May is a Time for Transitions
By Shelly Ellis - I hope that all of you have survived the
April month of testing! It’s now time to turn our attention to May:
graduations, transitions, next year’s enrollment, class parties….and all things
associated with the end of the school year.
Beginning in May, I will be
transitioning as well. I will change hats from the Executive Director of
Counseling to the Executive Director of School Support. It has been my honor
and pleasure to be your voice at the OSDE, and I am constantly amazed by all
that you accomplish for students across Oklahoma.
My move is bittersweet as I
will miss my daily work with you all. Never fear though, as I hope to continue
my work with School Counselors in a different way – one in which school
counselors are systemically seen as leaders in school support efforts.
Until a
replacement is named for my position, I will remain your point of contact for
all things school counseling. As you all transition into May, I hope that you
will take the time in this last month of the 2016-2017 school year to reflect
on all that you have done and the difference you have made in the lives of
students, parents, and teachers. I hope that you will remember that your
empathy and impact are powerful.
I hope that you will breathe deep and enjoy
your part in improving students' lives. Again, it has been my honor and
privilege to work with each of you. Enjoy May…the excitement and the changes.
Happy Summer….SOON!
 EngageOK On the Road Dates Announced
The OSDE has announced that we’ll be taking EngageOK “On the Road” again this summer. Each session will offer rich and meaningful professional development featuring a variety of education topics. The agenda for each session will be posted as soon as it’s available. Listed below is the EngageOK On the Road schedule:
July 10: Yukon High School
July 11: Union High School (Tulsa)
July 12: Enid High School
July 13: Weatherford High School
July 18: Durant High School
July 19: Ada High School
July 20: Cache 5th & 6th Grade Center
Some courses that will be offered this year include: Trauma Informed Practices; Empathy, the Anti-Bully; Crisis Response and Management for Schools; Identifying and Meeting the Needs of At-Risk Students; How to Academically Advise All Students to Prepare for Their Future; Individual Career and Academic Plans; and many more.
Please be sure to register for the date and location you’d like to attend. Registration is available here.
Link goes to: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/engageok-on-the-road-10658062825
Crisis Kit for Counselors Has New Items
Have you checked out our Crisis Kit for Counselors? It has many resources for prevention, intervention, and postvention in all types of crises. Check out the newest items in the kit:
OSDE Crisis Team Go Bag
OSDE Crisis Response Protocols
OSDE Suicide Information Sheet
OSDE Prevention Resources Numbers and Links
Also, check out information we have recently sent to counselors regarding the new Netflix series, '13 Reasons Why.'
Additionally, check out information you can also share with parents about the series.
Time Changes for Webinars Set for May
Two webinars will be held in May, and both have time changes on the same day they are scheduled. The new times and days are
10 a.m. May 2 - Community Collaboration: How to Work with Your Community to Serve Your Schools
2 p.m. May 11 - Engaging Parents in Prevention
Sign up here for either webinar or any other webinar offered by the SDE.
June Crisis Team Training Still Open
There are still spots available to anyone interested in signing up for Crisis Team Training.
This free training will be offered one more time this year on June 6 at the Francis Tuttle Technology Center - Reno Campus. Click here to sign up.
Participants will define a crisis, discover the importance of a crisis team, learn best practices in response to a crisis, and the benefit and details of training local staffs ahead of a crisis. Attendees will receive a paperwork crisis kit, an example of a best practice crisis plan, and other practical resources. Licensed professionals will earn 3 hours of CEUs for attending the training.
Check-in for each training begins at 8 a.m., and the training starts at 8:30 a.m. The morning session will last until noon, and then teams will have lunch on their own. From 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., teams will be guided through writing their crisis plans and work through real-life crisis scenarios. Trainers will be on hand during this time to assist teams.
 Our friends at Wynnewood Middle School have their students looking toward the future. This College Graduate Wall inspires current students to aim high and plan big things.
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