R10 Counselor Conversations

🔘 54th Edition: November 2024 🔘

🍂 R10 Counselor Conversations: Fall Vibes Edition! 🍂

As the leaves change and the air grows crisp, we embrace the season of reflection and renewal. Fall is the perfect time to slow down, take a breath, and celebrate the progress we've made so far in the school year. In this edition, we’re diving into resources and insights designed to inspire and equip you, from supporting student well-being to building meaningful connections.

We know that the fall semester can be a whirlwind, so grab a warm drink, settle in, and let’s explore what’s new in the world of school counseling. Here’s to savoring each moment this season brings and continuing to make a difference, one student at a time. 🍁

Wishing you a wonderful, productive month full of fall vibes, warm connections, and moments of inspiration!

Amanda and Nickisha

The Illuminate the Path: Better Together Mental Health & Education Conference, held at Region 10 in partnership with ESC Region 11 and Fusion Academy, was an incredible success! Thank you to all the sponsors, speakers, and participants who contributed to this impactful event. The conference provided valuable insights and resources to support mental health across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, fostering collaboration and connection. We are excited to continue this vital work and look forward to seeing you again in 2025!

2024-2025 School Counselor Fall Training Calendar

TEA Webinar Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs Unit

Thursday, November 14, 2024 1:00PM - 2:30PM

TSCA Presents: The House of Mourning: Grief Strategies for School Counselors

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 12:00PM - 1:00PM

Friday, December 6, 2024 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Contact: rachell.lucas@region10.org

Saturday, February 1, 2025 10:00AM - 2:00PM

Virtual

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.

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

Region 10 Advanced Academics services is proud to connect you directly with many advanced academics partners at the state, national, and even international levels. We still have three incredible opportunities this semester for you to connect directly with these partners and explore advanced opportunities for students!

On-Ramps to Increase Student Opportunity

November 12, 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Zoom

OnRamps has been providing high-quality educational opportunities across Texas, providing dual enrollment and distance learning opportunities that transform engagement and the classroom experience for students and teachers. Participants in this 1-Hour Zoom will learn more about partnering with OnRamps and the impact on student success as well as CCMR indicators for accountability.

Lunch & Learn with International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB 101: November 12, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Zoom

Explore the four exciting programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Career-related Programme (CP), and the Diploma Programme (DP). A great informational session for all grade levels!

IB Funding: November 19, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Zoom

Join us for an engaging session where we’ll explore various funding opportunities to help grow your IB offerings! We’ll cover everything from grants and state/federal funds to special IB funding incentives.

College Board: Understanding and Interpreting SAT Suite Knowledge and Skills Report to Impact Instruction & Student Outcomes

December 6, in-person at Region 10

This session will support educators in using SAT® Suite results to make data-driven decisions, inform student learning, and impact student outcomes. Designed to help improve student performance through curriculum review, participants will review the skill/knowledge statements tied to the SAT Content Domains, consider guided questions for further reflection, and complete an implementation plan. Educators will walk away with a clear understanding of how to interpret scores and benchmarks and deeper understanding of the skills and knowledge assessed on the SAT Suite of Assessments. Participants need to have access to K12 Reporting in order to review school/district Knowledge and Skills Report and to their district/school curriculum maps. A presentation from the College Board will occur from 9 to noon. You're encouraged to bring a team, and the room will be available for those wanting to return from lunch and work with thought partners, including the College Board representative and the Region 10 advanced academics consultant.

Wylie High School Counseling Team Hosts Fair Day to Strengthen Staff Connections

The Wylie High School counseling team—Shannon Dozier, April Miller, Ashley Winans, Anna Reck, Cynthia Hill, Donathan Melton, Donja Freeman, Terri Christensen, and Beth Brown—knows that strong relationships among staff are key to a thriving school community. This year, they hosted their annual Fair Day, a lively event exclusively for building staff rapport. Filled with fried foods, games, and fun giveaways, the day was a chance for faculty and staff to relax, connect, and enjoy each other’s company outside of the daily routine.

Featuring Wylie High School’s very own Big Tex, Fair Day provided an opportunity for the counseling team to support the school’s sense of community, ensuring that staff members feel valued and connected. Events like this highlight the essential role counselors play in cultivating a positive work environment, which in turn impacts student support and success.

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!

As we plan for the future, we want to know what needs you have in your districts. The following subjects are divided up by domains within the Comprehensive School Counseling Program. We want to make sure we are providing you with the professional development and resources you need to develop effective programs on your campus and in your districts.

The information in this survey is anonymous, and the data may be shared with stakeholders at the state level.

Please check all that apply.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this assessment!

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

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

Military Family Appreciation Month

November, recognized as Military Family Appreciation Month and highlighted by Veteran’s Day, offers an excellent opportunity to explore the diverse career paths within the military.

The First Five

A FREE, daily email with 18+ new activities to foster connections & belonging.

Kid Power

Free brain break videos by Cook Children’s.

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.

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

TxCAN Financial Aid Resource Hub

Online TASFA

Verification Letter for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth for the Purposes of FAFSA

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.

Goals for Texas and the Texas Success Initiative and Assessment

Each state sets growth plans for the future that guide education and business practices. One of the main organizations that supports state mandated goals in Texas is the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). As stated on their website at www.highered.texas.gov , the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board partners with the legislature, businesses and institutions of higher education to provide advocacy and resources. They work closely with Texas colleges and universities, and their efforts enable an efficient transition from high school to colleges to the world of work. College readiness reflects knowledge and skills that students need to be successful at the post secondary level.

As part of the state mandated Texas Success Initiative, the TSIA , or Texas Success Initiative Assessment , is a tool of measurement. Test results help public colleges and universities in Texas determine if students are ready for college level work in the areas of reading, writing and math. Based on scoring, a student may be required to participate in intervention programs. Many high schools in Texas have started administering the TSIA to their students, so that they can meet the requirements for Dual Credit courses.

There are exemptions for the TSIA and information can be found on the websites of prospective Texas colleges and at www.collegeforalltexans.com . High school students and parents are familiar with the testing requirements for the college admission process, as the College Board’s SAT test and ACT, Incorporated’s ACT test, have been around for decades and are well known to the public. They can also gain valuable information by visiting the THECB website, regarding TSI and other additional tools for planning.

November is College Application Month

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

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.