Blogs

The Counselor Is In

They say the counselor is the heart of a school
and most school counselors I know are really cool
with that description of the role they play
in support of their students and school each day.

Two traits which are common to all counselors
are a zeal and passion for helping others,
accompanied by an intense love for what they do -
as they work to help every child’s dreams come true.

The average day (and there is no such thing)
of most counselors is very likely to bring
a myriad of unanticipated things to do
and difficulty doing what’s scheduled, too.

The Grant Halliburton Foundation has formed a coalition of professional Mental Health groups and individuals, parents and other stake holders. The group is named I AM HERE ( the H is for Help, the E for education, the R for resources, and the last E is for Encouragement. The groups are working on a number of initiatives to actively address the problems of youth depression and suicide in the DFW area. We meet about 8 times a year for a couple of hours to review our progress, discuss and plan for issues and needs, and review our progress on the four different teams - Help, Education, Resources, and Encouragement.

Dear NMCA Members:

I just wanted to take a few moments to share with you some exciting news.

Get Ready for the Annual Summer NMCA Conference!

DATE: Friday, June 17, 2011
HELD AT: Collin County Communitiy College, Spring Creek Campus in Plano
2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway Plano, TX 75074 972.881.5790

Discounts are available for early registration. You will earn 6.0 CEUs. Enjoy continental breakfast and lunch with others in the field. Breakfast and lunch prices are included.

Dear NMCA Members:

We just returned from the TCA 54th Annual Professional Growth and Conference in Austin, TX. We experienced so many great workshops. I always look forward to this conference. Not only is it an opportunity to gain knowledge from the workshops, it is also an opportunity to network with colleagues, and friends, and enjoy the venue. Also, I love to visit the exhibit hall and collect stress balls for my students and clients at every conference. My students always know when I have been to a conference, because they notice the new stress balls that I bring back.

…If not us, then who? Denine Hammonds and I represented NMCA at the recent TCA Advocacy Institute in Austin. Our chapter, and many TCA divisions and other local chapters were represented at the institute. We were challenged to actively and passionately discharge our advocacy responsibilities, especially this coming year. The Texas Legislature is meeting in Austin for 140 days (as specified by our constitution) beginning in January. It is going to be a tough year, since the state is in deficit some 20 billion dollars (+ or – depending on who’s figures you use).

• The TCA public service announcement is running in several major cities. Unfortunately, they are having a difficult time getting airtime in both the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston markets. If you have any contacts with our local television or radio stations please let us know. The PSA is very powerful.

• What are your expectations from your chapter? Let us know.
• NMCA is run by volunteers. We hope you will think about volunteering. You may have checked a box on a form in the past, mentioned something at a workshop, or simply thought you might like to help. We need you to let us know through the NMCA website about your interest.

Great news from the recent senate meeting:
• ACA approved TCA’s by-laws. They will be used as a guideline for other state’s by-law reviews. NMCA by-laws are structured after the TCA version.
• Financially, TCA is sound and has had a successful audit. Our own finances are also in a good situation.
• There are 6,150 TCA members as of 10/31/10. The goal is to have 6,800 members by next November. Are you a TCA member? Check out the benefits of membership at their website.

As a Student Assistance Coordinator in Frisco ISD, I had the opportunity to attend a three-day “Training of Trainers” (TOT) for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP), hosted by my district. Also attending were James Caldwell, the other Student Assistance Coordinator in the district, and school counselors, principals, and other student services employees from several other states and the Virgin Islands! One of the trainees was a principal who had recently had a suicide at her school that was at least partly precipitated by bullying.

I recently attended a 3-part growth seminar entitled Choices. It is not a counseling seminar but rather a self-help experience that imparts new tools for living life. I am writing about it in this newsletter because it is held locally in the DFW area and some of your clients or colleagues may have attended or may benefit. Here is an excerpt from their press release for a little more information: