The Counselor’s Notebook
VOL. 63 NO. 1 __________
SEPT 2026
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELOR’S ASSOCIATION
Meet Your New Board Chair By CoryMcGann, MASCA Board Chair Happy September, Counselors! My name is Cory McGann and I am a School Counselor at Ashland High School in Ashland, Massachusetts with a caseload of 9th12th graders. And this year, I am serving as the Governing Board Chair of the Massachusetts School Counseling Association. It is an honor and a privilege to do anything I can to help MASCA and help all School Counselors in the state as we work closely with students and families all across the Commonwealth.
are back to a brand new year, with brand new goals and fresh perspectives. Most careers don’t have this natural built-in opportunity to celebrate a new year and start fresh. Take advantage of this!
I am excited for this upcoming year and hopefully you are too. If you aren’t, find just one or two things that you are excited about - every job has its ups and downs for sure. We have such Cory McGann, Board Chair a great opportunity to have a positive impact on the kids If you are reading this, this means that and families we work with. Seeing that you are a MASCA member and we ap- growth, improvement, and - ideally - repreciate each and every one of you. It silience in the fact of difficult situations means that you are seeking to be the can make School Counselors feel that best School Counselor you can be, to you are making an important difference learn as much as you can, to grow as a to a child and to a family. professional as you move through your career, and hoping to take advantage of Lastly, if you haven’t taken advantage anything and everything MASCA offers of what MASCA can offer you, consider that will be beneficial to you. Maybe it’s doing it this year. When you have some all of the things, or maybe it is just one down time (wait, that’s a thing?!?) take a thing, but we as an organization want to look at the MASCA website to explore the provide you with tools, support, advoca- different tools and offerings. Read (or scan) the e-mails you receive from MAScy, and knowledge. CA to make sure you are aware of opporWe as School Counselors have the best tunities and offerings. We want to help job in the world for a number of rea- you be the best School Counselor that sons, but one of the most important this you possibly can be, because we know time of year is a restart. We (hopefully!) that impacts kids. And that’s why we - all all had a wonderful summer of relax- of us - do what we do. Have a great year, ing, recharging, and reconnecting with and be calm and confident in knowing our family and friends. And now we that you are making a difference each day.
In this Issue: 2 New Members & Awareness Dates 3 Director’s Message: Welcome Back & Preview 4 Fostering Student Leadership 6 Counselors in the Wild: Reflections on SC2 7 The Power of the Circle 8 Protecting your Spark 9 Awards Season 13 Retiree SIG 14 Workforce Development 15 Directory 16 About MASCA
Meet Our Newest MASCA Members! Heidi Baj Ying Bao Leah Barry Kristina Benecke Jennifer Bergeron Caroline Callahan Abiud Carcia Elena Cardoso Irene Carlson Kelsey Correia Amanda Curran Aimee Daigneault Marianne Duncan Sarah Dury Ellen Ellis Danielle Enos Alyse Festa Jaclyn Fisher Sean Fisher Ian Ford Mars Fuller Cyndil Furey
Julia Goldstein Dorcas Gonzalez Jon Gore Alexandra Gutierrez Bethany Hager Mikayla Halloran Chris Hayward Iliana Helps Sarah Hoffman Marlene Jacobs Jason Kaplan Samantha Lantz Alyssa Lawrence Katie Leonard Michelle Lombardo Gema Louis Kaitlyn Lynes Hector Maysonet Santos Madyson McGraw Colleen McGuinness Beth McMahon Nicole Merz Faherson Monexant
Eric Moreno Brian OConnell Russell Parker Stephanie Poutre Kathryn Provost Paul Ross Amanda Rowan Kailla Rowell Mary Rubio Giscard Saintil, LMHC Lynne Sallet Kelci Schulz Kim Skelly Maggie Skorka Alyssa Smiley Micol Striuli David Susman Clare Toohey Jamie Toto Leah Warren Jessica Willhite Elle Wilson
If you know or happen to meet any of our new members, please extend a very warm welcome!
AWARENESS DATES
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Counselor’s Notebook
Director’s Message Welcome Back & Preview By Bob Bardwell, MASCA Executive Director
grinding to a trickle, summer for MASCA is all about catching up on various projects and planning for the coming year. Fall is a very busy time for MASCA, in particular since we launch several of our professional development events and when our Special Interest Groups and Affinity Groups start programming again. And this year is no different. Let me give you a preview of what to look forward to this coming year •
District Trainings have already begun in earnest. Currently 14 districts already have negotiated contracts and several others are in the works. This is a very positive sign considering the fiscal constraints that many districts find themselves in this year. Want to bring school counselor specific training to your school/district? Find more information here.
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The Ethics Committee is back again with their third installment of the Legal and Ethical Symposium Microcredential starting on September 29. Register here.
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A mental health microcredential will launch in October. Details TBA.
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Our annual Election Day PD Day will again be held at Assumption University on November 3 from 8:003:00. PDPs and CEs will be available. The program this year will have two tracks – one focused on supporting boys and the other on supporting transgender students. These topics are extremely relevant and timely. Register here.
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Our annual spring conference will be back at the Renaissance Framingham, April 5 & 6. The theme this year is Navigating the Waves of Innovation. We are currently soliciting conference 1-hour breakout session proposals which are due September 30. Feel free to submit your best practices and share what great things you are doing in your schools.
