From the Chair: New Challenges and Opportunities

It is my distinct honor to be serving as the 2020–21 chair of the FSCA Board of Directors. Our local and global communities are facing unprecedented times that are proving to exacerbate the already existing issues of equity and access to education, healthcare, safety and more. We are also experiencing new challenges during this pandemic era, such as effective online learning. Whether the challenges are new or pre-existing, I hold a firm belief that school counselors have the knowledge, skills and attributes that can help them succeed in these ever-changing times. As a professor, I tell my school counselors-in-training repeatedly “flexibility is your middle name” and that it is critical to know a little bit about a lot and then be resourceful enough to seek the rest. Both of these notions hold true for all practicing school counselors. This academic year will challenge us to exercise our flexibility more than ever, while we also need to rely on and support one another because each of us is a great resource for others.

While there are challenging times ahead, absolutely, I also see that we have opportunity. Perhaps virtual learning and counseling create the opportunity for school counselors to devote 80 percent of their time to direct school counseling services, since they are not being assigned non-school-counseling duties such as bus and lunch duty. For some, the opportunity that may lie ahead is being able to better advocate for the critical need for school counselors at an appropriate student-to-school counselor ratio. Can you imagine being able to be an ethical and effective school counselor when you have a manageable caseload and opportunity to focus on providing direct services? It is possible, and your advocacy is needed now more than ever.

Speaking of advocacy, know that FSCA is here to advocate on behalf of you, your students and the profession. Our Advocacy Committee works tirelessly to consider how to cultivate relationships and collaborate with others, in order to best educate and provide opportunities for advocacy.

In past years, our annual convention has offered sessions that were not only educational but skill focused, such as developing your skills as an advocate. Although our annual convention will not be held in Daytona Beach this fall as hoped, rest assured that the FSCA Board and Convention Committee are working to explore other opportunities to provide you with the critical professional development that we all need.

Is this school year going to be challenging? For most of us, yes! However, I encourage you all to also see the unique opportunities that may also emerge in these challenging times. Please feel free to reach out if I (logan@fla-schoolcounselor.org) or FSCA (fsca@fla-schoolcounselor.org) can be of support or assistance in any way. Take care, and remember to breathe.

Contact Sandi Logan-McKibben, Ph.D., chair of the FSCA Board of Directors, at logan@fla-schoolcounselor.org.