Counselor Connection--February 14
Education Service Center Region 15
National School Counselor Week/ Region Recognition
Kimber Carney Bennett
Elementary School Counselor of the Year
Brownwood ISDRachel Gandar
San Angelo ISD
Dr. Lesley Casarez
Jan Friese Counselor Advocate of the Year
ESC Region 15Several of our region schools/counselors were recognized this week at the Texas School Counselor Association Professional School Counselor Conference. Join me in congratulating:
- Rhosine Fleming Award
- Elementary School Counselor of the Year: Kimber Bennett, Brownwood ISD
- High School Counselor of the Year: Rachel Gandar, San Angelo ISD
- Jan Friese Counselor Advocate of the Year: Dr. Lesley Casarez, Region 15 Service Center
- Campus Administrator of the Year: Dr. Amy Lemaster, San Angelo ISD
- CREST Campuses
The Rhosine Fleming Award was established in memory of Rhosine DuBose Fleming, who was a counselor for Richardson ISD when she died in 1971. Rhosine was instrumental in the organization of Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) in 1966 and served as TSCA Secretary. This award is given each year to an outstanding school counselor at each level and stands as a living memorial to Rhosine’s dedication, professional involvement, and growth.
Award categories are as follows:
- Elementary School Counselor of the Year
- Middle School Counselor of the Year
- High School Counselor of the Year
- Multilevel School Counselor of the Year
- Counselor Supervisor of the Year
- Counselor Advocate of the Year
- Counselor Educator of the Year
- Campus Administrator of the Year
- Legislator of the Year
To qualify for the award, nominations are made based on a letter of recommendation detailing significant contributions to the field of school counseling. Professional school counseling experience and leadership participation in the areas of supervision, professional development, program implementation, and/or program advocacy are also considered.
Comprehensive school counseling cannot take place without the support of school and community stakeholders. The Jan Friese Counselor Advocate of the Year and the Campus Administrator of the Year awards are presented to honor those individuals that have supported the role of the professional school counselor through one or more of the following activities: updated campus or district policy aligning the role of the professional school counselor with state statute and/or best practices, have supported and collaborated with the professional school counselor to organize, plan, design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program as delineated in the Texas Model for School Counseling Programs (2018), have advocated with school, district, or community stakeholders on behalf of professional school counselors, and have introduced school counselor supported state or federal legislation.
Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) is sponsored by the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) and awarded to school counseling programs that meet CREST requirements. CREST is a continuous improvement document that school counseling programs can use to demonstrate effective communication and a commitment to obtaining results.
The CREST awards recognize schools across Texas that appropriately utilize their Professional School Counselors and demonstrate a continuous commitment to building a campus team and programs based on the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, endorsed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
These award-winning campuses engage their Professional School Counselors to provide students with the classroom guidance, college and career readiness, and social/emotional skills needed to be academically successful and well-prepared for life. Professional School Counselors receiving the CREST award use data-driven results to show the effectiveness of their comprehensive guidance and counseling program.
School Counselor Spotlight
Shantee' has many ways to decompress, including journaling, meditating, prayer, reading, hidden object games, and going for walks. Her favorite tool to use in her work is empathy as she likes seeing their issues or concerns through their eyes.
Shantee' is the proud mother of four sons aged 24-16. She has enjoyed watching them grow into productive and respectful young men. A fun fact about Shantee' is she loves to watch cartoons and old tv shows.
Email: shantee.arps@trinityleadership.net
Website: https://www.trinityleadership.net/
Location: 1231 East Pleasant Run Road, Cedar Hill, Texas 75104, USA
Phone: (972) 291-2505
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrinityLeadership
Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest
For more information visit: https://gallery.txsystemofcare.org/
How are your campus "At Bats"?
- Count of eligible students: The counts are reflective of students that are registered in the testing system and meet one of the eligibility criteria bulleted below.
- All registered students in grades 3-8 are included.
- All registered students in grades 9-12 that have been marked eligible for an EOC test are included.
- Count of students with at least [#] at bats: During the current school year, students have been able to accrue ‘at bats’ through Beginning-of-Year (BOY) testing, assessments administered via TFAR, STAAR Interim Assessments, and Opportunity 1 of TTAP.
Advancing Behavioral Health Collaboration (ABC) Summit Recap
Attend the Texas School Health Advisory Committee Meeting
The Texas School Health Advisory Committee will hold its Spring meeting on Monday, February 27, 2023. There is an option to attend virtually through Microsoft TEAMS or in person. View the agenda and meeting information.
