From the Chair: CASC on the Move

We can see the finish line! We are three quarters of the way through the school year and so much has been accomplished as we continue to define and refine the vision, mission and practices of the modern-day school counselor. We have forged such a strong alliance with our partners in pupil personnel services: California Association of School Psychologists, California Association of School Social Workers and many others, including the California Association of School Nurses, the American Civil Liberties Union and the California Teachers Association, which solidifies our collective strength in Sacramento and beyond. This is all thanks to you, your continued membership, your dedication to engaging in CASC conferences and professional developments that align our effectiveness and impact state-wide. California school counseling is so widely respected as a profession now that not a week goes by where our executive director, Dr. Loretta Whitson, isn’t sought after for perspective and insight by national media entities.

The dawn of 2022 gave CASC no reprieve. I was honored to spend time in Washington, D.C., celebrating California’s first American School Counselor of the Year, Alma Lopez (front and center in photo, below).

What a wonderful time it was to honor her as she continues to champion the message that anything is possible with a dream and a vision. We also celebrated the installation of Dr. Rebecca Pianta as ASCA’s newest board member. Dr. Pianta is a fierce advocate for students and school counselors nationwide and, luckily for us, she continues in her role as a visionary CASC Board director here at home.  The celebrations continued on the home front where we celebrated the Class of 2022’s CASC award winners. A huge shoutout to our 2022 California School Counselor of the Year Dr. Keisha Burns from Palmdale. Be on the lookout for her all year as she advocates, speaks, and leads us all as the face of California school counseling.

The celebrations for the first quarter of the year don’t stop there, though! You! We must celebrate you! You are to be celebrated for all that you continue to do for student academic achievement, postsecondary goal setting, social/emotional learning and mental wellness. February gave us an opportunity to showcase our profession during National School Counseling Week 2022 and we were honored to have Assemblymember Jose Medina officially offer a proclamation for it in Sacramento. CASC hosted webinars and provided an amazingly resourceful toolkit for you. As I navigated my way through social media, the incredible events, activities and advocacy I saw across the state made me so proud and honored to be your leader. Up next is California Student Mental Health Week, May 9–13, which is being sponsored once again by Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell, chair of the Assembly Education Committee. Through it all, your tireless dedication is really what makes the difference for over 6.6 million students in California for generations to come.

So where are we headed as we see that finish line of the school year approaching, you ask? We know that mental health continues to be a struggle for so many students. In this edition, I strongly encourage you to read the brilliant article by Rachel Andrews, which dives deep into trauma-informed practices. One notable mention is the revision that CASC has suggested for the current language that is written into Education Code 49600, which defines the roles and responsibilities of school counselors in California. The updates align with the updated Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Program Standards and Performance Expectations, which were published in May 2020. So much is happening and there is so much that I could share with you, but I am 147 words over my limit! All in all, please know that CASC is honored to be your voice and your advocate as we continue to navigate these unprecedented times. Hang in there and remember to prioritize some self-care. Thank you again for all that you do!

Contact Josh Godinez, CASC board chair and a school counselor with Centennial High School in Corona-Norco Unified School District, at josh.godinez@schoolcounselor-ca.org.