R10 Counselor Conversations

🔘 53rd Edition: October 2024 🔘

Fall into Growth: Cultivating Connections and Counselor Success

As the crisp fall air settles in and the colors of the season begin to emerge, we find ourselves in a season of reflection and growth. Fall is a time to harvest what we’ve planted throughout the year and prepare for what lies ahead. For school counselors, this means nurturing the connections we’ve built, both with our students and within our professional communities, while also focusing on our own growth and development.

This edition of R10 Counseling Connections is all about helping you cultivate success—personally and professionally. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your impact on students, expand your collaboration with colleagues, or simply carve out time for self-care, we’re here to support you on that journey. Together, we can harvest the fruits of our labor, while also planting new seeds of opportunity for the future.

Let this fall be a time of renewal, as we continue to grow, connect, and thrive in our roles as counselors.

Warmly,

Amanda and Nickisha

2024-2025 School Counselor Fall Training Calendar

Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month

October is Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and the risks of potential overdoses.

TEA Bullying Prevention Webinar

Oct 10, 2024 11:00 AM

To address the growing demand for highly skilled employees and to provide students with valuable insights into career opportunities within an expanding economy, Region 10 ESC's CTE Career, Pathways, and Preparation team has launched a series of monthly webinars. These sessions offer school counselors the chance to engage directly with industry professionals, bridging the gap between career industry needs and students’ career exploration.

To learn more and join the monthly conversation. Please register!

Session Link: https://txr10.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=2663291

Contact:

Rachell Lucas, M.ED

Region 10 Consultant

Teaching & Learning Services

rachell.lucas@region10.org

Illuminate the Path: Better Together Mental Health and Education Conference

October 9, 2024
400 East Spring Valley Richardson, TX 75081

Below you will find registration links to important financial aid training webinars. These webinars do reach capacity, so counselors should register for the ones that are needed and mark their calendars.

CSS Profile Completion

When: October 16 from 10:00-2:00

Description: Over 400 colleges and universities require the CSS Profile, a financial aid application that is incredibly complex and distinctly different from the FAFSA. In this training, we will walk through the many sections of the CSS Profile, sharing tips for answering tricky questions and providing practice with student scenarios and case studies. We will also discuss potential followup steps, including the Noncustodial CSS Profile, waiver request process, and IDOC.

Registration Link

FAFSA Completion

When: October 24 from 10:00-2:00

Description: This 4-hour virtual one-day training is meant for beginner & intermediate-level practitioners who wish to do a deep dive into the Better FAFSA application. This training will walk you through the online form, give you opportunities to practice with complex scenarios, and highlight the potential pitfalls all practitioners and students should be aware of.

Registration Link

TASFA & Apply Texas Counselor Suite Update

When: October 29 from 10:00-11:30

Description: TxCAN and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board are excited to collaborate and bring you the latest updates on the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) and the ApplyTexas Counselor Suite. This virtual session is designed to provide crucial insights and guidance for students, families, and educators.

Registration Link

FAFSA Completion

When: November 12 from 12:00-4:00

Description: This 4-hour virtual one-day training is meant for beginner & intermediate-level practitioners who wish to do a deep dive into the Better FAFSA application. This training will walk you through the online form, give you opportunities to practice with complex scenarios, and highlight the potential pitfalls all practitioners and students should be aware of.

Registration Link

TASFA & ApplyTexas Counselor Suite

When: December 5 from 10:00-11:30

Description: TxCAN and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board are excited to collaborate and bring you the latest updates on the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) and the ApplyTexas Counselor Suite. This virtual session is designed to provide crucial insights and guidance for students, families, and educators.

Registration Link

FAFSA Completion

When: December 11 from 10:00-2:00

Description: This 4-hour virtual one-day training is meant for beginner & intermediate-level practitioners who wish to do a deep dive into the Better FAFSA application. This training will walk you through the online form, give you opportunities to practice with complex scenarios, and highlight the potential pitfalls all practitioners and students should be aware of.

Registration Link

FAFSA Completion

When January 15 from 12:00-4:00

Description: This 4-hour virtual one-day training is meant for beginner & intermediate-level practitioners who wish to do a deep dive into the Better FAFSA application. This training will walk you through the online form, give you opportunities to practice with complex scenarios, and highlight the potential pitfalls all practitioners and students should be aware of.

Registration Link

FAFSA Q&A

When: February 13 from 10:00-11:00

Description: This participant-driven, peer-learning session is designed for practitioners who are supporting students with the FAFSA and are looking for a space to answer questions and work out tricky scenarios.

Registration Link

🌟 Celebrating the Success of Our First R10 Quarterly Counselor Connections! 🌟

We are thrilled to spotlight the success of our inaugural R10 Quarterly Counselor Connections! A heartfelt thank you to the Credit Union of Texas in Allen, Red Oak ISD, Greenville ISD, and Forney ISD for hosting these impactful sessions.

These connections were designed with your feedback in mind, creating opportunities for counselors to engage and collaborate. By offering multiple opportunities and locations, we aimed to foster collaboration and support among counselors throughout our region.

These trainings are not just about networking; they are about equipping counselors with the tools and knowledge needed to positively impact student success. We encourage counselors to attend the upcoming Quarterly Counselor Connections, where we will continue to grow, learn, and strengthen our ability to advocate for our programs effectively.

Thank you for your participation, and let’s keep the momentum going! Together, we can make a difference in our students' lives!

Don't miss out—register for upcoming Quarterly Counselor Connections now!

