SESSION II

(1 0:1 5 – 1 1 :05)
PROGRAM # 12

A CT Tessera- Take Social and Emotional Learning Skills and Character

Strength A ssessment to the Next Level
Get thought leadership on the importance of Social and Emotional Leaning (SEL). You will also
learn about ACT Tessera, the next generation solution for comprehensive, reliable Social and
Emotional skill assessment.
A pplication: High School Counselors
Presenter: Greg Napierala, ACT

PROGRAM # 13
Financially Ready f or College
Building a successful college-going culture begins with early education and planning. You can help
by introducing middle & elementary school parents to savings and financial aid concepts while they
still have time to plan. This session will provide an entry-level glimpse at financial aid concepts,
various savings options, including New York's 529 College Savings Program Dire c t Plan. A
representative from Ascensus College Savings, the Program Manager for NY’s 529 will share what
other districts are doing and provide resources you can incorporate to engage parents as they plan
for college. It’s a great addition to any PTA, College Planning or Financial Aid Night! Join today’s
workshop or learn more by visiting www.ny529atwork.org.
A pplication: Elementary and Middle School Counselors
Presenter: George Makras, New York’s 529 College Savings Program

PROGRAM # 14

How Far Down the Road Have You Come in Meeting the New
Regulations?
With new regulations and new school counselor expectations now in place, you may be feeling
overwhelmed or not sure what you need to do next to meet these significant NYSED changes. Let’s
work through the five basic changes, swap implementation ideas, and explore user friendly tools to
see how far along with implementation you already are!
A pplication: Elementary, Middle & HS School Counselors
Presenter: Carol A. Dahir Ed.D.Professor, School Counseling Department
New York Institute of Technology

PROGRAM # 15

HA TE, Exclusion, and Othering: The School Counselor’s Role in

Stemming the Tide
In this presentation, we aim to raise awareness of the increase in hate, othering, and exclusion of
non-white non-Christian individuals across the world and how this specifically impacts the school
context. We will highlight the ways in which students, teachers and school personnel of non-White,
non-Christian descent have been targets of both aggressive acts and microaggressions. For example,
Mexican students have been sent Build That Wall messages through social media. Jewish students
have been confronted with swastikas painted in hallways and bathrooms. Bullying and violence
against members of minority groups have increased The school counselor’s role in prevention and
intervention will be highlighted and their role in consulting with teachers and other school personnel
will be outlined. A pplication: Elementary, Middle and HS Counselors
Presenters: Dr. Merle Keitel, Dr. Jennie Park-Taylor, and Keren Fefer, Fordham University; Dr.
Jennifer Walker, Scarsdale High School

PROGRAM # 16
Create School Counseling lessons that Make an Impact
The New York State Revised School Counselor Regulations have several goals and a clear road map
as to how school counselors should implement them. Do you have a clear road map as to how you
are going to create a comprehensive program including Classroom lessons for your students? Better
yet, can you guarantee that those lessons are meaningful and not just cute? If you are not sure then
join me in using backward design to ensure that your Classroom lessons are having the impact that
you want them to!
A pplication: Elementary, Middle and High School Counselors
Presenter: Kelly Whitney-Rivera, Valley Stream Central High School, NYSSCA Government
Relations Chair

PROGRAM # 17

Mindf ulness Monday Club

With student anxiety and stress on the rise, why not start your own mindfulness club after-school
with your students? This workshop will give you ideas of activities that you can run after school (or
during the school day for a group) pertaining to mindfulness to give students a toolbox of strategies
they can use when they are feeling anxious or stressed. A pplication: Elementary, Middle and
High School Counselors
Presenter: Virginia A. DeLong, School Counselor at Lebanon MS, Lebanon, CT. Chairman of the
Government Relations & Advocacy Committee for the CT chool Counselor Association (CSCA).
Immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Directors for CSCA

PROGRAM # 18

A ccess, Opportunity and Success: Best Practices f or SUNY Pathways

and Degree Completion
There are multiple options for your bachelor’s degree-seeking students to earn a degree, even if they
do not gain admittance to a SUNY four-year college as a freshman student. During this session we
will discuss the many ways in which your students can reach their goals. Topics will include: joint
admissions, specialized community college programs, seamless transfer, deferred enrollment for
spring, and best practices for successful transfer advisement.
A pplication: High School Counselors
Presenters: Frank Pizzardi,VP –Enrollment Management, SUNY Old Westbury: Michael Roe,
Assoc. Dean of Admissions, SUNY Dutchess Community College

