President’s Letter: Take Your Seat at the Table

My name is Mary Beth Lykins (aka MB), and I am honored to be your president this year – a year full of new challenges and opportunities to bring the best to our students, schools, and our profession. The Oklahoma School Counseling Association goals in simple terms are, “Sharing One Vision and One Voice: Strengthening relationships among professional school counselors.” Whether you work in a large urban district (like I do), or a small rural district (like maybe you do), these goals knit us together across the state as we lean in to support each other in an organized effort to implement ICAP, gain more financial support from our state, and help our districts understand the importance of our profession. We have an authentic voice, let’s share it and be heard.

As I write this, I am preparing to travel to Los Angeles to attend the national ASCA conference. I am excited about this adventure and look forward to meeting with other OSCA members and connecting to many other state association participants. The agenda is strong with many meaningful breakout sessions on topics of great concern to my students and my profession, but I am reminded of the powerful effect one particular speaker had on me last year in Denver. In a nutshell, she stated that we can either be “at the table, or on the menu.” I choose to be at the table, but it took an invitation to get me a seat. Those at the table

1. collaborate with all partners to benefit our schools
2. hold ourselves to high ethical standards  
3. discuss state, district and school outcomes to choose the right data-driven programs for our students’ needs
4. advocate for best practices, policies and legislation both internally and externally
5. commit to professional development opportunities to support our practice

These five tenets describe the OSCA and ASCA missions, which I proudly represent, and express why I sit at the table with my school’s leaders.

As your president this year, I am eager to support all members with their professional needs, to share ideas and strategies and to strengthen our personal relationships with each other. With the support of OSCA, we all benefit by having a personal investment in each other’s chosen profession. Your membership is an important step in all our careers as we navigate an ever-changing landscape of needs.

If I can help you with setting your goals this year, please consider the following:

• attend this year’s OSCA conference November 8-9 in Stillwater
• apply to present at the OSCA or ASCA conference
• be a nominee for Oklahoma school counselor of the year
• attend the annual School Counselor Institute next summer in Oklahoma
• apply for the emerging leader grant to attend next year’s ASCA conference in Boston
• earn an OSCAR award
• or consider becoming active in OSCA as a committee member or board member.

Remember, if you don’t want to be on the menu, be at the table. Your invitation is waiting!

Contact MB Lykins, OSCA president, at mblykins@gmail.com.