News and Updates from MSCA

2019 Fall Conference: November 3-5 in Osage Beach

Registration is now open for the 2019 Fall Conference. The event will be held on November 3-5 at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach. This year’s theme, Triple Crown, will focus on the three domains of school counseling – academic, career and social/emotional development. 

A full schedule of events, including information on the more than 110 workshops to be presented throughout the conference, will be available in mid-August. The annual Saturday Institute event will be held on Saturday, November 2, one day prior to the official conference kick-off. This year’s Saturday Institute will feature two separate workshops with attendees being able to choose one of the following options:

1. Strategies for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Model, with Heather Forbes
2. Nuts & Bolts of the Opioid Epidemic: What School Counselors Need to Know & How They Can Help, with DEA Agent Amanda Purdum and MSCA Director of Advocacy Dr. Shari Sevier

Registration for the Saturday Institute is also available now.
 
We hope you join at Tan-Tar-A for this year’s event! 

Professional Recognition Ceremony

Saturday, November 23, 2019, in Jefferson City – Save the Date
MSCA will host its third annual gala event to honor the 2019–2020 Professional Recognition winners at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City on the afternoon of Saturday, November 23, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. All members are invited to attend the event, which will include a dessert reception. If planning to attend, please RSVP to the MSCA office at jill@c2cpro.solutions by Friday, November 15, 2019. Suggested dress is business attire. Recipients of the 2019–2020 awards will be announced later this fall. 

Renew Your Membership

2019-2020 MSCA Membership Year Began on July 1, 2019
Now is the time to renew your MSCA membership for the 2019-2020 school year! Renewal may be done online at moschoolcounselor.org. MSCA is YOUR professional education organization. We provide services that will contribute to your knowledge, expertise and growth.
 
Membership in MSCA is one of the best professional development investments you can make. As a member of this organization, you have the opportunity to participate in its many programs, all of which are designed to advance the profession and help each member achieve greater personal and professional growth.
 
MSCA delivers all the best professional learning and resources a school counselor needs. You’ll be rewarded with renewed confidence and competence in your skills and abilities, a vast network of colleagues to rely on both online and face-to-face, and savings in time and money as you advance your counseling career.
 
Why join MSCA?

• Subscription to MSCA’s official publications
• A voice in national organizations such as ASCA
• Active liaison with state educational organizations
• Direct involvement during local, state and national legislative processes
• Annual Fall, Spring, and Leadership Development Conferences
• Research Assistance

Training for the NRM/RAMP

Individual school training for those interested in pursuing the Dr. Norman C. Gysbers Nationally Recognized Missouri Program Award (the NRM) is being offered by MSCA. Obtaining this recognition automatically qualifies schools for ASCA’s RAMP recognition! If you are interested in starting this process and/or have questions, please contact Dr. Shari Sevier, MSCA director of advocacy, at drsharisevier@gmail.com. We hope to see Missouri school counseling programs included in these prestigious award lists. 

Legislative Advisory Council 2019–20

Each region of MSCA has a representative on the State Legislative Advisory Council. This group of school counselors serve as the voices of school counselors across the state as we work with our lobbyist on issues of interest and concern. This year’s representatives are:
Co-Chairs: Dr. Shari Sevier and Dave Teeter
Central Region: Cindy Bentley
GKCSCA: Dr. Andy Schuerman
Jeffco: Jennifer Kline
Mid-Mo: Gay Baer
Northeast: Katie Mendez
Northwest: Kim Hill
Past-Presidents: Jennifer Grossman
STL City: Florence Fields
STL County: Hayley Arnold
South Central: Angie Blue
Southeast: Joanna Mathes
Southwest: Nancy Doubrava
DESE Liaison: Dr. Rene Yoesel
 
The Advisory Council will meet on October 4 at the MSCA office with Scott Penman, our lobbyist, and his aide Kaycee Nail, to discuss our legislative agenda. The group will also review data gathered on the 504 survey.
 
If you have any questions about legislative issues, please contact your regional representative. They should be providing you with updated information as the legislative session begins in January 2020.