The Counselor's Podcast

Middle and High School Counselors Partnering for Success

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:00 -0600

Beth Grimes, High School Counselor and Middle School Liaison, discusses how she developed a collaborative transition program among teachers, counselors and families. Beth has over 25 years of experience as a middle and high school counselor.

College Information Sunday

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:58:24 -0600

Lynn W. Wisely, Director of College Counseling at Reicher Catholic High School in Waco Texas, discusses her kick-off program she uses to meet the needs of the first-generation college families as well as the families who have college-going experience.

How School Counselors Can Use Hip Hop Music and Culture to Promote Students’ Career and Academic Development

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:54:24 -0600

Dr. Chris Janson and Travis Pinckney discuss the use of hip hop music and culture as a vehicle for more culturally relevant school counseling practices – particularly around student career and academic development.

Planning for College; Three Easy Steps

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Barbara O’Brien of Sallie Mae shares her formula to help you enhance the financial aid-advising program at your school. The focus is be on ways for families to save, plan and pay for post-secondary education through scholarships, public and private loan programs and various tools and resources.

Planning, Preparing and Providing; Bringing a Student’s Academic Plan to Life.

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Dave Ellefson is not only a school counselor and football coach at Hutchinson High School in Hutchinson, MN but the 2009 recipient of The Naviance Excellence in Leadership Award. In this episode, Dave shares his beliefs and practices to best help students develop a meaningful career and academic plan.

Creating a College Going Culture; Focus on First Generation Students

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:09:36 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Donald Kamentz shares some of his ideas and strategies, which can help to address the unique needs of first generation college-bound students. Donald is the Director of College Initiatives at YES Prep Public Schools, a public charter school system dedicated to increasing the number of low-income, first-generation college-bound students across the Houston area. He works with the YES Prep Public Schools’ college counseling team to continue their growth and build upon their successful college counseling and alumni support programs. YES Prep's students, 90% of whom are first-generation, have been accepted to over 260 colleges and universities across the country and have received more than $26.5 million dollars in financial aid. Prior to being the Director of College Initiatives, he served as the Director of College Counseling and Alumni Programs for YES Prep Public Schools-Southeast, the first YES campus, where he was responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive college matriculation program.

Using Data to Improve Your School Counseling Program

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Dr. Trish Hatch discusses the evolving role of the professional school counselor and the different types of data a counselor can easily collect to develop a meaningful guidance program improvement plan. This overview focuses on "Where to Start!" Dr. Hatch is the co-author of The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs (2003, 2005), co-author of Evidence-Based School Counseling: Making a Difference with Data Driven Practices (2007), and author of multiple book chapters, journal and magazine articles. Dr. Hatch is a nationally known keynote speaker, trainer and program evaluator. She is also the current director of the school counseling graduate program at San Diego State University and teaches courses in prevention and intervention, educational research methods, and program evaluation.

Interview with Julie Hartline, 2009 School Counselor of the Year

Mon, 11 May 2009 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Richard Wong, Executive Director of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), conducts an insightful and inspiring interview with Julie Hartline, this year's winner of the School Counselor of the Year Award. As the department chair for Campbell High School in Symrna, GA, Julie shares how her unique background has influenced her approach to school counseling. In addition, she discusses how her team implemented the ASCA National Model and the impact that it has had on their school's program. Special thanks goes to Jill Cook, Assistant Director of ASCA for sharing this interview with us.

Thinking Ahead, Preparing Now ... Engaging Juniors and Their Families in the College Planning Process

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Patricia Kozlowski earned her B.S. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and will complete her Masters Degree in School Counseling this spring. She is currently the Career Resource Center Coordinator at Algonquin Regional High School in Massachusetts. Mrs. Kozlowski will share some of her school's innovative programs and creative approaches that provide parents and students with the necessary information and encouragement during this critical time. Her twenty years of experience in the business and educational testing communities brings a passion for encouraging students in their career paths.

Developing a Collaborative Relationship Between the School Counselor and Principal

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Jill Cook has been serving in the role of ASCA Assistant Director and Program Coordinator for the past seven years. Prior to joining ASCA, she was a school counselor and assistant principal at Rockingham County Schools in North Carolina. In this episode, Jill discusses how counselors and principals can develop a powerful alliance in school reform that focuses on improving achievement for all students. With the implementation of the ASCA National Model, counselors are playing a more integral role in the entire educational process and discovering unique advocacy and leadership opportunities. She also oversees the RAMP designation process along with producing the ASCAway podcasts, which feature interviews with experts in the school counseling field as well as educational episodes providing details on developing a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model.

The Importance of Career Advising

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Dr. Amy Milsom discusses important considerations for addressing the career development needs of students as they transition from middle to high school. Dr. Milsom has been a middle and high school counselor and currently is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the School Counseling Program at Clemson University. Dr. Milsom is the incoming editor of Professional School Counseling, presents annually at school counseling conferences, and publishes mainly in the area of students with disabilities and school transitions.

Implementing Action Research in a School Counseling Program

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Beth Doyle, school counselor at Loudoun County High School in Loudoun County (VA), builds on last month's presentation by Dr. Lonnie Rowell with by presenting one example of how her department has incorporated the Action Research Model to show the positive influence of their guidance curriculum. The results were subsequently shared with her colleagues across the county. Beth is a member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC). She is a regular speaker both regionally and nationally on school counseling issues.

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice in Education

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Lonnie Rowell, Ph.D., University of San Diego professor and director of The Center for Student Support Systems (CS3) will discuss how using action research can create a culture of inquiry that can be established in which school staffs regularly look to the data -- of student achievement, discipline, and school climate -- to guide decision-making about curriculum and program changes to better serve pupils. Professor Rowell is the founding director of the Center for Student Support Systems (CS3), which he established in 2003.

Creating a Successful Pathway to College: The CPS F-55 Initiative

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! The professionals in the Chicago Public Schools' Department of College and Career Preparation (DCCP) know that CPS students have the ability to continue on the road to college but are challenged by many roadblocks and potholes. Veniese Bradley, a postsecondary specialist in DCCP, discusses how F-55, the initiative to encourage each senior to complete the FAFSA, apply to five post-secondary institutions, and submit five scholarship applications, if eligible, enables more CPS students to successfully prepare for, apply to, and enroll in the postsecondary education institution of their choice.

College Should Be a Match, Not a Prize

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Frank Sachs, Director of College Counseling at The Blake School in Minnesota, shares his 25 plus years of experience and discusses how to keep students and families focused on a meaningful college search process and not get caught up in the hype of the popular media. Frank joined The Blake School in 1982, serving as Director of College Counseling since 1995. Throughout his career, he has been a tireless advocate for students. An active member of the Minnesota Association for College Counseling (MACAC), Frank has served as Government Relations Chair, Secretary, and President, and has been widely published on the topic of college admissions. Frank leads the 8,000 member National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) as current Past-President and has been awarded two NACAC national awards. Frank has served his local public school as a member of the Parent Steering Committee and Site Council.

Ethical Considerations of College Advising

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Marty Elkins, Director of College Counseling at the Groton School in Massachusetts, discusses how to effectively and equitably advise your college bound students. In addition to her work at Groton, Marty is the Executive Director of ACCIS, The Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools, a non-profit organization formed to guide and serve college counselors and schools. She also is an active member in NACAC, NEACAC, and is vice-president of BISCCA, the Boston Independent Schools College Counselors Association.

Reflect, Rejoice, Revitalize

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Dr. Tamara Davis will share her ideas and encouragement as you look to reinvigorate yourself this summer. She has been an elementary and high school counselor and is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology in the School Counseling Program at Marymount University in Virginia. Dr. Davis is a national trainer for ASCA and the National Model for School Counseling Programs. In 2007, she was recognized with the ASCA Counselor Educator of the Year award. In addition, she is an author and contributor to various journals and has presented at many conferences.

What to Expect in Your First Semester

Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Melissa Mellott, M.Ed. is the author of The Little College Handbook: A First Generation's Guide to getting in and staying in. She has a Master's degree from Azusa Pacific University in Higher Education Administration and has worked in college admissions and student affairs for more than 10 years. Originally from a small ranching town in Southern Colorado, she was a low-income and first generation college student. From her personal and professional experiences, Melissa sincerely understands the challenges first generation college students face when planning for college. For more information, visit www.educationdefined.wordpress.com.

The Hidden Cost of College

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Jennifer Abel is the President and CEO of College Coordinator LLC. She is the author of Collegiate Admissions Guidebook. She graduated from the University of Arizona and while a student she was awarded the Frederick J. Cox Scholarship, which honors the victims of September 11, 2001. Giving back to the community and supporting continuing education is a major component of the business model. Her mission is to furnish each and every high school student, looking to further their education, with the tools needed to achieve their dreams. Regardless of socioeconomic class, her guidebook inspires and encourages students to pursue their dreams and goals of higher education.