February is National Children's Dental Health Month
The American Dental Association’s Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention has announced that the February 2023 National Children’s Dental Health Month materials are now available. Use posters at school to encourage healthy oral hygiene among students. View posters, flyers, and other resources. Visit the Department of
State Health Services Smiles in Schools webpage for local resources and information.
The Learning Lab School Safety Podcast
Introducing the Texas School Safety Center’s Learning Lab School Safety Podcast, where there are thought-provoking conversations about safety and security issues facing Texas schools and communities. Join hosts, Dr. Celina Bley, Associate Director of Training and Education, and Stephanie Peterson, Training and Education Specialist and Licensed Professional Counselor, as they sit down with passionate “boots on the ground” Texans who are working to improve the physical, mental, social-emotional, and digital safety of Texas youth.
In each episode, the hosts and expert guests analyze and highlight the challenges and successes of improving Texas youth safety and security. Visit the new Podcasts tab on the TXSSC website to check out our first episodes!
Here are a couple of episodes that may be of particular interest to counselors:
College, career, and military readiness resources
February is National CTE Month!
Board-Approved Amendment to the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
On January 26, 2023 at its quarterly meeting, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved amendments to the Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter C, Rule 4.54, concerning the ACT assessment. The benchmarks are used by students to qualify for an exemption under the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) provided in Texas Education Code (TEC), Subchapter F-1, Section 51.331 (et seq.).
- ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023: composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test shall be exempt for both the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment, and/or 19 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment;
- ACT administered on or after February 15, 2023: a combined score of 40 on the English and Reading (E+R) tests shall be exempt for both reading and writing or ELAR sections of the TSI Assessment. A score of 22 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no composite score.
- The use of scores from both the ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023, and the ACT administered after February 15, 2023, is allowable, as long as the benchmarks set forth in clause (ii) of this subparagraph are met.
More details regarding reporting procedures for these amendments by Texas public institutions of higher education are forthcoming. A copy of the Board agenda item, including the approved rule amendment is attached.
THECB Board Agenda Item X-H (4) January 2023
CTE Programs of Study Refresh
TEA will engage stakeholders throughout Spring 2023 to review the current programs of study and consider updates. TEA first published programs of study in Summer 2019 for implementation in the 2020-21 school year and committed to a 4-year review cycle. TEA will gather input from across Texas by conducting six regional listening tours. The listening tours will include feedback sessions for school district personnel, industry and business leaders, parents, and students. Information gathered from the listening tours will be used by an advisory committee comprised of industry, education, and government leaders in each of the career clusters to make recommendations for the programs of study refresh. To learn more about the opportunities to participate in one of the listening tours, or apply to be part of the advisory committee, watch for additional details in the TEA CTE listserv over the next few months.
Texas Systems of Care Mini-Grants
- Texas Systems of Care is awarding 10 mini-grants of up to $2,000 each to support creative youth-led projects that bring awareness to mental health in their school or community.
- Applications are due February 10th. For more information visit https://txsystemofcare.org/youth-led-mini-grants/ or email info@txsystemofcare.org
Need CTE courses now?
Texas First Diploma
Texas First Webinar
CTE Summer 2023 TEKS Review Work Group Application
The SBOE’s TEKS review and revision process requires the direct participation of educators, parents, business and industry representatives, and employers. The SBOE is now accepting applications for the Summer 2023 CTE TEKS review work groups. Applications will be submitted to SBOE members for approval in February – March. TEKS review work groups will convene for at least two face-to-face meetings in Austin which may include Saturdays. Additional days or virtual meetings may be scheduled if needed. TEA reimburses work group members for their travel and meal expenses. Workgroup members will be expected to complete an online orientation session and may be asked to complete pre-work exercises prior to their meeting.
To access the application and more information regarding the Summer 2023 CTE TEKS review, please visit the Summer 2023 CTE TEKS Review webpage at https://tea.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_exGr3G15yQGU9Qq.
Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible. The application deadline is Monday, March 27, 2023.
Questions regarding the application or TEKS review process may be sent via email to teks@tea.texas.gov.
New Occupational Safety and Health TEKS Draft Recommendations
When providing specific comments and recommendations, please identify the course in the subject line of the email. For example, in the subject line, please indicate "CTE TEKS Review - Occupational Safety and Health." Please submit comments to TEA at teks@tea.texas.gov
ASU FAFSA NIGHT
Need Assistance with your 2023-2024 FAFSA? Financial Aid Counselors will be available to assist with the process and answer any questions. January 15th is the priority date!
