, or you can e-mail your in for ma tionto [email protected]. ■


EVANS (continued from page 1)from the study will guide us in our nextsteps with the Model.

This is a great move forward for coun-selors in Massachusetts, the MA Modelfounders, and MASCA itself. The studywill support the work that has alreadybeen done, and it will give us clear direc-tion for the future.

MASCA websiteMy other piece of exciting news is thatwe are now in Phase II of the new web-site design process. As we continue todevelop features and discover new waysof communicating via the website, ourhope is that more MASCA members willfind the website user-friendly and cometo rely on it as a trusted resource.

One of the innovations will be theability to access the Counselor’s Note-book in an online, interactive format.Many other useful features will also beavailable, so please stay tuned and con-tinue to visit us at www.masca.org.

Day on the HillWhen you receive this issue of the Note-book, chances are it will already be thefirst week in March. If you have not yetconsidered attending the LeadershipForum at the Day on the Hill, March 10,please give it serious consideration. TheGovernment Relations Committee hasworked with many partners to puttogether a worthwhile, timely day oftraining. There is still much work to bedone for school counselors and theirwork. We need your support to accom-plish it. Please join us and learn how youcan support the efforts already underway.

MASCA spring conferenceAs you make plans for the spring andsummer, don’t forget to plan to attendthe MASCA Spring Conference in Dan-vers, April 11-13, as well as the ASCANational Conference in Boston, July 3-6.Both events look wonderful, with excel-lent guest speakers and practical work-shops and breakout sessions.

You can catch the wave of enthusiasm.With renewed energy and commitmentyou can make a difference this year. ■

Follow MASCA’s ExecutiveDirector Donna Brown on

Twitter: MASCAExDr

MARCH 2010 19

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

NEWBURYPORT, MAPERMIT NO. 96

Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc.COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Sally Ann Connolly, Editor

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAME

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ADDRESS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CITY ZIP CODESTATE

Send this form to:Deborah ClemenceP.O. Box 805East Dennis, MA 02641

YOUR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL DATE IS INDICATED BY YEAR AND MONTH ON YOUR ADDRESS LABEL ABOVE.To renew your membership, go to MASCA’s website, www.masca.org.

MASCA 2010 Spring ConferenceConnecting Counselors in the 21st Century

April 11 – April 13, 2010

Crowne Plaza Boston North Shore, Danvers

GREAT PROGRAMS • GREAT PRICES • GREAT SPEAKERS

Sunday, April 11Welcome Reception • Keynoter

Workshops • Graduate Student Events

Monday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 13Exciting Exhibits • MA Model Showcases

Workshops • MASCA Awards • Hospitality Events

Details, keynote speakers, agenda, exhibitors, andregistration form at www.masca.org.

Inquiries: Helen O’Donnell, Conference Chair, [email protected]

Documents

Counselor's Notebook, March 2010