Geoff Heckman is a school counselor and counseling department chair at Platte County High School in Platte City, MO, an ASCA RAMP school, and an adjunct instructor for Missouri Baptist University.  He has been a school counselor for 20 years counseling at both the middle and high school levels.  He is a Past President for the Missouri School Counselor Association and was selected as Missouri's School Counselor of the Year in 2017, and was an ASCA School Counselor of the Year Finalist in 2018.  Most recently he served on the ASCA Board of Directors and was the 2022-23 Board Chair. This podcast will leave your feeling empowered to advocate for the great work you do as a school counselor.

Geoff will explain how advocating for yourself doesn't have to be "daunting" or have you feeling less like a team player, but empower those around you to see where your roles collide and how to spend more time doing things that positively contribute to your student's success.

Jake welcomes all school counselors to the 2023 School Counselor Academy in Kearney Nebraska. We look forward to seeing you ther!

Jake and Loni discuss a common thread that has been occurring in their conversations with parents, students, and friends: Processing and how to react to student's disappointments. This episode addresses many common disappointments both students, parents, and families can go through in a school year and some "aha" moments Jake and Loni have learned from along the way.

Does your school have a specific policy for accepting homeschool credits? Are you seeing a rise in students doing partial days at the elementary and middle school level? Is the new NSAA policy and LB7051 helping or harming students in regards to the flexibility of homeschool vs. public school? Hear Jake and Loni talk about their experience with homeschooled students, advising students, and the rise of online school as a viable option in replacement of traditional public education.

What are your personal boundaries with students and parents concerning cell phones, social media, and email communication? Hear Loni and Jake talk about their district and personal policies on what to do when you get that text, friend add, or email that you didn't expect!

Time Triage - How do you triage your time as a school counselor? Do you ever feel guilty when you don't get to that "to do list", are you having a hard time deciding what needs to be done first? Social-emotional toll of deciding what is the most important of all the tasks can be real! Listen as Loni talks with NSCA Assistant Director and long-time OPS school counselor Katie Cameron as they discuss how to manage the emotional labor that comes with managing time with a 300+ student caseload. Katie also shares tips and tricks for documenting time and why we should be doing so.

Listen as school counselors Jake and Loni rapid-fire five of their most recent favorite reads, listens, and maybe even a watch or two. If you are in need of a good book or podcast that not only engrosses your attention and fills your cup, but leaves you thinking about your job in a more compassionate way - you are not going to want to miss this episode!

Dr. Wendy Rock currently serves as the chair of the ASCA Ethics Committee and served as the co-chair during the latest revision of the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors which were released last summer.  Initially trained as an elementary educator, Dr. Rock also has experience at the secondary level.  She currently is an Assistant Professor of Counseling and School Counselor Coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana University.  Dr. Rock will provide essential ethics training on current topics including a review of all the changes to the ASCA Ethical Standards in the 2022 edition compared to the previous edition.

8 to Great® is an 8-step Success Skills process that is as practical as it is powerful. Using an evidence- based middle school and high school curriculum, 8 to Great® restores hope and inspires possibilities for students, helping them believe in and achieve their goals and dreams. Join Michael Garcia and his daughter as they talk about the program and the growth they achieved using this program this school year.