School Counselor Connection
Monthly updates for Arizona School Counselors
January 2023
Welcome to the new year and a new School Counselor Connection newsletter.
School Counselor Connection is brought to you by: Andrea Glenn, Director of Post-Secondary & Community Engagement and Emily Brown, School Counselor Director at the Arizona Department of Education.
This newsletter contains a lot of information, to view the entire newsletter please view in a browser.
My Future AZ Trainings
Every month ADE and Pipeline AZ host virtual trainings for new and returning users that will demo the My Future AZ platform, review the types of accounts available, and show how a district/charter/school can easily set up to start using the program.
Spring semester trainings are from 3:00pm-4:00pm. Click on the date below to register.
3/14/23- Returning Users (Spring break)
Short on time? ADE and Pipeline AZ are offering Bite Size Best Practices. These training sessions will be under 30 minutes and will include a quick demo of one best practice followed by a question and answer session. The dates for Bite Size Best Practices are: January 25, February 22, March 22, April 19 from 3:00pm-3:30pm. To register for the Bite Size Best Practices please click here.
All training sessions are recorded. Please register if you would like to watch the recording, it will be emailed out to all registrants after the training session concludes.
If your school or district is looking to onboard with My Future AZ, please send an email to MyFutureAZ@azed.gov for next steps.
Call for Presentations
The Association for Career and Technical Education and the Arizona Department of Education are excited to host the 2023 CTE Summer Conference, which takes place July 14 – 19, 2023 in Tucson, AZ. The 2023 theme is “The Power of Connection”.
This conference is open to administrators, counselors, teachers, and industry members. It will provide professional development sessions, as well as opportunities to connect and network with peers, program areas, and the CTE community.
We are currently accepting proposals for sessions for the School Counselors Track. Sessions will be 90 minutes in length. The sessions for the School Counselors Track will be held Monday July 17 and Tuesday July 18.
While we welcome a wide variety of subjects, we are primarily focused on sessions within the following topics:
- Employers, Schools and Educator Partnerships for Extraordinary Student Success
- Extraordinary Leadership Skills for CTE and Educational Leaders in your Districts and Schools
- Student Assessment
- Engaging Instruction
- Facilities, Equipment, Technology and Materials
- Career and Technical Student Organizations Best Practices
- Work-Based Learning and the Future of the Workforce
- Standards-aligned and integrated curriculum
- Best Practices in Connecting Students with Industry Licensure and Certifications
- Equity, Diversity and Cultural Influences in Teaching
- Growing CTE Ambassadors, including Advocacy Training and the Latest Effectiveness in Data & Research
- Share the Latest Knowledge of our Partners-Exhibitors’ Presentations
- The Many Hats, Impact and Talents of School Counselors
- Speed Networking CTE Programs & Sharing with Colleagues
- Recruitment and Retention of Special Populations
- Developing Leadership Skills for CTE and Educational Leaders
- How to Build Future CTE Leaders from Within the Ranks of Your District
- Developing and Sustaining Effective Post-Secondary Partnerships (Dual Enrollment, Shared Advisory Councils, etc.
If interested in submitting a proposal please email Emily.Brown@azed.gov by February 10, 2023.
Professional Development Opportunities
The Time is NOW! Sign up for a PAX Good Behavior Game Training for 2023!
“Since starting PAX in the classroom, we have seen incredible results! Parents are starting to ask if there is a training for at home, as they are also seeing changes in their children outside of the classroom in such a short time.” Adria Matthew, Prima Vera Schools
In partnership with the Arizona Department of Education, PAXIS Institute is providing virtual and self-paced PAX Good Behavior Game trainings at no cost to Arizona school-based staff.
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 improve students' behavior and stamina for focused attention and on-task behavior.
In a recent survey, 94% of Arizona Educators trained in The PAX Good Behavior Game reported that PAX had improved their students focus, organization, and confidence! To learn more or to schedule a training, email paxarizona@paxis.org
The School Preparedness team at ADE would like to advertise upcoming school safety trainings:
Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) workshop
Date: January 27, 2023 from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: 4650 W. Sweetwater Ave Glendale, AZ 85304 (Washington Elementary School District Office)
Register for this workshop at: https://forms.gle/eB7nPBvz9nQ1QjkN6
You may contact Ivonne Garber, ADE School Preparedness Specialist, at Ivonne.Garber@azed.gov with any questions.
What is SafeTALK?
SafeTALK is a four-hour face-to-face workshop featuring powerful presentations, audiovisuals, and skills practice. At this workshop, you'll learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, engaging someone, and connecting them to an intervention resource for further support.
SafeTALK in person training on January 25, 2023 from 12:30 pm-4:30 pm at 100 N. 15th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85007
National School Counseling Week 2023
High School Specific Resources
FAFSA Spring Training- Free Tickets
The Arizona Cactus League, the Arizona Board of Regents and Ask Benji are teaming up to encourage college-bound Arizona high school seniors to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When it comes to paying for college it’s a home run! Complete your FAFSA and you could score four free Arizona Cactus League spring training tickets to a baseball game this season!*
The first 750 Arizona high school seniors who meet all promotion guidelines and apply will receive four free spring training tickets!
It’s easy to qualify:
Be a current 12th-grade high school student attending an Arizona high school.
Complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA.**
Complete the spring training submission form.
*Tickets are subject to availability. Offer applies to games occurring between Feb. 24 and March 11, 2023. In the submission form, students will be asked to select their first, second and third spring training game choices; however, selection does not guarantee tickets will be available for any of the games selected.