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Our 11 Special Interest Groups and Affinity Groups are already planning many great programs and opportu-
Bob Bardwell Welcome back. I am sure you heard that phrase many times over the past few weeks and will hear it more into the first couple of weeks in September, depending on when exactly you returned to work and when your students start. While I am not able to offer this greeting in person, it is heartfelt and genuine. As a 33 year veteran of new school year’s starting, I always appreciated the opportunity to have a fresh start. Even when I was a year round employee, the newness of late August/early September was always something to look forward to. While many of us may still be working with the same students as last year, the students who left in June are not the same as the ones who will re-enter their school doors this fall. I am most grateful that educators have this opportunity for a restart, for so many others this time of year is very similar to the others and the idea of new or refresh is not likely, or at least not to the degree that happens in education. What other professions have this annual opportunity to start over like we do? I hope that your summer was relaxing, restful and gave you the opportunity to recharge. After all, this is one of the major reasons for an extended summer break. Both students and staff need this break. Despite programming and emails September 2026
(continued on page 5) Page 3
Fostering Student Leadership to Create Positive School Culture By Jacki Lundstrom, The Gibbs School, Arlington Public Schools “School Culture” is one of those buzzwords we constantly hear in education. At least for me, it conjures up mental images of cheesy school motos and assemblies talking about school values where the majority of students are disengaged. This school year, I joined my school’s Culture and Climate committee to see how I could help make “school culture” something students and staff could buy into. We quickly identified that teachers are pretty bought into the mission at the Gibbs but students, not at much. The Gibbs’ mission is to instill the Three Us (Unified, Understanding, and Unstoppable) in our students to foster their social emotional and academic growth. In the past, we had a mildly successful student council that would run large community service events, but it fizzled out last year due to lack of interest. I wondered if a student group that focused on bringing the Three Us into the student body would help all students be more bought in. At the very least, it could be a place where like-minded students get to meet and do some good in their community and there is positive benefit to that! From there, Student Leadership Team (SLT), was born. Our SLT runs biweekly during our students’ “What I Need” block (a block dedicated to interventions for all students). Students must apply to be part of SLT and need to maintain passing grades and good behavior to stay on the team. Unlike traditional student councils, there are no officers and Page 4
all students plan and participate equally. Students can propose activities and events that they feel fit under the Three Us and we could decide as a group what direction we wanted to take. The group could also assist the counseling team in Tier 1 events we already do that fits into the group’s description. During the first few weeks of SLT, students learn social emotional skills that help them be good leaders and peer role models including exploring leadership qualities, active listening skills, mediation skills, and understanding and combating bis in school. From there we worked on projects that supported our school mission and values. These projects included running a food drive that collect 750 cereal boxes for Arlington Eats, decorating the hallways with art to represent the Three Us, creating welcoming signs for our Japanese exchange students, and hosting an assembly that discussed disability. Over the course of the year, I saw many positive outcomes for the students in SLT and our broader school community. The students in the group gained so much confidence in their identity as school leaders. They also grew in their ability to work together and discuss and implement ideas. There were many times in the beginning of the year where I was the one leading everything and playing referee to students who were struggling to work together. However, by the end of the year the group was very selfrun, and my only job was adult supervision. Throughout the whole school, I saw greater participation in these large school
wide events and excitement because it was run by their peers. There was a “cool” factor to these school wide activities that I do not think I could create on my own. Looking at the 2026-2027 school year, we are hoping to make SLT even better. The group is moving from the intervention block (which is getting a redesign this year) to a weekly after school club. While we are keeping the activities we did last year, we are adding some new ones including creating peer-to-peer mental health support and potentially even peer mediation. While the students I had last year moved on to the upper middle school in Arlington, I am so excited to see what this new group of student leaders will do! As school counselors, we have so much gone on all the time. Some days, okay let’s be honest most days, it can feel like all we can do is keep our heads barely above water. The last thing on many people’s minds, including my own initially, is running a student group. However, there has been so much positive impact from this small group in our school’s culture and sense of belonging that it was worth the work that was put into it. As you are starting your school year, consider how you can get your students more involved in the culture and climate of your school. It doesn’t have to be in a large-scale group like this one. Even smaller participation, such as surveys or focus groups, where students get to share their voice, can make such a huge difference in your school’s culture and climate.
Counselor’s Notebook
Director’s Message: Welcome Back & Preview (continued from page 3)
nities for the coming year. Check our weekly Wednesday MASCA Matters newsletter or the specific emails that you receive with those announcements. There is also interest in new SIG targeting counselors who work specifically with targeted populations (i.e. Early College, Innovation Pathways) or counselors who are focused on specialties like career or college counselors. If you have an interest in learning more about this or helping to lead this effort, please reach out to me. •
New Counselor Boot Camp is back. The details are being finalized so stay tuned for that official announcement.
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Fitchburg State University graduate level courses. After a brief hiatus, we have created specific school counseling courses at a very affordable cost with the option of graduate credits. First up is Ethics starting on September 9 and running through December 16. In the spring there will like be a class on school counselor leadership and/or comprehensive school counseling. The courses provide you the opportunity to earn PDPs and/or move lanes on your district’s salary scale. You can get more information and register for the Ethics Class here and view the draft syllabus here.
