August 2009 - Back to School Issue

BACK TOSCHOOL 2009

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FLORIDA SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION

florida SCHOOLCOUNSELOR

GETTINGBACK TOWORK

BACK TOSCHOOL

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

5 The Florida School Counselor Association 2009 Essay Competition

8 Accessing the Florida College System

9 Beating Obesity: It Takes a Village

10 A Saturday Success Academy to Improve Ninth Grade Success

DEPARTMENTS

4 President’s Message

13 Vice President’s View: Elementary Level

13 Vice President’s View: Middle School Level

14 Vice President’s View: Secondary Level

16 Past President’s Message

17 Region Reports

18 FSCA Chapters Update

19 FSCA Benefits and Services

PUBLISHERFlorida School Counselor AssociationP.O. Box 752Safety Harbor, Fl 34695-0752Phone or Fax: (888) [email protected]

CO-EDITORSRussell A. Sabella, Ph.D.Jessica Metzler

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVEKen [email protected](877) 965-7492(877) 562-9189, fax

4 florida school counselorBACKTO SCHOOL 2009

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

FSCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENTCurtis [email protected]

PAST-PRESIDENTSusan [email protected]

PRESIDENT-ELECTRegion 5 V.P.Sharon [email protected]

ELEMENTARY VICE PRESIDENTJoni [email protected]

MIDDLE SCHOOL VICE PRESIDENTLaurie [email protected]

HIGH SCHOOL VICE PRESIDENTChris [email protected]

POST SECONDARY VICE PRESIDENTMercedes ter [email protected]

DISTRICT LEVEL SUPERVISOR VICE PRESI-DENTKaralia Baldwin [email protected]

REGION 1 VICE PRESIDENTGinger [email protected]

REGION 2 VICE PRESIDENTNan [email protected]

REGION 3 CO-VICE PRESIDENTTina [email protected]

REGION 3 CO-VICE PRESIDENTDanielle [email protected]

REGION 4 VICE PRESIDENTEva [email protected]

EDITORIAL POLICYFSCA welcomes unsolicited articles and lettersdeemed to be of interest to the members.Submissions will not be returned and may beedited for purposes of clarity and space. Use e-mail if possible. Always include your name,address, daytime phone number, fax numberand e-mail address with your submission.Opinions expressed in this publication do notnecessarily reflect the views of the association’smembership, volunteers or staff.

ADVERTISING POLICYFSCA reserves the right to edit copy and torefuse advertisements it deems objectionable.The publication of an advertisement in theFlorida School Counselor is not an endorsementof the advertiser or of the advertised product orservice. FSCA is not responsible for any claimsmade in advertisements. To determine accredi-tation status of educational institutions, consultthe state and regional accrediting directories orthe state department of education.

MEMBERSHIPFSCA membership dues are $30/year, of which$5 is for a subscription to the Florida SchoolCounselor. The Florida School Counselor is pub-lished five times per year in July, August (Backto School Issue), October, January, and April bythe Florida School Counselor Association Inc.,P.O. Box 752, Safety Harbor, Fl 34695-0752.

You may think I’m crazy, but I’m pumped up and excitedabout this school year. Sure, we are in a real economicslump. Some of our friends and colleagues have lost their

positions, but this is the time when our students need us most.Frankly, we need to support each other so that we can be ourbest for our students. The Florida School Counselor Associationis here for you. We will not cut back on our efforts to providemeaningful and timely support and training for school coun-selors, but we cannot do it without you.

I am reminded of the dark days after Hurricane Andrew. Our home was destroyedand hope for the future dashed. An over-whelming sense of hopelessness suckedthe life out of every task. And thensomething remarkable happened. Oneperson gave a bag of ice, anotherbrought a grill and everyone emptiedtheir icebox. Friend and stranger, youngand old, we all came together to survivethose weeks and months. Still concernedbut less afraid, we pooled our resourcesand became stronger. That’s what weneed to do now. Together we will standstrong and weather this time of econom-ic uncertainty.The Florida School Counselor

Association is committed to empoweringschool counselors with the knowledge,skills, linkages and resources to promote student success. You can stay current by vis-iting our Web site, or connect with colleagues and share information at our networkingsite, FSCA Forum, receive our news blog or even catch us on Twitter.Now, more than ever, is the time to make the commitment to grow professionally.

Make your membership count – get involved. We have many opportunities waiting foryou. You will gain new friendships, develop your skills and maybe even ignite that fireof enthusiasm. So, join me and get pumped up for this school year. You’ll be glad youdid.�

Curtis Jenkins is the current FSCA president. He can be reached at [email protected].

COLLECTIVE STRENGTHFORANEWSCHOOL YEARBY CURTIS JENKINS, FSCA PRESIDENT

The Florida School

Counselor Association is

committed to empowering

school counselors with the

knowledge, skills, linkages

and resources to promote

student success.

florida school counselor 5BACKTO SCHOOL 2009

BY ANDREW ORSOPlant City High School

Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgersinfielder, summed up his life saying, “Alife is not important except in the impactit has on other lives.” No truer statementcould be made about Sherrie Mueller,who has greatly impacted not only mylife, but countless other students whohave passed through the halls of PlantCity High School. She is one of thegreatest assets my school possesses.For the past four years, Ms. Mueller

has provided me with support and guid-ance as I navigate my way through highschool toward college. More importantly,she has continuously provided me with amultitude of amazing scholarships andopportunities that have enriched my lifeand boosted my self esteem. In my junioryear, Ms. Mueller offered me an opportu-nity to apply for a scholarship to partakein a unique leadership experience. I wasfortunate enough to be one of 42 stu-dents chosen out of 1,300 applicants toattend the Trent Lott LeadershipInstitute at the University of Mississippi.This experience allowed me to attendcollege classes, experience college lifeand make lifelong friends from aroundthe world. Today I have forged my ownpolitical views and am quite capable ofdiscussing them in open forum and I amcomfortable delivering a persuasivespeech to a wavering crowd. Thisencounter fostered my educationalgrowth and provided a strong basis formy personal growth.Ms. Mueller always encourages me to

