From the Chair: Convention Means Connection

This year’s annual convention took place in Orlando at the Rosen Plaza from November 1-3.  We had a record number of attendees who interacted with nearly 40 sponsors/exhibitors, had their choice of attending 38 educational sessions, took in 10 graduate student poster presentations, and were inspired by the keynote addresses by Michelle Borba, Ed.D., a leading bullying prevention expert, and Kirsten Perry, the 2018 ASCA School Counselor of the Year. Borba’s keynote was made possible by the Monique Burr Foundation. 
 
The convention is also the time for the governing board members, committee chairs and presidents from the chapters across the state to gather for the annual delegate assembly. This year, the members of the delegate assembly unanimously approved changes to the FSCA vision and mission statements and creating a standing committee for Scholarships and Grants. The revised vision and mission statements read as follows: “The Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA) expands the image and influence of school counselors in the state of Florida. FSCA empowers school counselors with the knowledge, skills, connections and resources to promote equity, access to high-quality education and overall student success in school. The vision of FSCA is to represent all school counselors and promote the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program in every Florida school. The mission of FSCA is to support and promote school counselors, their ethical practices and professionalism to impact students’ academic, college/career and social/emotional development.”
 
We are excited to welcome seven new emerging leaders. This year’s cohort includes graduate students, school counseling practitioners and a school counselor district leader. Each emerging leader is paired with an FSCA executive board member or committee chair.  This is the fourth emerging leader group. Members of the previous groups have gone on to be elected to the FSCA governing board and served on various committees. 
 
I congratulate all the recipients and nominees of the 2018 FSCA awards. We are proud to recognize:

• Michelle Kefford, School Counselor Advocate: School-Based Administrator
• Zaida Mesa, School Counselor Advocate: District Leader
• Dr. Sandra Logan-McKibben, School Counselor Advocate: School, Community, and Family
• Christine Estrada, Florida School Counselor of the Year Finalist
• Megen Stair, Florida School Counselor of the Year

Finally, I thank the following leaders who were involved in planning and delivering this year’s successful convention: Paula Bewerse, Rebecca A. Schumacher, Curtis Jenkins, Lance Gondek, Patrice Cover, Melissa Mariani, Falon Williams, Cindy Topdemir, Janet Riley, Beth Jenkins, Michael Kane, Lori Landes, Jeannie Maddox, Sandi Logan, Esther Noel, Anna Owens, Ellen Chance, Shauna Winterbottom and Brittany Cindric. I look forward to continuing our work together and hope to see you for the 2019 convention at the Rosen Plaza Hotel on November 7-9, 2019. 
 
Elizabeth Villares, Ph.D., is 2018-2019 FSCA Governing Board chair and a professor at Florida Atlantic University. Contact her at elizabethvillares10@gmail.com.