President’s Letter: Take Your Lead

As we (fingers crossed) roll into warmer weather, I hope you all were able to enjoy a celebratory National School Counselor Week last month, along with everything else that February brings...enrollment, conferences, transition meetings, snow days, and more.

During February, I was honored to represent our state, alongside Dr. Judy Hughey, at the ASCA School Counselor of the Year celebrations in Washington D.C. (see photo below). By now you have received a summary of the resources I learned about in D.C. that we can use in our programs to help our kids, schools and communities.

February also brought several KSCA members together at our state capitol for School Mental Health Awareness Day. This day was filled with learning, advocacy and opportunities to lead as professionals. It was a great reminder in the power our voices have with state leaders! This topic of this newsletter issue, school counselor leadership, is critical to our role as professional school counselors. I am excited by the movements we are making in our buildings, districts and state in the efforts of leadership and advocacy. Remember, every opportunity we have to lead is important and there are many ways we lead as school counselors.

What leadership goals have you set for yourself and/or for your program? I look forward to reflecting on my own goals and learning alongside you in this month’s newsletter.

Contact Alicia Jackson, KSCA president, at aajackson@olatheschools.org.