School Counselors Making an Imprint on Future Generations (GSCA 2026 Annual Conference)

Middle/High School

Elementary

Helping students is rewarding, but burnout—feeling tired, numb, or snippy—are real threats. It is possible to avoid either drowning or becoming callous! Drawing from 25 years as a counselor and 40 as an educator, I remain energized and passionate. Join us to discover practical strategies that move beyond tired clichés like "self-care," “your oxygen mask first,” "remember your ‘why’." This session offers actionable approaches designed for counselors at any stage of their career.

All Levels

All Levels

For the past 15 years, our kids have been the guinea pigs in a vast social experiment being conducted by big tech. Online games, social media, chat rooms, and most recently AI, have dramatically changed how children interact and learn, and the fallout is abundant. This session equips participants with information, practical action steps, and prevention resources to support student well-being while strengthening learning and safety.

Middle/High School

School Administrator

Is vaping an issue in your hallways/bathrooms/classrooms? Escaping Vaping for Teens is a gamified curriculum where students "level up" to learn the dangers of vaping, nefarious marketing techniques used by big tobacco, and skills to fight peer pressure and quit vaping. The EV Student Advisory Board encourages advocacy and leadership skills for selected students. Flexible, turn-key, interactive, and FREE, Escaping Vaping for Teens is the tool you need to meet GADOE standards for tobacco education.

High School

School Administrator

• Learn how Lanier High School provides guidance and support to students who are the first in their family to graduate or attend college.This session will cover first generation initiatives,best practices, potential partnerships and exploring resources through the lens of college and career readiness, as well as how to start a First Gen chapter at your school.

Middle/High School

School Administrator

What if high school transition started before the first day of 9th grade? This session introduces a proactive, July-launched model centered on a dynamic Parent Retreat for rising 8th grade families. Through a year-long plan featuring parent learning sessions, transparent data sharing (PSAT, MAP, EOC, final exams), and intentional advisement, counselors will learn how to transform parent engagement into true partnership. Walk away with a framework that strengthens communication, builds community, and drives student achievement.

All Levels

All Levels

All Levels

Counselor Educator/Supervisor

The road ahead for school counselors runs straight through institutional politics. This session draws from equity-driven leadership research to help counselors understand their school’s power dynamics, partner interests, and organizational culture, and use that knowledge strategically to imprint the road ahead for student wellbeing and success. Participants will leave with concrete tools for navigating politics without compromising their values.

High School

School Administrator

As dual enrollment (DE) participation continues to surge in Georgia, school counselors need clear systems to manage the process from start to finish. This session highlights best practices for organizing, communicating, and implementing DE procedures from a high school supporting over 400 DE students. Learn how to effectively promote your DE program, streamline onboarding, and maintain accurate DE records. Attendees will leave with practical tools, templates, and strategies to confidently manage high-volume DE programs.

Middle/High School

Elementary

This session focused on understanding Generation Alpha and how their digital upbringing impacts learning, behavior, and social-emotional development. Participants explored key traits such as tech dependence, curiosity, and social awareness, along with challenges like attention span and emotional regulation.

The session provided practical strategies for parents and schools, including setting healthy technology boundaries, building emotional skills, and encouraging positive social interactions. Emphasis was placed on strong school-family partnerships to support student success and well-being.

Elementary

New Counselor/Graduate Student

Make an imprint on future generations with BOOKS! It's YEAR 28 of school counselors using fantastic children’s literature to enhance our counseling programs! The self-proclaimed President of Book-A-Holics Anonymous is back to bring you dozens of children’s books and ideas for using them in your counseling program in this practical and fast-paced workshop! With a complete bibliography of books arranged by subject, you will leave with LOTS of ways to become a Book-A-Holic yourself!

All Levels

All Levels

School counselors play a vital role in shaping school culture through both systems and relationships. This session explores how counselors can serve as culture architects by leading PBIS, attendance, and SEL initiatives while fostering strong family and student connections. Participants will learn how to use data-driven practices alongside relationship-centered strategies to improve student outcomes, increase engagement, and build a positive, sustainable school climate that prepares students for long-term success.

All Levels

All Levels

This session invites participants into a deeply personal journey of coming to terms with identity, silence, and self‑acceptance. Through honest storytelling, counselors will gain insight into the emotional realities many LGBTQ students navigate daily. By connecting lived experience with the power of visibility, the session encourages counselors to create spaces where students feel seen, valued, and safe to be themselves, strengthening advocacy rooted in empathy and human connection.

New Counselor/Graduate Student

Counselor Educator/Supervisor

You earned the degree, but no one handed you the playbook. This session fills in the gaps. The first year as a school counselor can feel overwhelming and far different from graduate preparation. This session offers a candid look at what new counselors really need to know to survive and thrive. Participants will gain practical tools, mindset shifts, and organizational strategies to navigate uncertainty, build confidence, and establish a strong foundation for long-term success.

Middle

School Administrator

Are your students uninterested in planning for their futures? Do you need ideas about how to expose students to post-secondary education, skills, and career pathways? With the use of college and career platform data, counselors will learn the playbook for maximizing students' post-secondary aptitude. This session will also feature a locker room tour (resource toolkit), courtside interviews (student feedback), and a camp on how to full-court press for success (stakeholder involvement).

Middle

Middle

This session equips school professionals with practical strategies for small group counseling to support students with ADHD and executive functioning challenges. Participants will explore how self-regulation impacts attention, behavior, and academic performance, while gaining ready-to-use group activities to improve focus, manage emotions, and build independence. Through real-world examples and targeted interventions, attendees will leave prepared to “regulate to elevate” student outcomes within small group counseling settings.