April

The Arkansas School Counselor Association is excited to announce our 2024 overall winners for ArSCA Counselor of the Year. We will have full features on these three counselors in our May Newsletter and we will be celebrating all of our winners at the ArSCA Conference this summer.

Elementary Winner: Nathan Watkins

School Name: Robert L. Davis Elementary

School District: Bryant School District

Middle School Winner: Cherri Byford, NBCT

School Name: Darby Middle School

School District: Fort Smith Public School District

High School Winner: Jeanette DeJesus

School Name: Cabot High School

School District: Cabot Public School District

Blessings to All!

My quote for April is “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” by Newt Gingrich. This quote captured my attention, because of “ALL THE THINGS” we will be busy with the last couple of weeks of school. That quote can serve as a reminder to help us make it until the end of the school year.

Many scholars attribute the eclipse with new beginnings and new attitudes . Today, as I anxiously awaited for the eclipse to happen, I reflected on what new beginnings I will focus on in my life. My top 3 new beginnings are to be more intentional about taking care of my health, spending more time with family, and giving my best effort at work, yet reminding myself to save some effort for after work to take care of the other things I’m responsible for in life. As totality drew near, I walked outside and saw my neighbors sitting out in their lawn chairs or just standing in awe. It was so quiet–almost a still silence that I haven’t heard in weeks. In that moment, I felt the greatest peace all around me. If you were in the area of totality, you may relate to which I am referring. During that time today, we did not think about work nor stress.

We have all become masters of multi-tasking and busyness, timelines/deadlines, stress, and worry about others, and sometimes do not take time to reflect on what it is that we do best…which is the impact achieved by taking care of students, parents and staff and ourselves and families. (Please remember to take care of yourself :) So, what new beginning are you planning for yourself?

April and May are our busiest months, and I want to remind you that it is “ok” if you are running low on gas and are not able to give your full 100 %. Just remember to perform with your best effort , persevere and your best shall be sufficient.

On another note, I want to encourage you all to register for the ArSCA conference in June. This will be another opportunity for you to hit the reset button from daily busyness, and relax, learn, collaborate and have fun! As of now, we have almost 300 counselors who are registered. Way to go, ArSCA!!!

We have over 670 ArSCA members in Arkansas, and even more counselors who are not ArSCA members. Please reach out to counselors and encourage them to be a part of the best organization in Arkansas and join us as we all learn together! We’re halfway there, but I know we can do better to increase our enrollment. We want to “Show Up, and Show Out” in Hot Springs and let the area know that school counselors help change the world…one student at a time!”

Here is a sneak peak at the graphic for our conference t-shirts! I want to sincerely thank my co-worker and friend, Allie Sage for helping me with the design. I told her my vision, and she took that vision and put on a screen print. My goal is that you feel like a star in June. Let’s all learn how we can tell our story!

Contact Kelli Dockery, ArSCA president, at president@arschoolcounselor.org

From Tiffany Mouada, Cavanaugh Elementary School:

"If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well. If it is worth having, it is worth waiting for. If it is worth attaining, it is worth fighting for. If it is worth experiencing, it is worth putting aside time for." ~ Oscar Wilde

The journey to RAMP status definitely fits all of the above! The first steps were the most difficult because it involves thoroughly familiarizing yourself with the ASCA National Model and ensuring your program meets all the components. This is definitely something that takes time, but I can assure you that it is possible! As you work through the components, you gain an awareness of where your program is and what gaps you need to focus on. My biggest tip is to keep referring back to the rubric as you work. There are also examples available through the ASCA website that provide great models. My biggest takeaway from this experience is how much I was able to grow as a professional and the improvements made to my counseling program. RAMP is not a one time application, but an entire mindset shift that will benefit you and your students!

From Angela Jones, Cook Elementary School:

The RAMP process has been an enlightening journey! RAMP designation is the culmination of our commitment to delivering a comprehensive school counseling program that aligns with the ASCA National Model and our district’s and school’s mission statements. The process involves a great deal of program assessment and reflection—both necessary for improved student outcomes and student success. The ASCA National Model Implementation Guide and the RAMP application rubric were helpful in providing me with a better understanding of the whole application process and the requirements for RAMP designation. Other useful resources can be found on the ASCA website, including templates, examples of data graphs, and RAMP frequently asked questions. Although The RAMP application took a considerable amount of time to complete, it is rewarding to have been able to show evidence of how student success can be directly tied to direct and indirect services provided through a comprehensive program.

From Joan Kincannon, Euper Lane Elementary School:

RAMPING UP!

A few years ago Fort Smith Public Schools provided Hatching Results training for school counselors in our district. While COVID made the three-year training a little less optimal, we learned the basics of creating a comprehensive school counseling program. I have been an elementary school counselor for 34 years and this was a training I wish I had earlier in my career! We learned how to prove and promote what we all know; that School Counselors make a difference! It was very validating to show through the review of data, setting goals, and collecting outcome data that counselors are a vital part of the school community. Applying for RAMP was the next step to gain national recognition for my school. And while it is not an easy process, it has been extremely rewarding to be able to retire this year with this accomplishment credited to Euper Lane Elementary.

April Conference Update

ArSCA Conference Information

ArSCA Conference Registration

Hotel: Embassy Suite Hotel Registration- Full

Details – The Hotel Hot Springs and Spa (windsurfercrs.com)

Room rates are as follows:

The rate is $124, single/$134, double occupancy

Eclipse Coping Skills Lesson

ArSCA Past President Allison Spraggins, counselor at Lake Hamilton Elementary School, shared an awesome follow-up Eclipse Lesson about coping skills. You can download the lesson below.