** A complete 2023-2024 FAFSA must be on file with the U.S. Department of Education at the time of entry. Students who do not have a FAFSA on file or have an incomplete application on file will not qualify.
For more information visit: http://fafsaspringtraining.org/
Chicanos Por La Causa Boot Camp Trainings for High School Seniors
We are working with the Maricopa County Community College District to promote the free 10-day boot camps MCCCD has put together for the aerospace and the semiconductor industries. The aerospace boot camp is taught by Boeing and leads to jobs with them. The semiconductor boot camp is taught by Intel and leads to jobs with Intel or TSMC. These boot camps are perfect for seniors in high school.
Updates from Aliento
We know there are a lot of questions regarding Prop. 308: In-state tuition for Dreamers. We are getting ready to start holding training sessions for educators, counselors, and students who want to learn more about the implementation of in-state tuition for Dreamers! Please visit our site https://www.alientoaz.org/instate-tuition and fill out the interest form below if you want to know more about the implementation as soon as the details become available. https://actionnetwork.org/forms/in-state-tuition-for-dreamers-implementationtraining-interest-form/.
Aliento’s Cultiva Program offers DACA, undocumented, and mixed-status students, youth, and families the space to share their experiences and heal through art. Our workshops are intergenerational— for children (7 years +) AND adults who self-identify as undocumented, DACA, Dreamer, immigrant, migrant, or children of immigrants (from mixed-status families). They are also bilingual (English and Spanish) so folks can speak whichever language they feel the most comfortable in. Every First Friday, we host an open mic for the community where we explore migration from an intersectionality lens. This is a welcoming space where we can be whole, feel safe, and be in the community. If you are interested in attending either of our Cultiva events, please complete this interest form.
Additionally, we have adapted Arts + Healing Workshops to implement at elementary schools. Aliento works closely with school administrators to identify students who are undocumented, DACA, Dreamer, immigrant, migrant, or children of immigrants (from mixed-status families). Once enrolled, students participate in monthly workshops where they explore different social-emotional learning topics including identity, gratitude, and agency while practicing bravery and vulnerability. If you or your school administration is interested in learning more about our Arts + Healing Fellowship Program, please contact Anna Ortiz at aortiz@alientoaz.org.Change in NAU Admission Requirements for Students Entering in Fall 2023
Access to Excellence: NAU will provide a tuition-free college education for every Arizona resident with a household income of $65,000 or below starting in Fall 2023, assuring tuition will be fully covered by scholarships and financial aid. Approximately 50% of Arizona households currently meet this financial threshold.
NAU remains committed to expanding educational opportunities for Indigenous and Native American students. Keeping with this mission, students who are members of Arizona’s 22 recognized tribes (including those living out of state) will automatically qualify for Access to Excellence, regardless of household income.
Find out more about this program here: https://nau.edu/legacy/admissions/access2excellence/
Changes in Merit-Based Scholarship Criteria: Scholarship criteria for students entering NAU in Fall 2023 have changed since last year. Find out more about how criteria have changed here: https://nau.edu/office-of-scholarships-and-financial-aid/freshman-merit-based-tuition-scholarships/
Counselors, students, and parents can connect with their Admission Officers for any questions, concerns, requests, or for 1:1 appointments at: https://nau.edu/admission/admissions-officers/
Admitted students, their parents, and counselors can also check out how to complete next steps of enrollment at: https://nau.edu/admission/freshmen-next-steps/
Students and families can watch a virtual campus visit presentation and take a virtual tour of campus at: https://nau.edu/virtual-nau/
Students and families are welcome to visit the Flagstaff campus for a campus tour. Students and families can register for on-campus tours here: https://nau.edu/admission/daily-campus-tours/
Mayo Clinic CARES Program
Click here for application instructions: Mayo Clinic CARES website (“How to Apply” tab)
Application deadline is February 1.
Students can choose from two program options: a 4-week in-person program or a 2-week, virtual program (with preference given to non-Maricopa County residents for virtual program admission).
For more information or questions, you can reach us at officeforeducationdiversity@mayo.edu.
All Grade Levels Resources
Diverse Ability Incorporated- Peer-Based Person-Centered Plans
With support and funding from ADE/ESS Special Projects, Diverse Ability Incorporated is able to provide Peer-Based Person-Centered Plans to up to 50 Arizona public school students who have disabilities, this school year.
Experienced youth facilitators assist students to complete discovery activities and gather input from those most important to them prior to engaging in a comprehensive planning process, which results in an action plan that is useful during IEP and Transition Plan development and implementation. Peer-Based Person-Centered Plans are helpful for all students, and are ideal for students who are experiencing uncertainty about something in their lives, or who may have a transition on the horizon. Peer-Based Person-Centered Plans offer a pathway for students to navigate their own journeys, in a way that also guides supporters in honoring their needs, choices, and dreams.
Next steps are quick and easy, please either complete this form, or email pbs4youth@diverseabilityincorporated.org, and Diverse Ability Incorporated will connect with you to get the process started.
School Counselor Spotlight
Email Distribution List
Do you have colleagues who didn’t receive this email? Please click here so we can add/update their information in our database.
Emily Brown- School Counselor Director
Email: Emily.Brown@azed.gov
Website: https://www.azed.gov/cte/counselors
Location: Arizona Department of Education
Phone: 602-542-5353
Andrea Glenn- Director of Post-Secondary & Community Engagement
Email: Andrea.glenn@azed.gov
Website: https://www.azed.gov/ccr
Location: Arizona Department of Education
Phone: 602-364-4799