The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the time for new life is here. The spring always reminds me of new beginnings. The beautiful thing about new beginnings is that we don't have to wait for the spring. A new beginning is possible every year, month, and even every day! As we continue to trek through one of the hardest years in education, remember to stay focused on YOU. Are you drinking enough water? Are you resting? Are you making healthy lifestyle choices? These basic health-conscious decisions can go a long way to improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Putting yourself first is NOT selfish. In fact, it is a great first step to combat fatigue, lack of motivation, burnout, and stress. Oftentimes, when we think about self-care we think about it as a special practice. We see it as that next vacation, the trip to the nail salon, a get-together with friends, etc.; however, the most recent research on stress and burnout institutes a new ideology that self-care should be a daily activity. Watch your favorite YouTube channel for a few moments, find a quiet spot in your home or car and feel the calm (even if it only lasts a moment), go for a walk, turn off your computer, and love yourself. Dedicating only a few moments a day to you, every day, will have great long-term effects. New beginning, new you! What will you try today?

Thank you for allowing us to serve you!

Kristina is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in working with adolescents and families. She earned her Master of Science degree in Counseling from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The University of Texas. In her previous role at a domestic violence organization, Kristina provided prevention education to youth and educators. She worked closely with school crisis counselors and administrators to identify and support students experiencing relationship abuse, providing trauma-informed counseling services and crisis intervention, and connecting students to helpful resources and support systems. She also provided comprehensive counseling services to survivors of domestic violence focusing on children and teens. In her free time, Kristina enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, and she loves the beach.

College/Career Counselor

Denton High School

Denton ISD

What influenced you to become a school counselor, college advisor, social worker, or counselor leader?

I had been a teacher and coach for many years and always had kids coming to me to discuss their life, personal concerns, future dreams, and so forth. As an art teacher and an artist myself, I learned quickly that our social/emotional support is just as important as content. Working with at-risk students, I learned very quickly that if you don't develop a positive relationship with them, it doesn't matter what you're trying to teach - it's vital for them to see you care and that it's relevant. At one school I had an advisory group, where I had the unique experience to loop with the same group of kids for four years. Those kids especially inspired me to pursue counseling and to be able to support more young minds.

Name an initiative or change that you were a part of that promoted advocacy for fellow counselors or students. Describe how that change has impacted your role or the lives of students?

It's difficult to focus on just one as change comes from a multitude of initiatives to make an impact. At my previous middle school, I was able to organize a community diversity night. Teachers, parents, and students all came together to celebrate diversity with food, music, dancing, and celebration. I also assisted in the college & community night, where the community came together to teach our youth about various options with college. At DHS, I've been able to drive a multitude of endeavors from FAFSA Friday for our Seniors, Nuclear Navy visits in Physics classes, DHS Distinguished Speaker Program for our future scientists with guest speakers from around the world, Teach Denton, Coast Guard with our Aquatic Biology classes, College Bootcamps for our seniors, DHS Works Group (an ongoing group for juniors and seniors to learn career buildings skills), Find your Future fair and ongoing career lessons/assessment with our freshmen and sophomores, guest speakers for our ESL/International Students, teaming up with community partners such as G-Force/UNT Career Connect, College workshop for our juniors who are first-generation or first to go to college, etc.

I believe these ongoing initiatives have made a greater impact on our students by providing role models from ALL walks of life and teaching them the resiliency skills needed to succeed in life. Being visible and giving students a voice on what is needed allows me to develop meaningful relationships to support them as needed.

What are you proudest of in your current position?

My DHS Works group has been one of my proudest accomplishments in my current position. This year, I have a group of 40-50 juniors and seniors with whom I regularly meet on a monthly basis. This year, I've been able to support them not only with career skills and future planning, but also socially/emotionally through this crazy year we've had. Seeing the happiness in their eyes when they got a job, got accepted into college, or were awarded that scholarship.. seeing their success through difficult times inspires me.

When the work gets hard, how do you find a balance between your work and personal life?

Being mindful and reminding myself that I am not alone. It's easy to close yourself off to others around you when the work gets tough. This is the exact opposite of what you should do. We have an amazing support team here at DHS, which allows me to thrive, be creative, grow, and feel supported. I surround myself with positive educators/staff, so when "work gets hard," it motivates me to keep going. In my personal life, I love adventure, being outdoors, laughing, yoga, spending time with family, and continuing my artwork in order to help me thrive and stay balanced.

