2009 TSC Academy
Printer-friendly versionThis year, we celebrate a decade of helping school counselors become dynamic leaders whose work ensures that every student graduates prepared to succeed in college and career.
Our theme, “Leading the Way Toward College and Career Readiness for All,” focuses on key issues in the TSC national initiative. Transformed school counselors must use data assertively on behalf of students, help students master rigorous academic requirements and skills, and facilitate changes in policies and practices so that schools may better serve all students.
Presentations From Concurrent Sessions
| 9:00am - 10:00am |
“Raising Achievement and Closing Gaps: Key Roles for School Counselors” School counselors have a hugely important role in raising educational achievement, especially among low-income and minority students. But accepting the challenge takes courage and know-how. Education Trust President Kati Haycock will present the latest data on how our students are doing, describe schools that are breaking the mold, and detail ways school counselors can make such schools the new rule. She’ll also talk about “the courage part” and why it is so important for counselors to step into the lead right now. Kati Haycock, president, The Education Trust |
| 4:00pm - 5:15pm |
“Leaders, Advocates, and System Change Agents” Advocating for systemic change is at the core of The Education Trust’s philosophy and at the heart of the ASCA National Model. But do we really live by these values? Are we advocating in our offices, schools, districts, communities, and states? How do we demonstrate our responsibilities as “transformed professional school counselors” to promote equity in and access to a rigorous education? This keynote will challenge you to commit to being the change you want to see happen—to become the leader you are waiting for. |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 1: College and Career Readiness: Examining the Evidence and Communicating the Message The evidence is clear: To succeed in the global economy, young people need strong mathematics, communication, and analytic skills. But many still do not acknowledge that students going directly into the workforce need the same rigorous preparation as their college bound peers. In this session, Ed Trust staff members will share the latest research on the expectations young people will face after high school. The discussion will focus on how we can best communicate the message that “ready for college” and “ready for work” mean the same thing. (Area A: Policy and Practice) |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 2: Where Do School Counselors Go From Here? Findings from a Systemwide Transcript Audit This session will show participants how a large urban school district used the results from 2,500 high school transcripts to improve opportunities for all students. Using a few simple data calculations, high school counselors analyzed hundreds of transcripts to identify student groups in need of counselor advocacy, then set up group interventions. Additionally, the transcript data revealed necessary systemic changes. Learn how productive use of data can make a difference. (Area A: Policy and Practice) |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 3: Continuing the Journey of Transformation This session will highlight the impact of the Transforming School Counseling Initiative on one of the original six sites, the University of Georgia. Participants will learn about the changes in preparation of school counselors, the practice of school counseling in local districts, and changes in related state policy. Areas in which continued change or transformation is still needed will also be discussed. (Area A: Policy and Practice) Pamela Paisley, professor, University of Georgia |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 4: Transforming School Counselors in a Large Urban District: It Can Be Done and We’re Using Data to Prove It! This session details one district’s effort to transform school counseling services to produce data-driven leaders, informed advocates, and systemic thinkers. Learn the step-by-step process used to train school counselor leaders to use data to ensure equitable services, examine system policies that impede student success, build equitable student-driven master schedules, and increase enrollment patterns in rigorous courses. (Area A: Policy and Practice) Anita Young, secondary counseling specialist, Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 5: Ten Steps to Improving College-Going Rates for All Students A survey of college admissions counselors aimed at discovering what they considered best practices for school counselors preparing all students for college yielded ten practical strategies counselors could incorporate into their work. Participants will brainstorm ways to implement the strategies in their schools and discuss useful college-going tools and helpful Web sites. (Area B: Increasing Access) Rachelle Pérusse, associate professor; Katie McKoon, graduate student, University of Connecticut |
| 11:45am - 1:15pm |
“Creating Transformed School Counselor Professionals: The Chicago Model” Counselors face enormous challenges in delivering a comprehensive developmental program that supports student achievement with measurable outcomes. Hear about the strategies and practices that enabled counselors to use data to provide positive results for eighth and ninth graders in Chicago. A system of counselor professional development aligned with the district’s goals has allowed counselors to contribute to the success of several reform initiatives. |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 10: College Avenue Compact—Readiness for All! The City Heights Education Collaborative is an innovative educational initiative encompassing three highly diverse schools in San Diego, the San Diego State University School of Education, the San Diego Education Association, and Price Charities. A goal of the initiative’s College Avenue Compact (a guaranteed-admissions program) is to establish a college-going culture in all of the initiative’s elementary, middle, and high schools. |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 6: Access To Success: We’re Making Progress Twenty state university systems have pledged to halve by 2015 the existing gaps in college-going and college graduation rates between low-income and minority students and others. Learn how the Access to Success initiative stands out from previous efforts and the role of The Education Trust in advancing this agenda. (Area B: Increasing Access) Margarita Benitez, director of higher education, The Education Trust, Washington, D.C. |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 7: Don’t All Students Want to Be College and Career Ready? A disconnect often exists between what educators and students believe. This workshop will review theory and research on the developmental needs of adolescents that suggests adolescents need and want a rigorous curriculum and high expectations. If given the opportunity, they will set challenging goals for themselves. Participants also will discuss data and surveys available to school counselors to identify students who are on or off track for life after high school. Christina Theokas, director of research, The Education Trust, Washington, D.C. |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 7: Don’t All Students Want to Be College and Career Ready? research on the developmental needs of adolescents that suggests adolescents need and want a rigorous curriculum and high expectations. If given the opportunity, they will set challenging goals for themselves. Participants also will discuss data and surveys available to school counselors to identify students who are on or off track for life after high school. (Area B: Increasing Access) Christina Theokas, director of research, The Education Trust, Washington, D.C. |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 8: Minnesota School Counseling Survey: The Prevalence of Comprehensive School Counseling Programs A survey of school counseling programs in Minnesota determined, among other things, the number and types of service delivery, accountability efforts, comprehensive services offered at each grade level, the percentage of counselors delivering comprehensive services, and the most common counseling issues. Learn the survey’s implications for counselor educators and the profession, as well as the reasons most respondents indicated they are unable to offer comprehensive programming. (Area A: Policy and Practice) Mary Fawcett, associate professor, Winona State University, Minnesota |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 9: Moving a School District: It Takes More Than a U-Haul! This session describes the journey of one large district’s school counselors as they transformed their work from ancillary responsive services to data-driven advocacy and leadership. Learn the steps they took, including identifying and using important systemic data, reducing resistance, avoiding potential pitfalls, making careful plans for sustaining momentum (especially during shrinking budgets), and informing all stakeholders. Hear examples of elementary, middle, and high school counselors’ advocacy projects. (Area A: Policy and Practice) |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
Session 11: How to Analyze College and Career Readiness For those who work in schools with traditions of rigorous preparation only for some students, the goal of preparing all students for college and careers can seem a bit overwhelming. This session will explore ways to use student transcripts, test data, attendance data, and master schedules to jump-start high school reform efforts. Presenters will use data from sample schools to examine student course-taking patterns, support, and interventions as well as teacher and course-distribution patterns and instructional time. (Area A: Policy and Practice) |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
Session 12: Transformed School Counselors: Building Partnerships With Data, Facilitating Change Indiana’s solid history in transforming school counseling was tested when school counselors attempted to bring about legislative and administrative code changes. State officials were uninterested in listening until school counselor leaders were able to demonstrate with data the efficacy of school counseling. Learn how these leaders secured support for changes in policy and legislation that address the importance of a college-readiness culture within Indiana schools and counselor preparation programs. (Area A: Policy and Practice) |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
Session 13: TSC University Programs: School Counseling Students Affecting College and Career Readiness Through School District Partnerships Developing truly collaborative relationships with school districts is one of the most important yet difficult challenges of the “TSC Essential Elements for Change.” In this session, three TSC programs share how they built meaningful relationships with their partner school districts. Presenters will share examples of how their school counselor education students have influenced policy and practice within partnership schools. (Area C: Outreach and Collaboration) |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