step outside of my comfort zone and

explore opportunities and apply for schol-arships that I would typically pass over.Her maxim is “Someone has got to win,so why not let it be you?” I have takenthis to heart and have engrossed myselfin applying for as many scholarships aspossible. Ms. Mueller has taken her per-sonal involvement a step further and hasenlisted the help of my mother to makesure that every scholarship she sendshome gets completed and deliveredbefore the deadline. She recently accom-panied me and my mother to a socialfunction for a scholarship to theUniversity of Virginia. I was the only stu-dent that brought my guidance counselor,but I felt that had it not been for Ms.Mueller I would have never received suchan opportunity. Even though I did notwin, the experience alone was invaluable.With the help and involvement of my

guidance counselor, my impeccablydiversified resume has gained meacceptance into several top-ranking uni-versities. Because of the unique opportu-nities Ms. Mueller has afforded me I am

the dedicated and well-rounded studentthat I am today. She has taught me thatyou get no where in life if you never try.An unknown author once said it best, “Alot of people have gone further thanthey thought they could because some-one else thought they could.” I know thatI can and will make an impact on some-one else’s life as Ms. Mueller has done inmy life. Every high school should be for-tunate enough to have a Ms. Mueller onstaff guiding the pathway of its students.I’m just thankful and grateful that she ismy guidance counselor.

BY BRIAN ROCHECypress Creek High SchoolDanielle Exposito is not just a highschool guidance counselor, she is asuperhero. As defined by the dictionary,a superhero is one who possessesextraordinary powers or skills. Using thisdefinition to describe Mrs. Exposito istruly an understatement. Although mydescription may sound a bit childish,there is no other way to describe a per-son who balances the class scheduling ofnumerous students, the tracking of sen-ior graduation requirements, the plan-ning of informational college days atschool and still manages to create timeto give her students personal attentionto not only determine their future pathbut to also leave them feeling confidentand motivated.Mrs. Exposito has changed my per-

spective on not only college and mycareer goals, but she has also shown methat the planning of your future does nothave to be a tedious and frustratingprocess; instead it can be an excitingjourney that fills you with optimism.Although Mrs. Exposito is much more

than merely a guidance counselor, shefulfills her job greater than any counselorI have ever had. In all my years of school,not once have I ever encountered anyfaculty member as dedicated to theirposition as she is. Any and every ques-

THE FLORIDA SCHOOL COUNSELORASSOCIATION 2009 ESSAYCOMPETITION

Last May the two recipients of the FSCA 2009 Scholarship Essay Competition were

selected among 400 entries. The focus of the essay was “How has your school

counselor impacted you?” We were heartened by all the amazing ways that stu-

dents across the state let us know how their school counselors are helpful to them.

Finalizing the decision to pick two was extremely difficult. We congratulate Andrew Orso

and Brian Roche, who were each awarded $500. Here is what they had to say.

“With the help and

involvement of my guidance

counselor, my impeccably

diversified resume has

gained me acceptance into

several top-ranking

universities.”


tion I have is not only answered butacted upon as well. I remember startinghigh school and not knowing what class-es to take and how to get into college.As the first in my family to go to college,I felt lost and unguided. The day I metMrs. Exposito that all changed. Thegreatest thing about Mrs. Exposito wasthat she did not pick out what classesand activities she believed are right forme; instead guided me to make my owndecision on what I felt was right for me. Ibelieve that is the essence of what agreat guidance counselor does. Just thethought of knowing I can come to herfor any help keeps me confident and atease as I begin planning the rest of mylife.The thing about Mrs. Exposito is that

not only does she carry out her job atthe greatest caliber and with undeniablepassion, but she also leaves me feelingconfident after every meeting. As youwalk into her office you’re greeted with ahuge warm smile. I always as the samequestion, “Are you busy?” Her reply isalways the same, “Yes very! But I always

have time for you.” She makes her stu-dents feel important and unique. And allthe years I’ve known Mrs. Exposito, I cantruthfully say she has never made a neg-ative comment when I have been in heroffice. Her office is a safe haven forthose who are confused and worried.She handles her business with smiles andlaughs. I catch myself wondering, “Canthe planning of my future really be this

simple and fun?” The answer is “Yes” ifyour guidance counselor is DanielleExposito. She has left me feeling so opti-mistic about my future there is no possi-ble way I can repay her for the impactshe has had on me. Mrs. Exposito is avery important person in my life. On thenight I received my acceptance notifica-tion from Florida State University, thefirst thing that crossed my mind before Iexploded with joy was how I could notwait to burst into her office and give herthe greatest hug I have ever given any-one.Mrs. Exposito has impacted me by

changing my outlook on the future andshowing me that the planning of myfuture education and career goals canbe an event that leaves one filled withhope and excitement. Mrs. Exposito pos-sesses the extraordinary skill to guideyou through life-changing decisions andthe extraordinary power to leave youfeeling confident in all you do. I guessshe really is a superhero, or at least sheis mine.�

“The greatest thing about

Mrs. Exposito was that she

did not pick out what classes

and activities she believed

are right for me but instead

guided me to make my own

decision on what I felt was

right for me.”

1-800-960-1959www.studentinfo2go.com

You will never be charged a fee of any kind for this program

l The program is offered free of charge to participating schools.l Long term profit sharing and other financial incentives are provided to participating schools.l Schools can tailor the program to the needs of the student community.l Ideal complement to state mandated career path programsl StudentInfo2Go™ is a turn-key program that includes design, manufacture and monthly

distribution.


During the 2009 legislative session,Florida’s Community CollegeSystem was redesignated The

Florida College System. Some collegeshave dropped “community” from theirname, while others have added “state”;however, all colleges maintain the historicmission of a “community” college includ-ing open admission for associatedegrees, remediation, response to com-munity needs, outreach to underservedpopulations and statewide articulationagreements. Florida’s 28 colleges areopen to everyone and offer GED training,adult basic education, as well as certifi-cate, associate and bachelor’s degreeprograms. Certificate and degree pro-grams offered at the colleges range fromauto mechanics to nursing to the associ-ate in arts degree, which guaranteestransfer to a state university. Many col-leges are now offering bachelor’s degreesas well. Students planning to pursue anassociate’s or bachelor’s degree will needto earn a standard high school diplomaor a GED.

