2013 ISCA Fall Conference
“Cultivating Student Growth Through
Experiential and Hands on Learning
Thursday, October 3, 2013
7:00-8:30 Registration and Breakfast
8:45-10:00 Keynote speaker Julia Cook
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:45 Breakout session #1 1A (Cinnabar Room) Books that Make a Positive Difference Julia Cook
1B (Clearwater Room) Understanding Middle School Credit Natalie Stone
1C (Delamar Room) Technology for the Counselor Todd Van Orden
1D (Liberty Room) Reducing Youth Alcohol Use Dennis, Salazar, Bohecker
1E (Emerald Room) Play, Art, and Wilderness Therapy Janet Vouch
11:45-1:30 Lunch and Networking
1:30-3:00 Breakout session #2 2A (Cinnabar Room) Creating Connections Jones, Tustison, Perkins
2B (Clearwater Room) Roundtable: Junior High/Middle School
2C (Delamar Room) Chakras and Mudras and Yamas, Oh My! David Chehey
2D (Liberty Room) Supporting LGBTQI Youth & Families Stewart, Smith
2E (Emerald Room) CIS and College Savings Eastwood, Hewry
3:00-3:30 Break and Poster Presentations
3:30-4:45 Breakout session #3 3A (Cinnabar Room) Ethical Collaboration and Consultation Sean Nixon
3B (Clearwater Room) We All Need a Safe Zone Hsiang-Hua Wang
3C (Delamar Room) Virtual School Counseling Feeney, Rowland
3D (Liberty Room) Bully Blocking: Anyone Can Be A Hero Judy Herman
3E (Emerald Room) Using Flat Stanley for Middle School Patty Bolinger
7:00-9:00 SOCIAL– Lobby
Friday, October 4, 2013
7:30-8:45 Registration and Breakfast
8:45-10:00 Keynote speaker Mat Eperlding
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:45 Breakout session #4 4A (Cinnabar) TBA Mat Eperlding
4B (Clearwater) Go On: Roundtable Discussion Debbie Fleming
4C (Delamar) Books That Make a Positive Difference Julia Cook
4D (Liberty) Ethical Issues in School Counseling Part 1 Dr. Curtis Garner
4E (Emerald) Strength Based Interventions Jerry Lilly
12:00-1:30 Awards Luncheon
1:30-3:00 Breakout session #5 5A (Cinnabar) Idaho Education Network 101 Kristin Guidry
5B (Clearwater) Roundtable: High School
5C (Delamar) The Leader in Me: 7 Habits of Happy Kids Shahna Paul
5D (Liberty) Ethical Issues in School Counseling Part 2 Dr. Curtis Garner
5E (Emerald) Roundtable: Elementary School
Thursday, October 3rd
7:00-8:30 Registration and Breakfast
8:45-10:00 Keynote Speaker Julia Cook
Julia Cook is a former classroom teacher and professional school counselor, speaker and one of the
nation’s foremost authors of guidance storybooks for children. Julia is always seeking creative ways to
connect with people and impart valuable life lessons. Her imaginative stories are extremely engaging
to all ages, leading her to publish over forty successful storybooks, earning numerous national awards
and recognition. The goal of Julia’s books is to enter the world view of children and teach them to be-
come life-long problem solvers. Keynote: “Unlearning Helplessness – Motivating the Underachiever,” In Julia’s presentation, “Unlearning Helplessness – Motivating the Underachiever,” she shares how
underachieving occurs when students have a significant gap between their abilities, and what they
achieve in school. In this interactive session, she will discuss the four types of underachievers, explore
the characteristics and causes of underachieving, and present effective solutions that can reverse this
problem. “In order to open the doors of “untapped potential,” you need to have the right keys.”
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:45 Breakout Session #1
Cinnabar: Julia Cook “Books That Make a Positive Difference”
Julia Cook leads an entertaining discussion on the use of storybooks to offer children and adults a fun
way to learn important people skills. Teach your students to become life-long problem solvers! Julia
will demonstrate humorous and effective ways to use books on such subjects as anger control, grief, fol-
lowing instructions, tattling, bullying, personal space, interrupting, and personal safety. The writing and
publishing process will also be explained - learn to become a published author!
Clearwater: Natalie Stone “Understanding Middle School Credit”
In this workshop Idaho's Middle Level Credit Policy will be reviewed as well as the
procedures and forms used for documenting and implementing remediation
plans. The intention of the plan is to provide students with necessary support or alter-
nate mechanisms for promotion to the next grade. The final part of the workshop will
be dedicated to question/answer and roundtable for people to share and refine strate-
gies for Middle Level Credit plans in their own school or district. Natalie Stone is a
school counselor at Moscow Middle School in Moscow, Idaho. She holds both a
Master's of Education in School Counseling and an Education Specialist in School
Psychology. Natalie is currently working toward National Board Certification for
School Counseling through University of Idaho.
