Online Learning Program 2021-2022

Your Source for Live and On-Demand Online Learning

WSCA's Online Learning Program 2021-2022

Online learning opportunities exclusively for WSCA members!

The WSCA Online Learning Program has been created to meet Wisconsin’s school counselors’ professional development needs, specifically our valued WSCA members.  WSCA has worked to curate a solid selection of virtual learning experiences that provide the content and learning venue that best suit the needs of a modern-day world.  Content will be available either live or on-demand to help each member customize their experience to their own busy lives.

Highlights of the program include:

  • Access to join each event either live or on-demand
  • Access to the content is a member benefit and will only be free and accessible to active WSCA members
  • Enjoy approximately two sessions each month, one content-based speaker and one more casual brown bag collaboration
  • Many speakers will provide the opportunity to submit questions or discussion topics in advance
  • Content from trusted WSCA sources and partners
  • Content designed around tracks, similar to conference sectionals and preconference

Online Learning Tracks

Schedule of Events

This list will be continuously updated as new sessions are scheduled.

February

Wisconsin School Counselor of the Year Panel

Date:  Monday, February 28th, 2022

Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Presenter(s): Carri Hale, Marianne Matt, Sarah Flier

Track/Type:  Leadership & Advocacy / Presentation

Description: Join WSCA’s most recent School Counselors of the Year, Carri Hale, Marianne Matt, and Sarah Flier, as they share their journeys as school counselors and what it means to be a leader.

March
Carolyn Strong

Suicide Assessments: The School Counselors Role

Date:  Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Presenter(s): Carolyn Stone

Track/Type:  Ethics / Presentation

Description: School counselors know and accept without equivocation their responsibility in suicide intervention. The role is clear and appropriate given the hundreds of students for whom they are responsible. Any time it comes to the attention of the school counselor that a child is in danger of suicide the absolute obligation is to call parents/guardians. Counselors do not wait for certainty, rather, even a remote possibility of suicide is enough to establish duty. However, more and more school districts are requiring school counselors to do the impossible, quantify suicide. Determining the lethality of suicide is problematic on so many levels not the least of which is the fallibility of assessing suicidal risk. This presentation will discuss the standard of care for school counselors when being required by others to assess students for suicide. Court cases will be discussed which cement the dangers in trying to quantify suicide and provide counselors with legal muscle to advocate against the district requiring school counselors to quantify suicide.

April
Julia Cook

Reboundaries and Resilience: Enhancing Skills that Foster Boundary Recognition, Determination and GRIT!

Date:  Thursday, April 21st, 2022

Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Presenter(s): Julia Cook

Track/Type:  Social Emotional Well-Being / Presentation

Description: How do we accomplish the great task of teaching our kids the BIG LIST of everything they need to know and succeed in life when they believe that all of their needs are being met through screen time?

How do we teach our kids online safety?

How do we allow technology to add to our children’s life as opposed to taking from it?

How do we create an environment where kids genuinely “want it” more than we want it for them?

In her research-based presentation, Julia takes a look at how creative world-class parents and educators are answering these questions and helping children thrive with strength and confidence in their ever-changing world!

May

Free K-5 Mental and Emotional Health Curriculum

Date:  Monday, May 9th, 2022

Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Presenter(s): Children’s Wisconsin E-Learning

Track/Type:  Social/Emotional / Presentation

Description:  Research shows that as many as one in six U.S. children between 6 and 17 has a treatable mental health disorder. Research also found that nearly half of children with these disorders did not receive counseling or treatment. As part of Children’s Wisconsin’s vision of having the healthiest kids in the nation, an updated strategy now focuses on a new, broader definition of health – one that includes mental and emotional health, and looks at addressing the mental and emotional health crisis in new and innovative ways.

One of the new and innovative programs is Healthy Minds, a FREE planned continuum of mental and emotional health e-learning courses designed for K-8th grade students. Healthy Minds focuses on mental and emotional health education and raising awareness among students, providing an engaging look at what makes a healthy mind and introducing the skills needed to help students lead healthy lives.

Healthy Minds aligns with the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Every Student, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Social and Emotional Learning Competencies. Using online and offline classroom activities, the courses address such topics as:

  • 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
Brian Juchems
Lisa Koenecke

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Our Schools

Date:  Thursday, May 26th, 2022

Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Presenter(s): Brian Juchems & Lisa Koenecke

Track/Type:  Equity / Presentation

Description: Join GSAFE Co-Executive Director Brian J for an update on the current state of legislation for the LGBTQ+ community, best practices when working with students, as well as information on resources to help support LGBTQ+ students of all ages in school and in all types of communities. Inclusion Ally, Lisa Koenecke, will join Brian J to answer YOUR questions about how to best support these youth and advocate for positive change in your schools and communities.