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Coming in February is the launch of another new initiative - LEAD Academy: Leading Self, Engaging Others, Advancing Systems, Demonstrating Impact. This new school counseling leadership cohort model is an 8-week hybrid professional learning experience designed to grow the future of school counseling leadership. The program will run from late February through early April, culminating in an in-person meeting at the Annual Spring Conference on April 5. Applications will launch later
September 2026
this fall and will also require a letter of recommendation and supervisor approval. Space will be limited. For more information now, please contact Erica Thomas, coordinator of this exciting new project. •
Coaching – MASCA is investigating whether to start a coaching initiative. Look for a survey later in September to gauge interest.
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Book Club – our popular Book Club is back. This fall we are reading School Counseling Chronicles: Real Talk for School Counselors” by Erica Jones Bidding. This isn’t your typical, dry professional development read. It’s an unfiltered, honest, and deeply relatable look at the actual day-to-day realities of our roles. The Club will meet three times – October 5 & 19 and November 9 from 4:30-5:30 via zoom. Register here. For general information about the Book Club, click here.
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Two regional half day workshops entitled - Access & Opportunity: Helping Our Most Vulnerable Students & Families Navigate the Financial Aid System will be held on October 6 (western Mass.) and November 17 (Eastern Mass.). Details TBA.
Thank you for reading this far. As you can see, we have a lot planned for the coming year. While not all of the details have been finalized, we are making good progress and trying to meet the many and varied needs of our members. I hope you are as excited about some of these offerings as I am. There is some good stuff here and I hope that you are able to take advantage of many of these learning and networking opportunities. If you have any questions or concerns, let me know. In the meantime, here’s to a productive, stress-free and amazing school year. You deserve nothing less.
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Counselors in the Wild:
Reflecting on MASCA’s 4th Annual School Counselor Summer Camp By Allison Brann, SC2 Faculty Member and School Counselor at Royalston Community School There are traditional professional conferences. And then there is MASCA School Counselor Summer Camp (SC²). At most conferences, you might expect PowerPoints, coffee, name badges, and the occasional awkward attempt to network with the person sitting next to you. For a virtual conference, you can expect the obligatory “can everyone see my screen?” At SC², you can add animal themed small groups, arts & crafts, camp counselors, bunkmates, spontaneous conversations, meditation and yoga, and so much more. The fourth annual MASCA School Counselor Summer Camp, held July 21–23 at Bridgewater State University, brought 67 school counselors together for three days of professional learning, connection, reflection, and fun under the theme “Counselors in the Wild” where campers were divided into eight small groups led by our summer camp faculty: Giraffes, Gorillas, Hyenas, Elephants, Leopards, Pandas, Panthers, and Sloths. Welcome to the Wild The professional learning at SC² was practical, relevant, and (perhaps most importantly) something counselors could take home. Participants highlighted sessions on MyCAP, self-care and wellness, school counseling program excellence, supporting neurodivergent students, LGBTQ+ student advocacy, student mental health, managing frustrations, boundaries, and sharing best practices across elementary, middle, and high school settings. Several sessions generated particularly strong reactions. MyCAP was a favorite for many counselors, with participants leaving with concrete ideas for integrating career development into their schools. One counselor plans Page 6
to connect MyCAP work with English research projects, while another hopes to have high school students lead a career fair for middle school students. Another counselor discovered new ways to make college and career readiness more engaging for younger students. The school counseling program session gave participants something equally valuable: a roadmap. One counselor described the program rubric as “literally, THE rubric” and immediately began using it to identify accomplishments, gather evidence, and plan next steps with colleagues and administrators. Camp Isn’t Just About the Sessions Wednesday afternoon gave counselors a chance to choose their own adventure. Some participated in arts & crafts on campus, decorating lanterns and creating alongside colleagues. Others explored the BSU walking trails, played games, went out to dinner, went shopping, visited Barrett’s, headed to Black Hat Brewery, or some enjoyed the rare luxury of an afternoon nap. And that variety was intentional. The Best Part? Each Other When asked what they liked best about SC², counselors who attended repeatedly returned to the same answer: connection. That sentiment appeared again and again in the feedback.
Hearing that someone else is facing the same challenge. As one camper wrote, “This can be a lonely profession because we do so much for so many and it’s nice to know we’re not alone.” Another counselor described the experience as “a mind meld” during a high school best-practices discussion, where counselors openly shared what was working in their schools. That may be one of the greatest strengths of SC²: counselors aren’t simply learning from presenters. They are learning from each other. Until Next Summer… The fourth annual School Counselor Summer Camp reminded us that professional development doesn’t have to feel like work all the time. It can be thoughtful and meaningful while also being playful. It can challenge us while giving us a chance to laugh. It can happen during a breakout session, over dinner, during a team activity, in the dorm common room, or while walking through the rain wondering why you didn’t bring an umbrella. Most of all, it can remind us that school counseling is not something we have to do alone. So, to the Giraffes, Gorillas, Hyenas, Elephants, Leopards, Pandas, Panthers, and Sloths who showed up ready to learn, laugh, connect, and maybe get a little wet on the way to dinner: thank you for making camp memorable. You are officially part of the wild.
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Networking.
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Camaraderie.
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Collaboration.
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Sharing ideas.
Until next summer, keep supporting your students, keep supporting each other, and remember to pack an umbrella.
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Feeling validated.
Just in case.
