Thanks to you and @LRossSchCnslr for co-moderating #scchat going! Shout out to @SSpellmanCann for keeping it going. It's been a year and I've missed my PLN!
We are going to get started with our questions to Reflect and Recharge here in a bit. Don't forget to include #scchat in your answers and we are following the Q1 - A1 formula for the chat tonight!
A1: getting through the year was a challenge. my wife's battle w/ 2 cancers took its toll. Having a great and supporting staff helped get me through the difficult times! #scchat
That I survived it! 😅 But really, I feel I've built important relationships at my school, and that has already given me a strong direction for next year #scchat
Oh my goodness. Sending you lots of well wishes. Amazing how supportive staff can be, you just never know how incredible people can be until you face tough challenges. #scchat
A2: I did a study on the use of a flipped format in my college and career course. First time I've done research on teaching. Involved doc students, which was also an awesome first! #scchat
A1 Earning the student's trust. It's an uphill battle being the new college counselor but I did it! They wrote on my graffiti wall "We love you, Ms. O!" and I love them right back #scchat
A2: I focused a lot on collaboration with teachers this year. So I ran some professional development that they thought they needed. Principal actually asked that I do it for our “cluster meeting” which was an option for all hs, ms, and es staff in our feeder pattern #scchat
A2: First year as a site supervisor for a school counseling intern. It challenged me. I'm making improvements for next year's intern! (I promise, @ecmmason ) #scchat
A2: surveyed teachers at the beginning of the year, used some ideas from The Use of Data in School Counseling, tried out a couple curriculums for groups #scchat
A2 Highlighting HBCUs! I gave them preferential meeting time with seniors bc our school has a 99% black student pop. It was worth it and the students felt affirmed. #scchat
I presented a guidance lesson with a special ed class every Friday. We practiced mindfulness frequently. It was great seeing its impact on the kids and teachers.#scchat
Sounds like an important topic to cover. I learned a great deal about HBCUs in a college course this year & history of American education. Everyone needs to learn this history. #scchat
A3: This year I was frustrated implementing an intervention that I knew would probably only show minimal results because it only targeted Ss and I knew I needed to push & do more with staff. (next year I AM!) #scchat
A3 - not knowing the rhythm off the school year. Responsibilities ebb and flow as the year passes, it can make time management a struggle when you're not sure what's next #scchat
Although frustrating knowing I could only do so much ,it was also absolutely amazing !!! #scchat working days 1, 3 and 5 was perfect ... better than half days !
A3: not feeling like I could do enough. Kids had lots of school anxiety, lots of trauma, and lots of individualized needs. I was asked to focus more on things that I knew someone else should be doing (coordinating ssts) but couldn’t figure out who #scchat
Within the last month I received my master's degree and have accepted a position as a middle school counselor! I'm so excited to embark on this amazing career to support students, families, and school staff!
A3: Current events! I really struggled with the best way to make space/time to process them with students, and how to help them feel prepared to address/manage them when they are in schools. #scchat
Another success was getting to participate on suicide prevention task force for our county and advocating for my district to bring in the suicide prev training. I am now qualified to adminster the Columbia Screener #scchat
A4 I would increase people's knowledge about school counselors AND (bc it's tough for me to not be rebellious) I would increase counselors confidence in self-advocating #scchat
I wish that we were fully out of the transition from guidance counselor to school counselor and that administrators consistently knew what school counselors’ roles were. #scchat
A4: Give myself a break! I severely underestimated how taxing it is to take on a new position and move across the country - even at my age, and 20+ years into my career. #scchat
That no child ever would die by suicide!!!!! that no child ever would ever have to witness violence or live with violence, that no child ever would experience trauma of any kind, that no child ever would be hurt in anyway!!!!! by anyone I could go on and on #scchat#edchat
A4: I'm changing it for next year. Need to do more with teachers about supporting some of our Ss with the most needs or different needs. #byebyecomfortzone
Offering PD (book study) to staff about culturally responsive classrooms. #scchat
We lost a 10th grader to violence this year. One of the most traumatic days of my professional career. I still get teary eyed when I imagine him eating his lunch with friends. #scchat#RIPTyshon
A5. Lots of personal PD. participate in Twitter Chats both at our district and with SCs. Read lots of books. (Growth Mindset, The Hate U Give, etc) #scchat
A5; I did a lot more presentations than I've ever done. (with staff (twice) in district(5 times) , and at state conference (twice). Hopefully I'm getting better at it (it still makes me incredibly nervous!) #scchat
A5: I took on a more challenging position that has made me push the boundaries of what I thought I could do and what I thought my identity was. #scchat
A5 I learned a lot more about trauma. I took on a lot this year in leadership and I think I learned my own style as far as leadership within the profession. And tha comparing my style to others will steal my confidence and joy #scchat
I read a lot. I challenged myself to become a mental fitness trainer. Twitter helps expose me to other educators and the great work they are doing #scchat
I am not combing my child’s hair! No, but seriously. I felt most joyful when I am able to share my love of tech with others! Technology makes me happy, so I feel like it should make everyone else happy too. #scchat#TechLovingSchoolCounselor
A6 I felt most joyful when at the end of the year, my #CHICAS developed research questions to research next year. On their own. After being part of a pretty awesome thing I’ve been trying to get off the ground for the whole year #scchat
A5: I grew by having an intern. It may sound silly, but I’m a little bit of a control freak and having an intern allowed me to be able to lose control a bit, which was a good thing. #scchat
You are so right. I did a great lesson on Diversity using @nearpod and then my kiddos made videos using @Flipgrid. Watching them grow and learn the concepts using tech brought actual tears to my eyes. #scchat
A7: I already started saying NO...to 2 committees at school and one extra within the district. Now if I can just remember not to add something in place of those things! I need to put more time and energy into my other programs to make them the best they can be. #scchat
A7 some non counseling duties, doing a much as I can not as much as I believe I should be doing, and beating myself up about not being the “nice counselor” that all the adults in the building like. #scchat
I used to not be familiar with it but I'm getting good at saying NO, now. I have to so that I can do the best job I can do and be the best me for me as well. #scchat
Jumping in at the last minute... A6 I absolutely LOVE presenting core curriculum class lessons bc it means I'm supporting ALL my students (& it's fun!) #scchat
A8: READING! I'm doing a lot of reading this summer (as usual for me) but I'm reading several books to pick the best one for a staff book study! And planning ahead for a new core curriculum plan for my 8th graders! #scchat
Q8 this may sound simple but I really need to genuinely carve out time to plan & develop an outline for a monthly pd that I will be proposing to my new principal and for my #CHICAS group because those will be going the entire year. It’s hard when you’re “dissertating” too #scchat
