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

Middle

Middle/High School

Middle school is a crucial time to spark curiosity about future college and career pathways. This interactive session will highlight engaging, practical strategies school counselors can use to help students explore their interests and career possibilities. Attendees will leave with ready‑to‑use ideas and resources that increase student engagement, build confidence and communication skills, and help middle schoolers begin envisioning their future pathways.

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.

Middle

New Counselor/Graduate Student

Middle school is a critical time for building self-awareness, communication, and self-advocacy skills that support future academic and career success. This session will provide school counselors with practical strategies and engaging activities, including role-play, communication prompts, digital portfolios, and student-led goal setting, to help students recognize strengths, express needs, and seek support. Participants will leave with ready-to-use tools that increase confidence, engagement, and informed career pathway exploration before high school.

Middle

School Administrator

Students often show warning signs before experiencing academic, behavioral, or mental health crises, yet these indicators are frequently overlooked. This session equips middle and high school counselors with practical strategies to identify early warning signs and implement proactive, tiered systems of support. Participants will learn how to strengthen schoolwide responses, collaborate with stakeholders, and intervene early to improve student outcomes, reduce escalation, and create lasting impact on student success and well-being.