What advice would you give to future counselors, college advisors, or social workers?

1. Connect with positive people who have a growth mindset at your workplace who are continuing to learn. These are people who will allow you to thrive and grow. Being a counselor is no easy task, but when you surround yourself with these people, it makes a HUGE difference.

2. Listen to your students. Sounds easy, but giving them a voice and letting them know they're supported makes a world of difference.

3. Most importantly, SELF-CARE! There's a reason why the airlines tell you to put on the oxygen mask yourself. If you're not taking care of yourself, there's no way you can take care of others.

Summer 2021sessions are ready! Thank you for your valuable feedback. We are continuing to gather data for fall planning and anticipate posting fall sessions by June 1, 2021.

April 20, 2021 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Growth Mindset: Helping Students Stretch their Brains and Explore their Possibilities

Helping students see the bigger picture, set goals, and reach for the stars is what counselors do best. This session is intended to examine and expand our own growth mindset while learning how to help our students expand theirs.

CPE Registration: https://bit.ly/3lT3zG0

LPC Registration: https://bit.ly/36TbjDG

April 27, 2021 9:00 a.m.

School Counselor Toolkit Tuesday

School Counselor Toolkit Tuesday is designed to provide quick counseling techniques, strategies, and ideas. We will discuss, demonstrate, and allow time for practice with each skill-based method. Keeping our toolkit full will help us all take on the challenges ahead.

CPE Registration: https://bit.ly/3qi2drE

LPC Registration: https://bit.ly/3ah0Gwi

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to take a deep dive into the work of Brene Brown!

June 28-July 2, 2021.

August 5, 2021

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

TEC chapter 21.054(e) mandates that administrators must attend professional development for continuing education requirements, which includes the effective implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program every five years. This training will serve as a trainer-of-trainers for counselor leaders who will train their administrators locally as well as for administrators who would like to meet the requirement directly.

Registration Link: https://registration.esc11.net/catalog/sessions/27567/51611

We want to hear from you! Please complete the form below to provide us with information on your professional learning needs.

This resource is available for adults aged 19+ who are in need of vision resources. Positive mental health begins with meeting general health needs.

ESC Region 11, in proud partnership with our Local Mental Health Agencies (LMHA), provides monthly training sessions for Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid.

Mental Health First Aid is an eight-hour course that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health and substance-use concerns, builds understanding of their impact, and gives an overview of common treatments.

There are both adult and youth versions of the course; both are intended for participants 18 and older. The adult version teaches how to recognize and support someone who might be experiencing a mental health or substance use issue, while the youth version teaches those who work with adolescents and transition-age youth similar concepts and skills. Participants will also be made aware of professional, peer, and self-help resources.

Registration for these sessions must be completed 30 days prior to the session and involves a two-step process. Participants will register on the ESC Region 11 registration site (https://registration.esc11.net/) as well as an EventBrite site for the LMHA conducting the training. The LMHA providing the training will use their EventBrite registrations to communicate with participants and provide any required pre-work.

Links for the EventBrite site will be provided in the course description in OnTrac.

The Texans Recovering Together initiative was designed in response to the mental health trends exacerbated by COVID-19. This free program is anxiously awaiting school personnel to partner with it to support mental health and well-being for educators. Requests include self-care workshops; group counseling for staff, parents, and students; and customized efforts. Every single county in the state of Texas is covered! Please let us know if you are interested in these services but are not located within the Region 11 territory. We are here to help!

We are NOW offering AS+K Suicide Prevention Training! Next session is July 22, 2021.

Session Description: The AS+K About Suicide to Save a Life curriculum has been used in Texas since 2005 and has trained more than 18,000 Texans through a training-of-trainer network as well as more than 20,000 participants online. This evidence-informed approach is widely recognized in Texas for its suicide prevention gatekeeper training for community members, faith-based organizations, veteran service organizations, schools and higher education, first responders, healthcare workers, and mental healthcare providers. Join us to learn about how the AS+K Suicide Prevention program can teach you the skills needed to address suicide prevention for the youth and adults you serve.

Registration Link: https://registration.esc11.net/catalog/sessions/26960/51050

Only 2 seats available!