Session 14: SAS-E-GIRLZ SAS-E-GIRLZ is a dynamic middle school career-awareness program school counselors can implement in collaboration with their local Society of Women Engineers. The program includes a classroom guidance lesson, handouts, a facilitator’s guide, a DVD that describes careers in engineering, and sample parent brochures. The presenters will share program data and discuss strategies to enhance collaboration with engineers and other community and business representatives. (Area C: Outreach and Collaboration) Susan Jones Sears, educational consultant, New Albany, Ohio |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
Session 15: Collaborative Partnership Development: Leveraging Postsecondary Education Resources SC GEAR UP and the University of South Carolina collaborated to leverage state resources to increase college access, financial aid, and college and career readiness information to families. Learn how the partnership developed and the benefits to all stakeholders. School counselors, administrators, and postsecondary partners will find this session valuable. (Area B: Increasing Access) |
| 9:00am - 10:00am |
“About that Level Playing Field: Closing the Opportunity, Information, and Achievement Gaps” School counselors are powerful allies in delivering strategies to close the achievement gap. We can help provide every student equitable access to a level playing field. This presentation describes practical ways school counselors are doing this work. Results will be presented from school counseling programs that use data-based accountability systems to influence course-enrollment patterns and other measurable ways to close the achievement gap. Carolyn Stone, associate professor, University of North Florida |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 16: Building a Community Network to Leverage School Change This session will give participants the tools and strategies they need to lead successful community engagement efforts for school change. Learn about the importance of working with leaders outside the school to build support for the goal of college and career readiness for all students. (Area C: Outreach and Collaboration) Diallo Brooks, field director, The Education Trust, Washington, D.C. |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 17: Arizona School Counselors: Creating Collaborative Community Networks to Ensure All Students Are College and Career Ready This session will highlight the successful collaboration between the Arizona Department of Education, the community in Tucson, and Tucson-area school districts to ensure that all students are college and career ready. Learn how Tucson is building successful networks for outreach and collaboration within and among the area’s 11 school districts, with the local colleges, and with the community. (Area C: Outreach and Collaboration) Judy Bowers, education consultant and adjunct, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 18: African-American Males in Special Education: Their Attitudes and Perceptions Toward High School Counselors and School Counseling Services Learn the results of a recent qualitative study focusing on African-American males in special education and their attitudes and experiences with school counselors. Three themes emerged from the study: the perceived role of school counselors, actual experiences with school counselors, and students’ comfort levels with school counselors. TSC-informed strategies based on the data will be discussed. (Area A: Policy and Practice) James Moore III, associate professor, Ohio State University |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 19: TACKLEing ACCESS for College Readiness by Closing Opportunity Gaps This session features the results of TSC focused work spearheaded by faculty, students, and community partners at Lehman College in New York. Panelists will discuss the steps of the TACKLEing ACCESS model and present college readiness tools specifically designed to integrate TSC, CACREP, and ASCA tenets. In addition, they’ll share the process they used to disseminate these tools in numerous urban K-12 schools. (Area B: Increasing Access) |
| 10:15am - 11:45am |
Session 20: Using Data to Improve Guidance: The CAPE Network Data Collection System The Career and Postsecondary Encouragement Network is a free online system of middle and high school assessments. It offers student-submitted information about academic and career interests, needs for assistance, and student goals, barriers, experiences, and interest in career-guidance services and activities. CAPE provides several powerful tools, including school reports that can be disaggregated by more than 15 variables. The session will explore how to use data generated by CAPE to improve counseling and guidance services. (Area B: Increasing Access) |
| 11:45am - 1:15pm |
