2021-22 Monthly Edition No. 4 |
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Honoring Excellence in School Counseling Leadership
Last week, I had the honor and privilege to surprise three school counselors on each of their campuses in front of colleagues, family members, superintendents, school board members, students, and staff, to let them know they were selected as one of San Diego County's 2022 School Counselors of the Year (SCOY). Keeping each surprise a secret was not an easy task, but each school site principal pulled it off and made school counselors feel honored and special.
Our 2022 recipients are: Fran Hjalmarson, Elementary School Counselor of the Year; Nicole (Pablo) Roman, Middle School Counselor of the Year; Christine Araki, High School Counselor of the Year. Each recipient was not only surprised by their new title, but they were also presented a giant check for $500 from our sponsor, North Island Credit Union.
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San Diego County Elementary School Counselor of the Year
Fran Hjalmarson, a school counselor at Los Penasquitos Elementary in Poway Unified School District, was awarded the elementary award. Fran has been a school counselor at Los Penasquitos Elementary for 18 years. She has spent years generously mentoring new counselors, supervising 21 counseling interns. Greg Mizel, assistant superintendent of Student Support Services at Poway Unified, called her a seasoned professional and said she is “the district's go-to person for any counseling related questions or concerns.”
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San Diego County Middle School Counselor of the Year
Nicole (Pablo) Roman, a school counselor at Twin Peaks Middle School in Poway Unified School District, received the middle school award. Nicole joined Twin Peaks Middle School in 2018. She serves as the lead for counselors working at the middle school level in the Poway Unified School District. Nicole’s associate superintendent said Nicole is fully committed to supporting her colleagues in establishing comprehensive, data-informed school counseling programs aligned with the ASCA National model. Nicole was married just five days before our surprise visit and her new last name is Roman.
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San Diego County High School Counselor of the Year
Christine Araki, a school counselor at Launch Virtual Academy in Sweetwater Union High School District, received the high school award. Christy has been a counselor for more than 20 years, and joined Launch Virtual Academy in August 2021. Her nominator shared that during the pandemic, Christy checked in with every single one of her students to see how they were doing and to offer support or connect. Christy said, “No matter the situation, I will always find a way to meet the needs of our students.”
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New Awards to Recognize San Diego's School Counseling Leaders
In addition to announcing the San Diego County School Counselors of the Year, we also surprised two exceptional school counseling leaders with two new awards: Tami Johnson, School Counselor Advocate of the Year, and Dr. Trish Hatch, Lifetime Achievement Award in School Counseling Leadership.
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San Diego County School Counselor Advocate of the Year
Tami Johnson, district school counselor and program specialist at Cajon Valley Union School District, received Advocate of the Year, a new award created this to recognize the important work of school counselors at the district level. Tami has worked with school districts in Riverside, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties as a consultant, trainer, teacher, school counselor, and employee. She began her career working with students on probation and parole in a day treatment setting and has continued working to ensure that all students can achieve their best possible self. Tami also serves as an adjunct instructor at Point Loma Nazarene University, where she has contributed to program and course design, fieldwork supervision and classroom instruction.
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San Diego County Lifetime Achievement Award in School Counseling Leadership
Dr. Trish Hatch, professor emeritus at San Diego State University and president and CEO of Hatching Results, LLC, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award for her years of work supporting the county's school counselors. Dr. Hatch leads a team of award-winning school counseling professionals who provide professional learning and consultation to school districts across the country. She is co-author of the ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs (ASCA, 2003; 2005), a seminal document in the profession, and the best-selling author of The Use of Data in School Counseling: Hatching Results for Students, Programs, and the Profession (2021, 2013), and co-authored three other best-selling books based on its concepts. A former school counselor, site and central office administrator, Hatch has received multiple national awards, including ASCA’s Administrator of the Year award and its highest honor, the Mary Gehrke Lifetime Achievement award.
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New Event to Celebrate and Honor Award Recipients
All award recipients will be highlighted and recognized at a new event, Honoring Excellence in School Counseling Leadership during National School Counseling Week in February. We will have more details regarding this special program in January.
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PPS: Certificate in Field Experience Support and Supervision
SDCOE has built an online training to help universities and districts satisfy the most recent Pupil Personnel Services Standards in California. Completion of this course satisfies the CTC requirement of training to serve as a "University Supervisor" or "Site Supervisor" to a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential candidate during their clinical practice, internship, or fieldwork requirement, earning you a badge of certification. The training covers eight hours of content completed at your own pace over four weeks, completely online managed by a facilitator/instructor, and delivered in four distinct modules. Each participant receives a badge of completion that is portable as evidence of having been trained (for future service as a site counseling supervisor, master counselor, fieldwork supervisor, or counseling support counselor. Additional program information is available on the SDCOE website.
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2021-22 School Counselor Professional Learning Calendar
Supplement your learning with additional workshops and conferences.
