WSCA's Online Learning Program 2024-2025
Online learning opportunities exclusively for WSCA members! Some partner presentations are open to the public.
Schedule of Events
This list will be continuously updated as new sessions are scheduled.
Jump to:
—Navigating Financial Aid, FAFSA Changes, and College Fit with College Aid Pro (High)
—Introducing the Wisconsin Career Readiness Standards (All)
—Championing Inclusive Schools: ADL’s No Place for Hate Initiative (All-Different Dates)
—MagicSchool AI- Using Artificial Intelligence to Support School Counselors (All)
—ASCA Model Equity Alignment (All)
—Creating a Caring and Calm Classroom with e-Learning content from Children’s Wisconsin (Elementary, Middle)
—The Brain Science of Stress Elimination and Workplace/Life Joy, Purpose, and Connection (All)
—Utilizing the Healthy Minds App to Support Students (All)
—The Brain Science of Stress Elimination and Workplace/Life Joy, Purpose, and Connection (6-Week) (All)
—Beyond the Master’s Degree for School Counselors: Pathways to a Ph.D. and Additional Licenses or Certifications (All)
—Racial Disparity in Academic Achievement (All)
—Overview of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) (All)
—Using the Solution-Focused Approach to Help Students Build Hope and Identify Healthy Coping Strategies (All)
—Respond to Bullying with a Trauma-Informed Care Approach for Parents and Staff (Elementary, Middle)
September
Navigating Financial Aid, FAFSA Changes, and College Fit with College Aid Pro
Open to the public!
September 12 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Speakers: Matt Carpenter, Founder, and Peg Keough,
College Aid Pro
Presentation Description: Join this session, hosted by College Aid Pro (CAP), to learn about Direct Admit Wisconsin, how it will impact aid & affordability as well as the latest FAFSA updates for the Class of 2025. Hear directly from other school counselors how they partner with CAP for scholarship and financial aid resources.
You will learn:
- What is the impact of financial aid due to Direct Admit Wisconsin initiative?
- Can they apply for aid?
- Are they eligible for the same amount as other students?
- Need-based implications
- Merit/scholarship implications
- Affordability (and lack thereof) considerations
- Is this a good, bad or ugly idea?
- FAFSA Updates:
- Stay ahead of the curve with the latest changes to the FAFSA process.
- Understand new policies, updated deadlines, and the impact of these changes on your students.
- Tips for troubleshooting common FAFSA issues and providing the best support to students during application season.
- Learn from colleagues how they use CAP to help students find and apply for financial aid and scholarships.
- Financial Aid Curriculum for families
- The “Xello” of financial aid platform
- Trusted hub for resources
Why Attend?
- Expert Insights: Gain valuable knowledge from financial aid professionals with years of experience in the field.
- Practical Tools: Walk away with actionable tools and resources to better assist your students through the financial aid process and college selection.
- Interactive Q&A: Participate in a live Q&A session to address your specific questions and concerns.
Equip yourself with the latest information and tools to guide your students effectively through the complex landscape of college financial planning. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your expertise and better support your students’ college journeys!
For any questions or further information, please contact us at counselors@collegeaidpro.com
Track/Theme: Academic/Career/Postsecondary
Target Audience: High
Introducing the Wisconsin Career Readiness Standards
September 17 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Speakers: Karin Smith, Education Consultant, and Andrea Donegan, School Counseling Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Presentation Description: What does it look like for students to graduate career ready? As the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction revised their Career and Technical Education Standards, the Wisconsin Common Career Technical Standards were updated and renamed the Wisconsin Career Readiness Standards. During this session you will learn about these new standards, how they can be incorporated into the work you are doing with students, how they align with the Academic and Career Planning Process, Social Emotional Learning, ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors, Redefining Ready, and, much, much more!