Mental Health Agencies, Support Lines, Community Resources: TEA created this helpful quick-reference tool for your desktop as part of our COVID-19 response one year ago. Key numbers and links are embedded to help you connect students and families with local community services or specialized providers when needs are identified. Staff is encouraged to keep this tool on hand when working through local systems of support for students and their families.

FAQ for Remote Counseling and Student Support Services: TEA created this resource to support schools when transitioning to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic response. The guidance continues to be relevant for providing remote counseling and related student support services in remote education settings.

Educator Wellness: TEA developed this resource to equip school leaders to support educator wellness when returning to school for the 20-21 school year and beyond. Addressing educator wellness is an ongoing and intentional process that is critical for the health and well-being of your school staff! Shoutouts to school leadership teams for supporting the well-being of Texas educators!

Winter Storm Update and Trauma-Informed Resources: TEA provided an FAQ to school districts during the February 2021 storm to support disaster response and recovery. Understanding that this storm was another stressor for Texas families and schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, which can have a compounding traumatic impact, is important. TEA put together resources under Question 15 (page 7) on the linked FAQ that provides disaster behavioral health resources. These links are to support LEAs to assist the well-being of students and families after a severe weather event.

TEA Mental and Behavioral Health Resources: Visit TEA’s website for research-based practices, best practice-based programs, and training resources recommended by both the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and TEA pursuant to Texas Education Code § 38.351.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented change to schools and has significantly impacted children, their families, and school staff. The Texas School Safety Center has developed a new toolkit to address mental health considerations for supporting students, staff, and parents in the transition back to school. These mental health considerations are divided into eight topics:

1) Impact of Stress and Trauma

2) Re-engaging Disconnected Students
3) Abuse, Neglect, and Domestic Violence
4) Bullying in the Classroom
5) Child and Mental Health Awareness
6) Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
7) Substance Use
8) Developing Resiliency

Each topic includes information applicable to a school setting, key takeaways, and additional resources. Whether students return in person or participate in a mixture of remote and in-person instruction, proactively providing behavioral health services and supports in the school environment can help prevent academic and emotional decline.

The toolkit may be downloaded by topic or in its entirety.

Do you know a high school student who is passionate about emergency preparedness and community resilience? If so, he or she should apply to be on the Texas Youth Preparedness Council!

The Texas Youth Preparedness Council is a statewide group made up of youth leaders from across the state who are interested in preparedness and making their communities more resilient. The mission of the council is to engage and empower youth in individual and community preparedness activities and roles. The council provides an opportunity for Texas high school students to enhance their knowledge of preparedness and develop leadership skills that will help them in addressing the needs of their communities. Youth will work on local preparedness projects, be ambassadors for youth preparedness on the state level, and provide a unique perspective to state agencies interested in preparedness.

Those interested in applying to be on the council should visit the Texas Youth Preparedness Council webpage for more information and download the application. Applications are due by May 1, 2021.

Make plans now to attend the

2021 Virtual Texas School Safety Conference

scheduled for June 29-30, 2021.

During the past year, Texans have shown resiliency through tremendous changes. Join us as we build on the challenges of the past year to advance our shared goal of creating safe, secure, and healthy environments for Texas students.

Themed Texas Strong: Resiliency through Change, the conference will bring together educators, administrators, school-based law enforcement, and emergency managers to collaborate, network, and learn from each other. Nationally and state-recognized experts in various fields will share evidence-based approaches to improving school safety. In addition, informative breakout sessions will feature tools and best practices that you can implement in your district or school.

As we explore what it means to be resilient, we will examine how roles for educators and school-based law enforcement are changing and how we can embrace change to prepare for a more safe and secure future.

The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) is pleased to announce and offer the Advanced School Behavioral Threat Assessment Training. Registration is now open, so be sure to secure your spot today!

The Advanced School Behavioral Threat Assessment Training is open to individuals who have completed the Basic School Behavioral Threat Assessment and is intended for Safe and Supportive School Program Team members to attend together. With limited seating, school districts will be limited to five attendees who serve on the team and conduct behavioral threat assessments.

The training leads participants through multiple tabletop exercises on different fact patterns, providing participants the opportunity to handle threat cases from start to finish, iron out their roles and responsibilities, and hone their procedures and decision making, all with continuous trainer feedback. In addition to multiple tabletop exercises, common problems and solutions in implementing school threat assessment programs will be discussed.