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the single most important thing you can do to get money for college. By completing a FAFSA, students may be eligible for federal grants (free money), work-study funds, and federal student loans, including some institutional and state-based aid.
For information on items needed to complete the FAFSA, please read 7 Things You Need Before Filling Out the FAFSA® Form.
Wednesday, Mar 29, 2023, 05:00 PM
Math-Computer Science, Dena Dr, San Angelo, TX 76909, USA
Military Connectedness Resources
Professional Development
Special on CharacterStrong Trainings
The School Culture Trainings will be led by Houston and the other co-founder John Norlin.
TEA Mental and Behavioral Health Team and Project AWARE Texas Webinars
The TEA Mental and Behavioral Health Team and Project AWARE Texas will be hosting a series of monthly webinars on school mental health topics including substance use/abuse prevention, school and community partnerships, parent engagement, and school safety.
Join a webinar every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 11:00 am CST to 12:00 pm CST from January to June.
This Webinar Series is sponsored by
Project AWARE Texas
for the purpose of advancing wellness and resiliency in education.
Save the Dates
and Time via Zoom
11:00 am-12:00 pm (CST)
- February 8th: Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCG)
- March 8th: Accessing Resources Using the School Mental Health Database
- April 12th: Securing Community Partnerships
- May 10th: Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT)
- June 14th: Parent & Family Engagement
Upcoming Sessions at ESC
Texas School Safety Center Restorative Practice Training
Restorative Practices helps us to build healthy relationships by identifying core values and establishing consensus around how we relate to one another. Restorative Practices provides a process for effective communication, establishing healthy boundaries, taking responsibility, solving conflict, healing when harm has occurred, and creating accountability for self and others.
In this 4-hour session, participants will first learn about what Restorative Practices is and is not, followed by why Restorative Practices is a proactive and reactive tool that campuses should have in their intervention toolbox. Participants will also learn how to facilitate the restorative process, implement foundational structures for implementation, key components for data collection, and analysis to track program effectiveness.
Register Online at https://forms.txssc.txstate.edu/rpe/fy23-reg/form?selected=43198
Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023, 07:30 AM
612 South Irene Street, San Angelo, TX, USA
Emergency and After Hours Resources
This list is of known providers of particular services. The providers on the list are from a variety of sources. The list is being provided as a courtesy, for information only, and the user should understand that no assurances or guarantees regarding the providers on the list are being made by providing this list. We do not endorse, approve, or recommend any specific provider listed below. This list is not inclusive of all community agencies, services, or organizations that provide the particular service, and the omission of an agency, service, or organization from this list does not imply disapproval. It is the responsibility of the user of this list to determine whether any of the content is of value to them and whether or not the agency, service, or organization meets their specific needs.
________________________________________________________________________
National
- Emergency: (24/7): 911
- Referral Services: (crisis counseling, housing, food, health care, family services): 211 | https://www.211texas.org/
- Suicide Prevention: 988 | 988lifeline.org
- Self-Injury/Cutting: 1-800-366-8288 | selfinjury.com
- Eating Disorders: 1-800-931-2237 | nationaleatingdisorders.org
- Runaway Hotline: 1-800-231-6946 | 1800runaway.org
- Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 | childhelp.org/hotline/
- Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org
- Domestic/Relationship Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | thehotline.org
- Trevor Hotline for LGBTQ Youth: 1-866-488-7386 | thetrevorproject.org
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline | samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
- Other resources for developing healthy lifestyles, including mental and emotional help: helpguide.org
ESC 15 Counseling and Mental Health
Email: mentalhealth@esc15.net
Website: https://www.esc15.net/
Phone: (325)658-6571
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Region15ESC/
Twitter: @Region15ESC
Lesley Casarez, PhD, CCTS-I, CTP, CSC
Greg Hickey, LPC
(325) 658-6571 x2113
Anne Hardegree, LPC-S
(325) 481-4019
Alex Robles, LPC
(325) 481-4009
Alex Nieto
(325) 481-2151
Ella Nichols, LBSW
(325) 481-4062
Noemi Ucuk
Jessica Flores, LPC, BCBA
(325) 481-4057
Carol Stevens, M.Ed. CSC
McKinney-Vento, HELP Grant, and Counseling