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In this episode of the I Hear You Say  podcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, are joined by Dr. Sylvia Hollins, an experienced school counselor and trauma specialist. Hollins shares her journey into trauma and multicultural counseling and explains how trauma can affect students’ academic performance, behavior and social/emotional development. The conversation explores what it truly means to create trauma-informed school environments – spaces where students feel safe, supported and seen – and why school counselors and educators play a critical role in that work. Hollins offers practical tools, resources and real-world examples of effective crisis response and trauma-informed practices in schools. She also reinforces a powerful takeaway: the presence of caring, regulated adults can significantly reduce the impact of trauma and help students regain a sense of stability and hope. Visit www.schoolcounselor.org to learn more about these offerings, access additional resources and explore professional learning opportunities for school counselors and district leaders. To further your learning, explore the following ASCA professional development opportunities and resources: Trauma and Crisis Management ASCA U Specialist Trauma and Crisis Management On-Site Training ASCA National Model® Two-Year Districtwide Program The School Counselor and Trauma-Informed Practice Help Students Navigate Fears About ICE

In this special live episode of I Hear You Say, recorded at the 2025 ASCA Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif., host Leisl Moriarty, CMP, CAE, ASCA’s director of affiliate relations, brings together advocacy leaders from four state school counseling associations. Joining her are Amy Baltimore, Ed.D., board chair of the Tennessee School Counselor Association; Lauren Mendez, CEO of the Washington School Counselor Association; Ashley Seeklander, government relations chair for the South Dakota School Counselor Association; and Becky Lins of the Iowa School Counselor Association. Each leader shares how they first became involved in advocacy, the legislative challenges they’re navigating and the proactive initiatives shaping their states. They also highlight successful campaigns that have advanced and protected the school counseling profession. Throughout the conversation, the guests emphasize the importance of relationship-building with legislators, staying proactive rather than reactive and the vital role state associations play in creating community and providing resources for school counselors nationwide. To view a full list of the school counselor associations (SCAs) please visit the following link. At the state level, ASCA supports state school counselor associations in developing effective and sustainable advocacy programs to advance state-specific issues affecting school counseling and K-12 education. School counselors are encouraged to actively participate with their state association as one way to increase their civic engagement. For more information on local advocacy efforts in your district and state, please contact your state association and get involved. https://schoolcounselor.org/About-ASCA/Legislative-Issues

In this special live episode of I Hear You Say, recorded at the 2025 Navigate and Innovate ASCA Annual Conference in Long Beach, host Qisti Gitosuputro, ASCA’s member engagement coordinator, brings together leaders from several of ASCA’s affinity groups for a heartfelt conversation about connection, community, and representation in the school counseling profession. Guests Angie Pereida, Annie Goldberg, Rebecca Edelman, Ph.D., and Brandon Gernux share their personal journeys into leadership and the vital role affinity groups play in supporting school counselors—especially those working in rural areas or navigating professional isolation. They reflect on meaningful moments within their groups, the power of finding people with shared identities and experiences, and how affinity spaces help counselors better serve their students. This inspiring discussion highlights how ASCA’s affinity groups foster belonging, cultivate leadership, and provide an essential network of encouragement and resources for counselors across the country. For more information about ASCA's affinity groups please visit the following links: ASCA Affinity Groups 

In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, talk with Danna Mirviss from PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center about the evolution of bullying prevention efforts. Danna shares how initiatives like National Bullying Prevention Month and Unity Day inspire awareness, kindness, and inclusion in schools. The discussion highlights the vital role of school counselors, educators, families, and peers in creating safe learning environments—and why bullying prevention should be a year-round commitment, not just a month-long campaign. The School Counselor and Bullying/Harassment Prevention and the Promotion of Safe Schools PACER Center-Bullying prevention resources for K-12 youth, families, and educators PACER National Bullying Prevention Center resources for educators

In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, sit down with Sarah Ritchie and Carol Clemens to explore how school counselors can strengthen relationships with families. The conversation highlights the power of personal connections and positive communication, while also offering practical strategies for time management, proactive outreach, and navigating tough conversations with empathy. Together, they share insights designed to help counselors create supportive, trusting partnerships with families that ultimately enhance student success throughout the school year.