Counselor’s Notebook
September 2026
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Protecting Your Spark: How School Counselors Can Set Guardrails for a Purpose-Driven Year By Christina Borges, MASCA Emerging Leader, MASCA Program Review Committee Member and School Counselor, Westport Middle High School As school counselors, we are the true navigators of our students’ lives and our own, often balancing a seemingly endless list of demands, crises, and checklists. This summer, I had the opportunity to attend MASCA’s School Counselor Summer Camp (SC2) to recharge and reflect. Summer camp is more than a time to relax; it’s a sacred space to reconnect with my professional purpose and reexamine what drives me as a school counselor. It’s a moment to reflect on how I show up for my students, colleagues, and myself.
nal compass - the core values, purpose, and essence of what makes you come alive in this work. She uses the metaphor of a compass to help us identify our true north, reminding us that in the chaos, our compass points us back to what truly guides us. Chris encourages us to identify our “spark” that thing that makes us feel alive when we’re doing our best work - and to carry this reminder into every day.
This resonates profoundly with me because I realize how often I lose sight of that spark amidst the endOne of the keynote addressless to-do lists, urgent crises, Christina Borges es and breakout sessions and administrative burdens. was led by Christine Soverow, Chris’s message is clear: your whose work on protecting our guardrails, using true north is already inside you. All you have to do the counselor’s internal compass, and practicing is listen for it and keep it front and center. how to hold the line against drift left a lasting imTo stay true to my north, my plan is to clarify my pression on me. Chris reminds us that the work “why.” So, for this school year, I plan to write down we do matters because of the spark that initially the reason I became a school counselor in the first drew us into school counseling: that desire to truly place and keep it visible on my desk and wall. I will be present with students, to listen, and to impact revisit my purpose when I feel overwhelmed or lives in meaningful ways. She also brings up a vidistracted. I’ll also craft a short, powerful sentence tal point: our work can easily drift away from that that captures what makes me come alive - somespark, especially when overwhelmed or caught in thing like, “I come alive when I make meaningful the chaos of the day-to-day. connections with students.” I will carry that purSo, I’ve adopted her message: this year, I want to pose as a guide throughout the school year, espeprotect my purpose by setting clear guardrails and cially during challenging moments. using practical tools to stay aligned with what truly Guardrails: The Boundaries That Keep Us On matters. With Chris’ permission, I share her mesTrack sage with all of you as we step into a new school year, full of hope, possibility, and intentionality, The next concept from Chris’s work is the imporready to make this upcoming year the most purtance of establishing specific, checkable guardpose-driven yet. rails. Think of guardrails as the boundary lines that keep you in your lane - whether that’s leaving work Starting the Year with Purpose: Staying True to by 3 PM on Fridays, taking a proper lunch break, or Your North setting aside time each day to breathe and reset. A key idea from Chris’s sessions is about the inter(continued next page) Page 8
Counselor’s Notebook
Protecting Your Spark (continued from previous page) These aren’t wishes like “I’ll take better care of myself.” Instead, they are concrete commitments: “I will leave the building by 3 PM on Fridays,” or “I will take a 10-minute walk outside every afternoon.” During summer camp, I reflected on my own guardrails and realized how easy it is to let them slip, especially when multiple demands compete for my attention. The key is to set these boundaries, and to actively hold them. Chris emphasizes that guardrails are like lighted signs on a dark road, guiding us back when we start to drift. The best part is that these guardrails are entirely within our control. They are our personal commitments to protect our time, energy, and well-being. My plan for this year is to establish clear guardrails by getting even more specific. I will commit to taking a 10-minute meditative walk before the school day begins and having a 30-minute lunch break each day. I will also have an accountability buddy - colleague or friend - to check in and remind each other of our guardrails. I further want to incorporate a mini mindfulness practice into my daily schedule: two minutes at the end of the day to breathe deeply and center myself. These are small, actionable steps, but when practiced consistently, they become powerful anchors that can keep me rooted in my purpose. Holding the Line: Practicing Pushback and Protecting Your Energy The third and perhaps most practical concept from Chris’s sessions is about practicing how to hold the line - how to say “no” or “not right now” with confidence and compassion. She shares roleplay scenarios, like how to respond to a principal asking for an extra task during busy times or how to set boundaries with colleagues or parents. Her approach emphasizes the power of recognizing what’s happening, clearly identifying your boundary, and suggesting a constructive way forward. This practice isn’t about being rigid or inflexible; it’s about being intentional and clear in protecting your guardrails. For example, if a parent asks for a meeting during your lunch, you might acknowledge their concern, clarify that you’re unavailable at that time, and suggest an alternative time to connect. The key is to practice these responses so they come naturally when you need them.
September 2026
This year, I plan to role-play these responses with colleagues and friends, creating a safe space to practice saying “no” with kindness. I also want to establish “guardrail buddies” - colleagues who check in on each other throughout the year to ensure we’re respecting our boundaries. Whether it’s a quick text, a calendar reminder, or a phone call, these small acts of accountability will reinforce my commitment and help me stay aligned with my purpose. A Call to Action: Set Your Guardrails and Protect Your Spark As we gear up for the new school year, I invite each of you to think about your own purpose and guardrails. What is your true north? What boundaries will you put in place to protect your time and energy? How will you practice saying “no” or “not right now” with confidence? Remember, these aren’t just ideas - they are commitments to yourself that will sustain you through the busy months ahead. When we protect our spark and hold our guardrails, we’re not only serving students better - we’re also nourishing our own well-being. And that makes us more effective, more present, and more fulfilled. As Chris Soverow beautifully reminds us, “Your compass is already inside you.” Trust it. Set your guardrails. Practice holding the line. And go into this school year knowing that you are enough exactly as you are, with all your care, compassion, and fierce dedication. Here’s to a purpose-driven year, full of connection, clarity, and focus. Let’s protect our sparks, and in doing so, light the way for our students and ourselves. Because when we know what guides us, we can navigate anything. __________________________________________________ Credit: Christine Soverow, “The Counselor’s Compass” keynote and breakout, MASCA Summer Camp.
