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Moving Forward in Congress
ByBRAD MacGOWAN,MASCA Government Relations Chair
The Urban Counselors Association’s MASCA trustee, Don Coverdale, and I attended ASCA’s Advocacy and Public Policy Institute (APPI) in Washington, DC, on March 2-5.APPI attendees from around the country received training that was designed to help them advocate for school counseling issues on the federal level and in their home states.
On Capitol Hill, Don and I visited with Roberto Rodriguez, Senator Kennedy’s senior education advisor; Lindsay Ross, Senator Kerry’s legislative correspondent; and Celine McNicholas, Christina Tsa foulias, and Carolyn Blaydes, legislative assistants for education for U.S. Representatives Tsongas, Capuano, and Tierney, respectively.
In the offices of our senators and representatives, we and the other ASCA members at APPI thanked our legislators for passing a resolution making the first week in February “National School Counseling Week.”This is the first time that our profession was recognized in this way by both chambers of Congress.
ASCA members also advocated for restoring funding for the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP) and 47 other programs at the federal level that support school counseling.All of these programs have been eliminated or drastically cut in the budget that Bush sent to Congress. Programs slated for elimination include: School Drop out Prevention, Career and Technical Education State Grants, and Tech Prep Education State Grants, among others.
In addition, APPI attendees asked our senators and representatives to cosponsor the Put Counselors Where They’re Need ed Act (HR 3439), the Reducing Barriers toLearning Act (HR 3419), and the Mental Health in Schools Act (HR 3430).
Counselors taking action
We hope that these efforts are effective; however, nothing is more effective in in fluencing policy than e-mails and calls from constituents.Please contact your legislators and ask them to support school counseling. Specifically, ask your con gress person in the House of Representatives to cosponsor the bills under consideration: HR 3439, HR 3419, and HR 3430. The telephone number for the U.S. Capitol switchboard is 1-202-224-3121.
Featured Alert
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA) has sponsored the Put Counselors Where They’re Needed Act (HR 3439). This bill provides funds for the neediest school dis tricts (drop-out rates 40% or higher) to hire and train school counselors for the purpose of getting at-risk students back on the right track.It also recognizes the role that quality school counseling plays instudent achievement and college access.
Congresswoman Sanchez needs co spon sors for this bill.Urge your U.S. Rep resentative to sign on to this important legislation.Taking action is easy using NACAC’s Legislative Action Center On line.For more information or to send an e-mail to your legislators, go to http:// capwiz.com/nacac/home/
For more information on ASCA’s and MASCA’s government relations activities, contact me at bmacgowan@comcast.net. ■
ED BRYANT, NCC ByED BRYANT,MASCA Life Trustee
This has been a rough winter to wea ther. Did you get a flu shot? My theme this month relates to counselors and fighting infectious diseases.
The U.S. Naval Academy is increasing preventative and protective measures to combat MRSA/Methicillin-resistant sta phyl ococcus aureus and other communicable diseases.
MRSA is “most often spread through direct contact with contaminated skin, shared clothing, towels, personal hygiene items, or training equipment.Prolonged person-to-person contact and lapses in personal hygiene can create ideal conditions for MRSA transmission.”
Are you following protective measures regarding skin infections?Do you urge your counselees to wash their hands with soap and water, especially before meals and after toileting? How about daily showers?Does your school disinfect ath letic areas and sports equipment at least weekly? Does your school have MRSA prevention education?
The USNA has proven that these preventive initiatives, especially hand washing, have reduced the incidence of MRSA infections. We hope that our schools, with the help of parents, are monitoring MRSA cases.
Sleep deprivation
On another topic, are you sleep de prived? Does your work suffer because you are sleepy?My secretary said that my predecessor would fall asleep in the guidance office, causing a problem.
Volunteer work
Do school counselors have time for volunteer work, doing good deeds and swinging hammers rather than golf clubs? This would be a good topic for a Re tirees Session at this month’s conference.Our Rotary Club has a “Lend A Hand” program to assist senior citizens with minor projects.