Track/Theme: Academic/Career/Postsecondary
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, High
October
November
Championing Inclusive Schools: ADL's No Place for Hate Initiative
October 14(K-5) & 15(6-12) @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Speaker: Dr. Lara Trubowitz, Education Director, ADL Midwest
Presentation Description: October 14 (Elementary) Are you a K-5 counselor looking for ways to respond to bullying or bias incidents in your classrooms and schools? Are you looking to equip your students with the skills to create a welcoming and inclusive school environment? No Place for Hate®️ is a free student-led K-12 initiative designed to engage all school stakeholders in building a positive school culture. This session will provide an overview of the No Place for Hate®️ initiative and education resources to support inclusive learning environments. We’ll discuss No Place for Hate activities designed specifically for elementary age students, how to empower younger kids to talk about bullying, name-calling, and creating brace spaces, and the process for becoming a No Place for Hate School.
October 15 (Middle & High) Are you a 6th-12th grade counselor looking for ways to respond to bullying, cyberbullying, or bias incidents in your classrooms and schools? Are you looking to equip your students with the skills to create a welcoming and inclusive school environment? No Place for Hate®️ is a free student-led K-12 initiative designed to engage all school stakeholders in building a positive school culture. This session will provide an overview of the No Place for Hate®️ initiative and education resources to support inclusive learning environments. We’ll discuss No Place for Hate activities designed specifically for middle and high school age students, how the program empowers students to talk about such topics as bullying and cyber-bullying, social media and hate symbols, and peer advocacy and, finally, the process for becoming a No Place for Hate School.
Track/Theme: Social/Emotional
Target Audience: Elementary (Oct 14), Middle & High (Oct 15)
MagicSchool AI- Using Artificial Intelligence to Support School Counselors
November 13 @ 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Speaker: Dyann Wilson, School Counselor, and Amy Storer
Presentation Description: The #techCAREtwins presentation will focus on showcasing how MagicSchool AI can effectively support school counselors in their daily tasks and responsibilities. From providing personalized resources to assisting in creating tailored intervention plans, this presentation will demonstrate the diverse ways in which MagicSchool AI can enhance the work of school counselors. Join us to discover how this innovative tool can revolutionize the counseling process and positively impact student well-being.
Track/Theme: Social/Emotional
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, High
December
ASCA Model Equity Alignment
December 2 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Speaker: Dr. Bobby B Gueh, Professor, Georgia State University
Presentation Description: As school counselors, we hear the word “equity” thrown around quite a bit. You’ve probably heard it at a faculty meeting, as part of the superintendent’s opening address, or maybe even been told that your department goals for the year needs to have an equity component. What does it mean for a school counselor to be focused on equity? School counselors play an important role in advocating for equity in schools and equity for their students. School counselors recognize each student’s individual uniqueness. The ASCA position statement on Equity states, “School counselors recognize and distinguish individual and group differences and strive to equally value all students and groups. School counselors are advocates of the equitable treatment of all students in school and in the community.” It further shares 11 areas in which school counselors promote equitable treatment including using data to identify gaps in achievement, opportunity and attainment.
This workshop will provide participants with knowledge and skills of developing a comprehensive school counseling department based in equitable practices, aligned with ASCA model, and provide critical strategies for assessing performance.
Track/Theme: Equity
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, High
Creating a Caring and Calm Classroom with e-Learning content from Children's Wisconsin
December 17 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Speakers: Clay Anton M.Ed., e-Learning Account Representative, Children’s Wisconsin
Presentation Description: In this webinar, counselors will explore emotion and mental health resources available to all Wisconsin schools at no cost! Learn from other counselors who have delivered this stand-alone mental and emotional health curriculum, or as an innovative supplement to other current curricula. Skills taught in our online lessons include: recognizing feelings and emotions and learning how to deal with them, empathy and compassion, stress and how to deal with it, healthy relationships, common mental health disorders and concerns, how to get help when needed.
Track/Theme: Social/Emotional
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle
January
The Brain Science of Stress Elimination and Workplace/Life Joy, Purpose, and Connection
January TBD, 2025
Speaker: Dr. Niraj (Raj) Nijhawan
Presentation Description: The science of excellence, success, connection, and maximum happiness have all been well established but society has not caught up to these discoveries. Enjoy multiple powerful insights and a practical methodology for making these ideas come alive in our work and personal lives. Also experience a deeper sense of community as a result
This presentation will also have a follow-up 6-week course that can be registered for separately. More details to follow.
Track/Theme: Social/Emotional
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, High
Well-Being Is a Skill: Developing Greater Resilience Through the Healthy Minds Program
January 14, 2025 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Speaker: Stephanie Wagner, NBC-HWC and Director of Learning and Development at Healthy Minds Innovations
Presentation Description: In this presentation, Stephanie Wagner, Director of Learning and Development at Healthy Minds Innovations, will introduce you to the Healthy Minds Program app, a valuable resource for cultivating resilience and mental well-being. The session will explore the Healthy Minds Framework–a scientific approach to well-being–and how the skills from the Healthy Minds Program can help you and those you work with build resilience, manage stress, and develop skills of emotional regulation.
Track/Theme: Social/Emotional
Target Audience: High
February
The Brain Science of Stress Elimination and Workplace/Life Joy, Purpose, and Connection
(6-Week)
February 2025, Weekly
Speaker: Dr. Niraj (Raj) Nijhawan
Presentation Description: Building on the 1-hour Intro presentation with the same title, we will continue our work in the brain “gym”. We take any difficult scenario in work or life and use it to activate different components of the Higher Brain to block the negative brain effect of people, situations, and thoughts. Furthermore, you will notice rising peace, creative joy, success, fulfillment, and a sense of connection at work and life more broadly
Track/Theme: Social/Emotional
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, High
Beyond the Master’s Degree for School Counselors: Pathways to a Ph.D. and Additional Licenses or Certifications
February 11, 2025 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Speaker: Carrie King, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, Counseling Department Chair, Mount Mary and Jennifer Betters-Bubon, Ph.D., LPC, UW-Whitewater
Presentation Description: As a school counselor, your journey does not have to end with a master’s degree. There are exciting pathways for professional growth, specialization, and additional counselor licenses/certifications. Let us explore with you what lies beyond the master’s level and how it can enhance your impact in educational settings.
Track/Theme: Leadership/Advocacy
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, High
March
Racial Disparity in Academic Achievement
March 5, 2025 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Speaker: Dr. Gloria Ladson Billings
Presentation Description: In this time of great uncertainty we all wonder how we begin again. This talk calls for us to consider a “hard re-set” where we re-think what it means to educate all students. We consider the ways other nation’s have met this challenge and ask ourselves if we are ready to do things differently. The talk concludes with a series of strategic questions to help us think through new ways of educating and preparing ALL students.
Track/Theme: Equity
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, High
Planning for Retirement
March 12, 2025 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Speakers: Thomas Bajek, Benefits Specialist for the WI Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) & Victor Frasher, Educators Credit Union
Presentation Description: Join the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds and Educators’ Credit Union as they jointly share resources for educators planning retirement in Wisconsin.
By the end of this presentation, you will be able to:
- Identify and explain the elements of the WRS.
- Explain how the WRS pension works.
- Identify benefits available through the WRS.
- Find resources for more information.
Additionally, Educators’ Credit Union will help members:
- Adjust your mindset
- Educate yourself and spouse
- Fund retirement plans with purpose
- Start living below your means
Whether you are early on in your career, planning long-term, or nearing retirement, join the WI Department of Employee Trust Funds and Educators’ Credit Union in this informative session to plan for your future!
Track/Theme: Leadership/Advocacy
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, High
April
May
Using the Solution-Focused Approach to Help Students Build Hope and Identify Healthy Coping Strategies
April 23, 2025 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Speaker: Carol Buchholz Holland, Ph.D., NCC, Associate Professor, North Dakota State University
Presentation Description: This session will provide a brief overview of the Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and 6 solution-focused questions that can be used with students. The presenter will discuss a hope building process which involves SFBT questions and Snyder’s Hope theory. In addition, creative solution-focused activities which help students identify healthy coping strategies will be shared.
Track/Theme: Social/Emotional
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, High
Respond to Bullying with a Trauma-Informed Care Approach for Parents and Staff
May 8, 2025 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Speakers: Clay Anton M.Ed., e-Learning Account Representative, Children’s Wisconsin & Stacey Pangratz
Presentation Description: In this presentation, attendees will learn about the Parents Act Now bullying prevention resources, trauma informed care, and how to build resiliency skills for both students and staff. Children’s Wisconsin staff will share key strategies for recognizing the presence of symptoms related to trauma or loss and how to avoid re-traumatizing the child or adult.
Track/Theme: Social/Emotional
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle
