Leadership Letter: Lead With Strength Every Day

Over 10 years ago, I reached a point in my career where I felt ready to give more to the profession. I had completed my educational leadership program, served as department chair for seven years, taken on multiple leadership roles within my school and contributed to local and regional committees. Through these experiences, I built a solid foundation for my professional identity.
 
Having attended the CSCA Annual Conference for years and witnessed leaders in the field volunteering their time and expertise, I never saw myself in that role. Although I appreciated the professional development and collegiality that CSCA offered, the idea of representing the organization felt distant.
 
Then, during a keynote speech at the CSCA Annual Conference at Mitchell College, I had an epiphany: It was time for me to get involved at the next level. Although I still felt a gulf between myself and the highly organized leaders behind the conference, I approached the CSCA leaders at the end of the event and asked how I could contribute. Reflecting now, after more than 10 years of involvement with CSCA in a leadership capacity, I wonder what held me back from getting involved sooner.
 
Leadership involves risk. It requires belief in oneself, courage and a willingness to take action. Often, leadership is about stepping out of your comfort zone and taking that first step toward involvement. As school counselors, we demonstrate leadership every day by advocating for our students. In my role, I’ve always seen myself as a bridge connecting various stakeholders – students, teachers, families and administrators.
 
To be effective in leadership, school counselors can focus on:

Leadership is not just about service to others; it also involves self-care, advocating for change and working towards the betterment of our schools. My involvement with CSCA has provided me with incredible opportunities, especially working alongside passionate professionals dedicated to the school counseling profession.
 
Leadership in school counseling is not only about the work you do within your school building but also about amplifying your impact – whether within your school, your community, or at the state level. Be bold. Take the leap. Lead with strength.
 
Todd Dyer is a Director on the CSCA Board of Directors.