2014 Annual Conference

PreConference Workshops

Home
register
schedule
venue
exhibitors and sponsors
more

Full-Day Workshops • Half-Day Workshops

Full-Day Preconference Workshops

February 18, 2014

Brent Burnham, Professional School Counselor, PBIS Coordinator, Elementary School
Counselors – Vice President of the Utah School Counselor Association, Creator of Comprehensive, School-wide Bully Prevention Programs – Bully Blockers and Too Cool to Care, Herber City, Utah

“Creating a Positive School Climate and Culture with P.B.I.S. and Comprehensive Bully Prevention Programs”

Professional School Counselor, PBIS Coordinator, Elementary School Counselors – Vice President of the Utah School Counselors Association, Creator of the Comprehensive, School-wide Bully Prevention Programs Bully Blockers andToo Cool to Care, Herber City, Utah

The H.R. 1648: Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2011 was re-introduced to U.S. Congress and if passed, would require schools to collect data, to establish disciplinary guidelines, and a system for registering complaints. A legislative panel of experts has described bullying as a “national epidemic”. In addition to federal legislation, many states have similar local laws and legislation to address bullying and harassment in schools.

“While approaches that simply crack down on individual bullies are seldom effective, research has found that when there is a school-wide commitment to end bullying, it can be reduced by up to 50%” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009).

Learn how to create a more positive school culture and climate by implementing comprehensive, school-wide, bully prevention programs grades K-12 and the effective use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (P.B.I.S.). The elementary school level “Bully Blockers” program and the secondary level “Cool to Care” programs can be vertically aligned to provide district-wide bully prevention efforts.

Participants will learn the eight key components necessary to fully implement a comprehensive bully prevention program including: The role of school administrators, use of P.B.I.S. programs, data collection, student education and awareness, staff training, critical social skills training, and program generalization. Detailed information will also be provided to help schools either sustain or create a school-wide P.B.I.S. program to support and enhance school culture and climate.

These types of programs are preventative by nature. Our schools need leaders who will be proactive rather than reactive regarding bullying and harassment issues. Join us to learn how to create a positive school climate and to more effectively address bullying and harassment issues in your school(s) or district.

 

Dr. Shari Sevier, Professional Keynote Speaker, Past President of the Missouri School Counselor
Association, Assistant Chair of the American School Counselor Association Board of Directors, Wildwood, Missouri

“These are a Few of My Favorite Things: Elementary Counselor Version” (Pre-K – Gr. 8)

This workshop is designed for school counselors working in grades k-8. It will cover a variety of best practices and tried and true activities that include post-secondary planning (yes, even for the little guys), group counseling activities, transition programs, using data to pump up your program, and why/how school counselors should be involved in PLCs (professional learning communities). After a 29 year career, across all grade levels, these are a few of my very favorite things from an elementary counselor perspective!

A Central New York native, Shari earned her bachelor’s degree from Keuka College, a master’s degree from Syracuse University, a Certificate of Advanced Studies from the State University of New York at Oswego, and her doctorate from Syracuse University. She began her career as a foreign language teacher at the middle and high school levels. After eleven years of teaching, Shari followed “her calling” to the field of school counseling. She has been a school counselor since 1984.

Shari is a highly sought-after speaker across Missouri, nationally and, more recently, internationally. She has just returned from being a guest of the United States State Department, traveling to Azerbaijan in Eastern Europe. While in Azerbaijan, Shari taught students the basics of career counseling, and she introduced teachers to the curriculum of the ASCA Model. She also led roundtable discussions with personnel who work with disabled children and orphans. Here in the States, Shari focuses on practical strategies for creating efficient and effective school counseling programs. Her current area of interest is in the area of Professional Learning Communities for school counselors. Shari is a fierce advocate for school counseling programs; it is clear that her passion is the school counseling field and the benefits it provides for students.

 

Half Day Preconference Workshops

February 18, 2014 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Rob Ocker, Keynote Speaker, Author, WSCA Middle School Counselor of the Year (2013) and School Counselor, Lake Geneva Middle School, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

 
“Counseling, Parenting and Teaching the Millennial Generation – A Revolution in Education and An Evolution in Parenting” (Pre-K – PS)