Avoiding the Senior Year Frenzy: Helping Juniors to Prepare Early

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Eva Maria Garza serves the Austin community in multiple ways. Not only is she a college advisor at Austin High School, she also serves as a faculty member at Austin Community College. She has developed and delivered college awareness training to Austin Independent School District families, counselors and teachers, as well as at national and state conferences. In addition, she works closely to assist non-profit organizations guide low-income, first generation students in applying to college.

Improving Student Success

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Tammi Mackeben is a school counselor from Ernesto Serna PK-8 School in El Paso, Texas, and winner of the School Counselor of the Year Award from the American School Counselor Association. Tammi has been working as a professional school counselor for eight years, providing support to individual students as well working with entire classrooms to help today's students become tomorrow's productive, contributing members of society. In this special episode of The Counselor's Podcast which honors National School Counseling Week, Tammi discusses ideas for improving student success through the development of a comprehensive school counseling program.

Advising the Student-Athlete in College Admissions

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Nancy Icenhower is the Director of Guidance Services in West Windsor-Plainsboro, a very competitive New Jersey school district, where she oversees counseling in ten schools including two high schools. Nancy has been an educator for thirty years and holds a master’s degree in both education and counseling. She is a LPC in the state of NJ and is also certified as a NCC (Nationally Certified Counselor). She is an adjunct teacher at The College of New Jersey in the graduate program for Counselor Education. Prior to entering the counseling profession, Nancy taught health and physical education and coached high school athletes. She is also the mother of two collegiate athletes.

Counselor Recommendations: Gathering the Information You Need

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Marcia Hunt is is the Director of College Counseling at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is a past president of both the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling, as well as a past member of the Common Application Board of Directors. She is currently a reader for both Coca Cola Scholars and Presidential Scholars.

Choosing a Rural College

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Terry Cowdrey is Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. During her 25-year admission career, she has also worked at Vanderbilt University, Pomona College, Wesleyan University, and the University of New Hampshire. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Common Application and has held leadership positions in many regional and national organizations. She is a frequent and favorite panelist at conferences nationwide.

Choosing a Small College

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! J. Carey Thompson is Vice President for Enrollment and Student Planning Services at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Before joining Centre College, he was Director of Admission at Furman University, his alma mater. Mr. Thompson holds a graduate degree from Vanderbilt University in Educational Leadership and actively participates in professional organizations at the regional and national levels. He speaks frequently at conferences and by invitation on issues of college admission counseling.

The Personal Essay: Making the Connection

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Jonathan S. Katzenbach is Associate Dean of Admission at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a member of Penn's admissions staff since fall 2003, serving previously as a Regional Director. He recruits students from Maryland, Washington DC, Arizona, and New Mexico, personally representing about 1200 applicants a year, and is a member of both the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling. Prior to working at Penn, Jonathan worked as an editor at Houghton Mifflin in Boston and as a high school English teacher.

How Colleges Read Applications

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Shawn Abbott is currently Director of Admission at Stanford University. Previously, he was Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Columbia University and Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston University. He is a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in urban studies at Columbia University. In addition to his many contributions to the field of higher education, Shawn appeared as a member of the scholarship committee in the ABC reality show, The Scholar.

Planning for College Admissions (Spanish-language presentation)

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Yasmin Rivera-McGinnis is currently Associate Director of Admission at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She began her admission career at Boston University and has read tens of thousands of applications for college admission. In addition to the work she does on campus, Yasmin also educates students, parents and counselors about the admission process throughout the school year. She was most recently featured in "Counselors, what to do when colleges come to you" on nextstepmagazine.com.

The Myth of the One and Only College

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Tom Rajala has served as Associate Provost for Enrollment at University of the Pacific, in Stockton, California, since 1999. Prior to that, he served as Director of Admissions at Boston University from 1991 to 1999. He began his admissions career at American University while pursuing a master's degree in Communication and Education. Tom served as Director of Admissions at American from 1987 to 1991, and he has taught English at the high school and middle school levels.

Beginning the College Process (en Espanol)

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Gloria Zelaya is currently college counselor at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, and View Park Preparatory Accelerated Charter High School in Los Angeles, California. Previous to her work in college counseling she worked in admissions at Boston University and most recently at Loyola Marymount University.

