President's Letter: A Forward-Focused Summer

As we close the final chapters of this school year, it may be tempting to look back and reflect — but this year, I invite you to take a different path. Let's look forward. Let's use this summer not just as a break but as a launchpad. Because, as school counselors, we are not just closing out a year — we are laying the foundation for what comes next.
 
What will your students need next fall? How can your program evolve to meet those needs? What do you need to feel equipped, energized and inspired as you step into the future of school counseling?
These are the questions that matter now.
 
In a world that continues to shift and surprise us, the school counselor's role has never been more vital — or more future-facing. We are the connectors, the cultivators of resilience, the champions of student voice and identity. And that work doesn't pause with the final bell of June — it transforms.
 
This summer, I challenge you to carve out time to rest (which you deserve) and reimagine. For example, think about how you might take these steps:
 

• Redesign a counseling initiative to better align with student needs.
• Integrate new technologies or data practices that enhance your effectiveness.
• Build stronger partnerships with families, community organizations or school leadership.
• Advance equity work in your school through intentional programming and outreach.

Let this be the summer of “What if?” and “Why not?” Let this be the season where innovation meets reflection — not just on what has been but on what could be.
 
As an association, NJSCA is here to fuel your imagination and growth. We are excited to roll out new opportunities in the months ahead — from statewide advocacy updates to our professional development calendar to our 2025 annual conference at a new venue to expand programming. We're also working to create impactful member resources, because the better equipped you are, the stronger your students and schools will be.
 
So, as you shift gears into summer, give yourself the grace to rest and the freedom to dream. Our work is transformative, and transformation begins with vision.
 
Thank you for all you've done — and all you will do. Your dedication, creativity and leadership are the heart of our profession. The future is bright because you are in it. Here's to building what's next, together.
 
Contact Jennifer Correnti, NJSCA president, at jcorrenti10@gmail.com.