Counselor Connection--February 1
Education Service Center Region 15
Save the Date/RSVP: The Recovery Story of Gabe Hughes Event at ASU
ADACCV and ASU Counseling Services are proud to host the Recovery Story of Gabe Hughes at Angelo State University on February 7th, 2024.
Mr. Hughes will share his journey of overcoming substance use disorders to go on to become a successful attorney, board member, and adjunct instructor at ASU.
The event is free and open to the public, and you can RSVP from the link here: https://www.angelo.edu/events/calendar/event/76871-the-recovery-story-of-gabe-hughes
Details
Where: Angelo State University Center, CJ Davidson
When: Wednesday, February 7th, 2024, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Please feel free to share this with others who you think might benefit from the program.
2023-2024 ACET Scholarship for qualifying students and paraprofessionals
All information regarding the application process including the submission timeline and scoring rubric for this scholarship can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://acetx.org/scholarship-information/.
Applications are available by clicking on the following links:
- Students (open to any student enrolled in a compensatory education program): https://acetx.org/acet-student-scholarship-application/?doing_wp_cron=1705096669.2251501083374023437500
- Paraprofessionals (open to any paraprofessional currently working in a compensatory education program who desires to become a teacher): https://acetx.org/acet-professional-scholarship-application-2/
All applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Friday, February 16, 2024. Scholarship recipients will be notified by the ACET organization in May 2024.
Should you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact Rusty Fleeman by phone at (325) 481-4055 or by email at rusty.fleeman@esc15.net .
Education in Action's Call for Outstanding Student Nominations
Nominate Your Outstanding 4th-8th graders for summer 2024 Lone Star Leadership Academy camps online at www.educationinaction.org/nominate-leaders!
Winter Nomination Deadline: Friday, January 26, 2024
Nominees must:
- Be in 4th-8th grade
- Demonstrate leadership ability
- Maintain an 85 or higher average
- Show commitment to school and/or community involvement
Nominations are a great way to recognize your outstanding 4th-8th graders; nominating teachers receive a personalized certificate to present to each nominee at school awards ceremonies.
Nominate 10 or more students and we'll mail you a Maggie the Mammoth mascot plushy! Nominate each year to collect them all! Learn more.
Part-time, summer employment opportunity for Texas educators:
Education in Action hires outstanding Texas educators to work with outstanding Texas students as facilitators on summer Lone Star Leadership Academy camps.
Interested? Apply here!
Unassigned Opioid Antagonist Policies
The TEC §38.222 requires school districts serving students in grades 6–12 to adopt a policy regarding the maintenance, administration, and disposal of opioid antagonists. An open-enrollment charter school or private school may choose to adopt a policy.
In accordance with 25 Texas Administrative Code, Section 40.87, school districts and charter schools must report when a school personnel member or school volunteer administers an opioid antagonist. School districts and charter schools must use the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) unassigned opioid antagonist medication reporting form to report when opioid antagonist medication is administered.
Please direct questions regarding the opioid antagonist medication reporting form to SchoolHealth@dshs.texas.gov.
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Guide is Now Available in Spanish
The DSHS School Health Program’s School Health Advisory Councils (SHAC) guide is now available in Spanish. View information on starting a SHAC, assembling a committee, drafting bylaws, creating agendas, and other resources on the School Health Program SHAC webpage.
2024 Asthma Scholarship Award
The Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society (TAAIS) Memorial Foundation is pleased to announce the 2024 TAAIS Memorial Foundation Asthma Scholarship Award. This $3,000 one-time award will be granted to up to five qualified and deserving high school seniors in Texas who suffer from asthma. The deadline to apply for the award is March 1, 2024. Please click the following link for more information and to download an application: https://taais.org/scholarship/.
NPR Article: Sesame Street Muppets help young kids affected by opioid epidemic
More videos for young children in the article.
30 Day Kindness Challenge ❤
Check out this free 30 Days of Kindness printable from Lightly Sketched. In the attachment, you’ll find a colored version of the printable, a black and white version PLUS a free Kindness Begins With Me coloring page.
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week March 18-24, 2024
The National Institute on Drug Abuse will recognize March 18-24, 2024 as National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. The week encourages dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. The goal is to improve prevention and awareness of substance misuse in local communities and nationwide. Subscribe to find free resources and start planning activities.
Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission and Texas System of Care, in collaboration with the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health at the University of Texas at Austin, are hosting their annual Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest. Individuals and groups are invited to submit entries through March 1, 2024. The contest aims to raise awareness of mental health experiences, challenge stigma, and provide an opportunity to express complex emotions through creative means. For more information, including past winners, rules, and how to submit artwork, visit the Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest webpage.
Upcoming Webinar: Earning the 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 Spring 2024 Purple Star Campus Designation interest meeting on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 10am. 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, February 20th at 10am. Click the button below to register.
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.