I have noticed that many colleges havechanged their name. Does this meanthat the institutions still have an opendoor admissions policy?� Yes, all 28 colleges in the system havean open-door admissions policy. Somecolleges have dropped “community”from their name, while others haveadded “state”; however, all of the col-leges remain open door institutions.Upon admission, students are requiredto take the CPT, ACT or SAT to deter-mine placement in developmental andcollege-ready courses and there is noGPA or SAT/ACT score required foradmission.

What should students do to preparefor college?� Fill out the college application in thespring of the senior year of highschool. (This can be found on theWeb site of the school the student is

interested in attending or onFACTS.org).

� Fill out the Free Application forFederal Student Aid, more commonlyknown as the FAFSA, to find out whattype of financial aid the student is eli-gible to receive. The FAFSA can befound online at http://fafsa.ed.gov.Students will want to fill this out assoon as possible in the spring of theirsenior year of high school.

� Students who graduate with a stan-dard high school diploma or CPT-eligi-ble Certificate of Completion and wantto enroll in a degree program (associ-ate in arts or associate in science),must take the College Placement Testor CPT. Students can take the CPT atany of the 28 colleges. The CPT isused to determine what courses thestudent should enroll in. A student’sACT or SAT score can also be used todetermine which courses the studentshould take.

Can a student be admitted go to aFlorida college if he/she graduates witha special diploma?� If a student earns a special diploma,he/she may enroll in career and tech-nical certificate programs, GED, andAdult Basic Education. Most of the 28colleges offer career and technicalprograms as well as GED and AdultBasic Education. Students shouldcheck the Web site of the college theyare interested in attending to find outmore about specific career and techni-cal certificate programs being offeredat the institution.

Can a student enroll in a degreeprogram with a GED?� Yes, students who successfully com-plete the GED may enroll in a degreeseeking program. If a student earns aGED, he or she will be required to takethe CPT or present ACT or SAT scoresto determine which courses theyshould enroll in.

How can students get help paying forcollege?� Apply for federal and state financial aidby filling out the Free Application forFederal Student Aid or FAFSA. Theapplication can be found athttp://fafsa.ed.gov. Filling out the appli-cation is free and there is money avail-able. There are Web sites which chargefor this service. The http://fafsa.ed.govis free and sponsored by the UnitedStates Department of Education.

� Make sure to search for scholarshipsoffered by area colleges.

� Attend “Financial Aid Night” events inthe local area.

� Check out http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org to find out about thedifferent types of financial aid avail-able to Florida residents.

� Check out http://studentaid.ed.gov tofind out about financial aid opportuni-ties offered through the federal gov-ernment.

What should a student do once he/shehas been admitted to college?� Attend orientation.� Visit an academic advisor to find outwhat classes they should take.

� Get involved in campus activities.� Register for the Student Success Skillscourse.

� Find out where the Math and WritingLabs are on campus.

� Register with the Disability Servicesoffice, if necessary.

Where can a student go to get help onthe college campus?� The financial aid office can answerquestions concerning financial aid andpaying for college.

� The Advising Center can answer ques-tions concerning course schedule.

� The Math and Writing Labs can assistwith tutoring.�

This article was provided by the Florida

Department of Education.

ACCESSING THE FLORIDACOLLEGE SYSTEM


But complicating any attempt to loseweight are social factors beyond thecontrol of the individual. Even with sup-port systems, the highly motivated sub-jects of this latest study could not main-tain their weight loss. The editors of theNew England Journal of Medicine saythat “individual treatment is powerlessagainst an environment that offers somany high-calorie food and labor-savingdevices.” Reversing the obesity epidem-ic, they say, requires broad changes insociety.A total-community approach seems to

be working in France, where severalcommunities have adopted a programcalled EPODE (Together Let’s PreventChildhood Obesity). Town officials, fami-lies, schools, medical personnel, restau-rant owners, the media and others areworking cooperatively to promote goodnutrition and exercise. After only fiveyears, the percentage of overweight chil-dren in the communities has droppeddramatically.Spain and Belgium are incorporating

the program as well, and communities inGreece, Australia and Quebec, Canada,are introducing their own versions.It may be time for us to consider a

Forget special diets. If you want tolose weight, eat less, exercise atleast 90 minutes each week and

get support for your efforts.Writing in the Feb. 26, 2009, issue of

the New England Journal of Medicine,researchers report that overweight orobese adults in their two-year study lostweight mainly by reducing their caloricintake. Contrary to the claims of propo-nents of the Atkins Diet, the South BeachDiet and others, the source of the caloriesmattered less than the actual amount.Dieters were just as successful when thecalories came from reduced carbohy-drates, reduced protein or reduced fat.Participants in the study included 811

adults, male and female, in two locations:Boston and Louisiana. They were dividedinto four groups, each of which wasassigned to eating varying proportionsof heart-healthy foods selected from theDietary Approaches to StopHypertension (DASH) eating plan. Theregimen also included a moderateamount of weekly exercise (90 minutes)and individual as well as group counsel-ing sessions.Although they varied in age, income

and geographical location, participantsin the study shared a key ingredient inweight loss: motivation.Researchers found that participants

lost the greatest amount of weight dur-ing the first six months. Similar to theresults of other studies, “after 12 months,all groups, on average, slowly regainedbody weight.”Those who lost the most weight at the

end of the study, however, shared anoth-er common factor: highest attendance atthe group counseling sessions.Continued social contact reinforced theirefforts.In the battle against obesity, this study

showed that “any type of diet, whentaught for the purpose of weight loss withenthusiasm and persistence, can be effec-tive.” The key lies in “behavioral factorsrather than macronutrient metabolism.”

similar approach. As the editors of theNew England Journal of Medicine say,“The only effective alternative that wehave at present for halting the obesityepidemic is large-scale gastric surgery.”Schools, which are vital to reforming

attitudes and behavior, can lead the way.They can start by removing all

unhealthful foods and drinks from theirmenus and vending machines. They canensure that all students receive whole-some, heart-healthy meals as well ascontinuous instruction about nutrition.And because children no longer chooseto spend most of their free time out-doors, biking, skating, playing ball orhopscotch or hide and seek, schools canintegrate periods of physical exerciseinto their daily schedules.Most importantly, schools can screen

students for total body mass. No parentwants to hear, “Your baby is fat.” Butrecognition of a problem early in life is agiant step toward preventing obesityand related health problems in adult-hood.�

Sally Connolly is editor of the Counselor’s

Notebook, the official periodical of the

Massachusetts School Counselors Association.

