"Kentucky School Counselors:  Pathways to Success"

Annual Report to the American School Counselor Association

and

The 2008 Delegate Assembly

Name of the State Division: Kentucky School Counselor Association (KSCA)

Term of Office: July 1, 2007 – July 1, 2008

Website:   www.kyschoolcounselor.org

Number of Members as of April 1, 2008:   763

President:                                                    President-Elect:

        Kevin G. Smith                                           Pat Cantwell

        Hatcher Elementary School                      Atherton High School

        1820 Hickman Street                                  3000 Dundee Road

        Ashland, KY   41101                                   Louisville, KY   40205

         Kevin.smith@ashland.kyschools.us          pat.cantwell@jefferson.kyschools.us

Summary of 2007-2008 Activities

Ø        KSCA President and President-Elect attended the KCA Leadership Workshop and Board Meeting in August in Louisville.

Ø        KSCA Summer Board Meeting was held on Saturday August 25, 2007 at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, KY.

Ø        Co-exhibited with the Kentucky Counseling Association at the Kentucky Association of School Administrator’s Annual July Conference in Louisville, KY

Ø        KSCA exhibited a complimentary table and at the Expert Expo at the Annual October Conference in Louisville.

Ø        Members of the KSCA Executive Board initiated contact with members of the Kentucky Legislative Branch in preparation for requesting support of National School Counselor’s Week 2008.

Ø        KSCA Board and Members supported the creation of a “Guidance Program Consultant” position with the Kentucky Department of Education.  (as of this paper, this position has yet to be filled)

Ø        Held elections for open executive board positions during the annual conference in March 2008.

Ø        Appointed additional positions on governing board as were needed.

Ø        Continued to provide a link to the KSCA website from the KCA website.

Ø        Increased KSCA membership from 610 to 763 in one year.   A 25% increase.

Ø        KSCA hosted a hospitality event during the KCA Conference in October with overwhelming attendance.

Ø        KSCA hosted a luncheon to members during the Kentucky Counseling Association Conference with the meal being sponsored by the Kentucky Army National Guard.

Ø        Awarded 6 Counselor of the Year Awards and 2 student scholarships during the annual KSCA Conference.

Ø        Conference theme for 2008 was: “Kentucky School Counselor: Pathways To Success”.

Ø        Keynote Speaker for the 2008 KSCA Conference was Dr. Norm Gysbers.

Ø        KSCA Conference hosted the ASCA Bookstore and Booth at this year’s event.

Ø        Kimberly Johnson, motivational and literacy advocate was closing speaker for the 2008 conference.

Ø        There were 14, 3 and 6 hour,Pre-Conference Workshops presented on March 5, 2008.

Ø        Over 35 one hour Breakout Sessions were presented on March 6^th and 7^th, 2008.

Ø        Participated in KCA State Conference and ASCA National Conference with both receiving door prizes valued at over $100 each.

Ø        Co-Hosted with KCA, donated $100. to “KCA Newcomer Breakfast” at the 2007 KCA Conference.   Attendees were given KSCA Conference Tote Bags plus membership information for both KSCA and ASCA.

Ø        Continue to update our statewide membership database

Ø        Conducted 4 KSCA Governing Board Meetings/luncheons: August, October, January and April.

Ø        Initiated a multi-year project for the creation of a KSCA Policy Manual.  This included a weekend retreat for the committee at Natural Bridge State Park in Campton, Kentucky in November where members were able to compile a draft that was presented at the January KSCA Board Meeting.  This work is/will be ongoing.

Ø        Board members provided representation to several state level advisory councils.

Ø        Past-President and President attended ASCA Delegate Assembly in Denver, CO.

Ø        President and President-Elect attended ASCA Leadership Development Institute in Charleston, SC.

Ø        President and President-Elect were invited to attend the National Guidance Leadership Summit in May in Louisville, KY.

Ø        KSCA donated $300. in conjunction with KCA and KDE to host a reception for the National Guidance Leadership Summit.

Advocacy and Public Policy Activities

Ø        KSCA continues to support the search for the right candidate to fill the new position of Guidance Program Consultant at the Kentucky Department of Education.