WON’T YOU JOIN US? Go to https://masca.wildapricot.org/join-us
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MASCA Professional Recognition Committee announces MASCA Awards Season! Submitted by: Tama Lang & Dina Sibilia, PRC Co-Chairs The PRC is pleased to announce the timeline for the MASCA Awards Season for the 26-27 school year. Beginning September 30th, we will begin accepting nominations for MASCA Awards. An email with the digital application form link will be sent out shortly before 9/30/26. A QR code will be available to access the nomination form in the October edition of Counselor’s Notebook as well. The nominations will close on October 30th. Nominees in all categories will be notified by email provided by their nominator. You may also self-nominate. If you are nominated, you will be asked to accept your nomination and send a photo to be presented at the Virtual Gala via zoom on February 4, 2027 at 7:00 PM. Winners will be notified by late January. Nominees for the School Counselor of the Year and the Excellence (SCOY) in School Counseling Program (ESCPA) will be asked to complete and submit applications about themselves and/or their programs. Nominees for SCOY or ESCPA will be provided with ample time to complete the application. THE AWARDS, WHO TO NOMINATE AND WHY Each year, we recognize our fellow counselors and educators who have made an impact in the field of school counseling. We encourage you to nominate your colleagues in the following areas. School Counselor of the Year (SCOY): A current MASCA member (may join MASCA any time during the process) and licensed counselor during the current school year in an elementary, middle, or high school, who has made outstanding contributions to their school and is running a top-notch, comprehensive school counseling program.The school counselor of the year has been working in the field for more than five years. The nominee can be a School Counselor or a School Adjustment Counselor. The following criteria are reviewed: 1)
Has made an impact on students’ academic, social emotional, and behavioral well-being through a variety of programs, interventions, and school counseling best practices.
2) Has positively contributed to their school community through collaboration. 3) Demonstrates an understanding of both the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) and the Massachusetts School
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Counseling Association programming and initiatives, such as the ASCA National Model or MTSS frameworks. 4) Serves as an advocate for students and demonstrates professional advocacy, such as influencing school policy or participating in local or state organizations. 5) Demonstrates leadership skills within the school, district, or community. 6) Makes data driven decisions to inform best school counseling practices. 7) Establishes community engagement by building strong relationships with stakeholders. 8) Has bettered their school and/or district by executing a comprehensive school counseling program. Once nominations close, SCOY nominees will be asked to submit additional information by December 15, 2026 including an essay, resume, and letters of recommendation. If selected as the MASCA 2026 SCOY, the award recipient will be required to join ASCA in order to participate in the 2027 ASCA School Counselor of the Year application program. Rising Star The MASCA Rising Star is awarded to a school counselor who has been working in the field for less than five years. They must be a member of MASCA (can join anytime during this process). Nominators should consider the following when nominating for this award. 1)
Has made outstanding and innovative contributions to the school community and/or the counseling profession, actively engaging in professional development and leadership opportunities.
2) Demonstrates a positive rapport with colleagues, students and parents. 3) Demonstrates data informed practices and an understanding of both ASCA and MASCA initiatives. 4) Has made your school, district or program better. Intern of the Year (continued next page) Counselor’s Notebook
Awards Season (continued from prev. page)
Awarded to a school counseling intern who completed their practicum during the 2025-2026 school year. This nominee has taken leadership in their placement, connected with students and families, and is a contributing member of the counseling team. **May be nominated by anyone at their internship site, though we particularly welcome nominations from their internship site supervisor. MASCA membership is not required but encouraged.
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Graduate Student of the Year The MASCA Graduate student of the Year is different from the Intern of the year as the nominator is either professors or peers. The nominee is a graduate student in either a masters or doctoral level program in school counselor or counselor education who consistently demonstrates excellence in the classroom. This award nominee enhances the learning of their peers, demonstrates a robust understanding of the role of the school counselor, including as it relates to equity, and demonstrates academic excellence. The graduate student will demonstrate any or all of the following criteria: 1)
Is taking on leadership roles in college, local or state organizations.
2) Showing promising search/publication.
re-
3) Presentations at local PD, conferences etc. Counselor Educator of the Year The MASCA Counselor Educator of the Year is a Professor in a School Counseling program. The nominee is a current MASCA member and counselor educator teaching during the current academic year in a higher education setting, who has made outstanding contributions in teaching, reSeptember 2026
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search, and/or service and is making significant contributions to the school counseling field. Nominators should include the following in their nomination: 1)
Has made an impact in the school counseling field through research, publication, programming, and professional development, OR has engaged in evidence-based practices and disseminated research-based lessons.
