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School Counselor Connection
Monthly updates for Arizona School Counselors
April 2024
April brings us warm weather, more sunshine, and a chance to bring awareness to Autism. We take the time in April to bring awareness to Autism for many different reasons. It is a time for us, as a community, to celebrate and learn about how we can advocate, accept, and include those who are impacted by Autism. This month as you go about your daily activities, take time, and think about how you can be an advocate and truly support the inclusion of someone who has Autism. Think about how you show respect. As adults, it is important that we model the behavior that we want to see from our students and those younger in our communities. This includes clarifying misconceptions and providing meaningful opportunities for kids and their families to participate in your community. Get involved this month and encourage awareness in your community. This information is provided by Christy Hegebush, Autism and Low Incidence Specialist at the Arizona Department of Education. For more resources for supporting Exceptional Students check out: Exceptional Student Services website or reach out to Christy at Christy.Hegebush@azed.gov.
School Counselor Connection is brought to you by: Andrea Glenn, Director of Post-Secondary & Community Engagement and Emily Brown, School Counselor Director at the Arizona Department of Education.
District/Lead Counselors
ADE will be providing additional support to lead counselors by hosting quarterly meetings in which lead counselors can connect with others across the state in similar roles. We will have discussion topics set for each meeting, as well as time for networking and connection. The district/lead counselor may be someone who oversees the school counselors and student services staff, or is the point of contact for district college and career readiness initiatives. If you are a district/lead counselor and are not receiving communications regarding these meetings, please email Emily.Brown@azed.gov or Andrea.Glenn@azed.gov to be added to our list.
Please mark your calendars for our upcoming meetings which will be held on Zoom from 8:00 am - 9:00 am on the following Wednesdays:
2023-2024 Quarter 4: April 24
2024-2025 Quarter 1: August 28
2024-2025 Quarter 2: November 20
2024-2025 Quarter 3: February 26
2024-2025 Quarter 4: April 30
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://azed-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErcuCoqzIvHNXx0ErqNbitqEiUVzXKjLdA
Statewide FAFSA Friday Office Hours with ADE & ABOR
The Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona Board of Regents are organizing statewide FAFSA Office Hours every Friday from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, starting on April 26 and continuing until May 17th. This is your chance to address challenging questions and seek guidance from your state's FAFSA experts.
Please register in advance for this meeting:
https://azed-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIscuysqjIjGdLE5X4sms4eSl38F9NboA8K
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
ECAP Updates
For those of you working with students in grades 9-12, Education and Career Action Plans will be due by April 30, 2024. If your plans are complete, you can submit at any time prior to the due date. We recommend logging into EMAC and familiarizing yourself with the EMAC system before the due date to ensure your tasks are submitted on time. ECAPs are required for all public high schools including charters. Plans need to be uploaded in the EMAC system. Please ensure that your current staff is assigned the correct role and anyone that has left your district has been removed. The two required compliance tasks are the Implementation Plan and the Student Sample Plan. Please note that the Student Sample Plan is only required for schools NOT utilizing the My Future AZ platform.
We have compiled a variety of resources to ensure you find success with ECAPs this year.
El Valle Puede Celebration
Join us for El Valle Puede Celebration to tip-off 2024 Arizona Decision Day on April 8! The Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation and Helios Education Foundation invite all Arizona’s high schools to celebrate graduating seniors by joining us for this event at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. The agenda includes a college resource fair for students, Phoenix Suns entertainment, special guests and a live concert! Let’s celebrate Arizona’s high school seniors as they graduate and take the next steps to future success!
Date: Monday, April 8, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Location: Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
RSVP: All Arizona high school seniors are invited! Schools MUST RSVP below to reserve their spot to attend.
This event is free for high schools to attend and parking for school transportation is covered.