“The Future is Now: School Counselors Leading the Charge for Change” Now is the time to ride the tide of hope and change that abounds in the land. New opportunities are calling school counselors to lead the way to achieve educational equity for all students. Stephanie Robinson will inspire participants to take risks to achieve equitable educational outcomes and will share five ways counselors can be in the forefront of change. Stephanie Robinson, Principal Partner Emeritus, The Education Trust |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 21: Project 720: Overview and Baseline Data from 40 Schools in Pennsylvania’s TSC Initiative Project 720 represents a comprehensive approach to transforming secondary education in Pennsylvania, with the school counseling profession actively involved in the process. Hear an overview of the project, the numerous initiatives placing school counselors front and center in school-improvement efforts, and the baseline data collected from school counselors and stakeholders. (Area C: Outreach and Collaboration) Kevin Wilkerson, assistant professor, University of Scranton; |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 22: Evidence-Based Strategies to Increase Student Motivation Learn how to use readiness rulers, confidence rulers, and the decisional balance worksheet to help students examine and increase their motivation. Hear new strategies for working with resistant students and discover the skills required to lead teams in creating a culture of motivation for college and career readiness. (Area A: Policy and Practice) Gene Eakin, school counseling program lead, Oregon State University; Kathy Biles, school counseling program lead, Oregon State University, Cascades |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 23: TSC University Programs: Infusing the Curriculum with TSC Tenets Three TSC university programs will share how they have changed their curriculums and infused TSC tenets into field experiences. An Appalachian State program requires students to work with school data. Georgia Southern conducts the Data- Driven Targeted Intervention and Program Community Survey and the Review Project. And Duquesne has a curriculum revision process that fused TSC, ASCA, and CACREP standards. (Area A: Policy and Practice) |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 24: Shifting to a College-Going Culture: A Counseling Program Six-Step Model This workshop describes one Title I school’s transformation from low performing to exemplary, thanks to the influence of the counseling program and the school leadership team. These educators believed in their students and implemented college and career-ready strategies based on high expectations. Learn their six-step model that served as the foundation for creating a successful college-bound culture. Data from the initiative will be included. (Area B: Increasing Access) Carol Parker, associate professor, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Tex. |
| 1:15pm - 2:45pm |
Session 25: Transformed School Counselors Fostering College Readiness A survey of practicing school counselors in Oregon revealed their preparation and training for career and college counseling. The results presented here include a comparison of practitioners who graduated from a TSC-informed training program with those who graduated with traditional school counseling training. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their own training processes and engage in small-group discussions of best practices in creating college-going cultures. (Area A: Policy and Practice) |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
Session 26: Transforming High Schools and Districts: Comprehensive Tools for Sustainable Change The Education Trust–West has developed the “Educational Opportunity Audit and Blueprint Design,” a comprehensive toolkit for deep analysis, planning, and implementation of systemic change, which school and district-level administrators and school counselors can use to transform their schools. |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
Session 27: Preparing Transformed School Counselors Graduates of TSC Initiative programs gain an array of skills and knowledge to help close opportunity, information, and achievement gaps. How are these skills assessed, and what evidence should be gathered to ensure school counselor preparation programs really are creating transformed school counselors? This session explores a standards-based e-portfolio system that assesses each candidate’s progress. Sample school counseling student portfolios will be shared. (Area A: Policy and Practice) Carol Dahir, associate professor, New York Institute of Technology |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
Session 28: College Readiness Barometer: A Data Instrument for Equitable College-Going Practices The college application process can be overwhelming for students and families, especially those from low-income and minority backgrounds. The professional responsibility of a school counselor is to provide all students the necessary tools to connect adequately to college. The National Office for School Counselor Advocacy’s “College Readiness Barometer” is a data tool that can help school counselors build an equitable college going culture. (Area B: Increasing Access) |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
Session 29: Principals and School Counselors: Dynamic Partners for Student Success Numerous obstacles, including differences in training, can impede a dynamic partnership between school counselors and administrators. While school counselors-in-training are taught ways to contribute to school reform, close achievement gaps, and advocate for social justice, administrators-in-training often are not. Learn best practices for principal school counselor collaboration from faculty members who lead counselor education and educational leadership programs. (Area C: Outreach and Collaboration) |
