President’s Letter: A Big Step for Our Advocacy

Leading a state school counselor association is a daunting task. One year as president flies by and it seems as though many balls are in the air. As president, my priority is to continue to move the organization forward and continue to serve the interests of the membership. Are you ever asked what MASCA does for you? If you have served on the governing board or in other volunteer capacities in recent years, you know that advocacy is a top priority of the organization. I am pleased to share two exciting developments in this area.
 
MASCA members who are newer to the field of school counseling may not realize that the relationship between MASCA and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has not always been what it is today. More than a decade ago, MASCA released the Mass Model and it was endorsed by DESE. This endorsement represented the acknowledgement by DESE of the value of school counselors in student success. Since then, school counseling leaders across the state have affected decisions. A recent one of significance was the change to the licensure from guidance counselor to school counselor. In recent years, DESE has partnered with MASCA to offer professional development. This year, the College and Career Advising workshops are reaching teams of professionals from more than 80 schools, including school counselors, principals and teachers.
 
Although collectively we are proud of the impact school counselors have made, it is important to recognize that MASCA is a volunteer organization of school counselors. As we continue to propel the organization forward, it has become more and more evident that MASCA needs to enlist the resources of a professional consulting firm. We are proud to announce that we have contracted Tremont Strategies Group (TSG) to provide such services for us over the next nine months. TSG’s primary role will be to assist MASCA in developing a government affairs and public relations plan. TSG will provide lobbying/legislative training to MASCA governing board members and other interested MASCA members! The MASCA leadership is excited to be able bring this to our membership. More information about the specific services from TSG will be forthcoming.
 
Second, later this month, MASCA will join forces with the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC) and sponsor a Day on the Hill. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, February 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room 437 of the Massachusetts State House in Boston. To celebrate school counselors and the work we do to support student achievement and success, participants will hear from state legislators, educators and others who are impacted by school counselors. Attendees will also receive training in how to advocate for the school counseling profession with administrators, school boards and policy makers. An update on school counseling related legislation will also be provided. MASCA members interested in attending should email April Megginson, MASCA Government Relations Chair, at amegginson@bridgew.edu by February 20. There is no cost to attend the event.
 
Contact Jennifer Just McGuire, MASCA president 2018-19, at president@masca.org.