FAFSA Innovative Player Award
Is your AZ high school doing amazing work to help students complete their FAFSA and learn about financial aid? Nominate your school via Google Form to let Benji know what you’re doing that’s innovative and unique. Nominations will be accepted till 4/5/24. Nomination Form Link
Professional Development Opportunities
Postsecondary Supports for Youth In Foster Care Webinar
ADE, AZ Friends of Foster Children Foundation, & Earn to Learn are putting on a training pertaining to school stability for youth in foster care, the postsecondary resources available for youth in foster care, & a matched savings program for college going youth in foster care.
College for Youth in Care: Stability, Resources, & Financial Supports
April 2, 2024
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Zoom registration link
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAscu-tpjMvE9bTa-LeVmSEyzPWSYl_sC1t#/registration
Please check out the flyer below.
AZ Counselor Spring Training Virtual Event
Save the Date for the 2024 AZ Counselor Spring Training Virtual Event
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Spring Training Event on Thursday, April 25th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. National and state presenters will offer tools and insight around FAFSA completion, supporting ALL students through an untraditional application cycle, and establishing strategies to celebrate the incredible resilience and hard work of the class of 2024. Register early to reserve your spot!
MTBS Year 1 Training
Multi-Tier Behavior Supports (MTBS) is a three-year training series that will assist district, charter, or school teams with the development of a school-wide approach for positive behavior management practices. This training is based on School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (SW-PBIS) evidence-based elements. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) notes that “the IEP team shall, in the case of a child whose behavior impedes the child’s learning or that of others, consider the use of positive behavioral interventions and supports, and other strategies, to address that behavior” (20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(3)(B)(i)).
Several free informational webinars are being offered to outline additional details about the MTBS model, the three-year training sequence, the readiness requirements, and the process for applying. Attendance at one of the informational webinars is the first readiness requirement necessary for participation in the training series.
If you are interested in learning more and/or starting the readiness process, review this flyer and register to attend one of the following free webinars:
Directions for applying for the training series will be provided during the webinar. Registration is limited to ten teams and only one team from each district. Applications earning the highest scores in the evaluation process will be approved until all seats are filled. Completed applications must be submitted by April 30 at 5:00 p.m.
The special education director is required to attend the readiness webinar for a PEA/district team. The principal is required to attend the readiness webinar for a school team. For information regarding MTBS, please contact Celeste Nameth at Celeste.Nameth@azed.gov
College & Career Competencies Project
Do your students lack confidence in their abilities, give up easily when encountering obstacles, or feel they cannot learn the course content or succeed in school, sports, or arts? Self-efficacy instruction can help.
The Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student Services, in collaboration with the University of Kansas Research Collaboration, is offering the College and Career Competencies Project, a free, virtual, professional development series with coaching support, to a limited number of Arizona elementary, middle, and high schools. Lessons contain instructional activities focused on 10 self-efficacy strategies designed to be embedded into any content curriculum.
The College and Career Competencies Project has 15 slots remaining for the 2024–2025 school year. As educators complete the free professional development sessions and begin to implement the curriculum, they will receive coaching from a site-based instructional coach and a project trainer. To express interest, have an administrator from your district complete the CCCs Project Interest Form and schedule a 30-minute conference call about the project.
View the self-efficacy infographic, which includes the definition of self-efficacy and student impacts resulting from instruction.
For any questions, email Pattie Noonan.
Hatching Results
FREE Webinar: April 5
We’re excited to share that our next FREE Hatching Hour webinar will be with Dr. Brett Zyromski! You might know Dr. Zyromski from his authorship and prolific work in evidence-based school counseling–he’s even a co-founder of an entire conference about it! We hope you’ll join us for this free opportunity!
Date/Time: Friday, April 5, 2024, 9am-10am Pacific Time / 12pm-1pm Eastern Time
Presented By:
Brett Zyromski, PhD
Associate Professor, Counselor Education
The Ohio State University
Description: Often, we are tasked with using evidence-based practices (EBP) in our work to support student success. It can be difficult to know what constitutes an EBP and which ones really help our students. In this session, we will define EBP and look at the (often hidden) oppressive history of EBP and assessment in schools. In light of that, we will talk about socially just interventions and practices that help students successfully navigate often oppressive educational systems. If your administrators are asking you to implement EBP, this is the session for you. Or, if you are just wondering how to be the most efficient, most impactful school counselor you can be while addressing inequalities in systems and supporting student holistic success - well, you won't want to miss this session either! Register Here
Virtual Events: https://www.hatchingresults.com/virtual-events
The Use of Data in School Counseling 2e: 7-Part Series:
Wednesday, April 26, 2024 - Sharing Results and Flashlight Presentations
The Use of Data in School Counseling 2e: Intermediate/Advanced: April 19, 2024
Continuing Education Classes: https://arizona.hatchingorders.com/
Hatching Results District Leadership Cohort in SY25
We’re thrilled to introduce a NEW virtual cohort for district leaders taking place next school year, kicking off in August 2024! We have heard from so many of you that you find value in NSCLC because the content and networking opportunities are tailored specifically for your role and that there’s nothing else like it out there - and that’s exactly why we’ve created the District Leadership Cohort! This cohort will be an incredible opportunity for district leaders like yourself to continue learning and engaging in a space designed to support you and the unique needs and challenges of your role.
What the District Leadership Cohort includes:
- 5 Learning Sessions led by Hatching Results’ school counseling experts
- 4 Community of Practice sessions for networking, Q&A, discussion, and sharing of practices
- Toolkits, resources, strategies, and support for district leaders
Please view the flyer below for more information.
Arizona College Access Network
If you have not had the opportunity to become an AzCAN member, you can join here for free!
Some noteworthy features of the new CAP courses include:
CAP scholarships are available, and the request is built into each course registration.
Courses are accessed on the Canvas platform.
Courses are completely updated and redesigned to meet the needs of Arizona college access practitioners – course content is relevant, timely, and focused on immediate implementation with Arizona students and families, middle school through high school.
Courses only require a maximum of 15 seat hours to complete.
The 2023-2024 CAP Training Course Schedule is now available and all fall courses are open for registration.
Are you looking to remove deficiencies from your school counselor certificate?
Hatching Results: Hatching Results partners with California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) to offer courses for school counselors for continued education. These courses allow Arizona School Counselors to complete the 6 semester (credit) hour deficiency to renew their certificates in the three-year window who apply for certification under options B, C, and D.
AZCAN College Access Professionals Training Courses: AZCAN partners with Lindenwood University to provide CAP Training Courses. Arizona School Counselors can complete the 6 semester (credit) hour deficiency to renew their certificates in the three-year window who apply for certification under options B and C. If using the CAP courses to remove deficiencies, there will be an option to pay Lindenwood University $75 for each course to receive one graduate semester (credit) hour starting January 2024.
Options B and C require completion of six semester hours of courses in any of the following areas: school counseling, college and career guidance, or academic advising. These courses would fall under the categories of college and career guidance or academic advising.
The courses would not be accepted for the Standard School Counselor certificate under the
Option D: Completion of a graduate program in academic advising. This option requires six semester hours of courses in any of the following areas: social and emotional development, mental health counseling, trauma and disaster counseling, multiculturalism in counseling, theories of counseling, the foundation of school counseling, or child and adolescent counseling.
For additional certificate questions check out the ADE Certification Unit website.
ACTEAZ Summer Conference
Arizona 2024 IDEA Conference
The Arizona Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services, is thrilled to share exciting opportunities for conference attendees during Arizona's 2024 IDEA Conference: Expect, Engage, Achieve. Nominate someone today for their tremendous contributions to secondary transition services or share the artistic talents of students in person September 4–6, 2024, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona.
Please take a moment to explore both opportunities below:
Nominations Open for Arizona Secondary Transition Services Awards
Your nomination is important to recognize the secondary transition contributions and successes happening across Arizona. To nominate a youth/young adult, community member, and/or educator for their exceptional efforts, please submit an online nomination form.
