R10 Counselor Conversations

Eighth Edition: July

Dear R10 Counselors,

As you know, information about the start of school is rapidly changing, and we know it’s important that we remain apprised of the most accurate information that is essential. We’re continually monitoring TEA’s news releases page and will keep you up-to-date as we continue to learn more. To help you to stay connected individually and collectively, we have a few R10 school counseling opportunities and resources that we would like to share.

As counseling consultants, we are here to offer hope-filled leadership, as well as serve as a stabilizing force when the ground seems to be giving way.

Best Regards,

Susan Delarosa & Brandi Fennell

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Please plan to join us for our live August Counselor Connections session on Wednesday, August 12th at 1:00pm. We are excited to have guest speaker Sherasa Thomas, Education Director of Anti-Defamation League join us to present about the No Place For Hate Initiative and to provide resources mapping how you can do to create a climate of acceptance at your school. Resources include, free lesson plans, support materials, book lists and online mini lessons.

*With public displays of hate on the rise, it is more important than ever for schools to commit to programs that clearly define expectations in behavior for all members of the community. Whether you are a student, educator, or family member, you have a role to play in combating bias and bullying as a means to stop the escalation of hate.

Register Here.

We are also excited to have Stephanie Learner the new School Counseling Program Manager from TEA present (virtually) Howdy from TEA! A Brief School Counselor Introduction with Resources and Plans on August 18th from 1-2pm. In this brief introductory session, Stephanie will share helpful resources as well as a suggested 3-step plan for supporting students during the school reopening. The first part of this session will be spent on introductions, resources, and a reopening plan for school counselors. The second part of the session will be a Q&A forum to discuss various school counseling topics. Come meet Stephanie and walk away with some school counseling tips and ideas that you can use with your students as we all begin this unusual school year!

Register Here.

Anti-Defamation League- No Place for Hate

ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. Check out their free education tool kit here.

Fall Offerings Coming Soon!

Thank you for the feedback regarding fall school counseling support and programming. We have some engaging sessions in the works to help support you in this ever-changing environment.

In preparing for different back-to-school scenarios, have you thought about creating a virtual school counseling office? This video will guide you on how to create one using Google Slides. It can be posted online or in google classrooms or even sent out via email or text! We hope it will be a useful tool for you.

Mental Health Transition Resources

In collaboration between Region 10 and Region 11, we have created a one-page resource with mental health transition supports. Most of the resources include full presentations that can be easily downloaded for your own use.

5 Strategies for Teacher (or Adult) Self Care

You’re Doomscrolling! Here’s How to Snap Out of It...

In a pandemic that forces us to stay home, bingeing on doom-and-gloom news feels irresistible. These health experts offer ways to break the habit.

Reunite, Renew, and Thrive: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Roadmap for Reopening School

Educators,

As you prepare to welcome students and adults back to school, you face the layered impact of schools closures, the pandemic, racial inequities amplified by nationwide mobilization, and more.

To aid you in this transition, CASEL collaborated with more than 40 partners to illuminate a way forward with social and emotional learning that is centered on relationships and built on the existing strengths of a school community.

T oday, we released Reunite, Renew, and Thrive: Social and Emotional Learning Roadmap for Reopening School. While this guidance is written for schools, states and districts play a critical role in ensuring schools have the support and guidance needed to carry out this work.

53 Questions to Ask Students, Families, and Staff Once the 2020-21 School Year Is Underway

53 questions for your district to ask students, families, teachers, and staff during the first few weeks of the 2020-21 academic year.

panoramaed.com

Mindfulness and SEL Cards for Schools

Mindfulness and SEL Cards from Present Moment Labs, advertised by Dallas Yoga Center share creative mindfulness and SEL quick and easy exercises for schools that can be implemented virtually or face-to-face. Thank you, Dallas Yoga Center!

SEL Strategies to Facilitate the First Weeks of School

Schools, Families, and SEL Ideas and Tools

Parents and schools working together to build students’ social, emotional, and academic skills can accomplish far more than either group working alone. Both schools and parents can contribute in unique ways to make the partnership fruitful.

