Confab seen to improve counseling in public schools

The Public School System recently sent three delegates to the American School Counselors Association’s annual conference in Reno, Nevada, where they learned of ways to improve the guidance and counseling programs in public schools here.

William S. Reyes Elementary School counselor Rebecca J. Flores, Hopwood Junior High School counselor Patricia Mendoza, and WSR vice principal Lynette Villagomez are now back on island after attending the conference that was held June 27-30.

Flores and Mendoza are both members of the PSS Counseling Steering Committee that represented the CNMI in the conference.

ASCA is a professional organization of school counselors practicing in the United States and U.S. territories. According to its website, the association focuses on providing professional development, enhancing school counseling programs and researching effective school counseling practices to represent professional school counselors and promote professionalism and ethical practices.

The conference was attended by some 1,500 participants, most of whom were members, counselors, and administrators of several places in the United States and other countries.

“Some international participants [that attended the conference] were from Brazil, Australia, and Taiwan.

We were one of the farthest [places],” said Flores.

Guest speakers for the conference included Michael Pritchard, author and producer of Life Steps, Rachel Simmons, author of the New York Times bestseller Odd Girl Out, William Pollack, Ph.D., author of the Real Boys-Rescuing our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood and Brooke Haycock, noted actor and playwright.

The conference assisted members of ASCA to benefit from a national level of professional development. Participants were opened to new ideas, strategies, techniques, and activities that will improve the implementation of the comprehensive guidance and counseling program in their respective states, territories, and countries.

“We learned how to improve counseling services better, and how to advocate for counseling position. We also met and talked about the latest trends and issues,” said Flores.

Flores and Mendoza also represented Saipan at the Pacific Region Educational Leadership conference recently held on Rota, focusing on counselors working as leaders and advocates for systemic change.

The PSS Counseling Steering Committee in the Micronesian region include participants from Chuuk, Rota, Marshall Islands, Pohnpei, Yap, Kosrae, and Guam. (Cassie DLG Fejeran)