In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, recorded live at the 2025 Navigate and Innovate ASCA Annual Conference in Long Beach, host Jill Cook, Executive Director of the American School Counselor Association sits down with ASCA board Chair Christy Welch and Assistant Chair Dr. Ebonee Magee-Dorsey. Welch reflects on her journey from emerging leader to ASCA board chair, while Dr. Magee-Dorsey shares her advocacy work in Mississippi to ensure every school has access to a counselor and her own path to national leadership. Together, they offer a behind-the-scenes look at the ASCA board’s role in shaping policy, monitoring progress, and connecting with members. The conversation also features practical advice for aspiring leaders and emphasizes the power of collaboration in advancing the association’s mission. ASCA Board Board of Directors Candidate Information

In this special episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, recorded live at the 2025 Navigate and Innovate ASCA Annual Conference in Long Beach, host Janae Douglas captures the voices and experiences of attendees throughout the event. From first-time participants to long-time professionals, guests reflect on mentorship, professional growth, and the importance of building meaningful connections. Conversations highlight the energy of networking, the insights gained from conference sessions, and the sense of community that defines the school counseling profession. The episode also looks ahead to future gatherings and the continued role of ASCA in supporting counselors at every stage of their careers. To Get Involved with ASCA, to include becoming an ASCA Ambassador at our next annual conference, please visit: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Membership/Get-Involved

This I Hear You Say podcast about the fifth edition of the ASCA National Model® was built with AI. Here's how we did it. Step One: Uploaded the ASCA National Model® to Google NotebookLM and asked it to turn it into a two-person podcast, using a conversational tone. The human touch: NotebookLM doesn’t allow you to edit scripts, so we put the podcast into Wondercraft and asked it to generate an editable script. We then edited the script, fixing some mistakes and changing other things to reflect our style. Step Two: Using the edited script, used Wondercraft re-record the podcast. The human touch: The AI voices still struggled to say “ASCA,” so that required some additional manipulation. The script also focused quite a bit of attention on the appropriate and inappropriate duties of a school counselor, which are an important part of the ASCA National Model,® but not the main part, and it could use some additional rewriting/editing.

This I Hear You Say I podcast interview about the September/October 2025 issue of ASCA School Counselor magazine was developed using AI. Here's how we did it: Step One: Took all the main feature articles and ran them through ChatGPT, asking it to condense each article into its key points, keeping it in an informal, conversational tone. The human touch: Edited/revised some of the descriptions to fix some mistakes and rework some of the language. Step Two: Took the revised versions of all the article outlines and asked ChatGPT to combine them all into a script for a podcast interview between a host and the magazine editor to discuss the September/October issue of ASCA School Counselor magazine, which focuses on AI. Asked for an approxi-mately 20-minute podcast in conver-sational but professional tone. The human touch: Edited the script to fix some mistakes and highlight some different things rather than what ChatGPT thought was the most important part of each article. Step Three: Took the revised script and loaded it into Wondercraft.ai and asked it to record the podcast. The human touch: Decided it would be better if the podcast mimicked our own voices, so Angie Hickman and Kathleen Rakestraw both recorded samples of their voices, which AI then used to record the whole script. (Note: this required upgrading to the Pro ver-sion for $65/month.) In some cases, the AI voices spoke too fast, so we used a tool in the program to re-record those sections at a slower pace. Also changed the script to have a phonetic spelling of “ASCA” since it kept saying A-S-C-A instead of pronouncing it as one word.

In this episode of ASCA’s special mini-series, Deirdra Williams, ASCA's Director of Programs and Advocacy, explores the impact and evolution of the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), which celebrates its 21st year of honoring schools with exemplary, data-informed counseling programs. She’s joined by four RAMP recipients—Leann Munoz (Perry Harrison Elementary, Pittsboro, NC), Laura Robbins (South Newton High School, Kentland, IN), Dr. Keisha Burns (Shadow Hills Engineering and Design Magnet Academy, Palmdale, CA), and Gina Montague (Powell Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, NC)—who share how they’ve managed large caseloads, advocated for their roles, and built strong support systems. The conversation offers practical tips on time management, effective data collection, and the powerful impact a well-structured school counseling program can have on student success—especially for counselors navigating the process solo.

