 School Counselor Mixtape
Listen to "We are the Promise" by Mikhala Jené and D Smoke. What an opportunity we have to be the promise for all of our students. We get to find ways to make sure all of our students are equipped with the knowledge and support they need to find success academically, socially and emotionally, and with postsecondary opportunities.
We also have an opportunity to model empathy and help out students demonstrate it. A few lines that stand out in this song are:
Love is the root of humanity
We are the promise, no matter your point of view
We are the future, we'll see it through
It all starts with me and you
Counselors are the promise that can help provide a better future for our school communities. This track connects to your student standards, which are called The American School Counseling Association's (ASCA's) Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success: M 5. Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes
B-SS 4. Demonstrate empathy
Click here for lyrics to "We are the Promise."
Who helps the helpers? SEL for school counselors’ mental health
School counselors' well-being is hard to prioritize if it’s not reflected in the work climate and culture.
Stress is nothing new to school counselors. But as they continue to shoulder the tremendous responsibility of helping young people heal from the momentous events of the past year and ongoing traumas, education leaders need to renew a focus on school counselors’ well-being.
Although nearly all educators are experiencing heightened stress and anxiety, school counselors are often the first ones called in to help address crises and traumatic experiences. As we look to support the mental health of educators, we must also remember the school “helpers” who are often asked to place the needs of students, families and colleagues before their own.
Read more from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
New TikTok challenge to raise awareness of FAFSA opportunities
The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) and GEAR UP Kentucky, a unit of CPE, are throwing down the gauntlet on TikTok this month to help raise awareness about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA form.
The two organizations teamed up to announce the FAF$A for the Future TikTok Challenge. It encourages high school principals and superintendents in Kentucky to get creative and post videos on the popular social media app – all to help educate students about the FAFSA process and urge them to apply.
FAFSA allows students to access need-based aid and other forms of financial assistance that help pay for college or vocational training. So far this year, submissions are down, which is raising alarm among officials.
CPE President Aaron Thompson said the TikTok challenge uses the power of social media to engage school district superintendents, high school principals and other influencers to reach students on their own terms, and he has even released his own video to kick off the competition.
“This is a fun and innovative way to spread the word about an important issue,” Thompson said. “In Kentucky, FAFSA provides millions of dollars in free student aid every year, and we want to empower our students to maximize this opportunity. We also hope to spark some friendly rivalry between our schools.”
CPE and GEAR UP will award banners to the three high school principals and one superintendent whose videos earn the most “hearts” throughout March. All Kentuckians are encouraged to follow along and provide hearts to the videos they like the best.
Students, social media influencers and other school officials are also welcome to post videos on TikTok; however, only high school principals and superintendents are eligible to receive awards.
Video submissions could include FAFSA tips and tricks, myth-busters, personal stories, interesting statistics or similar content that encourages high school seniors to understand the process and submit an application. Participants are encouraged to be original, but each video should feature the challenge hashtag: #KYFAFSA.
Students can apply for aid by visiting https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa, which offers instructions for submitting a form electronically or by mail along with other details about the process.
Applicants can also receive help from a Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) outreach counselor by visiting KHEAA’s website: Counselors are available in every region of the state.
Text4College
Every year, 1 in 5 graduating high school seniors who is admitted to college fails to enroll and attend in the fall. This phenomenon is known as “summer melt.”
In partnership with KDE and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), the American Institutes for Research is conducting a project on reducing summer melt and increasing college persistence, known as Text4College. We have partnered with 11 KCTCS colleges:
- Ashland
- Bluegrass
- Elizabethtown
- Gateway
- Hazard
- Hopkinsville
- Maysville
- Owensboro
- Somerset
- Southeast Kentucky
- West Kentucky
If your school typically sends students to any one of these partner colleges, please consider participating in this project.
To participate, high schools will administer a 10-minute survey to graduating seniors in late March or April. Students from schools that participate in the project will receive text messages that break down the multistep process of college enrollment into manageable tasks.
You can officially sign on to participate by completing this form for your high school. Or for more information visit www.text4college.com, reach out to Text4CollegeKY@air.org or sign up to attend a brief information session.
 Two-part Webinar Series Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Schools
Interested in learning more about how you can support our LGBTQ+ students? A two-part webinar series from the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) will provide an overview of the school experiences of LGBTQ+ secondary school students.
In part 1, Sophia Arredondo, director of education and youth programs from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), will provide basic terminology on LGBTQ+ youth, such as the differences between gender identity and sexual orientation. Arredondo also will discuss school practices that address the needs of LGBTQ+ students. LGBTQ+ Youth Speakers from the GLSEN National School Council will speak about how these school changes and supports would benefit them.
Register for part 1 on the MHTTC website.
Part 2 will provide an overview of practices and policies that can improve the school experiences of LGBTQ+ students. GLSEN Director of Public Policy Aaron Ridings will discuss policies that support LGBTQ+ youth in schools. Arredondo will discuss school practices that address the needs of LGBTQ+ students. LGBTQ+ Youth Speakers from the GLSEN National School Council will speak about how these school changes and supports would benefit them
Register for part 2 on the MHTTC website.
Being Kind Helps Prevent Bullying
School climate describes the quality and character of school life and is an important factor in students' social and emotional experiences.
A healthy school environment is safe, inclusive, respectful and free from violence and bullying. One of the easiest ways to create a positive school climate is by being kind. School staff and teachers who model how to treat students with kindness and respect help prevent bullying.
Read more on StopBullying.gov.
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