A fond farewell
After forty-four years in education, George Ramsden, guidance director at Rockport High School, is retiring.A program is planned for June 8 at Rockport High School.Another event will be held in the fall of this year.Sounds like fun. Well done, George.
Since I am writing this article in March, here is a final thought from the Irish: “May the good Lord take a liking to you, but not too soon.”Keep up your good work and stay healthy. ■
Strategic Planning and the Professional Development Committee
VISION: Moving from good to great! GOAL: Statewide recognition of MASCA as a quality provider of affordable professional development programs for school counselors in the Commonwealth.
MISSION STATEMENT: The MASCA Professional Development Committee dev elops, presents, and promotes relevant and accessible professional development op portunities for Massachusetts school counselors. The PD Committee supports and assists other MASCA committees (Conference, MA Model, Technology, et al.), and it is available to assist MASCA affiliates in planning their educational programming.Through professional development initiatives, MASCA mem berships are cultivated.
Under the leadership ofJane Rathbun, director of guidance in South Hadley, many MASCA members participated in strategic planning sessions, which were held at the Summer LDI (along with Mike Vaughn and Erin McCrave), the fall Gov erning Board meeting and Conference Committee meetings. The diversity of the spring 2008 conference keynoters and program offerings, the summer 2008 MA Model Institute, and the fall 2008 conference showcase the results of the PD Committee’s action planning. ALL programming of the committee is designed specifically for school counselors and their mental health colleagues.
Reminders:
• Don’t forget your PDPs!Save your Certificates of Attendance, complete your Evidence of Learning forms, and submit for PDPs using your school’s professional development protocol OR contact me at helenod@worldnet.att.net.
• MASCA is not a CEU provider be cause the Massachusetts Department ofEducation requires PDPs for continued school counselor certification. ■
15th Annual Summit ofPeacemakers: A Conference ofPeer Mediators
June 2, 2008 (Grades 6-12) • June 3, 2008 (Grades 4-6) Hampshire College, Amherst
School peer mediation teams and advisors, all welcome. Send inquiries to Helen O’Donnell at helenod@worldnet.att.net 2007 photos and registration form can be found on MASCA’s website, www.masca.org
PARSONS (continued from page 1) tioner Institute at Lyndon State College in Vermont.
“I appreciate the invaluable support that the Natick Education Foundation gives to Natick educators and am honored to be the recipient of the 2008 Educator Shining Light Award.I believe that this award also gives well-deserved recognition to the members of the Natick High guidance department for their hard work and dedication serving the students of Natick,” says Jan Parsons, on learning of her designation as the Educator Shining Light Award winner . . . .
“Each of these recipients represents the important role that citizens, educators and businesses can all play in working to support excellence in the Natick school system,” said Jan Phlegar, NEF co-president and board member.“We’re thrilled to be able to honor the contributions that Dick Cugini, Jan Parsons and the Fair and Yeager Insurance Agency have made enriching the education ex perience of Natick children over many years.”
The NEF will honor the Shining Light Award recipients at a ceremony on Wed nesday, March 18 at TCAN.The event will begin at 7 p.m. and a champagne and dessert reception will follow. Members of the community are encouraged to attend this free event and join the celebration.
Each recipient will receive a plaque and proclamations in their honor from state and local government.Award plaques will be on display at the Morse Institute Library.
A one-year NEF grant to support an educational initiative in the schools is named after the recipient of the Community Business Shining Light Award, and the recipients of the Harriet F. Siegel and Educator Shining Light Awards are each given the opportunity to direct $1,000 ofNEF funds to an educational project or improvement in the Natick Public Schools of the recipient’s choice. ■
—Reprinted from Wicked Local, Natick, Gatehouse Media, March 8, 2008, http://www.wickedlocal.com/natick/ news/education/
