School Counseling in Nebraska

Join Jake and Loni as they wrap up the first ever @NSCApod Book Club with the final chapters of Hope Rising. Listen as they go through 15 tips and tricks to incorporate hope and increase hope scores in students and colleagues for educators everywhere.

Don't forget to join us Thursday, May 23rd LIVE Zoom NSCA discussion happy hour! Time TBD

This week Jake welcomes guest Rachel Catlett - former NSCA School Counselor of the Year, current NSCA Governing Board President, and current Director of School Counseling at Doane University.

Listen to Rachel and Jake talk about why school counselors should be using the ASCA Position Statements, where to find them, and how they are created.

The ACT has been the standard in the Midwest for many years as the nesessary admission assessment that students need to take to get into a 4-year college. Join Jake and Loni as they discuss the pros and cons of navigating the ACT as school counselors with students, families, and post-secondary institutions. The ACT: The quintessential love/hate relationship? Join us to dive in!

Let's talk about Breaking The Cycle of Reactive School Counseling Practices: Hatching Results. Mindi and Angie join us on School Counseling in Nebraska to prep for their Keynote presentation at the Nebraska School Counselors Elementary Conference coming up!

The NSCA Elementary School Counselor Conference is just over a week away.  It will be held on Friday, March 22nd at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City.  Come enjoy a relaxing day full of networking, learning and shopping for Elementary specific books, fidgets, brain tools, puppets and more.  REGISTRATION CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT today so register now so you don't miss out.  The $130 registration (NSCA member rate) includes a copy of the book "Hatching Results for Elementary School Counseling."

This 270 page book is full of TIer 1 lessons and activities that you can take back and immediately implement in your school counseling program.
Objectives:

• Identify priority lesson topics that ALL students need and deserve in all three domains
• Create lesson plans that are focused on "teaching" and not "presenting"
• Assess students' attitudes, skills and knowledge to support behavior change
• Draft pre/post test questions that align to measurable objectives and ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors
• Explain the importance of sharing school counseling program results with key partners
• Create a Flashlight, 1-Pager or Highlight Reel to showcase results of Tier 1 interventions
• Create charts/graphs that highlight student success and outcomes
• Identify things that keep school counselors locked into a cycle of reactive and inefficient school counseling practice

Nic van Oss is the SEL Services Coordinator at the St. Croix River Education District in Minnesota. He is the lead author of the free Be Good People SEL curriculum, a project that started during the first week of COVID lockdown and is now used across the globe. Nic began his career as a paraprofessional in a residential behavior program and spent several years of his career as a School Psychologist facilitating SEL groups at a K-12 behavior program. He is passionate about every school growing an efficient Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) that lightens educator workloads, increases self-efficacy, and gets every student the support they need, when they need it.

Andrew Huzeker is the Outreach Service Coordinator for the EcucationQuest Foundation. Andrew has spent the last month helping students and guardians navigate the new 2024 FAFSA as well as helping provide quality access to college across the state of Nebraska.

EducationQuest Foundation is a nonprofit with a mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska.

They provide free college planning services, need-based scholarship programs, college access grants for high schools, college access resources for middle schools, and outreach services for community agencies.

EducationQuest locations in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, and Scottsbluff.

EducationQuest has provided free college planning services since 1986. Before 1998, we served Nebraska families through what was known as Educational Planning Centers.

In 1998, the EducationQuest Foundation was created when the Nebraska Higher Education Loan Program (NEBHELP) converted from a nonprofit secondary market for student loans to a for-profit corporation providing similar services. EducationQuest used the loan portfolio sale proceeds to create a permanent endowment. It is through this endowment that we fund our free programs and services.

The Nebraska School Counselor Association is accepting applications to join the board. This is a great opportunity for school counselors across the state to be a part of the organization.

Jake and Loni take on part 2 of Unusual Professional Development from season 1. As avid readers, listeners, watchers and consumers of books, podcasts, and all things media - Jake and Loni give their most recent enjoyable recommendations right in time for the holiday break. Snuggle in with a new book and get ready for BIG things including a read-along/book study coming from School Counseling in Nebraska in the new year.

Geoff Heckman is a school counselor and counseling department chair at Platte County High School in Platte City, MO, an ASCA RAMP school, and an adjunct instructor for Missouri Baptist University.  He has been a school counselor for 20 years counseling at both the middle and high school levels.  He is a Past President for the Missouri School Counselor Association and was selected as Missouri's School Counselor of the Year in 2017, and was an ASCA School Counselor of the Year Finalist in 2018.  Most recently he served on the ASCA Board of Directors and was the 2022-23 Board Chair. This podcast will leave your feeling empowered to advocate for the great work you do as a school counselor.

Geoff will explain how advocating for yourself doesn't have to be "daunting" or have you feeling less like a team player, but empower those around you to see where your roles collide and how to spend more time doing things that positively contribute to your student's success.

Jake welcomes all school counselors to the 2023 School Counselor Academy in Kearney Nebraska. We look forward to seeing you ther!

Jake and Loni discuss a common thread that has been occurring in their conversations with parents, students, and friends: Processing and how to react to student's disappointments. This episode addresses many common disappointments both students, parents, and families can go through in a school year and some "aha" moments Jake and Loni have learned from along the way.