Ø        KSCA continues to strengthen ties with KCA through shared support as members of each respective Governing Boards.

Ø        Past-President, Jade Maddox will run for Vice President of the Kentucky Counselor Association in October of 2008.

Ø        Dr. John Draud, the new Kentucky Commissioner of Education, was invited to address the KSCA membership at our 2008Conference Luncheon.   During his remarks he expressed his appreciation for all school counselors and invited KSCA to continue a dialogue with his office.   Plans are now underway for a summer meeting in Frankfort with his office and the KSCA President and President-Elect along with the KCA Executive Director.

Ø        Monthly ASCA and ACA counselor related alerts were sent to governing board members.

Ø        Constant contact with state legislators concerning the role of school counselors and the issue of using testing instruments.  Kentucky House Bill #505 was effectively killed as a result of never being allowed to get out of committee.

This was a major accomplishment during the first three months of the New Year.  

Summary of Future Plans and Goals of the Association for the Year:

Ø        Promote attendance of the ASCA national Conference in Atlanta, GA.

Ø        Continue to support and encourage KSCA to become ASCA Members.

Ø        Promote the awareness and use of the ASCA National Model through the opportunity to provide leadership training on how to use the ASCA National Model on the local level throughout the state.

Ø        Continue to update email addresses and mailing lists of all members to increase communication.

Ø        Investigate a computer program to assist with membership and conference issues.

Ø        Continue to work towards a final Policy Manual for a more uniform delivery of services provided by KSCA for the  membership.

Ø        Continue to solicit revenue through sponsorships at conference and through our newsletter.

Ø        Continue to explore new ways to get more interest in participation on the leadership level of the association.

Ø        Continue to collaborate with the Kentucky Department of Education liaison in promoting the role of the professional    school counselor.

Ø        Continue to recruit new active members and advertise the importance of joining both KSCA and ASCA.

Ø        Continue to be fiscally responsible.

Ø        Promote alliances with post secondary counseling programs and counselor educators.

Ø        Continue to provide relevant professional development opportunities to the membership.

Summary of Issues/Needs Confronting School Counseling in Kentucky

Ø        As always, the need to educate legislators, local school administrators and community members concerning the role of the professional school counselor.

Ø        The lack of Professional School Counselor mandates in Kentucky.

Ø        The concern of student to counselor ratios continues to be a problem for Kentucky School Counselors.

Ø        The need for more appropriate school counselor research for all involved including counselor education programs being offered in the state.  This includes the need to evaluate current guidance/counseling practices being used at various districts throughout the Kentucky.  Hopefully this could be a collaborative effort with KDE, KSCA and KCA.

Ø        More Kentucky-wide acceptance of the ASCA National Model as a standard operational system for Professional School Counselors and counseling education programs.  This includes a demonstrated understanding by the new KDE Commissioner, the KDE, and statewide superintendents.

Ø        The consideration of a combined one time per year statewide conference including both KSCA and KCA as we move into an era of tight budgets in the foreseeable future.

Ø        Continue to increase membership in KSCA and participation in positions of leadership.

Ø        Continue to offer quality membership services to our members.\

Implications/Recommendations of Issues and Needs Above:

Ø        Continue the excellent opportunities for leadership training at LDI and ASCA Conference.

Ø        Initiate a nationwide COUNSELOR EDUCATOR’S ACADEMY to show faculty members in counselor education programs how to teach the ASCA National Model.

Ø        Continue the flow of information to all states via email and publications from ASCA.

Ø        Continue to provide legislative updates using the list serve to state leaders.

Ø        Continue to provide the presence of ASCA National Board Members and Employees at state conferences.

Ø        Find a BETTER WAY to utilize the talents of past presidents in the total leadership makeup of ASCA.

Ø        Educate state departments of education on the ASCA National Model.

Ø        Continue to publish and update all ASCA Position Statements.

Ø        A more frequent issue of national press releases from ASCA concerning the professional school counselor and the issues they face and role they play in the current day educational system in America.