Nomination Categories:
- Youth/Young Adult: A youth or recently graduated young adult with active engagement and successful navigation of the secondary transition planning process.
- Community Member: An individual (employee, manager, business owner, etc.) providing exemplary support for students and/or young adults with disabilities to enhance community-based experiences.
- Educator: A PEA or Secure Care certified staff, classified staff, support staff member, related service provider, or administrator who provides remarkable secondary transition services.
All nominations submitted on or before Friday, May 31, 2024, will be considered. Award winners will be selected and notified in July.
Call for Student Artwork: Showcase Your Talent at the IDEA Conference
The Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student Services (ADE/ESS) is excited to announce the display of student artwork during this year's IDEA Conference! Are you a student artist, or someone who knows of a student, who is interested in displaying artwork during this event? View the Call for Student Artwork flyer to learn more about this opportunity.
Artwork criteria and additional details can be found on the 2024 Student Artwork Entry Form. All artwork entries must be received by May 31, 2024. Please consider supporting your students in submitting artwork!
If you have any questions about nominations for the Secondary Transition Service Awards or Call for Student Artwork, please email the IDEA conference inbox.
Please download our Secondary Transition Services Award and Call for Student Artwork Flyer.
Scholarships A-Z Annual Educator’s Conference
Scholarships A-Z Annual Educator’s Conference will be happening on Saturday April 6. Our SA-Z Educators Conference disrupts the educator-student power dynamic by centering the lived experiences and knowledge of Undocumented youth. Educators in attendance will receive 4 hours of PD. Attendees who prefer to attend virtually will be sent the Zoom link the week of the event.
Students can attend the conference for FREE!!
We will have interpretation in Spanish available
We do not want financial barriers to stand in the way of your attendance, so please reach out to info@scholarshipsaz.org if ticket prices and site fees are an issue. We can definitely work with you.
Project CHANGE
The University of Arizona, Southwest Institute for Research on Women, is offering FREE presentations for students, educators, and counselors promoting the increase in gender nontraditional enrollment in Career and Technical Education. Topics for the presentations include:
- Gender, CTE, and Nontraditional Career Success (students and parents)
- Stopping Sexual Harassment (students, educators, & counselors)
- Digital Citizenship & Cyberbullying (students, parents, educators, & counselors)
- Recruitment & Retention of Nontraditional Students (educators & counselors)
Please view the flyer below for more information.
ASCA Conference 2024
It's not too early to register for the 2024 ASCA Annual Conference, held at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and online, July 13-16. Take advantage of valuable discounts when you register by the early-bird deadline.. Click here to view all registration rates. Don't forget to make your hotel reservations. Click here to book.
NCAN Annual Spring Institute
This year’s Spring Institute theme is “Pursuing Effective Advising for Every Student”. Join educators from across the nation as NCAN showcases a number of webinars, blog posts, and brown bag sessions at no cost for members and non-members!
• April 15: Five Actions to Help School Districts Deliver Effective Postsecondary Advising
• April 16: What Are States Learning About Effective Advising?
• April 17: In It Together - How Partnerships of All Shapes and Sizes Support Students' Pathways
•April 18: How Equitable Advising is Addressing the Declining Rate of Young Men in College
2024 Trauma Sensitive Schools Symposium
This year, the Trauma Sensitive Schools Symposium will host a range of engaging sessions that will expand participants’ knowledge of trauma-sensitive school systems and educational approaches - particularly focusing on the foundational elements of what it means to be trauma-informed, how this shows up in school systems across the lifespan, and the wide-reaching impacts of trauma-informed education of students, families, staff, and our communities.
Strengthen your foundation, transform your approach, and make a lasting impact at the 2024 Trauma Sensitive Schools Symposium!
This year's theme is: Strengthening Our Foundation: The Building Blocks to Becoming Trauma Informed
This event will take place on June 4, 2024. Use this link to register.
