Counselor Connection--October 2
Education Service Center Region 15
School Counselor Spotlight
To decompress, Sofia likes to go shopping and talk it out with a loved one. She says, "I love my family with all my heart." She says a fun fact about her is that she loves to dance anywhere!
Email: sofia.arroyo@sfdr-cisd.org
Website: https://www.sfdr-cisd.org/middle-schools/del-rio-middle-school/
Location: 720 Raymond Lozano Blvd, Del Rio, TX
Phone: (830) 778-4542
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sfdrcisd
Twitter: @sfdrcisd
Happy October Birthdays!
Daisy Sanchez, Bronte
- Geneva Garza–Eden
- Raelynn Cajas–SAISD
Mental Health Literacy for Educators
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
For National Bullying Prevention Month this October, join forces with Committee for Children to help keep kids safe! We invite you to participate in our Captain Compassion campaign to prevent bullying and spread kindness in your community:
- Visit CaptainCompassion.org to access the weekly installments of the webcomic series, as well as educational videos, posters for your classroom, relevant research, and a social media toolkit.
- Read the webcomics with your students and talk about the steps you can take to prevent bullying. Don’t forget to check back each week for the latest installment, because each webcomic contains a hidden, coded word for your students to find.
FAFSA Updates
We’re making big changes to the 2024–25 FAFSA® form to create a better experience for students and families. These changes include
•expanded eligibility for federal student aid,
•a more streamlined application process, and
•a better user experience for the FAFSA form.
We have resources available to help you understand these changes, and additional resources and updated information will be coming soon. Consider registering for our How To Prepare for the 2024–25 FAFSA® Form webinar on Oct. 25, 2023.
Free Health and Opioid Prevention Education (HOPE) Curriculum
The Health and Opioid Prevention Education (HOPE) Curriculum is a kindergarten through high school opioid prevention curriculum designed to support local health education curriculum. The HOPE Curriculum supports the ORC 3313.60 requirements to provide a health education curriculum that “includes instruction on the dangers of prescription opioid abuse and the connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs, such as heroin.”
The HOPE Curriculum provides developmentally appropriate lessons to build students' skills and functional health knowledge that leads to healthy behaviors students can demonstrate throughout their life.
New Community Kit and Tobacco Prevention Resources!
It’s Okay to Ask for Help Kit Decades of research shows that youth and young adults face unique challenges and hardships, and since their brain develops until 25, feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression can be difficult to navigate. Research also shows a great number of youth and young adults cope with their emotions and hardships with unhealthy behaviors like using tobacco products or not seeking emotional support from a trusted person. This kit includes the following materials:
Texas College Bridge Webinar
Thursday, October 19
1:00 PM
The second phase of a state-wide evaluation of Texas College Bridge, analyzing data from 17 colleges and universities over a 2-year period, is now complete and we are excited to share the results with you.
Preparation for better college performance
Texas College Bridge provides free online college preparatory courses in English and math. Students can follow a personalized study path, with support from teacher facilitators, and at the time of graduation, earn a TSI exemption from more than 90 participating colleges and universities across Texas.
Webinar details and registration
This one-hour webinar will provide an overview of Texas College Bridge, and will highlight the results from the state-wide evaluation of Texas College Bridge, including two years of first-semester academic performance data and persistence to second semester and second year. In addition, we will provide a brief update on some of the new features within Texas College Bridge and the EdReady platform, addressing both student and administrator needsNEW AI RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
The report characterizes AI as an evolving suite of technologies designed for data pattern recognition and action automation, and it offers guidance to educators on leveraging these technologies to further educational objectives, all while assessing and mitigating associated risks.
U.S. Office of Educational Technology’s Recommendations:
- Emphasize Humans in the Loop: AI should augment, not replace, educators. The irreplaceable human touch must remain central to education.
- Align AI Models to a Shared Vision for Education: AI tools should be evaluated based on their alignment with overarching educational goals, not just outcomes.
- Design Using Modern Learning Principles: AI applications should be rooted in contemporary educational principles and be inclusive of all learners.
- Prioritize Strengthening Trust: Trust in AI tools is crucial. This can be fostered through transparency, collaboration, and continuous feedback.
- Inform and Involve Educators: Educators should be integral to the AI integration process, from design to deployment.
- Focus R&D on Addressing Context and Enhancing Trust and Safety: Research should delve into the diverse contexts of AI tool usage and ensure their safety and reliability.
- Develop Education-Specific Guidelines and Guardrails: As AI becomes more prevalent in education, clear guidelines and regulations are essential to ensure its safe and effective use.
Filling Your Cup: Comprehensive Self-Care Strategies
Earning Purple Star Campus Designation
The Purple Star Campus Designation recognizes Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools that show their support and commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families. This unique designation is awarded each fall.
Please join us for the Fall 2023 Purple Star Campus Designation interest meeting on October 24, 2023 at 2pm. During the webinar, we will discuss the following topics:
- Introduction to the Purple Star Campus designation program
- Program requirements and criteria
- Sample program exemplars
- Preparing for the application process
- Benefits of the Purple Star Campus designation and more!