Delamar: Todd Van Orden “Technology for the Counselor” Introduce and demonstrate various web-based and mobile apps that can be used to engage, organize,
inspire, and enlighten not only the students’ minds but the counselors’ as well. Learning Objectives in-
clude: How to effectively use Face Time, online eLearning platforms such as edmodo, mybigcampus,
etc. to assess students, engage them in social lessons, career exploration, and also collect data to help
show evidence-based learning. Create forms, surveys, and other tools to help gather data from student
population. Manage and organize social media (Facebook, twitter, & YouTube) and how to integrate
and use the benefits of online cloud services such as dropbox.
Liberty: Brittany Dennis, Beronica Salazar, Lynn Bohecker “Reducing Youth Alcohol Use”
This workshop will take an interactive approach to provide information about the impact of alcohol use
in minors. Participants will learn about screening and referrals for minors using alcohol as well as ways
to reduce risk factors in school programs. Learning Objectives include: gaining an awareness of the im-
pact of alcohol use on minors, ways of screening for alcohol use, referrals for community resources,
ways to take action to reduce the factors that encourage or allow irresponsible consumption of alcohol
by minors.
Emerald: Janet Vouch “Play, Art and Wilderness Therapy: Cultivating Growth in Unique
Ways”
Janet will be talking about a variety of techniques through art and play therapy that can encourage and
foster student growth. Wilderness Therapy can also be a part of a unique school counseling program
to facilitate student growth. Janet was raised in a large family of outdoor enthusiasts; much of her
time in Colorado was spent camping, skiing, backpacking and kayaking. Her undergraduate years at
UPS in Tacoma WA were spent attending psychology, art, pottery and drawing classes. Some of her
work experiences include being a ski instructor, special education director, Head Start supervisor, wil-
derness therapist and psychology professor. She currently lives in Fairfield Idaho with one dog and
one cat. She has 3 grown children.
11:45-1:30 Lunch and Networking
1:30-3:00 Breakout Session #2
Cinnabar: Jones, Tustison, Perkins “Creating Connections”
This workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about
advocacy for the counseling profession by using an interactive approach. Par-
ticipants will learn effective methods of advocacy. Presenters will provide practical and
simple steps to take to make a difference. Discover how to educate legislators on the coun-
seling profession, generate support for public policy and legislation activities, learn simple
steps to take action and make a difference in Idaho.
Clearwater: Roundtable: Junior High/Middle School
A chance for junior high and middle school counselors to collaborate.
Delamar: David Chehey “Chakras and Mudras and Yamas, Oh My!”
A Mindful Approach to Seeking Balance, Empowerment, and Happiness. Discover how chakras, Hin-
du deities/archetypes, yamas [codes of conduct for harmonious living], and “the Four Aims” can en-
hance personal wellness along with generating a unique framework in working with students and/or
colleagues in the school environment. Participate in a guided “chakra balancing” awareness/
meditation. Learn how chakras, Hindu characters, and other principles can be utilized to develop indi-
vidual and/or group counseling activities. Specific resources and strategies will be demonstrated,
brainstormed, and shared.
Liberty: Jill Stewart and Javier Smith “Supporting LGBTQI youth and their families”
LGBT youth and their families continue to face challenges today. This presentation includes personal
insight from an LGBT family who share their experiences. It addresses strategies for school counselors,
community resources available and current issues facing LGBT youth and families.
Learning Objectives: personal insight and experience from LGBT family, Strategies to support LGBT
youth and their families, Community resources available for LGBT youth and their families, Current
statistics and data on LGBT youth in schools.
Emerald: David Wallace Eastwood and Christy Hewry “CIS and College Savings”
Information on CIS and planning your future/picking schools and how to fund postsecondary education
including the state’s 529 plan called IDeal -college savings program and other state scholarships availa-
ble.
3:00-3:30 Break and Poster Presentations
3:30- 4:45 Breakout Session #3
Cinnabar: Sean Nixon “Ethical Collaboration and Consultation”
As school counselors, we are put in difficult positions. How do we seek consultation with difficult situ-
ations? Where do we find collaborators? What records do I keep? This will be an active lecture, col-
laboration and discussion to help identify answers to these and other questions: Ethical expectations of
collaboration & consultation, Identification of at least two internal and external collaboration sources.
Identify the minimal records expected to be kept from collaboration.
Clearwater: Hsiang- Hua Wang “We all need a Safe Zone”
The relationship between social environment and LGBTQ youth’s experiences of personal worth, and
engagement in self-destructive behaviors will be discussed. Videos and experiential activities will be
used to help participants understand how the Safe Zone program can address these needs. Identify the
meaning and purpose of Safe Zone. Gain knowledge about the impact of the environment on LBGTQ
youth. Understand ways to improve campus safety for all students. Recognize that Safe Zone can bene-
fit all adolescents, regardless of the student’s sexual identity.
Delamar: Jessica Rowland and Meg Feeney “Virtual School Counseling”
Virtual education is rapidly growing in Idaho and all over the nation. This presentation will cover com-
mon myths and misconceptions about schooling in a virtual environment. Pre-
senters will address similarities in school counseling between the virtual set-
ting and more traditional settings. They will also share unique and innovative
ways in which the virtual platform allows students to address social/emotional
issues that they might be reluctant to address in a traditional setting. Resources
and ideas on ways school counselors in brick and mortar settings can incorpo-
rate virtual approaches will be provided.