SEL Activities that Support Distance Learning at Home

These are easy ways to incorporate social-emotional activities both in class or at home. Help kids develop these necessary skills with CASEL competencies to set them up for success.

TEA Issues Comprehensive Guidelines for a Safe Return

07/07/20 TEA announced comprehensive guidelines for students to return to school, prioritizing their health and safety while ensuring that students receive quality instruction, whether they choose to learn in a safe on-campus environment or remotely.

TEA COVID-19 Support: Instructional Continuity Planning

TEA Approved Trauma and Grief Approved Programs

BEHIND MY MASK: A SUPER KID SELF-PORTRAIT!

No one is excited about wearing a mask but...the best thing we can do for our kiddos is to put a positive spin on it, right? Teacher and blogger, -Cassie Stephens- hopes to do just that with this lesson. Enjoy!

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Identifying & Addressing Student Trauma Webinars

Event Information

Drug Trends

Presented by:

Keith Griffin, Investigator
Collin County Sheriff’s Office

Register Today.

When?

Tuesday, Aug 11, 2020, 10:00 AM

ASCA & The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs Side by Side Comparison

In regards to school counseling models, have you wondered what is the difference between ASCA and The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs? Check out this side by side comparison to compare to the differences and similarities.

Relaunching Relationally Roadmap...Relationships!

There are so many things to consider when reopening schools this fall, but what we do know is that schools must be more intentional than ever this school year when it comes to how they welcome back students. Where do schools even begin?

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CharacterStrong Podcast Series

Check out our podcast, where we have conversations on School Culture and Leadership. Quick episodes that you can check out on your way to or from work. Make today a #CharacterStrongCommute!

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Developmental relationships are the roots of young people’s success. They are essential for all young people, in every community. When young people experience these relationships in their families, schools, programs, and communities, they are more likely to be resilient in the face of challenges and grow up thriving.

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Clearing the Air: A Be Vape Free Virtual Field Trip

Did you know that one e-liquid pod contains 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine? Students believe vaping is harmless and safer than cigarettes. Make sure your kids know the truth. Join us for a real-world virtual learning opportunity to get the facts on the vaping epidemic.

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Social and Emotional Learning at Home (In English and Spanish)

Promoting SEL at Home is a series of developmentally appropriate social and emotional learning (SEL) resources for parents, families, and caregivers to use at home. These lesson ideas facilitate the development of SEL skills in children, from infancy through high school.*

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Teen Dating Violence Free Webinar Series

One in three teens will experience abuse from a partner. Education is the key to prevention. Join Hope's Door New Beginnings for interactive discussions on the definition, dynamics, characteristics, and forms of abuse.

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COVID-19 has had a huge impact on our students and their educational goals. However, with the right information and support, we believe that Texas students can persevere, stay focused, and achieve their college goals. To support the counselors and students of Texas, Future Focused TX campaign is a public-private collaboration which aims to maintain college enrollment rates in Texas. This statewide effort will provide free, compelling, researched-based digital content to you, school counselors and advisors, to help all students graduate and matriculate into college. Click the link HERE to check out the first digital package and begin sharing this vital information with your students. Once you opt-in to this exciting campaign you will begin receiving weekly copy-and-paste emails to send straight to your students to help them engage with the content and continue on the path to their college goals!

To officially join the Future Focused TX campaign make sure to fill out this survey! By sharing your contact information you will receive emails with the monthly digital counselor packages, invites to campaign webinars and other exciting support for your students.

The College Board Opportunity Scholarship

Last year, more than 500 Texas students earned $446K in scholarships through the College Board Opportunity Scholarships by taking steps to plan for college. Although the coronavirus affected this school year, rising seniors can stay on track and earn scholarships by taking action to plan for college.

The College Board Opportunity Scholarships provide a digital college guide to plan, prepare, and pay for college. Students who complete steps in the program are eligible for scholarships ranging from $500 to $40,000. The scholarships do not require an essay, application, minimum test score, or GPA. The more effort that students take, the more chances they have to earn scholarships. At least half of all the scholarships will be designated for students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year.

The College Board has developed new educator and student resources to help rising seniors stay on track with college planning while also earning scholarship opportunities from home. For more resources about College Board Opportunity Scholarships, visit this page.