Texas Workforce Commission Announces Advisory Council’s Inventory of Industry-Recognized Credentials
On December 12, 2023, the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) three-member commission adopted the Industry-Based Certification (IBC) Advisory Council’s Inventory of Industry-Recognized Credentials to comply with Texas Labor Code Chapter 312. State law requires the TWC to provide a copy of the Industry-Recognized Credential Inventory to each school district and public institution of higher education that offers a career and technical education (CTE) program to public high school students. Districts received this communication from TWC the week of December 18, 2023. The IBC Advisory Council’s Inventory of Industry-Recognized Credentials may be found on TWC’s Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative webpage.
While the TWC’s list of industry-recognized credentials may be used to provide additional opportunities to meet the educational and career goals of students, only the Texas Education Agency’s Industry-Based Certification List for Public School Accountability with aligned certifying entities may be reported through the Texas Student Data System (TSDS) Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) and count toward the College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) calculations for accountability and for reimbursement requests. In the future, all certifications included on TWC’s inventory will be evaluated against criteria in 19 TAC §74.1003 for possible inclusion on the TEA’s list for public school accountability.
A To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) communication was sent to districts on January 11, 2024.
For more information about the TEA IBC requirements, please contact cte@tea.texas.gov.
Technical Assistance Report for Industry-Based Certifications and Programs of Study Alignment
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) may access updated technical assistance reports within the CTER application in TEAL. Using the 2022-2023 dropdown menu, select “CTE District Alignment Report.” The report includes auto-coded data for students' CTE status indicators and LEA course offerings for school year 2022-2023. The IBCs earned are self-reported data LEAs entered into PEIMS during the Summer 2023 submission or with a previous submission. The technical assistance report may be used to analyze the programs of study offered or that could be offered, review course offerings within each program of study, and make programmatic decisions about aligned IBCs that may be offered to students.
Final Recommendations for Proposed New CTE TEKS Available
Final recommendations for proposed new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for a set of career and technical education (CTE) courses from the agribusiness, animal science, plant science, and aviation maintenance programs of study are now available for review on the 2023 CTE TEKS Review webpage. Additionally, proposed new TEKS for two CTE courses that satisfy a science graduation requirement, Applied Physics and Engineering and Scientific Research and Design, are also available for review. The proposed new TEKS are scheduled for a public hearing and to be presented to the State Board of Education (SBOE) for first reading and filing authorization on Wednesday, January 31, at the January/February 2024 SBOE meeting.
Information about the public hearing and proposed new CTE TEKS is posted online in the SBOE’s January/February agenda. Individuals may register online to provide public testimony starting at 8:00 a.m. (Central Time) on Thursday, January 25, and continuing through 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on Friday, January 26. Please note that public testimony is in-person.
Additional information regarding registration is provided on the public testimony registration web page. The live webcast of the meeting will be available online at http://www.adminmonitor.com/tx/tea. The webcast will also be archived and available via the same link after the meeting.
CTE and Special Education Frequently Asked Questions
The CTE and Special Education FAQ document addresses common questions received by the Texas Education Agency relating to CTE and students served by special education. All students should have access to CTE courses, with support as specified in the IEP. The content of this document provides clarification for the following categories:
- ARD committee membership
- Teacher certification and classroom roles
- Special education services, including adaptations to course content and requirements
- Vocational Adjustment Class
For additional questions, please contact cte@tea.texas.gov.
Motivational Interviewing Course
Texas Health and Human Services has updated its Texas Health Steps Motivational Interviewing course. This course provides free continuing education credits and can help providers and other professionals gain communication skills that can be used to motivate children, adolescents, and families to make positive health changes, improve self-care for chronic conditions, and avoid high-risk behaviors.
Trauma-Informed Care Workshop for Educators
The Texas School Safety Center is hosting virtual training for Trauma Informed Care throughout Spring of 2024. Attendees will learn about the role of mental health in daily functioning, how trauma impacts the brain, the importance of unrecognized executive function deficits, and the role neuro-diverse difficulties play in student behavior. Throughout the workshop, participants will be provided with strategies that can be implemented in a school and/or classroom setting to support all learners through a trauma-informed perspective. Register for the Elementary (K-5) or Secondary (6-12) training.
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 #4 | May 2, 2024 | 1:00pm – 2:30pm | Register Here
TACAC Webinars
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.
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 RegisterTexas School Safety Center Lunch and Learn Training Opportunities
The Trauma-Informed Care Workshop for Educators - Elementary focuses on providing an overview of trauma, and its impact on student behaviors in the elementary (K-5) classroom. Attendees will learn about the role of mental health in daily functioning, how trauma impacts the brain, the importance of unrecognized executive function deficits, and the role neuro diverse complexities play in student behavior.
The Trauma-Informed Care Workshop for Educators - Secondary focuses on providing an overview of trauma, and its impact on student behaviors in the secondary (6-12) classroom. Attendees will learn about the role of mental health in daily functioning, how trauma impacts the brain, the importance of unrecognized executive function deficits, and the role neuro diverse complexities play in student behavior.
Upcoming 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