President’s Letter: Two Themes for This Year

 
Welcome back, New Jersey school counselors!

The excitement and anticipation of each new school year is special, and never has that been truer than this year. Within the extraordinary context of unprecedented situations that none of us could have imagined, crises abound – social, emotional, economic, political, medical and educational. NJSCA is as ready to go as ever.

Two themes I will emphasize this year are Collaboration and Informal Mentoring.

Collaboration

Work together more than ever. Consider joining your county association and ASCA.  Attend online professional development opportunities and partner with a colleague – try something new together. Volunteer for decision-making committees, and share your successes on your social media platforms.

Informal Mentoring 

Become a partner. Mentor or be mentored as your experience level dictates. The support provided through mentorship gives both school counselors the assurance that they never need to face a challenge alone. Our school communities benefit greatly.

New Jersey has been at or near the top of the national educational ranks, and our school counselors have always played an important role. The spotlight will be on us more brightly in the months ahead. We can shine with professionalism and dedication as we rise to each occasion in these unfamiliar and challenging times. I have had the pleasure of participating in much of this year's planning and can assure you that you will have just about everything you need as a New Jersey school counselor with only a few clicks on our njsca.org website.

Although it is true that “we’re not in Kansas anymore,” let’s all work together to create the familiar stability and comfort of “there’s no place like home.” (L. Frank Baum)

Contact Fred Douglas, NJSCA president, at fdouglas@pthsd.net.