Texas School Safety Training Opportunites

Senate Bill 11 mandated the use of threat assessment teams. Make sure your team is trained and ready to go for the 2020-2021 school year.

Texas College Bridge

The current MOU for College Prep Courses negotiated by Region 10 in 2018 will expire June 2021. Participants in this MOU can still access all necessary resources for the 20-21 school year at gg.gg/collegeprep.

To prepare for that expiration, we encourage you to go ahead and explore the TEA-supported opportunity for College Prep Courses: www.texascollegebridge.org. Texas College Bridge could be implemented this year in conjunction with the final year of the R10-negotiated MOU. There are expanded opportunities in this platform that may better serve your students.

There are four opportunities to enter Texas College Bridge this fall: Aug 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, and Nov. 9. Click here to access the Texas College Bridge MOU, Implementation Guide, Participation Agreement, and more.

At Region 10, you may contact Consultant Jennifer Gunn (jennifer.gunn@region10.org) or Assistant Director Chris Grey (chris.grey@region10.org). Or, you may email TexasCollegeBridge@tea.texas.gov

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This year’s event provides counselors with:

Effective college and career readiness strategies and resources from school counseling leaders
College admissions trends and innovations presented by higher education professionals
Discussions on the role of school counselors in supporting students’ social and emotional learning and development

All webinars are 1–2 hours in length and allow you to earn 0.1–0.2 continuing education units (CEUs).

State Board of Education Rule Filings

Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.1, Essential Knowledge and Skills, and §74.3, Description of a Required Secondary Curriculum

Summary: The proposed amendments would update the sections to align with recent legislation and with changes to the technology applications and career and technical education Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.

First Reading and Filing Authorization: June-July 2020 SBOE meeting

Public Comment Period: July 31, 2020- August 31, 2020. NOTE: This date reflects a correction to allow the SBOE to consider this proposal for second reading and final adoption at its September 1-2, 2020 meeting. The SBOE will take registered oral and written comments on the proposal at the appropriate committee meeting in September 2020 in accordance with the SBOE board operating policies and procedures. A form for submitting public comments is available on the proposed SBOE rules web page.

Proposed Effective Date: 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register

Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 120, Other Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, Subchapter A, Character Traits

Summary: The proposed new sections would add new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for positive character traits for Kindergarten-Grade 12 in accordance with House Bill 1026, 86th Texas Legislature, 2019.

First Reading and Filing Authorization: June-July 2020 SBOE meeting

Public Comment Period: July 31, 2020- August 31, 2020. NOTE: This date reflects a correction to allow the SBOE to consider this proposal for second reading and final adoption at its September 1-2, 2020 meeting. The SBOE will take registered oral and written comments on the proposal at the appropriate committee meeting in September 2020 in accordance with the SBOE board operating policies and procedures. A form for submitting public comments is available on the proposed SBOE rules web page.

Proposed Effective Date: August 1, 2021

Please see the TEA website to view proposed State Board of Education rules.

Region 10 Smore of Smores

Be sure to check out our other department newsletters HERE.

How can Region 10 serve you?

Need Direct Services, Consultation, or Specialized PD? Please fill out this form.

Region 10 Counseling Consultants

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Susan Delarosa, M.Ed.

Susan Delarosa is a Counseling Consultant specializing in the areas of elementary and middle school counseling. She spent eleven years in Frisco ISD and three years in Grand Prairie ISD.

Email: susan.delarosa@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1216

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Brandi Fennell, M.Ed.

Brandi Fennell is a Counseling Consultant specializing in the areas of high school counseling and CCMR. She spent the last five years as a high school counselor in Amarillo ISD and was previously a College Readiness and Scholarship Coordinator.

Email: brandi.fennell@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1208

We are so incredibly honored to support Region 10 ESC counselors spanning over 80 districts, 55 charter schools and 860,000 students.

Please contact us for support in the following areas:

Legislative Updates

School Counselor Ethics

Crisis Support

Comprehensive Guidance Planning

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Social and Emotional Learning

Transcripts

and much more!

**For Apply Texas access or technical support, please contact Brandi Fennell at brandi.fennell@region10.org

R10 Counselor Conversations