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2022 San Diego County Race to Submit Campaign
The third annual San Diego County Race to Submit campaign for high school seniors completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is in full swing. The campaign runs October through May with top category leaders receiving awards in a countywide celebration in September. In each newsletter, we will post our top four schools on the leaderboards as data is updated on the California Race to Submit Dashboard.
Leaderboards by Category
There are four categories based on the number of seniors in the class of 2022 who are enrolled at each school. The data for our current leaderboard was updated Dec. 12. Click on the links below to view the top 10 schools on each leaderboard and where your school ranks in the race.
#1 75% Completion - America's Finest Charter
#2 62% Completion - San Pasqual Academy, San Diego County Office of Education
#3 59% Completion - High Tech High International, High Tech High Schools
#4 58% Completion - Kearny School of Biomedicine Sci & Tech, San Diego Unified
#1 81% Completion - Preuss School UCSD, San Diego Unified School District
#2 50% Completion - High Tech High Media Arts, High Tech High Schools
#3 49% Completion - High Tech High Chula Vista, High Tech High Schools
#4 45% Completion - High Tech High San Diego, High Tech High Schools
#1 45% Completion - Mission Vista High, Vista Unified School District
#2 39% Completion - Southwest High, Sweetwater Union High School District
#3 37% Completion - Santana High, Grossmont Union High School District
#3 37% Completion - San Dieguito High School Academy, San Dieguito Union High School District
#1 59% Completion - San Marcos High, San Marcos Unified School District
#2 49% Completion - Escondido High, Escondido Union High School District
#3 41% Completion - Helix High, Grossmont Union High School District
#4 39% Completion - Bonita Vista High, Sweetwater Union High School District
District Leaderboards:
#1 45% Completion - Bonsall Unified School District
#1 45% Completion - San Marcos Unified School District
#3 25% Completion - Carlsbad Unified School District
#3 25% Completion - Coronado Unified School District
#1 34% Completion - Escondido Union High School District
#2 31% Completion - San Dieguito School District
#3 31% Completion - Poway Unified School District
California State Leaderboard:
As a county, we are currently at 24 percent of FAFSA/CADAA completions, which is three percent above the state average of 21 percent. We also have several schools listed on the state-wide leaderboard in their respected categories by senior class enrollment:
- San Marcos High School (1st Place) - Enrollment of 801+
- Escondido High School (2nd Place) - Enrollment of 501-700
- Preuss UCSD School (2nd Place) - Enrollment of 101-200
- High Tech High Mesa (3rd Place) - Enrollment of 51-100
- Mission Vista High School (5th Place) - Enrollment of 326-500
- Helix High School (7th Place) - Enrollment of 501-700
- Eastlake High School (8th Place) - Enrollment of 701-800
- America's Finest Charter (9th Place) - Enrollment of 50 or less
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Financial Aid Resources and Workshops |
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FAFSA/CADAA Application Resources for Students in Foster Care
The SDCOE FAFSA Completion Workgroup supports FAFSA/CADAA completions for foster youth county wide. Representatives from school districts, community agencies, and community colleges meet monthly to strategize on ways to increase the completion rate and support for students in foster care and/or are experiencing homelessness. Numerous resources have been added to the SDCOE Foster Youth and Homeless Education Services website, along with a one-page checklist to distribute to students . If you have any questions, or need additional support, please contact Mindy Corless, Coordinator, Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program at [email protected] or 858-298-2060.
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Financial Aid Seminar for Adult Supporters Helping Students in Foster Care with the FAFSA/CADAA
Join us for a free informational seminar specifically designed for School/School District Personnel, Social Workers, Attorneys, Probation Officers, Foster Parents, Group Home Providers, Mentors, coaches and anyone that wants to learn how to help their foster youth attain postsecondary education. This seminar will review financial aid application process, deadlines, types of financial aid, scholarship opportunities, special circumstances, and important rules for students on financial aid.
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California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) Trainings for High School Staff
CSAC is providing new training webinars and virtual workshops to high school staff, college financial aid professionals, Cash for College hosts, as well as students and parents. Currently the Commission is hosting the Annual Statewide Financial Aid Workshops in a virtual format. The workshops are offered through Zoom live webinars and are available to high school counselors, advisors, student advocacy groups, outreach specialists and community education partners.
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San Diego Community College District - Roadmap to Success
SDCCD Roadmap to Success is a virtual conference designed to provide K-12 educators and community partners with important information, resources, and strategies to effectively support students interested in attending San Diego City, Mesa, and/or Miramar College, or San Diego College of Continuing Education.
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2021-22 Arthur Marmaduke High School Counselor Nominations
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) announces that nominations are now being accepted for the 2021-22 Arthur S. Marmaduke High School Counselor Award. The award was established in 1985 by the Commission to honor the late Arthur Marmaduke, who served as the Executive Director of the Commission for 25 years, for his dedication and commitment to helping students gain access to postsecondary education through the Commission’s programs. Each year, the Commission selects a deserving high school counselor to receive this prestigious award in recognition of their exemplary work in helping students fulfill their dreams of attending college. The award, which includes a plaque and a $1,500 check, will be announced in late spring of 2022. Nominations can be submitted through an online nomination form.