PROGRAM # 19
Mentorship: Helping the New School Counselor to Thrive
Many school counselors are excited to land their first job. However, transitioning into a new
professional identity can present challenges for new school counselors. This can be a time of high
anxiety, uncertainty regarding roles and skills, and difficulty adjusting to school climate and culture.
The kind of mentorship senior counselors provide new school counselors’ may influence their
capability to thrive and get through the state of anxiety and uncertainty. After attending this
workshop you will be able to identify the needs of your new school counselors and employ effective
mentorship strategies to effectively support them as they develop their skills and identity.
A pplication: Elementary, Middle and High School Counselors
Presenter: Cameka Hazel,Assistant Professor, School Counseling Department, New York
Institute of Technology

PROGRAM # 20
Solution To Increase Ef f iciency A nd Value For College Counselors &
Their Students
Students are required to compile a great amount information to identity themselves to the
institutions they are applying to. This information is often stored in a variety of places and/or
devices. LifeStream Digital Memory Box® organizes digital media for students, so they know where
it is, what it is, and why it’s important, creating a strong baseline for their college application. Its
unique format is beneficial, efficient, and effective for both the student and their College Counselor,
and includes a custom digital portfolio feature. Join our interactive session and find out more at
www.LifeStreamDigital.com.
A pplication: High School Counselors
Presenter: Anne Sullivan, Founder/CEO LifeStream Digital Innovations, LLC

PROGRAM # 21
School Ref usal & School-Related A nxiety: A pplications of CBT Within
the School Setting

School refusal is a prevalent mental health concern, with up to 5% of youth engaging in school
refusal behavior. Moreover, school absenteeism is associated with elevated rates of psychiatric
disorders and developmental problems in adulthood. Evidence suggests that a comprehensive
treatment approach, including cognitive-behavioral individual treatment, behavioral parent
management training, and collaboration with school staff can facilitate normal school attendance for
youth who refuse school due to anxiety. Often, school staff are limited in their time and resources to
dedicate the full attention and support that is demanded by these students. This session will provide
an overview of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for school refusal and school-related anxiety. The
session will focus on (1) reviewing a cognitive-behavioral approach to individual treatment for youth
exhibiting school refusal behavior, (2) providing examples of cognitive behavioral interventions that
can be implemented within a school setting, 3) an overview of strategies that can be shared with
parents to most effectively facilitate their child’s return to school, and (4) recommendations for
school accommodations, consequences, and supports. A pplication: Elementary, Middle and
High School Counselors

Presenter: Courtney DeAngelis, Psy.D, Clinical Psychologist of Columbia University Clinic for
Anxiety and Related Disorders - Westchester

PROGRAM # 22

Broadening Career Ed. A round Workplace Competencies

Hats & Ladders, the Reach Higher Career App Challenge winner, is a game-based career exploration
and skill building program originally created through funding from the U.S. Department of
Education and National Science Foundation. In partnership with WGBH, they are co-developing a
suite of interactive, work-based challenges and motivating youth-centric videos and interactive tools
to help young people build critical career readiness skills. The Hats & Ladders team will share how
they are helping power up students’ workforce readiness competencies—those critical skills that are
required to succeed in any career (e.g., problem solving, leadership, oral and written communication,
professionalism and work ethic, career management, teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking,
and information technology skills). A pplication: Elementary, Middle & HS Counselors
Presenter: Dr. Scott Brewster, Director of Partnerships

NYSSCA A nnual Conf erence

Inspire. Empower. Embrace November 22-23, 2019 Honor’s Haven Resort, Ellenville
Friday Morning Keynote: John Perricone. “Why am I an Educator?: Developing a
Philosophical Identity”…
Friday Lunch Keynote: Michael DeLeon. “Cultural Diversity & Motivating Students
Suffering from Poverty”
Saturday Morning Keynote: Jeff Ream, “Unleashing the Superhero: Even Superheroes
Need an Advocate” Two days of professional development for school counselors
including 36 workshop offerings, networking sessions, and fun activities! Don’t Miss It!
Registration and other information at www.nyssca.org