All Grade Levels Resources
Childhelp FREE K-12 Curriculum
The Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe is an evidence-based program that provides children with the skills to identify, prevent, and interrupt all forms of child abuse: physical, emotion, as well as neglect, bullying, cyber-bullying, and internet safety.
Thanks to a grant from the state, we are able to provide the curriculum for free—all the staff has to do is watch a module and then the scripted lesson plans, power point, and ‘swag’ box are provided.
The bonus: teachers and staff can earn the much needed Professional Development hours!
I’ve attached some information for you to look at—if you think this would be a fit for your school, we can set up a Teams meeting and I can answer any further questions you have! Please also check out these links for more detailed info:
Grant Opportunity
Project AWARE is please to announce the Workforce Development for School Mental Health Professionals Grant. This grant provides school districts with funding to meet the unique workforce development needs of school mental health professionals (counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses) for safe and supportive schools that foster student academic success. To learn more information including how to apply, view the flyer below.
School Mental Health Professionals in Arizona
A huge shout-out to our amazing professional organizations in the collaboration of this one-page document outlining the roles of mental health providers within schools. The document was a collaborative effort of the Arizona School Counselors Association, the Arizona Association of School Psychologists, the School Nurses Organization of Arizona, the School Social Work Association of Arizona, and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. We hope you find this document useful in trainings and meetings with various stakeholders.
ADE Free Tutoring Program
Do you have students that could benefit from tutoring? Study Smart Tutors is providing through ADE. Tutoring begins Mid-January. Please view the flyer below for more information.
Study Smart Tutors is also looking for tutors. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a tutor, learn more here.
High School Specific Resources
National Association for College Admission Counseling
Due to FAFSA delays this year, some colleges and universities have changed their enrollment deadlines and financial aid priority dates for students planning to enroll in the fall of 2024. NACAC created this public directory of fall 2024 enrollment commitment deadlines submitted by member institutions.
AZ Professional Writers $1,000 Scholarship
Please encourage your students interested in communications to apply for this $1,000 scholarship by April 4. Please see flyer below for more information.
Construction Science Technology Apprenticeship Fair
Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) invites you and your junior and senior high school students to attend the third annual Construction Science Technology Apprenticeship Fair at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
Come for a Career, Stay for the Game!
Participation in the event is free for students and school faculty. Those who attend the Construction Science Technology Apprenticeship Fair will receive a complimentary ticket to that afternoon's Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game against the Cubs. The game tickets are provided by the fair's exhibitors and will only be awarded to those who attend the Construction Science Technology Apprenticeship Fair.
The focus of the event is to connect students considering careers in construction science technology with construction companies that are actively recruiting for available apprenticeship positions and job openings.
Date: Wednesday, April 17th, 2024
Time:
- Construction Apprenticeship Fair: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
- First pitch (D-backs v. Cubs): 12:40 PM
Location: Chase Field, 401 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Registrations are Open!
To register, visit dbacks.com/AZROC
Careers in Construction Science Technology: A Pathway to Success
Career opportunities in the Construction Science Technology Professions are open to anyone wanting to have a meaningful career and earn high wages without the debt associated with a four-year degree. In fact, apprenticeship programs offer training and on-the-job experience while earning a paycheck at the same time. There are few industries that offer this type of earn-while-you-learn opportunity. AZ ROC, in collaboration with the Arizona Diamondbacks, welcomes you and your students to explore the exciting opportunities available to them as they find their own individual pathways to success.
About Us
Established by the Arizona Legislature in 1931, AZ ROC's mission is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public through a regulatory system designed to promote quality construction by Arizona contractors. AZ ROC licenses and regulates residential and commercial contractors and investigates and works to resolve complaints against licensed contractors and unlicensed entities. Before you hire, check the license at roc.az.gov!