2) Has promoted Inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. 3) Is a mentor and a leader both in and out of the classroom. Administrator of the Year The MASCA Administrator of the Year is for a building or district administrator (Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, Principal, Superintendent, etc) who is a champion of school counselors. The award is presented to an administrator who has made aan outstanding and significant contribution to the counseling movement, developed and/ or implemented an innovative program, or initiated unusual improvements of school counseling services in their area of responsibility. The Page 11
Awards Season
(continued from previous page) administrator of the year is reviewed based on the following criteria: 1)
An active supporter of the school counseling program through communication and collaboration.
2) Actively supports the development and growth of school counselors and programs. 3) A leader who recognizes the importance of a strong counseling program and is committed to the growth and potential of the school counseling program. Leadership Award Awarded to a current MASCA member and licensed counselor serving during the current school year in an elementary, middle, or high school who demonstrates leadership in the counseling profession at the local, state, or national level. Nominators should share the concrete impact of their nominee’s leadership role. Criteria will be reviewed based on the nominee’s impact on their school counseling program or profession at the local, state or national level. Social Justice Award This award honors and recognizes a member of the school counseling community who exemplifies unwavering commitment to human rights, social justice, and inclusive practices. The recipient demonstrates leadership in advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (IDEA) in their school community, fostering a safe and affirming environment for all students, particularly those from historically marginalized backgrounds. Through advocacy, empathy, and transformative action, they have demonstrated ways of how they have empowered their students or peers in the areas of human rights, social justice, and IDEA. The Special Award The Special award, although not given every year, is granted to an individual who does not fit into any of the above categories, but has done something deserving of recognition. The award is presented to an individual who has made a contribution of unusual significance that substantially affects the school counseling profession. The contribution directly affects counselors, students, or a school program and the individual is not eligible for any other MASCA awards. If you believe that you have someone who fits into this category, please reach out to us with your story.
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Excellence in School Counseling Program Award (ESCPA) The ESCPA celebrates a school counseling department that has gone above and beyond in designing and delivering a comprehensive school counseling program. This recognition honors school counseling programs whose work exemplifies the highest standards in the field, aligning with the ASCA National Model and/or MTSS frameworks to support the success of all students. Any member of the school community may nominate a school counseling program for this recognition. Nominators must include contact information for all members of the counseling team and provide a clear explanation of why the program is deserving of the award. The nomination should describe the program’s positive, measurable impact on students—such as improvements in academic achievement, attendance, or behavior. This Award is for a school counseling PROGRAM which can be one school or a full district program. Each school will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 1)
Vision and Mission Statement
2) Student outcome goal -academic, behavioral, or attendance (two of the three domains required), process and data. 3) MTSS model - Programmatic levels of intervention 4) Advocacy - dissemination of information to stakeholders 5) Additional points may be awarded for Advisory Council, tracking usage of time, hosting creative school events, and interventions and/or initiatives that are unique to the program Schools that reach specific scoring criteria in each category will be awarded the ESCPA for a five year period. All documentation should be submitted by January 3, 2027, NOTE: It is possible that not every category will have an honoree. If you have any questions regarding certain categories, timeline, nomination process, or have a general inquiry, please contact either PRC Co-Chair, Tama Lang at tlang@cpsge.org or Dina Sibilia at sibilia@ wsps.org. Please consider nominating an outstanding colleague or awesome fellow school counselor! The PRC is looking forward to reviewing all of the nominations.
Counselor’s Notebook
Retiree SIG Welcome Back! I hope you had a wonderful summer and found time to relax and recharge before heading back to school. My name is Ruth Carrigan, and I am one of the newly appointed Retiree SIG leaders. Although I am not heading back to school in the traditional sense, I remember counting down the final days of summer break with a little sadness that summer was ending - and a lot of excitement about the coming school year. Since retiring as Director of School Counseling at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in 2024, I have “kept in the game” by working as a seasonal admissions reader for Babson College. This year, I am also mentoring and coaching a local high school counseling department and serving as a field supervisor for several school counseling interns. However, my most important role since retiring is being “Mimi” to my three young grandchildren.
Retirees Carrie Kulick-Clark, Ruth Carrigan, Donna Brown, and Donna Neary at MASCA Summer Camp held at Bridgewater State University in July.
If you are retired or considering retirement within the next few years, I hope you will join my Retiree SIG co-chair, Chris Soverow, and me at our virtual and in-person events this year. We are currently planning activities and hope to: Conduct a needs assessment of MASCA retirees Offer retirement-focused webinars Host in-person social events Provide special retiree programming at the annual MASCA Conference Our Fall Kickoff Virtual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 29th at 4 PM. We hope you will join us for a time to connect with colleagues and to offer your input regarding plans programming for the year. Please follow this link to sign up for the Fall Kick Off Retiree SIG Meeting.
September 2026
Donna Brown, Ruth Carrigan, and Donna Neary at MASCA’s Red Sox Event.
Ater your career of making a difference in the lives of your students, we want to discover how MASCA can help support you in retirement. Speaking from experience, retirement from school counseling can lead to a rewarding and purposeful life. We hope you will join us as we share information and ideas about this exciting next chapter of life.
