Wayne County Counselor Connection

Dear Colleagues

As we move through the month of May, thank you for the continued care, compassion, and dedication you pour into supporting students, families, and school communities each day. Your presence, advocacy, and encouragement make a lasting impact far beyond what is often seen.

As the school year begins to wind down, may you find moments to reflect on the difference you have made, celebrate the successes of your students, and take time to care for yourselves as well.

Thank you for all you do to support the academic, social-emotional, and future success of our students. Wishing you a strong and successful finish to the school year!

Let’s finish strong—together.

Be well,
Stacia

Great news! Registration for our 2026–2027 professional learning sessions is now open, featuring SCECH opportunities in career, college, military, and SEL.

New this year, we’re excited to offer quarterly Counselor Networking Sessions to foster connection, collaboration, and shared learning across our counselor community.

Take a look at the offerings and secure your spot today!

We’re creating a county-wide School Counselor Directory and appreciate the districts that have already shared their information or identified a district contact—thank you for your partnership and support!

This is an ongoing effort, and we are still seeking one representative from each district to help ensure the directory is accurate and comprehensive.

• Does your district already have a counselor representative?

• Are you interested in helping compile counselor contacts for your district?

If so, please complete the linked Google Form.

Together, we can continue building a resource that connects, supports, and strengthens the school counseling community across Wayne County.

Wayne RESA's Career Counselors share the latest information to help parents support their child's career journey. With the support of our local schools, we aim to provide resources leading to career and postsecondary success for all Wayne County students. We encourage you to explore and share the many programs, experiences, and resources available to support student growth, engagement, and exploration.

Hey Counselors!

Check out the latest edition of Brad Minton’s Post-Secondary Success Navigators Grad’s Guide — a career resource created especially for recent high school graduates across Wayne County.

It’s packed with helpful tips, tools, and pathways to support students as they navigate life after graduation. Don’t miss it!

Register

The 2026 Counselor Summer Institute on College Admissions, July 28-30, is a flexible three-day online opportunity for counselors to connect and learn from higher education and counselor leaders.

Join us for insightful discussions, updates, and advising strategies relevant to the evolving landscape of college admissions, student preparation, and college success to assist students, families, and professionals.

Sessions:

• 7/28/2026 | 11:00am | AI Without the Overwhelm: AI Tools Counselors Should Be Using Right Now
• 7/28/2026 | 2:00pm | Smarter Advising with AI: Helping Students Explore College and Careers
• 7/29/2026 | 11:00am | Guiding Through Change: Student Advising, Admissions, and Affordability
• 7/29/2026 | 2:00pm | The New Admissions Landscape: A Conversation with Higher Ed and Counselor Leaders
• 7/30/2026 | 11:00am | Expanding Access for Rural and Small Town Communities: Strategies that Work
• 7/30/2026 | 2:00pm | Renew and Recharge: Don’t Eat Email for Breakfast!

Shared on behalf of CareSolace. Share with your students and families as appropriate.

This Summer Survival Kit is specifically designed to help families set their mental health up for success this summer. Available in both English and Spanish, the kit includes:

• Tips for parents on navigating the transition out of the school year
• A Summer Intention Setting worksheet for students
• A Healthy Summer Routine builder with a weekly schedule and daily check-ins
• A Mental Health Awareness coloring page for kids

Gov. Whitmer signed HB 4556 and HB 4557 — now PA 10 and PA 11 — on May 14, removing the mandatory essay component from the Michigan Merit Exam and ending the requirement to place test scores on high school transcripts. At the district level, the legislation reduces certain compliance obligations by eliminating the writing component requirement and removing the mandate to include MME scores on student transcripts. The bills take effect June 30, 2026.