Leadership Letter: Reflect and Reconnect

For me, January is a complex time for reflection and reconnection. While it's the New Year for many, for educators it’s mid-year. I try to see it as an opportunity to check in on myself. As school counselors, we remind ourselves to practice what we preach, to use our tools and to model good strategies. Instead of entering the new year by filling it with lofty goals, I focus on a few self-compassion techniques: practicing good boundaries (turning off email notifications on my cellphone was good for this), finding time for rest (and not feeling guilty for it), and finding time for movement, a.k.a. me time (and remembering how great it feels). It’s a good chance to reflect on what went right both personally and professionally. (Below, Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Conn.)



It’s also a good chance to reconnect with the CSCA community. CSCA has held many successful events this year. We raised over a thousand dollars in the Out of the Darkness Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We hosted MTSS Tier 2 Intervention in-person training by Dr. Peg Donohue, and a High School Roundtable, FAFSA updates for school counselors, and a student loan repayment info session for school counselors. We’ve also had a few social events and look forward to a few more! We look to the future to engage and connect. National School Counseling Week is a great time for school counselors in Connecticut. During this time, CSCA provides an outlet for appreciation and for advocacy and support. We use this time to celebrate our members and school counselors across the state.

“Why connect?” you might be asking yourself. Aside from the professional networking, connecting with your CSCA community offers many other benefits. According to the CDC, “When people are socially connected and have stable and supportive relationships, they are more likely to make healthy choices and to have better mental and physical health outcomes. They are also better able to cope with hard times, stress, anxiety, and depression.” In this job, I have found that having this foundation of wholeness instead of just wellness is key to my own growth. My CSCA community is my personal and professional support system. Check out CSCA's events or reconnect by joining CSCA here. Stay tuned for a special annual conference this year!

Lisa Kilcourse is a director on the CSCA Board of Directors and Newtown Elementary school counselor.