Making the Most of College Visits

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Bruce G. Hammond is Director of College Counseling at Sandia Preparatory School in Albuquerque, NM. He previously served as Managing Editor of the Fiske Guide to Colleges and is co-author of four books in the Fiske series. He is also moderator of NACAC's Non-AP/AP Concerns Special Interest Group. Mr. Hammond teaches Economics at Sandia Prep and holds an M.A.T. from Brown University.

How to Spend Your Summer Vacation

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Joe Sheppard has been a member of the college counseling staff at Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts, since the early 1970s. A member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), Mr. Sheppard is a regular convention attendee and a frequent visitor to college campuses. In addition to college counseling, Mr. Sheppard teaches two French classes and nurtures a lifelong love of music, playing piano in two New Orleans jazz bands.

The 3 R's of the Gap Year: Rewards, Risk, and Reflection

Mon, 14 May 2007 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Phil Trout is Director of College Counseling at Mounds Park Academy in Saint Paul, MN. His more than 25 years of experience in the college counseling and admissions profession include positions at Shattuck-St. Mary's School and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, as well as at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) and at the College of William and Mary. He currently serves on the NACAC Fiscal Oversight Committee and on the Midwestern Regional Council of the College Board. He is a frequent presenter at national and regional conferences on the topic of high school transcripts and profiles. In 2005, he was the recipient of the Minnesota ACAC Distinguished Service Award.

Great Counseling Begins with Listening

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Will Dix is currently college counselor at the University of Chicago Laboratory High School. He has worked on all sides of the college admission process during his career. He taught high school juniors and seniors before becoming an admission officer at Amherst College, then worked for a consulting firm specializing in college and university marketing research and development before becoming a college counselor. In addition to his work at the University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Mr. Dix does volunteer college counseling at a small public charter school in the south Loop of Chicago and also volunteers as a "liner" at the National Runaway Switchboard.

Managing the December Madness

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Dr. Jonathan Reider has been the Director of College Counseling at San Francisco University High School for the past six years. Before that, he served in the Stanford Admissions Office for fifteen years, and also taught in a "Great Books"-type Humanities course. He was the Chair of the NACAC Committee on Current Trends and Future Issues from 2002-2004. Dr. Reider holds a Ph.D. in European History from Stanford.

Managing Student and Parent Expectations

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Dr. Cathy Curtis is a college counselor at Shanghai American School in China. Cathy Curtis has 35 years experience working with students, 25 of which have been spent in international schools. She is a regular speaker at conferences for NACAC, ECIS, Overseas ACAC, and the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools. She holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and has counseled and taught in both secondary and post-secondary institutions.

Straight Talk on SAT Optional

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 05:00:00 -0600

Download Podcast Now! Monica Inzer became Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Hamilton College in 2004. She was formerly dean of undergraduate admission and student financial services at Babson College in Wellesley, MA. Prior to her position at Babson, Monica was director of admissions at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA, director of annual giving at Moses Brown School in Providence, RI and held admission and development positions at The Gunnery School in Washington, CT. She is a frequent speaker at national conferences and a regular media source on college admission topics.

Interviews: Do They Matter?

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Matthew J. DeGreeff is Director of College Counseling at Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts. Before coming to Middlesex School, Mr. DeGreeff spent ten years working in both admissions and financial aid at Harvard College, which requires admission interviews. He has read thousands of college applications and personally advised hundreds of students on shaping their candidacy for admission. Mr. DeGreeff's professional organization memberships include NACAC and the College Board, and he is a frequent speaker at College Board conferences. He is currently president of the Boston Independent Schools College Counselor's Association (BISCCA).

Teachers: How to Avoid Being Wrecked by Recommendations

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Linda Connelly is a Post-High School Counselor at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois with over 20 years experience in public school teaching and counseling. For the last decade, she has been active in local counseling organizations such as the Chicago Area College Counseling Association and the Chicago Area Naviance Network, and she also participates in Illinois ACAC and NACAC. She has created college process materials for, and delivered numerous presentations to, the faculty at New Trier High School.

Helping Students Write Effective College Essays

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 05:00:00 -0500

Download Podcast Now! Rafael S. Figueroa is Director of College Counseling at Albuquerque Academy in New Mexico. Ralph brings a wealth of college admission counseling experience to his presentation. Having worked in the admission offices of Occidental College (CA) and Wesleyan University (CT), Mr. Figueroa has evaluated thousands of student essays and was profiled in Jacques Steinberg’s book, The Gatekeepers. Mr. Figueroa is a frequent speaker on issues of multiculturalism and affirmative action at both national and regional conferences. He holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from UCLA, and is a member of the California Bar.