How can we can counsel, parent, teach and reach this generation of conceptual learners and guide them to pass on a better humanity? This entertaining and dynamic workshop addresses this question. Generations, like people, have personalities, and Millennials – today’s preteens through twenty-something’s – have begun to forge the personality of their generation: driven by technology and a compassionate action for change they are confident, self-expressive, upbeat and open to change. Dynamic keynote speaker, author, Wisconsin’s Professional Middle School Counselor of the Year (2013), Rob Ocker, will share researched-based tools and techniques to help the educator and parent of the 21st Century understand, counsel and teach the Millennial Generation. During this workshop, attendees will learn about the Millennial Generation and how the conceptual learner and the digital age have changed the way we parent and educate our youth.
He will offer practical strategies and tools for the school environment and home environment to create positive relationships and enhance your counseling practice and parent education.
Here are some skills you will learn in the workshop:
  • Mentoring the Millennials –Share the wisdom of compassionate action.
  • How to Help Millennials Fill the Soft Skills Gap (written and oral communications, social skills (other than social media, an ability to engage and motivate, business etiquette and professionalism.)
  • Learn about the Empowering Skills Sets- EmPOWERment in ACTION: Shifting a new paradigm in parenting and education.
  • Find out about The 7 Abilities of EmPOWERment – Learn to use the skills of Empowerment in action with the conceptual kid!
During this exciting and entertaining workshop, participants will look at how this new generation is moving to schools of the future. He examines the school system is driven from a consumption-driven, Information-based Learning System (what you know) to a creation-driven, Transformation-based Learning System (what you can do with what you know.) Rob envisions a new cultural mythos with high technology, new communication and empowered educational systems lead by the Millennials.
Rob encourages educators to redefine rigor; by developing a revolution of the mind and choose to create habits of the mind. As a Love and Logic Trained Facilitator of over 15 years, (http://www.loveandlogic.com/) , he encourages parents and educators to practice the skills of empowerment, learn the 7 Abilities of empowerment and teach/counsel in an EmPOWERed way.
Rob empowers audiences to guide and empower student innovators and emotional intelligent Millennials. Based on his 20 years of public education experience, Rob has created a consulting and speaking business that addresses how to understand and build the skills of empowerment, compassionate action, emotional/social intelligence and heart intelligence. Participants will learn how to use these tools and strategies to parent and/or teach our children. Participants can learn how mastering heart tools and grounding/centering skills may be a positive way to raise test sores and handle test anxiety. The skills are essential to balancing the Millennial Generation to empower creativity and master emotionality. He explains how future education systems understand technology literacy and how it relates to the Millennial Generation and Schools of the Future.
Rob calls to action the great counselors/teachers/educators/parents to share a common vision to bring a new cultural mythos for educating our youth and parenting our children. Come be inspired, empower yourself and walk away with useful tools and strategies to empower the Millennial Generation.
Rob Ocker’s website: EmPOWERment In ACTION! http://www.robertocker.com/

 

February 18, 2014 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Erin Mason, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling and Special Education, College of Education, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois

“Use of Technology in School Counseling for the Eager Novice” (Pre-K – PS)

How do I share information beyond using email? How do I get started with social media? How do I create a website for my program? If you consider yourself a technology novice, this session is for you. Learn how to go from being a passive consumer of technology to being a more active producer. You’ll learn the basics of tools like Twitter, Blogger, Prezi, LiveBinders and Dropbox so that you know just enough to increase your competence without being overwhelmed.
Erin Mason is an assistant professor in the Counseling program at DePaul University in Chicago. Prior to joining the faculty in 2008, Erin was a Professional School Counselor in Georgia for 13 years. Erin worked in several middle schools in urban, suburban and rural settings, including in the two largest districts in the state. She earned her Masters, Specialist and Doctoral degrees from Georgia State University.
Erin is active in professional School Counseling organizations and legislative work at both state and national levels. She has published in scholarly journals with a focus on the professional identity of school counselors. Erin engages in collaborative work with various organizations and schools in the Chicago area to create positive change for students and their academic, career and personal/social needs. Erin is a regular presenter in her field on a variety of topics and served as the 2012-2013 president of the Illinois School Counseling Association.
In recent years, Erin’s work has turned to the use of technology in School Counseling. Erin developed SCOPE, School Counselors’ Online Professional Exchange as a site for highlighting practical tech tools for school counselors along with concrete examples of how they are being used in the field. http://sconlineprofessionalexchange.wikispaces.com

Erin’s full portfolio can be viewed at:
https://depaul.digication.com/erin_mason_ph_d_promotion_and_tenure_portfolio/Welcome/

 

February 18, 2014 1:30 – 5:00 pm

Gary Campbell, WSCA Government Relations Chair, Professional School Counselor, Meyer Middle School, Member, River Falls Public School Education Foundation, Incorporated, Member – St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Program, River Falls, WI

“WSCA: Continuing to Build our Legislative Momentum! 2nd Annual Day on the Hill Event” (Pre-K – Post Secondary)

If you were not part of last year’s “Day on the Hill” (DOH), come join us! Over 30 colleagues and graduate students took advantage of being in Madison for the annual WSCA conference and visited their legislators. Now is your chance to connect with policy makers about the school counseling profession in Wisconsin and to be an advocate for the profession. It all starts at the Monona Terrace where we will discuss the concerns, triumphs and issues affecting our profession. Together we will plan and then practice how to effectively address these topics with our lawmakers. From there we will head to the capitol! You will then meet with your lawmakers to educate, collaborate and communicate with them about school counseling in Wisconsin. Appointments will be made, so when registering we will ask for the name of your State Senator and State Representative from the district in which you vote. Legislators want to hear from their constituents. Last year’s DOH brought success in helping to inform and introduce lawmakers to our profession. WSCA needs “you” to continue the momentum from last year and continue to build legislative partnerships in Madison. Please join us in this rewarding, exciting and fulfilling “free” pre-conference. (Suggested information for participants to bring: copies of letters and other accolades from students, parents, teachers and administrators, completed SPARK-W, examples of current student successes, concerns and issues.)
 