To allow members from the same district to attend together, courses are restricted to participants from that specific region, even if they are offered virtually. Should a virtual or in-person spot be available two weeks prior to the training date, attendees from other regions will be considered.

Training Dates:

Virtual

• April 13, 2021 – Virtual (Open to Participants in ESC Region 20 – San Antonio)
  
• April 22, 2021 – Virtual (Open to Participants in ESC Region 3 – Victoria)
  
• April 27, 2021 – Virtual (Open to Participants in ESC Region 15 – San Angelo)
  
• May 4, 2021 – Virtual (Open to Participants in ESC Region 11 – White Settlement)
  
• May 18, 2021 – Virtual (Open to Participants in ESC Region 10 – Richardson)
  
• June 2, 2021 – Virtual (Open to Participants in ESC Region 2 – Corpus Christi)
  
• August 4, 2021 – Virtual (Open to Participants in ESC Region 18 – Midland)
  

Virtual Registration

The 2021 Say What! Summit season is finally here, and it’s going virtual! This year, we will be hosting five different summits dedicated to stopping the youth vaping epidemic and creating the first nicotine-free generation. Each summit is free and will take an in-depth look at the deceptive and manipulative tactics the tobacco industry has used to create the youth vaping crisis.

Summits will be led by the Say What! Teen Ambassadors and will feature expert guest speakers discussing the connection between vaping and COVID-19, why tobacco is a social justice issue and how you can help create justice, the tobacco industry’s dirty strategies when targeting youth and various communities, public policy, and how you can be the ultimate advocate for youth tobacco prevention.

Summit participants will receive:

• A downloadable vaping prevention project from each summit
• An opportunity to receive community service hours from each summit
• A commemorative summit t-shirt and lanyard
• Opportunities to connect with others, play games, and more

Virtual Summit Topics & Dates

• Becoming a Youth Tobacco Prevention Advocate – Saturday, April 10, 2021
• Being a Youth Tobacco Prevention Advocate – Saturday, April 24, 2021

SIGMA’s trusted partner in school, campus, and workplace safety, Margolis Healy, recently conducted a webinar on school safety in uncertain times, including expectations and challenges for 2021. It is highly informative and is available HERE, free of charge.

ESC Region 12 is offering this resource FREE for interested districts:

STOPit Solutions Partnership

ESC Region 12 is proud to partner with STOPit Solutions to offer its nation-leading Anonymous Reporting System and SEL Programs at no cost to our school districts. These programs empower students and staff to report inappropriate behavior, mental health, and safety issues to administrators at their school to ensure the safety and well-being of fellow students and staff. Additionally, it provides social and emotional learning resources and curriculum to students to help improve attitudes and behavior, gain a deeper commitment to learning, and improve classroom behavior.

School Safety and Mental Health

• Suicide Prevention
• Early Mental Health Intervention
• Mental Health Promotion
• Substance Abuse Prevention
• Substance Abuse Intervention
• Trauma-Informed & Grief Informed Practices
• Social/Emotional Skills
• Positive Behavior Interventions
• Child Abuse Prevention
• Human Trafficking
• School Safety
• Mental Health and Behavioral Health
• Safe and Supportive School Climate
• Counseling and Mental Health Services of the Coordinated School Health Model
  

• School Guidance and Counseling

• Health, Safety, & Discipline

Training

• Approved Trauma-Informed Training List

COVID-19

• COVID-19 Support & Guidance
• COVID-19 FAQ Remote Counseling and Student Support Services
  
• COVID-19 Mental and Behavioral Health Statewide Resource List

Adopted Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 101, Assessment, Subchapter DD, Commissioner's Rules Concerning Substitute Assessments for Graduation, §101.4002, State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness End-of-Course Substitute Assessments

Summary: The adopted amendment adds the new Texas Success Initiative Assessment, Version 2.0 to the list of approved substitute assessments. The amendment and figure were adopted without changes since published as proposed.

Figure: Substitute Assessments Standards

Effective Date: March 30, 2021

Adopted New 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter AA, Commissioner's Rules on College and Career Readiness, §74.1007, College, Career, or Military Readiness Outcomes Bonus

Summary: The new rule specifies applicable guidelines for the annual calculation of the College, Career, or Military Readiness (CCMR) Outcomes Bonus added by House Bill 3, 86th Texas Legislature, 2019. The new section was adopted without changes since published as proposed.

Effective Date: March 23, 2021

Join the Highly Mobile and At-Risk Team quarterly Webinar on April 1, 2021. This Webinar is for LEA leaders and education teams who support all student groups who are at-risk and highly mobile. The Division includes students who are homeless, students in foster care, pregnant and parenting, students with mental and behavioral health challenges, students engaged in the juvenile justice system, and students who are at-risk of dropping out of school. The team also works to address and prevent human trafficking and child abuse and promote safe and supportive schools.

Don't forget that TEA requires district personnel to be trained in trauma and grief. The approved programs are listed below! Additionally, if you are struggling to keep up with all of the requirements, we've added a link to an "at-a-glance document" created by TEA. When in doubt, always feel free to reach out with any questions or to ask for clarification.

Project Restore: TEA developed this online, training resource for educators to support the emotional well-being and social needs of students and school staff in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. School teams are successfully utilizing the resource as a lesson study, professional learning community, or individually in a self-paced setting. Completing the six modules will count for grief-informed and trauma-informed professional development requirements as well as for continuing education credits for Texas educators. This resource provides meaningful strategies for advancing wellness and resiliency in education!

Please help spread the word to any North Texas graduating high school students and continuing college/university students. Please see the attached for some flyers describing the scholarships detailed below. Both scholarships can be accessed at: www.LNESC.org/scholarships

Scholarships Available:

1. LNESC/Ford Driving Dreams Scholarships – (Deadline April 6, 2021) these $2,000 scholarships target graduating high school seniors at specific high school campuses throughout North Texas. Students should explore the list of eligible high schools at the website listed above or go directly to: https://lnesc.mainspringhost.com to review the list of eligible campuses. We expect that there will be significant increase in the number of applications as we have dropped the ACT/SAT test score requirements for this year's competition. The primary criteria will now be having an earned GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and submitting a transcript and a letter of recommendation.

The National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC) provides a variety of helpful resources to support districts in preventing students from dropping out of school. Through their years of research, the NDPC has identified 15 strategies that districts can incorporate which have proven effective in keeping students engaged in learning and progressing toward graduation and beyond. Visit Effective Dropout Prevention Strategies for more information.

T-STEM Academy Blueprint Revision Process

How to Provide Feedback: We are calling all STEM educators to participate in the T-STEM Blueprint revision process. There is no application process to participate. STEM educators are encouraged to take the survey and provide targeted feedback during the Focus Group sessions.

For more information visit the CCRSM Webpage.

New Texas STEM Toolkit Resource:

The TEA is excited to announce the publication of the STEM Family Companion Guide. This guide is designed to communicate information to families about what STEM is and how it can benefit their children. The guide is also designed to help families navigate educational decisions on the path from elementary school to STEM careers.

STEM Family Companion Guide

Program of Study Framework Documents Update

The Program of Study (POS) framework documents have been updated to include the Annual Notification of Nondiscrimination in Career and Technical Education Programs. You can access the editable versions of the POS framework documents here: Approved CTE Programs of Study

Free Exploring Energy Program for High School Students

The IPAA/PESA Energy Education Center is excited to share four opportunities for educators and high school students who are interested in learning about the energy industry. Starting Monday, January 25, 2021, teachers and students are invited to view a repository of videos gathered from all areas of energy to help in supporting energy education and to introduce the vast array of careers available within this ever-growing industry. This is a great way for high school students to travel virtually to the energy workplace. Find the details here:

https://www.ipaa.org/education/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/21_EEP_InfoPage.pdf