Contact Us
Jessie Winter
Public Information Liaison
1700 W Washington, STE 105
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-882-6084 (m)
Cindy Casaus
Assistant Director
1700 W Washington, STE 105
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-771-6899
NAU Microelectronics Metrology/Quality Control Apprenticeship Program
In alignment with the goals of the nation's CHIPS Act, NAU is committed to developing a future-ready workforce that fuels microelectronics innovation and bolsters domestic production capabilities. Through our unregistered and registered Arizona Apprenticeship Programs in Phoenix and Flagstaff, we
offer exceptional training opportunities for individuals seeking careers in advanced manufacturing metrology, quality assurance and calibration roles, including:
• Calibration Technicians
• Quality Control Analysts
• Semiconductor Processing Technicians
Please click here and view the flyer below for more information.
Tribal College Dual Enrollment
The Better FAFSA is now open!
FAFSA Updates:
- For those parents without an SSN, if they are unable to get verified through TransUnion, a case number will be auto-generated so that they do not need to call or email to obtain a case number, effective 2-28-24
- FSA has added additional staff to address the excessive call center wait times and additional staff who speak Spanish
Better FAFSA resources:
Track your school's FAFSA progress on Arizona College Connect!
Make sure you are tracking your school's FAFSA completion progress on Arizona College Connect! If you haven't yet gained access, it's easy to set up!
· Step 1: Have your principal set up a Data Sharing Agreement
· Step 2: Set up Authorized Users
· Step 3: Access your FAFSA Data
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools
The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence awards $1.5 million to 25 outstanding skilled trades teachers and programs in U.S. public high schools. Please share this opportunity with your CTE teachers.
Pima Community College Spring FAFSA Events
According to recent ABOR data, Arizona is currently below the desired FAFSA completion rate. We understand the great significance it makes when a student completes their FAFSA, which is why we are reaching out to offer our support.
At Pima Community College, we are committed to empowering students to pursue their academic dreams, and we believe that completing the FAFSA is a crucial step in this journey. To assist you in boosting FAFSA completion rates among your students, we would like to extend our support through various means:
1. Information Sharing Table: Our representatives can attend your events and set up an information table to provide students and families with guidance and resources on completing the FAFSA.
2. Presentations: We are available to deliver presentations to students and families, outlining the importance of the FAFSA and guiding them through the application process.
3. Workshops: We can conduct interactive workshops to walk students through the FAFSA application step by step, addressing any questions or concerns they may have.
Our primary goal is to support you in ensuring that every student at your high school can pursue higher education without financial barriers. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of your students.
If you are interested in these free resources, please complete our outreach request form, and we will coordinate with you to schedule our involvement in your events.
We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you and serve your students.
In addition, we have several upcoming events in which we can help students and families complete the FAFSA:
Spring 2024 Events
- Thursday, April 4, 2024 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the Northwest Campus Learning Center
- Saturday, April 20, 2024 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus Library
- Wednesday, May 1, 2024 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the East Campus Library
- Saturday, June 1, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at the Downtown Campus Library
Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at scholarships@pima.edu or Karla Gonzalez at kgonzalez31@pima.edu.
2024 FAFSA Social Media Contest
We are kicking off our 2024 FAFSA Social Media Contest, on Monday, April 8! Below is the link with all of the details and contest rules. The contest will begin on April 8 and close on May 6, with the winners being announced the week of May 17. There will be a total of 6 winners, with two winners earning $500 scholarships. Please encourage your students to join the contest!
Email Distribution List
Do you have colleagues who didn’t receive this email? Please use this form to add/update their information in our database.
Emily Brown- School Counselor Director
Email: Emily.Brown@azed.gov
Website: https://www.azed.gov/cte/counselors
Location: Arizona Department of Education
Phone: 602-542-5353
Andrea Glenn- Director of Post-Secondary & Community Engagement
Email: Andrea.Glenn@azed.gov
Website: https://www.azed.gov/ccr
Location: Arizona Department of Education
Phone: 602-364-4799
School Counselor Director at ADE