President's Letter: NJSCA Supports Your Growth

Thank you to the school counselors across the state and beyond who attended our 2023 NJSCA Fall Conference! With close to 400 school counselors, counselor educators and supporters in attendance, we spent the time together expanding our professional learning and networks. Attendees at the pre-conference learning session heard from TaRael Kee on best practices to “Build a Culturally Sustaining School Counseling Program.” Shown above is our hardworking executive board.

On Friday, our conference keynote speaker Dr. Carolyn Stone – the one and only – presented on “Legal Literacy and Ethical Practice in the Complex World of School Counseling” to the benefit of all attendees. We had a full day of engaging and educational breakout sessions embracing the conference theme of “School Counselors. School Leaders.” presented by dynamic school counselors and counselor educators.

The fall conference also included recognition by Dr. Cindy Povall, NJSCA immediate past president, of Laura Forston-Williams as the 2023 NJSCA school counselor of the year. We are looking forward to all that Laura will continue to accomplish in supporting students in her local school district, representing New Jersey school counselors, and with her work at the national level supporting ASCA planning for the 2024 Annual Conference in Kansas City.

Below, from left, Laura Forston Williams and Dr. Carolyn Stone

 
The call for programs is now open for NJSCA’s winter conference scheduled for January 5, 2024 at Rowan University. Please consider submitting a submitting a proposal for this first annual event in the southern portion of our great state. We look forward to seeing you all there!

NJSCA is here to support all school counselors in embracing opportunities to lead conversations and in providing the academic, career and social/emotional support necessary for students. We will continue to work alongside you to educate on effective tiered SEL strategies, prepare students for academic success and college/career readiness, and help identify solutions to further educational equity for all students in all districts across the state. In these inclusive and supportive school climates, students are most ready to learn and will be best prepared to successfully enter and make a positive and lasting impact in their local communities and in this increasingly interconnected, and too often volatile, world. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Contact Jason Sabino, NJSCA president 2023–2024, at jasonjsabino@gmail.com.

More conference highlights: