From the Chair: Your Toolkit Just Got an Upgrade

The theme of this issue, “Use Your ASCA Tools,” encourages you to make the most of the latest ASCA resources to strengthen your practice and your advocacy for students. Whether you’re implementing the new ASCA National Model® Fifth Edition or diving into ASCA’s extensive research and advocacy tools, there are clear, practical ways to enhance your impact.
 

The ASCA National Model® Fifth Edition: What’s New and Why It Matters

The updated ASCA National Model® provides you with a refined framework that reflects today’s realities in schools. It emphasizes equity, access and opportunity – critical pillars for Tennessee schools, especially as we support increasingly diverse student populations.
 

Practical Tip: Map and Plan

Start by using the School Counselor Program Assessment tool to map your current school counseling activities to the updated model. (Download the tool here.) This can help you identify gaps, align your work with national standards and advocate for the time and resources you need.
 
Next, use the model to create a data-driven annual plan, using the Annual Administrator Conference template. (Download the template here.) When you present this information to administrators, you're not just sharing your goals – you’re advocating for the role of school counselors as essential contributors to student achievement.
 

ASCA Tools You Can Use Now

ASCA has a wide range of practical tools designed to support your everyday work. These aren’t just theory – they’re built for real school environments like yours.
 

• ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success: Use these as a foundation for lesson planning and intervention strategies. They provide consistent language and measurable goals for supporting students in academic and life skills development.
  • Advocacy connection: When you're asked to justify a program or lesson, tie it back to these standards. It reinforces that your work is intentional, evidence-based and aligned with national priorities. Or, when supporting behavioral interventions, let the standards assist you in identifying the lagging skill to be taught.
• Action plans and data reports: Use ASCA’s templates to evaluate and communicate the impact of your work.
  • Practical example: If your time is being pulled toward non-counseling duties, use the templates to track and report how your counseling interventions improved student outcomes. This helps strengthen your case when advocating for more appropriate role assignments.
• Research briefs and position statements: ASCA’s resources provide clear, research-backed arguments for issues you may face – like mental health support, equity practices or college and career readiness.
  • Incorporating these materials: Use them to inform presentations to your administration or school board, to support funding requests or to educate colleagues about your role.

Advocate by Showing Your Work

Using ASCA tools is one of the most effective ways to advocate for your role, your program and your students. When you align your daily work with ASCA’s nationally recognized model, you build credibility and influence. Here are some things to try:

• Present an annual agreement to your principal using ASCA templates. This defines your role and sets shared goals for the year.
• Use outcome data from small-group counseling or classroom lessons to show how your work supports school improvement plans.
• Start with one tool – like the School Counseling Program Data Priorities template – and build from there. (Download the template here.)

Final Thoughts

As a Tennessee school counselor, you are not only a support for students – you are a leader and advocate. ASCA’s updated tools give you the structure, language and evidence to:

• Strengthen your counseling program
• Defend your time and role
• Demonstrate your value to stakeholders
• Promote equitable access for each and every student

So don’t just know the tools – use them, share them and advocate with them.
 

Get Started Today

Visit the ASCA website to explore the ASCA National Model® Fifth Edition and access free templates, guides and professional learning opportunities. (Go to the ASCA website.)
 
Contact Amy Baltimore, Ed.D., TSCA Board chair, at aebaltimore@gmail.com.