Calling all counselors in Region 10! 🌟 We're on a mission to spotlight the incredible initiatives happening across our region. Whether you've orchestrated a stellar program, organized a memorable event, or teamed up with colleagues for a triumph, we want to hear about it! Share your success stories and let's celebrate the fantastic work happening in our schools. Your creativity and dedication deserve the spotlight – spill the details and inspire others in the process. Together, let's showcase the greatness within Region 10!

School Counselor Work Time- FAQ

Child Abuse Reporting

As mandatory reporters, Texas educators should review and refresh on child abuse prevention. Visit TEA for important facts and resources.

SCHOLAR 📩 School Counselor Handbook Online Resources

The site supports each aspect of implementing the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling, 5th edition. Bookmark and visit the site often for resources, templates, lessons, and more.

Texas Model Alignment Checklist

Plan your work and work your plan for the 24-25 school year.

School Counselor Requirement & Resource Document

Election Conversations: The School Counselor’s Role

ASCA resource on how school counselors address election conversations through a school counseling program.

Red Ribbon Week

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

Hispanic Heritage Month

Internet Safety Presentation Request

🎓Graduation Toolkit🎓

The foundation high school program and endorsements help students focus their interest, select their coursework, and better plan for their postsecondary training and education.

October 1st marks the date when districts that have an executed MOU will receive authorization for new counselors and updates for existing accounts within the Counselor Suite.

For any questions regarding the status of your MOU please reach out to ApplyTexasMOU@highered.texas.gov.

For Apply Texas access or technical support, please contact Elaine Fackler at elaine.fackler@region10.org

View our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document over the Texas Records Exchange (TREx) to learn more!
Educators can create a test account in the ApplyTexas student portal to walk through the application process. View these steps!

Need additional support? View our resource document for helpful links and a copy of the presentation.

TxCAN Financial Aid Resource Hub

Online TASFA

Financial Aid Graduation Requirement - FAQs

Texas OnCourse Professional Learning Series

Effective Advising Framework

In a K-12 setting, effective advising is delivered through the individual student planning system of a comprehensive school counseling program.

The Importance of the College Visit

As advocates and advisers for our senior students, we want to help them navigate the challenges of making decisions on which college to attend. As adults we can take comfort in having the wisdom of experience. However, our students are navigating the college application process while juggling the demands of high school class expectations, possible employment, and family dynamics. College visits, whether virtual or in person, allow students to reflect and obtain valuable input before committing to two years, four years, or more at their chosen college. Post secondary institutions want future students to connect, and college visits can provide:

· Tours led by current college students to learn about life on campus.

· Information sessions from admissions and departments.

· Seeing dorm options, facilities and residential living up close.

· Possible meetings with department heads in classes of interest.

· Opportunities to sit in on classes if offered.

· Opportunities to Interact and ask questions of current students.

The knowledge that comes from the college visit can help students narrow their focus and reduce some of the anxiety and stress of the process.

We want to always remind our students to reach out to the admission offices of their colleges of interest, for updated and accurate information.

TEA Fall Mental and Behavioral Health Newsletter

R10 Mental and Behavioral Health Newsletter

Mental Health Resource Toolkit

Mental Health Resources in Spanish

Free Online Courses Related to School Mental Health

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

PAX Good Behavior Game

FREE RESOURCES AVAILABLE

PAXIS and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission have partnered to offer free training to those working with children or families in both in-school and out-of-school settings throughout Texas.

The PAX Good Behavior Game® (PAX GBG) is a school-based, classroom preventative intervention used by educators to teach self-regulation. PAX GBG is not a set of lessons or a curriculum but strategies teachers use throughout their day to build students’ behavioral skills and stamina for focused attention and on-task behavior. Training opportunities include live-virtual and online options. All Region 10 LEAs have free access to this resource.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Fabian Hypolite - Fabian.hypolite@region10.org

YAM Youth Aware of Mental Health

North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA)

Region 10 Community Resources Database

TEA School Safety Resources

School Behavioral Threat Assessment: 88th Legislative Session Update

How to Recognize and Report Child Abuse or Neglect

The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC)

Texas Legislature Bills About School Counseling

As you know, the 88th Legislation recently ended and there were items passed that will effect all school counseling programs. Check out this resource to help you follow along with all the changes.

Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth

Resources and services to ensure that all Texas children living in homeless situations have the opportunity to enroll in, attend, and succeed in school.

Updated TEA Help Desk

The TEA Help Desk has a few new or updated buttons, such as curriculum, CTE, and certification. Find them all here: https://helpdesk.tea.texas.gov/

Texas Virtual School Network

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides online courses to eligible students through the Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN).

Updated LOTE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

An updated FAQ document for LOTE curriculum and graduation requirements has been published on the TEA LOTE webpage.

Texas SPED Support Website

Discover resources and learning opportunities from experts in the field.

Career and Technical Education

Programs of Study Update

Refreshed Career and Technical Education programs of study will be implemented beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. The current programs of study went into effect in the 2020-2021 school year, allowing Texas to meet the federal program approval requirements within the Strengthening CTE for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). The Texas Perkins State Plan included a commitment to reviewing programs of study every four years to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the Texas workforce. As the culmination of that four-year review cycle, the refreshed programs of study are now final.

Resources that support implementation of refreshed programs of study beginning in the 2024-2025 school year are available on the TEA website.

Individual Graduation Committees

Updated guidance and frequently asked questions on IGCs are now available to provide districts and charter schools with additional support for implementation and documentation of IGCs.