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What did I do over the summer? Why Workforce Development, of Course! by Dr. Judith Josephs Throughout my career in counseling as well as this summer, I searched for community organizations that would help students and alumni to achieve their goals of obtaining employment or training programs. I found a state agency partnering with schools to help students by offering many valuable programs. E.S.O.L. is an acronym meaning English for Speakers of Other Languages. This training program is essential for employee effective communication, job performance safety, and career advancement. My guest Eliud Alacala stresses this program which offers opportunity to Spanish speaking job seekers. Lynn and Salem have a large Spanish speaking population. Mass Hire North Shore Career Centers highlight motivated career seekers who look to connect with employers and business leaders across the North Shore of Massachusetts. Job seekers looking for a career pathway, companies looking for workers, and excellent training programs could not find a better nonprofit organization than Mass Hire Workshop Development. This History of Success video highlights company partners, workforce development, and job seekers help. My guests for the show are Ed O’Sullivan, Executive Director Mass Hire North Shore Workforce Board and Eliud Alacala, Mass Hire North Shore Career Center Deputy Director. Both guests show strong leadership in the field of employee training and company connections. You can SEE THE VIDEO HERE The various programs offered by Mass Hire are as follows: Health Care Training Programs such as Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technician, and Dental Assistant. This organization also offers programs that prepare individuals for roles as Mental Health Specialists in partnership with local hospital and North Shore Community College. Mass Hire North Shore Career Centers offers strong connections between businesses and job seekers by a network of powerful contacts. The training available to the job seekers includes Advanced Manufacturing, technical skills such as Welding, HVAC, Automotive Technician, Culinary Arts, Construction Craft Laborer, Building Property Maintenance, Plumbing and Electrical. In addition to technical skills, available training takes place in Healthcare, Information Technology, Transportation, and Clean Energy. Advanced Manufacturing (AMTEP) is a free hands-on training program. This program includes education such as mathematics, print reading, machine shop
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safety, and exam preparation for National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) The Mass Hire North Shore Career Center is located at 70 Washington Street, first floor in Salem, Mass. The telephone number is 978-825-7200. The Lynn Youth Program is located at North Shore Community College, 30 Broad Street, Lynn, Mass. Applicants are encouraged to come in and fill out appropriate forms. Ages 14-24 are offered a Youth Works Program for Gateway Cities like Lynn and Salem. Youth are placed in subsidized jobs offering intensive soft skills and job readiness training. Tutoring, occupational training, financial literacy, and work experience are available through non-profit partnerships. How do you begin to take advantage of this excellent program? Attend a Career Center Seminar and complete an enrollment process. Career Training Programs in 2026 include Apprenticeship Programs, Manufacturing Training Programs, Networking Events, and Youth Workforce Development Programs. These programs are all free through Mass Hire North Shore Career Center. Artificial intelligence is ready to transform the working world as we know it to be today. Manufacturing will become more automated. The functions of design could be taken over by Artificial Intelligence. Accounting and financial functions may be done by Artificial Intelligence. Restaurant food service could move towards automation. The value of this organization to school counselors and students offers many possibilities. Speakers could be brought into classrooms looking to connect students with career opportunities. Company leaders could offer their opportunities in seeking future workers and summer employment. The future impact of Artificial Intelligence could be highlighted by experts in this field. The additional value to school counselors and students includes many new opportunities, job searches that could match your skills, and connections to companies with positions available in many industries. By filling out an application, students and adults can begin their career pathway journey. Companies are offered help with recruitment screening, on-site interview sessions, participation in career fairs, and apprenticeship training information. Mass. Division of Apprentice Standards assists business in building a skilled workforce that are meeting the demands of specific industries. Included in the benefits of the program are supervision, pay, on-the-job training, classroom instruction, mentoring, and nationally recognized industry credentials.
Counselor’s Notebook
MASCA Governing Board and Staff Directory GOVERNING BOARD Chair:Cory McGann School Counseling Department Head Ashland High School Assistant Chair:Andrea Encarnacao School Counselor, Boston Latin School Board Members Mindy Cripps Director of School Counseling Billerica High School Nychele Clark School Adjustment Counselor Gardner High School Cynthia Esielionis School Counselor Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School Lori Ford School Counselor Edgartown School, Martha’s Vineyard Ali Robidoux Curriculum, Data, and Assessment Manager- School Counseling New Bedford Public Schools Jen Pinhal Early College School Counselor New Bedford High School Amanda Ugrinow School Counselor Westborough High School COMMITTEES Conference Ali Robidoux Curriculum, Data, and Assessment Manager- School Counseling New Bedford Public Schools Ethics Mindy Cripps Guidance Director, Billerica High School Fiscal Oversight Jen Pinhal Early College School Counselor New Bedford High School Government Relations & Advocacy Juliette Coatsworth School Counselor Foxborough Regional Charter School Fran Frederick School Adjustment Counselor Belchertown High School Culture & Climate Crew Amanda Berg School Adjustment Counselor Granby Elementary School Comprehensive School Counseling Jodi Then School Counselor Snowden International School, Boston Cynthia Esielionis School Counselor Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School
September 2026