Does your school have a specific policy for accepting homeschool credits? Are you seeing a rise in students doing partial days at the elementary and middle school level? Is the new NSAA policy and LB7051 helping or harming students in regards to the flexibility of homeschool vs. public school? Hear Jake and Loni talk about their experience with homeschooled students, advising students, and the rise of online school as a viable option in replacement of traditional public education.

What are your personal boundaries with students and parents concerning cell phones, social media, and email communication? Hear Loni and Jake talk about their district and personal policies on what to do when you get that text, friend add, or email that you didn't expect!

Time Triage - How do you triage your time as a school counselor? Do you ever feel guilty when you don't get to that "to do list", are you having a hard time deciding what needs to be done first? Social-emotional toll of deciding what is the most important of all the tasks can be real! Listen as Loni talks with NSCA Assistant Director and long-time OPS school counselor Katie Cameron as they discuss how to manage the emotional labor that comes with managing time with a 300+ student caseload. Katie also shares tips and tricks for documenting time and why we should be doing so.

Listen as school counselors Jake and Loni rapid-fire five of their most recent favorite reads, listens, and maybe even a watch or two. If you are in need of a good book or podcast that not only engrosses your attention and fills your cup, but leaves you thinking about your job in a more compassionate way - you are not going to want to miss this episode!

Dr. Wendy Rock currently serves as the chair of the ASCA Ethics Committee and served as the co-chair during the latest revision of the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors which were released last summer.  Initially trained as an elementary educator, Dr. Rock also has experience at the secondary level.  She currently is an Assistant Professor of Counseling and School Counselor Coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana University.  Dr. Rock will provide essential ethics training on current topics including a review of all the changes to the ASCA Ethical Standards in the 2022 edition compared to the previous edition.

8 to Great® is an 8-step Success Skills process that is as practical as it is powerful. Using an evidence- based middle school and high school curriculum, 8 to Great® restores hope and inspires possibilities for students, helping them believe in and achieve their goals and dreams. Join Michael Garcia and his daughter as they talk about the program and the growth they achieved using this program this school year.

Betty White is coming back to Nebraska and the NSCA Elementary School Counselor Conference due to popular demand.  Her previous presentation at the Elementary School Counselor Conference was energizing, engaging and sent attendees home with practical ideas to implement immediately in their schools.  Her topic will focus on elementary student mental health with special emphasis on Tier 1 supports as a way to prevent mental health challenges.

Jake Willems gives an overview of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and some practical strategies for working with culturally diverse, LGBTQ+, pregnant, and assorted other students as well. This is a brief reworking of his breakout session at the 2022 School Counselor Academy.

Josh MacNeil (CEO InMind Services) began his career as a teacher where he began adopting trauma-informed strategies into his classroom. He realized how important this approach was and saw amazing improvements in his students. Because of Josh’s success, both in his classroom and in communicating trauma-informed educational practices, he began to get many requests to consult and train others, which propelled him to opportunities to train all over the world.

In addition to earning his Masters in Multicultural Education, Josh has completed certifications in both The Child Trauma Academy’s Neurosequential Model of Education and Therapeutics. He has presented at regional, state, national, and international conferences and now offers training and consultation for schools and individuals throughout the United States and abroad. Josh is also an adjunct professor in Eastern University’s Masters of Education program, and he is the CEO of InMind Services, an organization whose mission is to support those who support children.

https://inmindservices.com/

https://www.instagram.com/inmind_services/

https://www.facebook.com/NeuroLogicByLakeside/posts/joshua-macneill-director-of-neurologic-initiatives-traveled-to-oslo-norway-last-/2303618983298707/

Jake Willems speaks with Doug Hauserman, executive director of the Nebraska School Counseling Association about the Day on the Hill and a few bits of legislation that impact school counselors

You may remember that in the fall, Mrs. Hahn was named the Elementary School Counselor of the year for the Nebraska School Counselor Association (NSCA). Along with a plaque and a $200 stipend, this award allowed her to be entered as a candidate for the 2023 overall Nebraska School counselor of the year. At a celebration in Lincoln, Nebraska, last night, Thursday, February 23, 2023, Mrs. Hahn was selected as the 2023 Nebraska School Counselor of The Year.

To say we are elated for Mrs. Hahn is a complete understatement.

Dr. Rhodes describes Mrs. Hahn as an invaluable North Platte Public Schools team member. "Mrs. Hahn exemplifies character with a student-centered approach to educational principals." Rhodes added, "Mrs. Hahn shares a caring attitude with everyone she interacts with. She is never afraid to step in and assist when others are in need."

Mrs. Hahn will serve as the Nebraska School Counselor of the Year until February 2024. Additionally, she will visit Washington, D.C., next February to represent Nebraska nationally.

Enjoy this episode where Kara talks ALL THINGS school counseling including her closing the gap program, experience at the state legislator, and tips for new professionals in school counseling.  

ASCA Position Statements:

The School Counselor and Transgender and Nonbinary Youth:  https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Transgender-Gender-noncon

The School Counselor and LGBTQ+ Youth:  https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-LGBTQ-Youth

How Chadron Schools go about administering Social-Emotional Screeners in Primary, Intermediate, Middle School, and High School and all the logistics that come with.

ASCA Position Statement:  The School Counselor and Social Emotional Development:  https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Social-Emotional-Developm