*** We would love to share your lessons in our newsletters** Send to technology@arschoolcounselor.org

School districts are encouraged to celebrate Purple Up! For Military Kids Day on April 19. Faculty, staff, and students may wear purple clothing to show their support for children of military families.

"More than 14,000 Arkansans served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Many serve on active duty while others serve in the reserve forces and in the National Guard. More than 6,100 military children are enrolled in Arkansas public schools. Children of military families face unique academic and social challenges. The sacrifices they make because of their parents’ military service deserves special recognition." (DESE 2024) Read more here

DESE Resources for Military Families

Commissioner's Memo About Military Month

List of Suggested Activities

Hello, School Counselors. My name is Jennifer Lyle, and I am excited to be your President-Elect for the 2023-2025 school years. A lot of you may know me from the Southwest Region where I worked as a School Counselor for ten years. For the past two years I have been working in the Northwest Region and have met some amazing School Counselors up here, although I really miss my friends and colleagues down south. It was a tough decision to move, but my son is currently enrolled at the University of Arkansas, and it has allowed me to spend more time with him. Currently, I only have a cocker spaniel puppy named Jasmine left at home and she is a handful! Having attended the School Counseling Conference in Hot Springs every summer for the past twelve years, I cannot say enough about how important it is to get Professional Development and make connections with other School Counselors. This is how we grow in our field. I would encourage each of you to attend your regional meetings and our ArSCA summer conferences anytime you can. It has been wonderful being able to work under Kelli Dockery’s leadership and guidance this past year. She is doing a great job as our ArSCA President. Kelli and I met when going through National Board Certified Teacher training many years ago and I am proud to be able to call her a friend and teammate. ArSCA is lucky to have her and all of the people behind the scenes across the state who give back to our organization. What I love about this organization is the support we give to one another. Thank you for being a part of it.

Arkansas School Counselor Association is hosting a series of informative virtual meetings for school counselors. Each meeting will provide information to assist school counselors working with students, parents and staff, followed by a question and discussion session. This is an excellent opportunity to network with other school counselors across the state. A zoom meeting link will be provided to those registered. Registration cost is free to members and non-members.

Watch the ArSCA Listserv for dates and times.

The Division of Elementary & Secondary Education has a host of resources and information for school counselors located on their School Counseling page.

For more information, please contact:

Rodney Ford, Program Advisor
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Four Capitol Mall, Mail Slot 13
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-5144
Email: Rodney.B.Ford@ade.arkansas.gov

Arkansas School Counselor Association (ArSCA) supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social and career development so they achieve success in school and are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. Membership in the state and national associations is highly recommended. ArSCA adheres to the Code of Ethics and policy statements of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA). Who We Are

We have six regions across our state. Here is a list of our ArSCA Board of Directors.

Become a Member Here This link is for membership and for conference attendance both, but you can still be a member if you are not attending the conference.

As a member of ArSCA you have the opportunity to subscribe to the ArSCA Listserv. This resource is a perk of membership. If you are a current ArSCA Member and have not subscribed, you can subscribe here: http://lists.state.ar.us/mailman/listinfo/arsca

ArSCA Listserve Guidelines

Wouldn’t your work be easier if you knew what your students were feeling about school and learning? With Renaissance Fundamentals, counselors get data that helps uncover those hidden non-academic barriers to learning and academic success, like lack of confidence, motivation, or connectedness to school.

Renaissance Fundamentals is a PreK-12 universal screener that takes students 15 minutes or less to complete a survey, answering questions on how they feel about school and themselves as learners. Educators receive immediate, multi-level, color-coded reports, along with an intervention guide, so they can quickly take action and intervene.

Please join our session at the ArSCA Conference in June: Learning More of Each Student’s Story is Fundamental to their Success!

To learn more, visit the Renaissance Fundamentals page at www.renaissance.com/products/renaissance-fundamentals. Contact your Renaissance team to get started.

TasselTIME is a comprehensive website designed by a former school counselor for school counselors. TasselTIME has been provided to Arkansas School Counselors for free for 21 years. TasselTIME is available to purchase for school use for the entire district. Many districts in Arkansas are using TasselTIME. Find out more by going to www.tasseltime.com

Sign-up for your free counselor membership here.

From the Capitol

Primary elections have concluded, and the fiscal session begins on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

According to the Arkansas Code the length of the fiscal session will be up to 30 days, which is

Tuesday, May 9, 2024. The fiscal session may be extended one-time not to exceed fifteen

calendar days by a vote of three-fourths of the General Assembly.

The members will be considering joint budget bills for 2024-2025. Retirement bills affecting any

publicly supported retirement system or systems shall not be introduced or considered at the

fiscal session of the General Assembly unless the introduction and consideration of the bill is

first approved by a three-fourths vote of the General Assembly.

What to watch for during the fiscal session:

LEARNS Act – teacher salaries and education freedom accounts

Department of Corrections

Non-fiscal issues – Could they be an issue to gain the three-fourths approval to be

discussed during the fiscal session?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM), an observance to educate the public about mental health to fight stigma and make people aware that help is available. The goal of MHAM is to raise awareness about how common mental health issues are, providing coping mechanisms that positively impact the quality of people’s lives, and to direct individuals to the many resources available to them. Please use the materials on this page to learn more and to help spread the word about mental health treatment. (Arkansas Department of Education 2024) Read more here

We would love to hear what you are doing for MHAM. Please send information and any pictures or graphics for our May newsletter to technology@arschoolcounselor.org

April is Autism Awareness Month. There will be an Autism Festival and Walk in Little Rock on April 20, 2024. Click on the picture and you will find more information on the Walk on Facebook and here at the Arkansas Autism Foundation.