BEATING OBESITY: IT TAKES A VILLAGEBY SALLY CONNOLLY

There was no standardized programrequired at each school, but there wereseveral expectations that were to be metat every site. The following list summa-rizes activities that were offered at allfour sites.

� All students and parents reviewedthe Parent Internet Viewer to checkcurrent grades and assignments.

� All students and parents were givena school tour led by current highschool students.

� All sites were offered academicenrichment activities by currenthigh school teachers.

� All sites explained elective offeringsin detail and one site required stu-dents to rotate through every tech-nical offering.

� All schools provided orientations toathletics, performing arts and clubofferings.

There were several very revealingquotes that need to be shared.

� From an assistant principal:“How can we do this for all 600 ofour incoming ninth graders?”

� From a longtime school observer:“These students well know moreabout school opportunities thanmost 10th and 11th graders.”

� From a parent whose other son willbe a senior, as she was taking theschool tour, said:“I have had a son here at this schoolfor two years and I have only seenthe football stadium and the guid-ance office…what wonderful oppor-tunities.”

One of the really surprising aspectsabout experiencing the SaturdayAcademies was the change in attitudesby the different publics. For instance, atfirst school administration were doubtfulabout continued participation for fourweeks. They worried that teachers wouldnot want tp participate on a Saturdaymorning and that kids would not like it.The goal of this specific initiative is tocreate a positive and meaningful event forstudents and parents that would require

In July 2008 the Osceola CountySchool District was informed by theU.S. Department of Education that

the I-Step Grant proposal for $1,200,000had been accepted. It was to provide athree-year support project for the pur-pose of improving ninth grade success.Ultimately, the long-term intent is toimprove graduation rates.At the national level, and at the local

level in Osceola county, it has becomeincreasingly evident that change wasneeded in order to improve ninth gradesuccess and the graduation rate. OsceolaCounty has a rapidly increasing Hispanicstudent population. Some nationalresearch rates the Hispanic graduationrate below 60 percent. The graduationrate in Osceola County is at 67 percent.This project provides for five addition-

al counselors to work with at-risk eighth-and ninth-grade students. In this firstyear of the grant, the majority of thetime will be spent with eighth graders.During the second and third year of thegrant these counselors will work withboth eighth- and ninth-grade students.The goal of the grant is to improve

eighth- and ninth-grade retention rates by25 percent. To achieve this goal, systemicchanges will need to occur at both themiddle school and the high school level.One of the initiatives intended to

improve ninth-grade retention has beena Saturday Success Academy was writ-ten into the grant because a similar pro-gram was an important part of theEquity 2000 project that was sponsoredby the College Board.The theory behind the Saturday

Academy is that, in many instances, stu-dents and parents do not understandpostsecondary requirements, the offer-ings (both academic and extracurricular)or the support systems that are in place.A parent or a significant adult wasexpected to attend the first and thefourth Saturday Program.The first three Saturdays would be held

at the zoned school with the final sessionbeing held at the local community college.

very little funding in order for it to bereplicated as an orientation event at eachhigh school. The big surprise that wasencountered involved teacher attitudes.Teachers, coaches, club sponsors, etc.,were willing to participate without anyremuneration. Funding for staff salarieswas available during this first year due tothe availabilities of the grant dollars.Each of the four I-Step counselors had

the responsibility for recruiting at-riskstudents and parents for the initiative.Because this was a brand-new initiative,the recruiting phase was often a one-on-one recruitment with student and parent.To provide greater insight into what

occurred at these sites, four counselorsprovided a summary.

SATURDAY SUCCESSACADEMYAs written by Melissa CooperAs an ISTEP counselor, one of the mostchallenging aspects of our position isworking collaboratively with schools. Wevisit five very different schools one dayper week. The limited amount of timespent with each school can negativelyaffect working together. While creatingand working on the Saturday SuccessAcademy project with Poinciana HighSchool, I found that collaboration andsupport came without question. It isamazing what can be done when peoplework together toward a goal. Our goal inthis adventure was allowing incomingninth grade at-risk students to get ahands on intimate view at what they willexperience in high school and beginmaking connections with teachers, staffand other students.Day one was an informational session

and campus tour, day two was an aca-demic focus, day three involved vocation-al programs and day four was a wrap-upand focused on the future at ValenciaCommunity College. I was impressed bythe willingness by everyone to participatein this event. The principal and assistantprincipal attended every session atPoinciana High School. Deans, athletics,

A SATURDAY SUCCESS ACADEMY TOIMPROVE NINTH GRADE SUCCESS



program for everyone?” or “I wish therewas something like this when I was inninth grade.” This experience helped merealize that unless our students feel con-nected to the high school and feel thatthey have purpose and a place there, littlework gets done. I look forward to seeingwhat these students will accomplish nextyear. We planted seeds, and I cannot waitto see how big they grow.

SATURDAY SUCCESSACADEMYAs written by Debbie IngrassiaMs. Camp, our Teacher of the Year, andphysical science teacher had a fun andacademic lessons in her science room.The eighth graders were allowed to per-form a scientific experiment with anadvanced hand held computer measur-ing device. They could test the tempera-

ROTC, cheerleading, drama and guidancecounselors were actively involved in theprocess. I had 10 teachers volunteer toparticipate and more than 30 studentvolunteers give their time, energy andencouragement to these 26 students. Theschedules were full and informative, funactivities were planned and the studentsenjoyed each day. I don’t think it couldhave run more perfectly.Without question, the relationships that

were developed these four Saturdays willhelp these students feel a connection tothe school, the staff and to one another. Ipersonally witnessed friendships beingformed, passion for learning growingwithin and a budding excitement aboutthe experiences that await them atPoinciana High School. I was continuallyasked questions like, “When can we dothis again?” or “How could we make this

ture of any two objects and had torecord their data. She also discussed theimportance of maintaining grades andhow to pass the science classes.Ms. Bell, an English teacher, had a

wonderful lesson that was academic andgeared toward social skills for new highschool students. They read along while asong was being played that was aboutfinding your path and acceptance ofyourself. She also had poetry and dis-cussed each line and the students had tosay what each sentence meant line–by-line. She was amazing in describing herexperiences and feelings from middleschool throughout high school. The roomwas silent as each student listened to herpersonal story. The students also learnedmore about making “right choices” foryourself and to be accepting of who youare regardless of peer pressure.

Ms. Peterson, a social worker, did awonderful and creative lesson that askedthe question, “What are your dreams andgoals?” The students began to realizethey have dreams but need to completeshort-term goals to reach their dreams.Ms. Hart, our district counselor, had a

superb lesson with a timeline that broughtabout bonding of these students from dif-ferent schools and backgrounds. It helpedthem to realize everyone including theadults in the room have lived in differentplaces and had to adapt to change withpositive and some negatives along theway. Also, it was amazing to see each stu-dent talk in front of each other and sharetheir personal stories. Overall, these stu-dents have absorbed knowledge that willhelp them feel more comfortable and lessstressed with all their “new” high schoolexperiences to come.

SATURDAY SUCCESSACADEMYAs written by Karen LeiningerThe Saturday Success Academy at LibertyHigh School was an incredibly rewardingexperience. Twenty-six students wereserved, with 20 students attending threeor more sessions and more than halfattending all four sessions. I was continual-ly impressed by the enthusiastic staff andstudent presentations each week, includ-ing but not limited to: the academicenrichment activities facilitated by ourninth grade teachers, athletics, ROTC,cheerleaders, band, chorus, drama, danceteam, robotics club, NHS, TV Productionand many more. I truly believe that theseeighth graders are better equipped forpost-secondary success as a result of thethings they learned and the relationshipsthey built in this program. They have madevaluable connections to Liberty HighSchool that will inspire them to invest intheir future there. One hundred percent ofthe students stated that they feel moreprepared for high school as a result of theprogram, and that they would recommendthe program to other students. Several ofthem stated that they realize now how

important academic success in their fresh-man year is. Overall, the Saturday SuccessAcademy was a positive experience, and Ilearned a great deal about leadership, del-egating and efficiency. I can’t wait for nextyear – it’s going to get better and better.

SATURDAY SUCCESSACADEMYAs written by Michele ReedEach week, I was impressed by the dedi-cation and support of the staff membersand administration at Harmony HighSchool. Everyone pitched in and didtheir part without even expecting com-pensation for their extra work. We hadstaff members from many electives andacademic subjects, as well as counselorsand coaches come to speak to studentsabout courses to take, clubs, extracurric-ular activities and sports. Presentationswere very interactive and the studentsthoroughly enjoyed themselves duringthe various activities. Upperclassmen

were recruited as mentors and gave indi-vidual tours to the incoming freshmen. Ifeel that we offered a comprehensiveprogram that touched on all thatHarmony High School has to offer.This initiative exceeded all expectations.

Students parents and school staff have allbeen very enthusiastic about the SaturdaySuccess Academy. In this first year, wewanted to limit participation to no morethan 30 students from each high schoolsite. Actually, we have had more than 120different student participants for the four-week program. Total participation wasnearly 200 persons. The student persist-ence rate has been outstanding through-out the four-week program.The results of the parent survey is

shown below. The attitudes expressed inthe survey exceeded all expectations.�

Jim MacGregor is the I-Step Project lead

counselor in Osceola County. He can be

reached at [email protected].


I-STEP PARENT SURVEYStudent Success Academy • Final Session, May 16, 2009

Survey question

I have noticed a positivechange in my child’s attitudetoward school since attendingthe success academy.

I belive my child is excitedabout attending high schooldue to the success academy.

I believe my child is betterinformed and prepared to goto high school because ofattending the program.

I see a diffrence in my child’sattitude/behavior at homesince attending the academy.

I would recommend thisprogram to other parents andstudents.

Stronglyagree

24.7%

43.8%

65.7%

28.7%

78.0%

Agree

24.7%

43.8%

65.7%

28.7%

78.0%

Totalagree

24.7%

43.8%

65.7%

28.7%

78.0%

Neutral

24.7%

43.8%

65.7%

28.7%

78.0%

Disagree

24.7%

43.8%

65.7%

28.7%

78.0%

Noteworthy items1. 73 parent survey forms were collected.2. 69 students signed at the registration desk.3. 5 of the 73 parent respondents used the Spanish survey questions.4. The auditorium at Valencia seats 200. Total estimated attendance was 180.


VICE PRESIDENT’S VIEW: ELEMENTARY LEVELBY JONI SHOOK

Ihope you have had a wonderful sum-mer and are ready to roll up yoursleeves for the new school year! As

the new elementary level vice president,I am proud and honored to representelementary counselors on the FSCAGoverning Board. I have been a schoolcounselor for 28 years, and spent thefirst 20 years as an elementary schoolcounselor in Duval County. Currently Iam at the district level, and my primaryresponsibilities are to support and advo-cate for elementary counselors in ourdistrict.A new school year always generates a

lot of enthusiasm and excitement, does-n’t it? As you reflect on last year, youmay be thinking about different ways todeliver and improve your school counsel-ing services. I hope you have collectedsome data that will help you determinewhat programs or services made a dif-

ference for your students in their aca-demic, career and personal develop-ment. I encourage each of you to contin-ue to grow professionally so you canprovide a comprehensive, data-drivenschool counseling program. A greatopportunity is just around the corner –the annual FSCA conference is Oct.29–31, 2009, in Orlando. I am co-chair of

the proposal selection committee for theconference, and I am pleased to say wehave an outstanding variety of contentsessions selected for every level.As I’m sure is true for many of you, we

have had a difficult budget process thisspring and summer in our district, andhave worked hard to advocate for schoolcounseling programs to continue andnot be reduced or cut in school budgets.This may be a challenging year for coun-selors as a result of budget decisions.Let’s continue to grow our professionalorganization so that, through a strongmembership, FSCA can continue toexpand the image and influence ofschool counselors.�

Joni Shook is the elementary level vice

president. She can be reached at

[email protected].

Iam pleased to be your new middleschool level vice president. I’ve beena school counselor for 22 years in

Pinellas County. Currently, my position isat Tarpon Springs Middle School. Iappreciate the opportunity to representyou as an officer in FSCA.My goals for the next two years include:1. Greater networking opportunities forschool counselors through the pro-motion of attendance at our annualFSCA convention. We must profes-sionally involve ourselves with eachother through attendance at con-vention. Taking time for professionaldevelopment is not a luxury; it is acornerstone from which we gainencouragement and support fromother professionals. Make a yearlycommitment to yourself to recharge,

both personally and professionally.See you at convention this October.

2. Facilitation and promotion of anonline, confidential FSCA forumwhereby counselors may post con-cerns anonymously. In this manner,we can support each other as weface ethical and moral concerns inthe workplace.

As your middle school level represen-tative, I hope to present your concerns,areas of interest and training needs in aresponsible and timely manner. We learnmuch from each other; I hope to learnmuch from you during the next twoyears.�

Laurie Fedenko, Ed.S., is the middle school

level vice president. She can be reached at

[email protected].

VICE PRESIDENT’S VIEW: MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVELBY LAURIE FEDENKO

I encourage each of you to

continue to grow

professionally so you can

provide a comprehensive,

data-driven school

counseling program.

FSCA NOW ONTWITTER

http://twitter.com/myFSCA


Ah, the beginning of a new schoolyear. What a sight as high schoolcounselors run in every direction,

working on schedules, returning phonecalls, registering new students all in theeffort to get school open with as fewglitches as possible. As you are workinghard imagine the first day of classes with-out your dedication, without all of thosescheduling conflicts resolved, without cor-rect teacher rosters, without you – thehigh school counselor! But our work isonly one part of a larger administrativeteam that works to help students achievetheir goals and dreams every day of theschool year.As I write this, I am struck by research

just published by the College Board’sNational Center for School CounselingAdvocacy (May 2009) supported by theAmerican School Counselor Association(ASCA) and the National Association ofSecondary School Principals. Theresearch, recounted in “Finding a Way:Practical Examples of How an EffectivePrincipal-Counselor Relationship CanLead to Success for All Students,” high-lights 10 school counselor-principalteams around the country (includingFlorida) and yields solid advice for us aswe start the new school year and canstart some new habits and relationships.As you begin this year, think about tak-

ing the time to enhance your relationshipwith your principal. While results indicat-ed that principals and counselors tendedto agree about the issues they face, “ingeneral, principals have a much more pos-itive view of their relationships with thecounselors than counselors have of theirrelationships with the principals.” All wereformed in the face of the shared goal ofstudent success. I challenge you to takeanother look at your relationship withyour principal and make a resolution toimprove or enhance it this year.The successful relationships were built

based on a shared goal of student suc-cess and were both old and new. A com-mon thread was a principal-leader who isstrong enough to set boundaries and trustcounselors to do their part by valuing theskills and expertise of the school coun-

selor. School counselors often built thatrespect and trust by respecting the princi-pal enough to be honest about what prin-cipals needed to know and demonstrateselected challenges with data. Schoolcounselors focused on important issuesworth taking the principal’s time anddefined them in terms of student successor the barriers to that success. All partiesunderstood that to maximize student suc-cess they had to be willing to changetheir relationship or approach if necessary.At the end of the report (found at

www.schoolcounselor.org/files/findway.pdf) there is a checklist that you and yourprincipal can use to forge a new way ofworking together that benefits all. Makethis your new [school] year’s resolutionand go back to school with a new energyto fuel this new relationship. To continueto nurture and grow that relationship youwill need to keep building your skills andreplenish your professional self. What abetter way than by joining your colleaguesat The Florida School CounselorAssociation’s Second Annual Convention

“School Counselors: Building Futures,Changing Lives.” We will be conveningOct. 29–31, 2009, at the RenaissanceOrlando Resort at SeaWorld.We have worked diligently to assure

you a high powered, energizing and pro-ductive schedule with more than 50quality professional development oppor-tunities that include current and pastpresidents of The American SchoolCounselor Association (ASCA).Additional workshops before and afterthe convention provide a more in-depthapproach to professional developmentled by leaders in their respective fields.Districts are taking different approachesto providing professional development inthese budget stretched times but FSCAremains a steady professional resourceto support the success of our membersevery day so they can support the suc-cess of students. �

Christopher B. Smith is the secondary level

vice president and convention coordinator. He

can be reached at [email protected].

VICE PRESIDENT’S VIEW: SECONDARY LEVELBY CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH

THE NEW FSCA FORUM

This site is a private meetingplace that provides mem-bers of the Florida SchoolCounselor Association witha shared calendar, discus-sion forums, member pro-files, photo gallery, file stor-age and more. We encour-age you to upload yourphoto, complete your profileand participate. The discus-sion boards now include thefollowing areas and continueto grow:

� Announcements� General Discussions� Headlines & Links Discussions� Positions Available/Wanted� Response to Intervention/Instruction� eNews Updates� Grants

� National Certification� FSCA Convention Connections� Research and Survey ParticipationRequests

http://fla-schoolcounselor.groupsite.com/main/summary


PAST PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEBY SUSAN GERTEL

Every year, just after the schoolyear ends and I feel as if I havejust had my best year ever, I

attend the annual conference of theAmerican School Counselor Association(ASCA). The ASCA conference providesme opportunities to develop new skillsand to grow as a professional, anethical obligation I have as aschool counselor. The ASCACode of Ethics for SchoolCounselors (D.2.E.1.c) requiresschool counselors continuously todevelop as professionals. This year, asin past years, I found there are someskills I should develop to meet my stu-dents’ needs better. Some of the skills Ihave determined I need to work on thisyear connect to my wish to align thecomprehensive counseling programoffered at my school with the ASCANational Model.When school starts, many of us will

be returning to the school where wehave practiced for years, with prettymuch the same students, but perhapswe should not to be doing business thesame way. The ASCA National Model hasbeen around for six years, and most ofus are doing the activities that constitutethe elements of the delivery componentof the model. The classroom guidancecurriculum we present, the small groupswe facilitate, and the individual sessionswe have with our students are a majorpart of the model. How do we kick ourprograms up a notch? The key to garner-ing administrative support for improvingour programs is tied to one of the skillsmany of us need to develop – dataanalysis of our efforts or accountability.How are our students different becauseof what we do every day?At the ASCA conference, I attended a

session by Judy Bowers, one of theauthors of the ASCA National Model, andBeverly Elliott. They presented “SevenTips for Institutionalizing the ASCANational Model program.” Just as weoften tell our students that majorchanges do not happen overnight,Bowers reminded us we need to remem-

ber this as well. Elliott challenged us tomake an action plan and to select one ortwo of these research-based tips to con-centrate on this year. The seven tips forinstitutionalizing the ASCA NationalModel are:1. Collaboration with faculty membersto build links between the new inno-vation and the classroom instruction.

