R10 Counselor Conversations

🔘 58th Edition: March 2025 🔘

Marching Toward Success: Empower, Encourage, Elevate

March is a time of momentum—a season to empower students, encourage growth, and elevate our collective impact as school counselors. As we transition into spring, we are reminded that small moments of connection and support can make all the difference in a student’s journey. This month’s R10 Counselor Conversations is all about renewing our purpose, sharing best practices, and preparing for the final push toward the end of the school year. Whether through professional learning, collaboration, or self-care, let’s continue marching forward together with strength and intention!

With a renewed spirit and a shared commitment to student success, let’s embrace this season of growth and possibility—because the best is yet to come!

Amanda and Nickisha

2024-2025 School Counselor Spring Training Calendar

In this essential virtual session, we partner with the DEA Dallas Division to explore current drug trends impacting youth in our communities. Gain crucial insights into substance use patterns and learn about the comprehensive resources the DEA offers to support prevention and education in schools. Discover strategies for partnering with the DEA to keep your school informed and equipped to promote a safe and drug-free environment for students.

This is a Free event.

The sacrifices of military families often go unnoticed, yet their resilience and dedication deserve recognition and support. The Purple Star Campus Designation, established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), honors schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families. This distinction ensures that military families receive the support they need as they navigate school transitions, deployments, and other challenges.

Several schools in our region have earned the prestigious Purple Star Campus recognition for their dedication to military-connected students:

Caddo Mills ISD

Caddo Mills High School
Caddo Mills Intermediate
Caddo Mills Middle School
Griffis Elementary School
Lee Elementary School

Dallas ISD

Seagoville High School

Grand Prairie ISD

Andrew Jackson Middle School
South Grand Prairie High School

How Can Your Campus Become a Purple Star Campus?

If your school is interested in becoming a Purple Star Campus, visit the TEA Purple Star webpage to learn more about the requirements and application process. By joining this initiative, campuses can create a supportive and inclusive educational experience for military-connected students, ensuring they thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

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!

Texas OnCourse is offering educators the opportunity to receive a My Texas Future Launch Kit when you use the MTF site with your middle or high school students! The kit includes a phone charging coaster, a set of 25 pens/highlighters, stickers! Request link

Internet Safety Presentation Request

Thank you for your interest in the Dallas Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Internet Safety Presentation. Our presentations are designed to educate and empower parents, schools, community groups, and organizations on the critical topic of online safety for children and teens.

To request a presentation, please fill out the form with your organization’s details and preferred dates. The team will review your request and get in touch to confirm the details.

Together, we can help keep our children safe in the digital world.

Top Tools for Building Mindfulness in the Classroom

Digital Well-Being Lessons for Grades K–12

Family Tip Sheet: Building Healthy Digital Habits

Family Tip Sheet: Building Healthy Digital Habits (Spanish)

Goal Setting - Texas Model Student Competency I.B.iii

The First Five - Free Daily Resources

School Counselor Work Time- FAQ

● 2nd Annual Audit on Counselor Work Time (80/20)

● The number of Region 10 randomly selected districts doubled this year.

Sample Assessment Submission

The School Counselor and Section 504 Plan and Process

Academic Achievement Record

Each school district must report the academic achievement record (AAR) of students who have completed a minimum, recommended, advanced (distinguished), or foundation high school program. The transcript forms must include the required standard content for the AAR. The words “academic achievement record” and “transcript” are interchangeable. The form must serve as the academic record for each student and must be maintained permanently by the district.

The following documents provide information regarding AAR minimum standards:

2024 Minimum Standards for the AAR (PDF, 446KB)
2012 Minimum Standards for the AAR (PDF, 315KB)
2009-2010 Minimum Standards for the AAR (PDF, 173KB)
2008 Minimum Standards for the AAR (PDF, 159KB)

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

A Multi-Tiered Approach to Promoting SEL

🎓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.

APPLY TEXAS - Counselor Suite Access

● Verify your district’s Apply Texas status here

● Contact Apply Texas for additional information: ApplyTexasMOU@highered.texas.gov.

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

TWU's new FAST Academy is a short-term, summer residential bridge program that is specifically designed to help foster-care alumni succeed and thrive! Through hands-on activities and experiential learning, TWU faculty provide specialized instruction in math and English that will help ensure you are prepared for the rigors of the college classroom.

Coursework is designed to catalyze creative and analytical thinking while providing space for first-time college students to learn how to successfully navigate college.

Verification Letter for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth for the Purposes of FAFSA

TxCAN Financial Aid Resource Hub

Online TASFA

Financial Aid Graduation Requirement - FAQs

Financial Aid Student Notification Guidance

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.

Strategizing with Sophomores for Career and College Planning

The Spring semester is when most students are involved in preregistration activities.This includes finalizing course selections to meet graduation requirements, and scheduling for the Junior year. As students are engaged in this process, it is also a good time for counselors and advisers to emphasize how these choices can affect their future career and college plans.

As colleges become more competitive, encouraging students to think of taking Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment classes, can help prepare them for the academic rigor at the post secondary level. These courses are also designated as advanced on the high school transcript, which is required for admissions.

Texas public school students also take elective courses through career pathways. These courses may lead to certification in certain industries, preparing them for future careers. Brainstorming with teachers about class options, volunteering in the community, attending summer program opportunities at colleges, attending college fairs and participating in extracurricular activities at schools, are ideal ways that students can narrow their interests. It is not too early for freshman and sophomore students to make a list of everything that they would like to know about colleges and start the research.

Use My Texas Future’s 12th-grade timeline to keep seniors on track with their college applications.

TEA Fall Mental and Behavioral Health Newsletter

R10 Mental and Behavioral Health Newsletter

As we begin the new year, we’re excited to support you in prioritizing student and educator well-being across Region 10. This edition offers resources, strategies, and professional development to help foster safe, inclusive, and trauma-sensitive environments. From restorative practices to building resilience, we’re here to help you make a lasting impact. Let’s make 2025 a year of connection, growth, and care!

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 Kate Forisha - kate.forisha@region10.org

YAM Youth Aware of Mental Health

North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA)

Region 10 Community Resources Database

Texas School Safety Center - A Guide to Preventing Bullying Video Series

• Provides anti-bullying tools for students, including how to report a bullying situation.
• Content aligns with Texas Model student competencies in IV.C.

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.