President’s Letter: A Year of Shining Bright

Wow, what a busy time of shining and polishing stars this school year has been! As this year is about to come to an end, I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve as president for the past two years. During this time, I have had the chance to meet and work with so many wonderful counselors in our state and across the country.
 
As I reflect on this year’s shine, I am excited to share many positives from our state organization. So many of you were active during this legislative year in voicing the needs of the students of our state with your legislators. I thank Michele Gerhardt, PP&L chair, for her work in leading our board in discussions and testifying before both the Arkansas Senate and House Education Committees. The work that started several years ago has been noted in the passing of SB 199 into law. The new law will repeal the outdated language of the Public School Student Services Act and will establish the School Counseling Improvement Act of 2019. This act requires school districts to have a comprehensive school counseling program and plan. Act 190 makes it possible for us to spend 90 percent of our time working with our students in direct services. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make this become a reality. Your advocacy is illuminating the way for great changes in our profession! Our lobbyist, Jeffery Hall, recently said to me, “I believe ArSCA is getting known more and more each year.”
 
Your ArSCA board has volunteered over 1,000 volunteer hours collectively this year working on strengthening our organization. At the President’s Retreat in October, we set three goals for the year. One goal was to restore professionalism. To help with this goal we have been updating our ArSCA Policy and Procedures Handbook. The update will help to ensure that the duties of your elected and appointed board members remains consistent for future years. Membership outreach was the second goal. Regional presidents have shared the many professional development opportunities that have been provided at regional meetings around the state. We are also working to continue to bring professional development opportunities to all counselors in the state. Our third goal was to work for more collaborative efforts with partners. Our work with the ADE and various legislators this year has helped to build positive relationships and rapport and our conference committee is working to create partnerships with major businesses in the state.
 
Most important, I am reminded of all of the students, parents and community members whom you have helped as the school counselors of our state. As you reflect on your year, I hope that you remember all the positives that have occurred this year for your students because of the work you have done.
 
As you continue to polish the shine in others, I hope that you will make the commitment to continue to grow as a professional. A wonderful opportunity to network with your peers and gain new knowledge and skills is this year’s ArSCA/ADE conference, July 8 - 10 in Hot Springs. Our keynote speakers will be Mary Elizabeth Kratochvil on Monday, July 8, and Gerry Brooks on July 9. The conference committee is working to provide sessions in areas of professional needs. This year’s conference will give you the opportunity to receive at least 18 hours of professional development. I also encourage you to take time for yourself this summer. Thank you again for all of your endless commitment to the students, parents, staff and community members of your area and congratulations for all of the shines you have illuminated this year!  
 
Contact Terri Callaway, ArSCA president, at terri.callaway@warrensd.org.