1ST Annual School Counseling Leadership Institute July 2003

Using Data to Help all Children Succeed
Held July 14-18, 2003
University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Sponsored by:

• The Center for School Counseling Outcome Research
• The Education Trust
• The UMass Amherst School of Education
• The UMass Amherst Division of Continuing Education

The PowerPoint materials used during the Institute are available.

PROGRAM

We believe that school counselors can have a profound impact on students’ experiences and successes in school. To this end, this Institute educated school counselors about the most effective models for school counseling -- the Education Trust’s Transforming School Counseling Initiative, and the American School Counselor Association’s National Model. These models provide both theoretical and concrete information about which counseling practices and programs have the most positive influence on student achievement and school climate. Participants learned about:

Data-Based Decision Making and Assessment
1) Using data to describe problems, plan interventions, provide advocacy for all students and target systemic changes.
2) Demonstrating the effectiveness of interventions and programs through data.
3) Increasing accountability by evaluating how students are different as a result of counseling interventions, classroom curriculum and/or programs.
4) Understanding and utilizing school counseling outcome research to provide information to districts about proven counseling practices.

Leadership and Advocacy for Systemic Change
1) Mobilizing resources to serve students’ needs.
2) Identifying and changing systemic impediments to student achievement.
3) Ensuring that all students have access to challenging and relevant classes.
4) Creating support systems that serve the needs of all students.

Teaming and Collaboration
1) Working with teachers, administrators, families and community members to provide access to resources and information so that all students can succeed.
2) Partnering with school counselor education programs to link practice and research.

All participants received printed copies of the materials used during the Institute, as well as resource lists and school counseling curriculum materials.

FACULTY

Reese House Ed.D.

Director of The Education Trust’s Transforming School Counseling Initiative; former school counselor and counselor educator. Special interests in data-based advocacy.

John Carey, Ph.D.

Director of the Center and associate professor of School Counseling at UMass Amherst. Special interests in school counseling program evaluation and multicultural school counseling.

Carey Dimmitt, Ph.D.

Associate Director of the Center and assistant professor of School Counseling at UMass Amherst. Special interests in school counseling practices which promote academic achievement and higher education K-12 partnerships.