18th Annual Renewal and Reflection for Counseling Professionals

"Counseling Locally to Achieve Globally"

Location
Airport Holiday Inn
911 Brooks Ave
Rochester, NY

Date
February 4, 2009

Overview
This year’s conference invites participation from all who have ideas, innovative programs, successful exemplars, or practice oriented research in school counseling that can be shared in presentations and which encourage dialogue, consideration and skill development among fellow counselors on the important theme of taking our important work with students forward.

Registration (7:45 – 8:30am)

Guidance Direct (8:00 – 8:30am)

Keynote Addresses:   

·          Dr. Muhyiddin Shakoor, Professor Emeritus, The College at Brockport  (8:30 – 9:50am).

·          Jared Campbell, The Blue Project:  ( 9:50 – 10:30am) Campbell is a musical performer who has created an interactive live show for students to teach them more about the power of song.

Networking  Sessions (10:45 – 11:45am)

1.     Elementary School Networking Session

2.     Middle School Networking Session

3.     High School Networking Session

Poster Presentations (11:00 – 11:45am)

1.     Using teamwork and mentorship to empower teenage girls in a group setting (Kelly Garner, University of Rochester)

2.     Career and college needs of high school seniors (Courtney Cannan, The College at Brockport)

1.     Brockport)

2.     The effectiveness of group therapy in decreasing symptoms of depression in children (Elena Pilato, The College at Brockport)

3.     Drawing out client narratives: Creativity in the therapist's session notes (Amy Rosenchandler, University of Rochester)

Lunch (provided) (12:00 – 1:10pm)

Full Afternoon Institutes (1:15 – 3:10pm)

1.     Communication, relationship, and contact: Counselors as a valued resource to teachers. (Mark Pringle, Rush-Henrietta School District)

This workshop presents a model of how school counselors can initiate and facilitate a teacher/staff development strategy that addresses expressed teacher needs around communication, relationship, and contact. School counselors share their expertise with classroom teachers within four separate units throughout the school year in areas that directly impact student achievement.  The strategies used in this model include rehearsal, elaboration, organizational, metacognition, and affective strategies.  These strategies will be demonstrated using role plays, scenarios, and group discussion.

2.     Conversations about Race: A mere pigment of the imagination? (Lesli Myers, Ithaca Central School District)

This presentation will highlight common issues that schools face relative to race and racism. Participants will walk away with practical examples of how school counselors can lead efforts relative to race/ethnicity and racism that support students and their families in meaningful ways.

3.     School Counseling 2.0: Tools to survive and thrive as a school counselor in the digital age. (Joe Montemaro, Todd Mitchell, and Brenda Roof , Webster Central School District)

Looking to fill your digital tool box? Then this workshop is for you! Find out about SMARTBoards, social networking, scanners, websites, email, digital streaming, video/audio tutorials, e-surveys, and more….  This workshop is designed to inspire counselors to use technology in new and exciting ways within your own setting.

Short Afternoon Sessions I (1:15 – 2:10pm)

A.    Seeing and responding to the big picture: Adding the power of systems thinking to the school counselor’s skill repertoire. (Karen Mackie, University of Rochester & Sue Denslow, Churchville-Chili Central School District)

One thing that characterizes today’s school counselor is the need for an increasingly diverse set of skills and perspectives that can be used to help students, families, and school buildings. This session will share the powerful advantages of counselor-led systems thinking when incorporated into normative school practices such as parent conferencing, team meetings, ISTs and SSTs and consultation.

B.     School Counselors as advocates of spiritual resources: Prevention of school-related violence, addiction, and failure. (Robert Dobmeier, The College at Brockport).

This presentation will educate and empower school counselors to utilize their own spirituality and that of students, families, educators and advocates to empower students and families to minimize risks associated with violence and disrespect and to achieve success personally, as families, and in their careers.

C.    Just Schools: How the use of restoractive practices can improve your school. (Jeanne Carlivati, VP of Partners in Restorative Initiatives).

This workshop will give an in-depth overview of restorative practices and how the use of peacemaking circles, community conferencing, and other restorative approaches will allow for the development of safe, caring schools where all students feel they belong, are valued, and where learning is the priority.

Short Afternoon Sessions II (2:15 – 3:10pm)

D.    Professional development and Counselor Self-care. (Karen Mackie, University of Rochester).

This interactive session will share a model and experiential activities that help counselors link essential self-care practices to a larger professional development framework, rooted in spirituality and in activism that can sustain their on-going personal and professional growth.

E.     The Millennial Student and Career Success: Strategies for School Counselors. (Thomas Hernandez & Susan Seem, The College at Brockport).

The current “millennial” student in schools faces some real challenges in addressing career development and college selection. This presentation will look at the characteristics of these students and specific strategies school counselors can use to assist them in their career path.

F.     Finding the “Right” Character Education program.(Matt Cole, Todd Carter, Sandy Braun, Livonia Central School District).

This session will explain a district’s journey to find the right character education program. Presenters will focus on the process used to identify a specific program including: focus groups, survey methods, selection matrices and research methods.

Register Now
Print, complete, and mail the Registration Form with payment. Registration deadline: January , 30, 2009.

Registrations should be sent by mail to:
Yamalis Hernandez

Department of Counselor Education
SUNY College at Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport , New York 14420
(585) 395-2258
edcga@brockport.edu 

Make checks payable to: Western New York School Counselors Consortium

Directions to the Conference

General Directions:

From the New York State Thruway (West):
Exit the New York State Thruway, Interstate 90 (West) coming from the west at Exit 47. At Exit 47 take Interstate 490 East towards Rochester. Exit at Interstate 390 South to exit 18A -Brooks Avenue East. Take first right into Holiday Inn driveway. Approximate drive time 20 minutes.

From the New York State Thruway (East):
Exit the New York State Thruway, Interstate 90 (East) coming from the east at Exit 46. At Exit 46 take Interstate 390 North to Exit 18A - Brooks Avenue East take immediate right into driveway. Approximate drive time -10 minutes

From the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90):
From Interstate 390 South/North: Exit 18 at Brooks Avenue, East. Hotel located on Right side adjacent to Interstate 390.

From the Greater Rochester International Airport:
Exit Airport complex, turn right at the traffic light. Remain in the right hand lane and turn right into the driveway of the Holiday Inn Rochester Airport. Approximately ¼ mile from the Airport Exit.

From Downtown Rochester:
Take Interstate 490 West to Interstate 390 South. Exit 390 South at exit 18A (Brooks Avenue East) Remain in right hand lane and turn right into the Holiday Inn Rochester Airport. Approximately 10 minutes from downtown.

Conference Planning Committee Co-Chairs

• Sandra Braun – Livonia Intermediate School
• Thomas Hernandez – The College at Brockport, Department of Counselor Education