The webinar is open to ALL Texas public school district and open-enrollment charter campuses across the state. Seating is limited, so you must register to attend this informative webinar.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, October 24th at 2pm. Click the button below to register. Feel free to forward this email to others who may not be on our military-connected students listserv. To subscribe to our listserv and receive important news and updates regarding programs throughout the Texas Education Agency, please visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXTEA/subscriber/new. Once there, subscribers can enter their email address and select from the list of programs. Be sure to click the box next to Military-Connected Students and Highly Mobile and At-Risk Programs.
If you have any questions, please reach us via email at militaryconnectedstudents@tea.texas.gov.
Respectfully,
Military-Connected Student Programs
Hoar & Howard College Trades Day (10/6)
This is a great opportunity to get more information and connect with potential employers:
Hoar & Howard College would like to invite you all to a Trades Day at the Shannon West Expansion Project on October 6th from 12-5 p.m.! The goal of this event is to expose as many high school-aged students to the construction industry as possible and to show how successful a career in this field can be. They will have speakers from several trade partners to discuss what a career path with them looks like as well as Howard College will present their current offerings of classes as well as unveil some new classes coming in the Spring of 2024! Participants will go on a job walk to tour the hospital expansion that is currently being built. They are in an exciting part of the project with lots happening so there is plenty to see and talk about. The goal is to end job walks and presentations at 3:00 pm and leave the remaining time for milling around and networking. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes. See the flier by clicking HERE.TEKS Review Focus Group Opportunities
Education Service Center (ESC) 15 is pleased to extend an invitation to you to participate in a meeting to discuss feedback on work group draft recommendations from the 2023 CTE TEKS review and revision for courses in the following programs of study and CTE courses. Feedback to TEA is due Oct. 13, surveys will close Oct. 11:
Animal science, Plant science, Agribusiness will be discussed October 4, 9 am to noon – ESC Region 15 if you are unable to attend, please consider completing the following surveys:
2023 CTE TEKS Review - Agribusiness
2023 CTE TEKS Review – Animal Science
2023 CTE TEKS Review – Plant Science
Principles of Technology (satisfy science credit) and Scientific Research and Design (satisfy science credit) will be discussed October 2, 9 to noon – ESC 15. If you are unable to attend, please consider completing the following surveys:
2023-2024 CTE Course Catalog
2023-2024 CTE Course Catalog Career and Technical Education With Texas Student Data System PEIMS Codes and Descriptions is available!
CTE Course List (9/19/2023) (This list use to be out on txcte.org and will now be available on the TEA Program of Study Card at the bottom)
Highly Mobile and At-Risk 2023-24 Quarterly Webinars
Greetings from the Highly Mobile and At-Risk (HMAR) Student Programs Division. We hope you are having an excellent start to the new school year. It is our pleasure to invite you to join us for our annual series of informative quarterly webinars for the 2023-24 school year. The first webinar is just a few weeks away and we're kicking off the year with some exciting information including:
- Reminders, tips, suggestions, best practices, program updates and announcements intended to help prepare students for a strong start to the year;
- Legislative updates from the 88th Legislature regarding Highly Mobile and At-Risk student populations with implications for professional practice;
- Highly Mobile students and the implications for campus accountability; and
- much more!
HMAR Quarterly Webinar #2 | November 30, 2023 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm | Register Here
HMAR Quarterly Webinar #3 | February 15, 2024 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm | Register Here
HMAR Quarterly Webinar #4 | May 2, 2024 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm | Register Here
TACAC Webinars
Helping Students Plan a Meaningful Summer
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
9:00-10:00 am CST
Hear from high school counselors about ways to work with students to plan engaging, meaningful summers.
Unpacking and Helping Students and Families Understand Financial Aid Offers
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
9:00-10:00 am CST
Hear from college admissions and financial aid officers to learn how high school counselors can help students and families understand the details of and compare offers from different schools.
We are excited to announce The 67th Annual TCA Professional Growth Conference will be held at the Marriott Marquis Houston on Nov. 1-3, 2023. This year's theme is Counselors Lead.
What to Expect:
- Earn 20+ CE hours
- Keynote Sessions
- Poster Sessions
- 4 Learning Institutes
The Marriott Marquis Houston, an elegant hotel in downtown Houston, will host our entire conference. The hotel group rate is $122 until the block fills up. Please book your room now as these rooms are going quickly!
San Antonio, here we come! The 19th Annual Professional School Counselor Conference will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio on Feb. 4-6, 2024. Next year's theme is Let's Sparkle and Shine! We hope to see you there! #CelebratingBrilliance2024
Virtual Bullying and Cyberbullying Training
Preventing bullying and mitigating its impact begins with a strong understanding of the legal landscape of Texas bullying laws. This virtual Bullying and Cyberbullying Training, offered in collaboration with Safer Schools Together, will walk participants through all Texas bullying and cyberbullying laws, including behaviors that may apply to suspected bullying situations, such as assault, harassment, hazing, stalking, sextortion, dating violence, and related federal laws. Participants will explore Texas mandated expectations for campus staff, rights of victims and parents, related penal code, and determining when behaviors go beyond student discipline and into criminal behavior. Participants will also learn about how bullying manifests on and off campus and how to plan and respond with actionable strategies.
View Dates and RegisterUpcoming Sessions at ESC
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.
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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
Stephanie Soto
(325) 658-6571
Dava Rabb
(325) 658-6571 ext. 2120