Register for access here: https://www.ipaa.org/education/exploring-energy/

• Webinar: The TSIA2. The launch date for the TSIA2 was January 11. This exam, which measures college readiness, contains many changes and updates from past versions. Watch our webinar to ensure that you’re up to date when it comes to testing content, accommodations, required training, and more.
• Future Focused TX. This campaign aims to maintain college enrollment rates in Texas despite the effects of COVID-19. Some experts expect as much as a 20 percent reduction in four-year college enrollment due to COVID-19. Educators who sign up will receive free, compelling, research-based digital content (like webinars, counselor packages, and weekly student activities) to help students graduate and matriculate into college.
• Check out some tried-and-true resources for hosting a career fair this spring, whether in person or virtual:
• • Texas OnCourse Career Fair Toolkit. Geared toward middle schoolers, this toolkit contains everything you need to host a successful career fair. Check out tips on goal setting, guest speaker prep, and more – plus lesson plans that will cement student learning.
  • Any Tips on Hosting a High School Career Fair? This article contains advice on what works at high school career fairs and what doesn’t, including some simple ideas to make your career fair a successful venture for all involved.
  • Sample Questions to Ask Professionals. Share these questions with your students ahead of time as they brainstorm what they want to know from guest speakers.
  • Planning a Virtual Career Fair for Middle and High School Students. This article contains advice on pivoting to virtual career fairs for both middle and high school students.
  • How to Host a Virtual Career Fair. Learn how to create a Google site for students to browse career fair information on their own time – plus download actual email and social media templates!
  • Webinar: Fun Career Activities for Middle School Students. This was one of our most popular webinars of 2020! You’ll discover fun career activities for middle school students, including Roadtrip Nation’s Texas documentary series and some of the best lessons from the College and Career Curriculum.

Explore a brand-NEW Texas OnCourse Academy module for K–12 educators

Texas OnCourse has just released a brand-new learning module in its online professional learning platform, the Texas OnCourse Academy. The module, Advising All Students to Be College Ready, was created in partnership with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for K-12 educators.

By completing this module, educators will learn:

• Exactly what college readiness means in Texas and why it’s so important for students, their families, and school districts
• How developmental education works
• Ways to demonstrate college readiness (including the TSI Assessment)
• What to consider when working with diverse student populations

When logged in to the Texas OnCourse Academy, look for the new module in the module directory or find it in the Postsecondary Pathways content area under Postsecondary Pathways: Foundational Knowledge (it’s module number two).

Log into the Academy here.

Join us on March 30th at 11:30 a.m. as we explain and demonstrate what the new CharacterStrong Middle & High School Social Emotional Learning Curriculum will look like for the 2021-2022 school. Learn how research, student voice, equity, ease of use, and our student's increased social and emotional needs has been the driving force behind the updates. Click the registration link below to reserve your spot.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a way for schools to create healthy environments for students and provide them with lifelong skills for successfully navigating life's challenges, including how to cope with suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors. SEL initiatives, especially when provided in tandem with suicide prevention programs, can safeguard students from becoming vulnerable and at-risk in the first place.

Read the entire white paper on this topic by accessing the SEL and Suicide Prevention in Schools link below:

Stephanie Lerner (aka School Counselor Stephanie) regularly creates guidance lessons for teachers and often sends out free lessons to those who follow her. This month, Stephanie shared a great guidance lesson on Gender Equality along with resources supporting Gender Equality. Check out the links below to see Stephanie's guidance lesson and resources.

Gender Equality Guidance Lesson - For a spring guidance lesson, consider using the Redraw the Balance video clip to teach about gender equality in the workforce. Be sure to download the lesson right away as the free link will expire in a few days.

Girls & Boys Empowerment Groups - In the spirit of Gender Equality Month, 2 of the 3 group counseling guides in my book, Get Your Group On focus on gender equality! Girl World and Boys' Voice are full of empowerment and equity themes. You can find both of these group guides as well as one on anger management in this publication! Also, did you know that reviews are one of the most important factors in a book’s success? If you have the book, I would so appreciate you taking a few minutes to leave a review here.

Learning for Justice - There are also wonderful resources for guidance lessons on this topic at Teaching Tolerance's re-branded website.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist Training - Speaking of Gender Equality Month, ASCA'S Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist training is free to all and allows you to earn 5 CEUs/50 Contact Hours. Sign up here.

The School Counselor & Gender Equity- For more info on supporting students with gender equality, check out ASCA's position statement on this topic.

When it comes to sensitive subjects, having open conversations with kids can be difficult — even when we know how essential it is to keep talking. This month, Childmind.org is offering resources to help parents through important conversations that can be emotional, confusing, or just plain awkward. They have tips on how to start the conversation and how to make sure kids feel supported and get the message. They also offer guidance on keeping the conversation open and learning alongside your kids.

We have included links to some of their great articles below:

In addition, FrameWorks Institute has provided a toolkit of resources to help young people tell a new story about this time of life and the people in it.

Website: https://www.esc11.net/domain/421
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Twitter: @ESCR11Counselor

LB 03.29.21