Member Engagement Tama Lang School Counselor Litwin Elementary School, Chicopee Nomination and Bylaws Lori Ford School Counselor Edgartown School, Martha’s Vineyard Professional Recognition Dina Sibilia School Counselor West Springfield High School Tama Lang School Counselor Litwin Elementary School, Chicopee Public Relations Chris Soverow Retired School Counselor Research and Evaluation Christine Shaw Professor Merrimack College School Counselor Pipeline Jessica Almeida School Counselor Quinn Middle School, Hudson Jennifer McGuire College & Career Information Coordinator New Bedford Public Schools Strategic Planning Kerry Bartlett School Counselor Hudson High School Technology Committee Jennifer McGuire College & Career Information Coordinator New Bedford Public SchoolsA APPOINTED POSITIONS Executive Director & Membership Coordinator Bob Bardwell Secretary Julia Cahill-O’Shea School Counselor Hamilton- Wenham Regional HS Counselors Notebook & Tech Jean Atwater-Williams IT Consultant, BizTech Associates Mentoring Coordinator Maryanne Margiotta Career Facilitator Southwick Regional High School Program Review Coordinator Kari Denitzio PDP Coordinator Ali Robidoux Curriculum, Data, and Assessment Manager- School Counseling New Bedford Public Schools LIAISONS Counselor Educator Liaison Megan Krell Associate Professor Fitchburg State University DESE Liaison
Lisa Harney MA Dept of Elem & Sec Education Emerging Leader Liaisons Cory McGann School Counseling Department Head Ashland High School Courtney Royal School Counselor Gloucester High School Graduate Student Liaisons Ryan Beck Gradudate Student UMASS Amherst CC Cardinale Gradudate Student Boston University Jill Herron Gradudate Student Merrimack College Emerging Leaders Kelly Albrecht School Counselor Somerville High School Christina Borges School Counselor Westport Middle High School Julie Hopkinson School Adjustment Counselor Harry Lee Cole Elementary School, Boxford Aaron VandeKoppel School Adjustment Counselor NE Elementary School, Waltham SIG LEADERS Career/Technical Philippa Siegel School Counselor Putnam Vocational Technical Academy Maryrose O’Neil School Counselor Tantasqua Regional High School Kaitlin Monahan School Counselor Greater Lowell Technical High School School Counseling Directors Jenn Bullard School Counseling Director Dracut High School Elementary Lori Ford School Counselor Martha’s Vineyard Megan McShane School Counselor St Columbkille Partnership School Maura Ricardi School Adjustment Counselor East Street School, Ludlow Multilingual Learners Priscila Anderson School Counselor Woburn Memorial High School Matt Baione School Counselor Revere High School Middle Level
Dawn Martin School Counselor Qualters Middle School, Mansfield Jackie Saunders School Counselor Gibbs School, Arlington Michael Vaughan School Counselor Leicester Middle School Retirees Ruth Carrigan Retired School Counselor Chris Soverow Retired School Counselor School Adjustment Counselors/ School Social Worker Nychele Clark School Adjustment Counselor Gardner High School Kate Niedel Retired School Adjustment Counselor Anne Thidemann French Retired School Adjustment Counselor Secondary Nikki Amara School Counselor Cardinal Spellman Anthony Simmons School Counselor Atlantis Charter School, Fall River Shannon Mastropoalo School Counselor Needham High School Urban Rani Gould School Counselor The Academy at Kiley Middle School Sara Runkle School Counselor Kiley Prep Middle School, Springfield AFFINITY GROUP LEADERS Counselors of Color Jessica Descartes School Counselor Tech Boston Academy Andrea Encarnacao School Counselor Boston Latin School LGBTQ+ Jessica Almeida School Counselor Quinn Middle School, Hudson Mindy Cripps Director of School Counseling Billerica High School Julie Walker School Counselor Shepard Hill Regional High School, Dudley Book Club Coordinators Cynthia Esielionis School Counselor Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School Abby Leone-Murphy School Counselor Franklin High School
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ABOUT MASCA Mission Statement: The mission of MASCA is to elevate and advance the school counseling profession in Massachusetts through leadership, collaboration, visibility, and professional development to optimize student success. Vision Statement: The vision of MASCA is to equip school counseling professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to implement a comprehensive school counseling program in their school community. Through an equitable lens, we advocate that all K-12 Massachusetts students have access to a school counselor and the opportunity to become their best selves in school, their personal lives, and their communities. Core values: Advocacy - Committing to center the school counseling profession by highlighting and advancing the core values of school counselors, both individually and as a profession. Equity - Requiring inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility for all school counselors and the students and families they serve Collaboration – Working together with all stakeholders allows school counselors to deliver the highest quality school counseling program for all students. Excellence - Maintaining the highest level of professional standards and advancing the delivery of comprehensive school counseling programs (i.e.: MA Model) for all students. Strategic Objectives: Objective #1 - Advocacy - Position MASCA as a recognized, valuable, and respected voice at local, state, and regional levels by building the awareness of the importance and impact of the work and role of school counseling professionals. Objective #2 - Equity - Position MASCA as a leading organization in dismantling racist, sexist, homophobic, gendered, ableist, ageist, religious intolerance and other oppressive policies and practices while emphasizing the need for diversity and inclusion in school counseling personnel and programming. Objective #3 - Membership - Grow MASCA membership by retaining and engaging current members, and recruiting new members, with an on-going commitment to cultivate a more diverse membership. Objective #4 – Professional Development - Create, provide and/or promote relevant, high-quality, accessible, and timely professional development to meet the needs of our members and support the implementation of comprehensive school counseling programs. Objective #5 – School Counselor Pipeline - MASCA must address the increasing number of unfilled school counselor vacancies and reduction of candidates entering school counseling preparation programs.
Massachusetts School Counselor’s Association PO Box 351 Hampden, MA 01036 Page 16
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Counselor’s Notebook