In this episode of ASCA’s special mini-series, Deirdra Williams, ASCA's Director of Programs and Advocacy, explores the impact and evolution of the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), which celebrates its 21st year of honoring schools with exemplary, data-informed counseling programs. She’s joined by two RAMP recipients—Jeff Hargis from Legacy High School (Legacy High School, Broomfield, CO) and Jeff Pastiak (Oak Lawn Community High School, Oaklawn, IL)—who share what it’s like to pursue RAMP as part of a large counseling team. They discuss how collaboration, strategic task-sharing, and adaptability drive their success, offering practical insights for other teams looking to strengthen their programs and achieve RAMP recognition.

In this episode of ASCA’s special podcast mini-series, Adapting the Model: RAMP Success Stories from Non-Traditional Schools Deirdra Williams, Director of Programs and Advocacy, explores how non-traditional schools are successfully implementing the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP). She’s joined by RAMP recipients Priscilla Grijalva (San Jacinto Leadership Academy, CA), Dr. Kristina Hall (POLYTECH High School, DE), and Laura Krapf (Sarah Pyle Academy, DE), who share their experiences navigating challenges, leveraging data, and engaging their communities. The discussion highlights the power of adaptive strategies, the value of advisory councils, and the transformative impact of achieving RAMP status on their school environments.

In this episode of ASCA’s special podcast mini-series, Deirdra Williams, ASCA's Director of Programs and Advocacy  discusses the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), an initiative by the American School Counselor Association, now in its 21st year. RAMP honors schools that deliver comprehensive, data-driven school counseling programs aligned with the ASCA National Model. Joining the conversation are RAMP recipients Jennifer Alberth (Stone Hill Middle School, Ashburn, VA), Katie Doss (Vista Grande Elementary, Rio Rancho, NM), Rachel Hagelin (Belton High School, Belton, Missouri), and Mirna DeLeon (Upland Unified School District, CA). They share candid reflections on their RAMP journeys—highlighting the challenges, emotional breakthroughs, and lasting impact on their schools and students. From leveraging data to building strong teams, each story underscores the transformative power of intentional school counseling. Whether you're considering the RAMP process or simply want to hear inspiring voices from the field, this episode offers encouragement, insight, and practical advice.

In the inaugural episode of this ASCA podcast mini-series, Deirdra Williams, ASCA's Director of Programs and Advocacy  discusses the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), an initiative by the American School Counselor Association, now in its 21st year. RAMP honors schools that deliver comprehensive, data-driven school counseling programs aligned with the ASCA National Model. Joining the conversation are RAMP recipients Summer Davis (Grand Bay Middle School, AL), Nicole Moody (Sycamore Elementary, GA), and Mirna DeLeon (Upland Unified School District, CA). They share their firsthand experiences with the RAMP application process, offer practical strategies, and reflect on the power of collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and strong organization. Plus, they offer valuable advice for schools aspiring to earn the RAMP distinction—and insight into how the process transformed their counseling programs.

In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, sit down with the four exceptional finalists for the 2025 School Counselor of the Year award. Listeners will hear from Lisa Delgadillo, school counselor at Hibbard Elementary School in Chicago; Stephanie Leibowitz Nelson, Ph.D., school counselor at Garner Magnet High School in Garner, N.C.; Hanna Kemble-Mick, USD 437 dean of elementary school counseling at Indian Hills Elementary in Topeka, Kan.; and Rosie Rodriguez, school counselor at Chester E. Jordan Elementary School in El Paso, Texas. Together, they reflect on National School Counseling Week 2025 and share powerful stories of advocacy, innovation, and impact. From building stronger student relationships to pioneering new support strategies, this episode celebrates the vital role school counselors play in helping students succeed.