The award website has more information about this award, including detailed eligibility criteria and the nomination process. This year’s nomination submission deadline is Feb. 28. If you have any questions regarding this award, please send your inquiries to [email protected]. |
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SDCOE Professional Learning Workshops
QPR: Question, Persuade and Refer — Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention
Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help. As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to: recognize warning signs of suicide; know how to offer hope; Learn how to get help and save a life.
Managing Anxiety in the School Setting
Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health disorder among children and adolescents. Being physically back in school for the 2021-22 school year may help some students feel more secure, but for others the anxiety and fear can be overwhelming. It is important for schools to know how to best support students. This session will unpack the complexities of anxiety during the pandemic and provide evidence based coping strategies, tools and resources to support students in managing anxiety.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), and enrolling children ages 7 through 16.5 across the county. They develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people. During the height of the pandemic, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County was forced to pause youth enrollment, however, as of Oct. 1, they have reopened their doors to families in need of an additional layer of support. Their waiting list is currently the shortest it has been in over a decade, providing for a highly expedited timeline from inquiry to match.
National research has shown that positive relationships between Littles and their Bigs have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives. By participating in these programs, Little Brothers and Sisters are:
- More confident in their schoolwork performance
- Able to get along better with their families
- 46% Less likely to begin using illegal drugs
- 27% Less likely to begin using alcohol
- 52% Less likely to skip school
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SDCOE Professional Learning Opportunities
Ask Me Anything
The Ask Me Anything series affords equity practitioners an opportunity to anonymously ask questions around specific topics and attend a short, 15-minute answer session where we will respond to submitted questions and share resources.
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Jan. 4: Race and racism
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Jan. 11: Bias and microaggression
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Jan. 25: Unpacking privilege
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Feb. 1: Affinity groups
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Feb. 8: Stereotype threat
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March 1: Equity blueprint
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March 8: Equity practitioner profile
From Surviving to Thriving: Creating Equitable Environments Through Emotional Intelligence and Culturally Relevant Practices
Dr. Dena Simmons is a leading voice on teacher education and has spoken across the country about social justice pedagogy, diversity, emotional intelligence, and bullying in K-12 school settings. She is a nationally recognized educator, presenter, author, and researcher whose research interests include teacher preparedness to address bullying in the K-12 school setting, culturally responsive pedagogy, and the intersection of equity and social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions — all in an effort to ensure and foster justice and safe spaces for all.
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A-G Completion Improvement Grant Program
California has invested $547 million to fund three grant programs to help increase the number of high schoolers with "A-G" eligibility: A-G Access Grants, A-G Success Grants and A-G Learning Loss Mitigation Grants. Many requirements align directly with the work of school counselors.
A-G Access Grant: Must be used towards activities that directly support pupil access to, and successful completion of, the A-G course requirements. The A-G Access Grant and the Success Grant funds are designated to be used to provide professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators, and school counselors. It can also be used to implement advising plans, tutoring programs, expand access to coursework, advanced placement, and international baccalaureate fees. The funds must supplement, not supplant, services identified in an LEA’s LCAP.
A-G Success Grants: Funds are to be used towards pupils in danger of not receiving a grade of “C” or better in A-G courses.
A-G learning Loss Mitigation Grants: Must be used to allow pupils who received a "D", "F", or "Fail" in an A-G approved course in the 2020–21 school year to retake those A-G courses. Districts may also use grant funds to offer credit recovery opportunities
Due on or Before April 2022: Grant recipient must develop a plan describing how the funds received will increase or improve services for unduplicated pupils to improve A-G eligibility. The funds can be used through the 2025-26 fiscal year
Recommendation: School counselors are well positioned to influence how these funds are to be used. Here are a few suggestions.
- Inquire with your district about the plans that are being drafted and ask if you can offer your expertise in how to best meet grant(s) requirements.
- Meet with your administration team at your school to see how you can be involved in the grant writing process so that school counselors are represented.
- Pitch your plans as to how this grant could serve and support ALL students at Tier I of your school's multi-tiered system of support model.
- Ask that a portion of the funds be used to increase school counseling staff or provide extra hours to meet grant requirements.
- Arm yourself with data to help support your recommendations i.e. historical A-G rates, graduation rates, college-going rates, site-specific school counseling data, CCI data, and special population data.
- Brainstorm with your counseling team, how best funds can be used to help improve outcomes based on the specific needs of the students you serve. Think outside the box.
- Engage stakeholders and invite input from current and former students.
- Take the time to be intentional and use an equity lens as you plan to ensure funds directly impact students.
- Look for support and professional learning opportunities from your county office of education for grant planning (or writing) assistance.
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Newsletter, Website, Social Media
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If you have any questions or comments on the San Diego County School Counselor Network Newsletter, please contact Tanya Bulette, counseling coordinator.
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Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county. |
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