February 18, 2014 1:30 – 5:00 pm

DeeDee Ginns-Gruenberg, LPC, RPT-S, BSN, Private Practice, Self-Esteem Shop, West Bloomfield, MI.

“Bibliotherapy and Creative Solutions in Play Therapy with Resources that Work!” (Pre-K – PS)

Children express themselves most naturally through the language of play. They use toys, games and their imagination the way adults use their words. In a play therapy setting children communicate with the counselor through toys, puppets, art, games and stories.

If you want to know more about…

• How to integrate stories and games into play therapy
• How to move past the negative association of therapy to get the adults on board
• How to engage children in play therapy using expressive resources
• How to integrate play into individual and group sessions

…then this session is for you!

Throughout the session I will discuss the different play techniques that you can use to meet the social and emotional needs of a child. With my background in bibliotherapy, there will be a special emphasis on using games and storybooks therapeutically.

If you want to know how storybooks and games can help your clients…

• Express their emotions
• Make more friends
• Improve their self-esteem
• Learn to follow rules
• Decrease anxiety
• Gain a sense of self-control
• Cope with current issues

…then come to this workshop.

This workshop will whet your appetite to become trained in play therapy procedures and truly appreciate the therapeutic power of play.

 

February 18, 2014 1:30 – 5:00 pm

Erin Mason, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling and Special Education, College of Education, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois

“Use of Technology in School Counseling for the Advanced Enthusiast” (Pre-K – PS)

So you consider yourself tech savvy? You already know how to use Twitter. Maybe you’ve created a basic webpage or you have a blog. You understand the basics but you want to know how to do more. If so, then this session is for you. Learn advanced skills like embedding on webpages, creating screencasts, posting to multiple social media accounts and more. This session will include time for participants to share favorite tools and showcase them to the audience. Bring your smart phone, tablet or laptop for a fully interactive experience.
Erin Mason is an assistant professor in the Counseling program at DePaul University in Chicago. Prior to joining the faculty in 2008, Erin was a Professional School Counselor in Georgia for 13 years. Erin worked in several middle schools in urban, suburban and rural settings, including in the two largest districts in the state. She earned her Masters, Specialist and Doctoral degrees from Georgia State University.
Erin is active in professional School Counseling organizations and legislative work at both state and national levels. She has published in scholarly journals with a focus on the professional identity of school counselors. Erin engages in collaborative work with various organizations and schools in the Chicago area to create positive change for students and their academic, career and personal/social needs. Erin is a regular presenter in her field on a variety of topics and served as the 2012-2013 president of the Illinois School Counseling Association.
In recent years, Erin’s work has turned to the use of technology in School Counseling. Erin developed SCOPE, School Counselors’ Online Professional Exchange as a site for highlighting practical tech tools for school counselors along with concrete examples of how they are being used in the field. http://sconlineprofessionalexchange.wikispaces.com

Erin’s full portfolio can be viewed at: https://depaul.digication.com/erin_mason_ph_d_promotion_and_tenure_portfolio/Welcome/

 

February 18, 2014 1:30 – 5:00 pm

Doug Reynolds, President, Safety Quest, Incorporated, Beloit,

“After Newtown – School Safety and Security Changes, Challenges and Cornerstones” (Pre-K – Gr. 12)

Each day our nations’ schools are entrusted to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for approximately 55 million elementary and secondary school students in public and non-public schools. Families and communities expect schools to keep their children and youths safe from threats (human-caused emergencies such as crime and violence) and hazards (natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and accidents). In collaboration with their local government and community partners, schools can take steps to plan for these emergencies through creation of a school Emergency Operations Plan.
Lessons learned from school emergencies highlight the importance of preparing school staff and first responders to implement emergency operations plans. By having plans in place to keep students and staff safe, schools play a key role in taking preventative and protective measures to stop an emergency from occurring or reduce the impact of an incident. No school emergency causes us more concern than the school attack.
Are you searching for answers? Rampage school shootings terrify us because they contradict our most firmly help beliefs about childhood, home and community. While schools remain the statistically safest place for kids to be; we would be challenged to find a parent, guardian, teacher, student, or community member who is not apprehensive about school violence.
Yes, It could happen here.

In this engaging session learn:

* The latest recommendations on school Emergency Operations Planning from the U.S Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This information was just released in June of 2013. Attendees will receive a copy of this guide.
* What have we learned? Applying the lessons.
* Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response and Recovery strategies.
* School climate best practices; from renowned research perspectives.
* Family Reunification strategies.
* The United States Secret Services “Ten Key Findings”
* Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention and Response: Expert Perspectives.
* Breaking the Code of Silence
* And much more……………

Take away a feeling of empowerment as you come to better understand the changes, challenges and cornerstones of this vital topic.”