2. Commitment of top administrators,which gives programs a betterchance of survival.

3. Development of a long range planfor the program implementation.

4. Incorporation of the program objec-tives with the school’s mission.

5. Evidence of community support forthe program.

6. Development of program accounta-bility tools.

7. Development of a public relationsplan.

(Taken from the presentation handoutat ASCA 2009 in Dallas, Texas, detailson these tips can be found in theASCA National Model Handbookpages 2-4.)

Two of Bowers and Elliott’stips will be my focus for pro-

fessional growth this year. Thefirst is the need to develop some

support from our colleagues in theclassroom. Collaborating with a readingteacher, I will be in her classroom once aweek working with the students on areasof need we identify the first week ofschool. Because I attended this session, Iam going to expand my efforts toinclude a core curriculum (English)teacher for our ninth graders as well. Thesecond of the tips I will implement is thedevelopment of accountability tools forour program. Although my colleaguesand I know what we are doing in theclassrooms and with small groups isaffecting our students, gaining adminis-trative support for explaining the pro-gram is easier when we can show thedifference with charts or graphs (data).Part of the conference package atten-

dees receive is the July/August issue ofthe American School CounselorAssociation magazine, ASCA SchoolCounselor. The issue we received thisyear focuses on a number of ways eachof us can develop in the profession.Whether you are beginning a doctoralprogram, implementing the ASCANational Model counseling curriculum,planning to attend the FSCA conventionor professional development offeringsthis year, or considering a further certifi-cation such as NBCC or NBPTS, Iapplaud you for pursuing an avenue ofprofessional growth that will help youmeet your students’ needs in an excitingand innovative way for the 2009–10school year.�

Susan Gertel is the past-president of FSCA.

Elliott challenged us to

make an action plan and to

select one or two of these

research-based tips to

concentrate on this year.


REGION REPORTS

REGION 3WHERE ARE WECOMING FROM? WHEREARE WE GOING?

What a roller coaster this past year hasbeen. A budget crisis like no other thatput many school counselor positions onthe potential chopping block, and it putcounselors in competition with otherareas such as art, music and physicaleducation for limited funds from a verysmall pot of money. Fortunately, in Duval,we have a superintendent and schoolboard who advocate for school coun-selors. They see the value of what wecan do and refused to cut the fundinglevel that supplements so many of ourelementary school counselor positions.While we originally thought we wouldlose a number of positions county-wide,we have seen schools adding back andcreating new positions as stimulus fundsfree up other monies.While we have talked about “selling”

ourselves and our guidance programs fora number of years, we need to renewefforts this year to make sure our stu-dents, parents, school staffs, schoolboards and the general public are awareof the value of a comprehensive schoolcounseling program. We need to workwith our stakeholders to make sure weare meeting their needs and we need toshare our efforts and success at everyopportunity: faculty meetings, parentnights, PTSA meetings, board meetingsand any media event we can create orinclude ourselves into.Be active in your local and state pro-

fessional organizations. Network withothers and share your ideas with othersthrough meetings, FSCA blogs and yourlocal school counseling programs. Wecan’t sit back and wait for others tonotice how we shine – we need to polishup our star qualities and up the wattage.

Nan Worsowicz is the Region 3 vice

president. She can be reached at

[email protected].

REGION 4

I have always loved the start of a newschool year. I still enjoy the wood fra-grance of finely sharpened pencils, theclick of a notebook being filled withblank canvases of lined paper, even thebutterflies in my stomach as I let go ofsummer. What I love best, though, is theclean slate we all have as we anxiouslymeet the unexpected. As we greet ourstudents with their eager smiles andanticipation of a new beginning, weshould consider our own preparednessto meet the myriad challenges that wewill carry like a heavy backpack as theyear progresses.As school counselors, we are helpers.

With that comes the task of knowingwhen and how to help the many stake-holders of our school communities. Ourservices are far-reaching and extend wellbeyond the perimeters of our buildings.For many of us, particularly in elemen-tary and perhaps in our smaller districtsthroughout the state, we are the “lonesoldier.” This can be isolating at best, butwhether or not we share our offices withcolleagues, each of us needs a viablesupport system to keep us moving for-ward. So, where will you turn as you pre-pare to help?

Personally, I have found unparallel sup-port in my professional associations. Atthe district level, I am a member andpast-president of the PinellasProfessional School CounselorsAssociation. Now, I come to you as theRegion 4 vice president of FSCA.Beyond these memberships and offices,what has been most valuable to me isthe friendly, relevant and professionalvalidation I have experienced throughthese networks. I continue to grow as acounselor and leader in my schoolbecause of the many professional devel-opment opportunities they have provid-ed, from response to intervention tounderstanding relational aggressionamong girls. With each meeting I attend,each workshop I take, each colleague Italk to, each convention I attend, I comeaway feeling stronger, better prepared,less isolated and more empowered to dothe difficult, but most rewarding work ofthe school counselor.Please join us, join us as we continue

to develop our professionalism and lead-ership as an integral part of the schoolcommunity. While your membership isimportant, as there is strength in num-bers, even more important is your timeand talent to help further the vision ofthe FSCA. In addition, continue to culti-vate and strengthen your district organi-zations. The more we engage in helpingourselves and each other, the moreviable we become. Finally, rely on me asyour liaison to the executive board of theFSCA. Share your ideas, concerns, needsand opinions. Let me know how I can beof service to you as you continually pre-pare yourselves to assist the childrenand families in your communities. I canbe reached anytime at (727) 485-7992or [email protected] look forward to meeting and working

with each district in our region and hopeto see you at convention in October.Happy new (school) year.

Eva Christu is the Region 4 vice president. She

can be reached at [email protected].

We need to renew efforts

this year to make sure our

students, parents, school

staffs, school boards and

the general public are

aware of the value of a

comprehensive school

counseling program.


FIRST COASTCOUNSELINGASSOCIATION

The 2008–2009 was a very productiveyear for First Coast CounselingAssociation. Our organization providedtwo professional development work-shops, a parent workshop, a holidaysocial to strengthen the collaborativerelationships between school counselorsand principals and a spring dinner torecognize a school counselor who isresponsible for innovations in guidanceand counseling programs to support theacademic, career and personal develop-ment of all students, demonstrates lead-ership and performs outstanding serviceto the school and community. We wereexcited about the opportunity toincrease scholarship dollars and award-edt three $600 scholarships and one$250 campership award. We were alsothrilled to recognize the students andour counselor at the Duval County PublicSchool Board meeting on June 8th. Thisgave us the opportunity to have theboard and community recognize theefforts of our professional organizationand be acquainted with a wonderfulcounselor in our profession.The number of school counselors par-

ticipating in our evening professionalworkshops did not meet the goals set bythe board. Our efforts included sendingpersonal invitations in the mail, multiplee-mail invites, door prizes and incentives.The board developed a survey to distrib-ute with the 2009–2010 application. The

outgoing board suggests increasing theopportunities to deliver professionalinformation in fun and relaxing environ-ments for 2009–2010.We are also excited about our incom-

ing board. The following school coun-selors make up the 2009–2010 FCCABoard: Vera Bussey, president, AndrewJackson High School; Libby Curran, pres-ident -elect, Ed White High School, SidellKearns, secretary, Andrew Jackson HighSchool; Khristi Keefe, treasurer, Districtoffice; Carmen Carraballo, historian,Fletcher HS; Mahalia Bowman, graduatestudent, UNF; and Wendy Dunlap, past-president, District office.

BECOME A FSCACHAPTERAny group of association membersresiding or working within a particulararea or region may apply for a chaptercharter, provided that the group consistsof at least 10 FSCA members.

Benefits1. FSCA supports its chapters and pro-motes chapter membership and activi-ties.

2. FSCA includes state chapter delegatesto the Delegate Assembly in accor-dance with Article IV, DelegateAssembly, of the FSCA By-Laws.

3. FSCA promotes chapter leadershipcommunication through its websiteand listserv for chapter presidents,past-presidents, and presidents-elect.

4. FSCA chapter leadership may partici-pate in any leadership development

activities and may received reducedfees at such workshops or confer-ences.

5. FSCA provides materials andresources for distribution to chaptermembers.

6. FSCA leaders provide professionaldevelopment, keynote addresses andother presentations at local confer-ences, workshops or meetings at cost.

7. Chapters may host FSCA’s annual con-ference, LDI or other meetings.

Groups that desire to form a chaptermust submit a Chapter Charter applica-tion to the Governing Board. An applica-tion considered by the Governing Boardshall, upon acceptance, be submitted tothe Delegate Assembly for final approval.The FSCA Governing Board mustapprove the applicant’s Bylaws, or othersimilar governance document, and shallmake a recommendation concerningthem to the Delegate Assembly. Suchbylaws or other similar document of aChapter must not be in conflict with theFSCA bylaws and any formal relationshipmutually developed between the appli-cant and any other school counselingassociation or branch.Chapter Charters are granted to local

or regional school counselor associationsand FSCA will charter no more than oneschool counselor association per countyor district.Download an application to

become a FSCA Chapter by visitingwww.fla-schoolcounselor.org/chapters/.�

FSCA CHAPTERS UPDATE


FSCA BENEFITS AND SERVICES

When you join FSCA yourmembership is good for oneyear from your date of enroll-

ment. Our enrollment is not based on theschool calendar year.

� Comprehensive Newsletter. TheFlorida School Counselor, publishedfive times per year (including a special“back to school” issue), is a PDFdownload with many advantages:� Easier access to each issue.� Searchable content.� Important resources and other con-tent linked to Web site.

� Unhindered space limitations (i.e.,we can offer more valuable contentwithout worrying about deliverycosts).

� FSCA Forum. The FSCA Forum site isa meeting place that provides Floridaschool counselor with a shared calen-dar, discussion forums, member pro-files, photo gallery, file storage andmore. We encourage you to upload

your photo, complete your profile andparticipate!

� Legislative Advocacy. From ourLobbyist in Tallahassee to ourLegislative Web page, FSCA helpsinform our legislators about issues anddirections for student success.

� Representation. FSCA also representsyou at the state and national DelegateAssemblies.

� Partnerships. Because no one organi-zation can do it alone, FSCA leaderscontinue to partner with other organi-zations, industries and agencies to fur-ther our mutual interests in studentsand families.

� News Blog. Frequently updated, theNews Blog provides vital informationto keep you informed about schoolcounseling related issues.

� Professional Development. As every-one knows, it’s important to partici-pate in regular, certified professionaldevelopment opportunities. FSCApartners with other organizations, uni-

versities and nationally recognizedtrainers to offer members training inareas such as ethics, career counselingand more.

� Awards. FSCA recognizes its bestschool counselors, administrators,advocates and other supporters whomake a difference among kids andfamilies.

� Resource Center. The FSCA resourcecenter (members only) houses impor-tant content such as professionaldevelopment resources (e.g., handoutsfrom our convention and other insti-tutes), promotional materials andmuch more.

� Twitter. Follow FSCA on Twitter forup-to-the minute announcements,resources and valuable information.

� Web site. The FSCA is comprehensiveand still growing. The purpose of theFSCA Web site is to provide support forall of FSCA’s goals and to make it easyfor Florida school counselors to stayinformed, collaborate and network.�

August 2009 - Back to School Issue

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Transcript of August 2009 - Back to School Issue