Liberty: Judy Herman “BULLY BLOCKING – ANYONE CAN BE A HERO”
160,000 children miss school every day out of a fear of being bullied. BULLY BLOCKING - ANYONE
CAN BE A HERO is an interactive presentation that enables educators to recognize
and understand bullying behavior and empowers schools to establish effective bul-
lying awareness prevention programs.
Emerald: Patty Bolinger “Using Flat Stanley for Middle School : College Awareness Activity
Flat Stanley is often used in early elementary grade social studies programs. This project allows students
to use Flat Stanley to “visit” a college or university program. Learning Objectives include:
Helping middle level students to start planning for college or vocation, a guidance activity with common
core writing instruction.
7:00-9:00 Social
Friday, October 4th, 2013
7:30-8:45 Registration and Breakfast
8:45-10:00 Keynote Speaker Mat Eperlding
Mat Erpelding is an accomplished high-altitude climbing guide, an edu-
cator, a business owner, and an elected member of the Idaho House of
Representatives. Mat moved to Idaho in 1993 to attend Idaho State Uni-
versity, and has lived in Boise since 2006. His passion for recreation and a
vibrant and healthy urban community is what drew him to Boise, and it is
why he loves Idaho. Mat is a co-owner of Experiential Adventures LLC,
which he founded in 2004. Experiential Adventures LLC specializes in
leadership development, group facilitation, and teaching collaboration us-
ing experiential education as its foundation. EA has grown and expanded
over the years to include a host of different clients including the military,
higher education institutions, and corporations who want to improve their
organizational culture. Mat was an instructor at the College of Western
Idaho Department of Physical Education, specializing in training teachers
to use experiential education in the classroom. Additionally, Mat is an ad-
junct faculty member in the Leadership Studies Minor at Boise State Uni-
versity. Mat is also an accomplished high-altitude mountain guide having reached the 20,320 ft summit of
Denali (Mt. McKinley) 4 out of 5 attempts while helping more than 20 clients to achieve their goal of
standing on top of North America. Mat’s success in the mountains has always been tempered by this
quote from Willi Unsoeld - “The final test for me of the legitimacy of the [mountaineering] experience is
'How well does your experience of the sacred in nature enable you to cope more effectively with the prob-
lems of mankind when you come back to the city?” Mat's passion for the wilderness and the unique expe-
riences it offers has solidified his view that civic engagement is essential to living in our community.
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:45 Breakout Session #4
Cinnabar: Mat Eperlding TBA
Clearwater: Debbie Fleming-Round Table GO ON Discussion
Delamar: Julia Cook “Books That Make a Positive Difference”
Julia Cook leads an entertaining discussion on the use of storybooks to offer children and adults a fun
way to learn important people skills. Teach your students to become life-long problem solvers! Julia
will demonstrate humorous and effective ways to use books on such subjects as anger control, grief,
following instructions, tattling, bullying, personal space, interrupting, and personal safety. The writing
and publishing process will also be explained - learn to become a published author!
Liberty: Dr. Curtis Garner “Ethical Issues in School Counseling Part 1”
This presentation includes a review of ethics for school counselors as well as guidelines for practical
application of ethical principles, in a school environment. Opportunities for learning include presenta-
tion, discussion, role play, and exploration of examples of commonly encountered ethical dilemmas
relevant to the school counselor.
Emerald: Jerry Lilly “Strength Based Interventions: Reaching the Discouraged Listener”
This presentation will examine Strength Based Intervention plans that facilitate creating successful en-
vironments for children. A specific model will be described to illustrate the effec-
tiveness of strength based strategies in motivating and connecting children to the
learning process. Participants will learn the components of a Strength Based Inter-
vention plan and how to develop and implement this plan. The presentation will
also focus on how these strategies will enhance classroom environments and pro-
mote positive school climates.
12:00-1:30 Awards Luncheon
1:30-3:00 Breakout Session #5
Cinnabar: Kristin Guidry “Idaho Education Network 101”
Harness the power and flexibility of the Idaho Education Network by learning what the network is, how
it is being used, and why it is relevant for school counselors at the elementary and high school level.
Kristin Guidry is a trainer at the Idaho Education Network, specializing in virtual content and collabora-
tions for school. She also oversees the communication efforts for the program in order to provide access,
collaboration, and opportunities for Idaho schools and communities.
Contact: 208-332-1842 or [email protected]
Clearwater: Roundtable: High School A chance for high school counselors to collaborate.
Delamar: Shahna Paul “The Leader in Me 7 Habits of Happy Kids”
Shahna Paul is an elementary school counselor for the Independent School District in Lewiston, Idaho. She has
been a counselor at Orchards Elementary for 5 years and Idaho School Counselor Association President since
July 1 of this year. Four years ago, Orchards began the process of being a “Leader in Me” school. Now they are
one of two schools in the state that have Lighthouse status. Orchards has seen their behavior referrals drop by
75% percent over the last four years. Every student in the school has a Leadership notebook and a meaningful
leadership role within the school. Shahna will be sharing how the teachers and staff began the process of being a
Leader in Me school and adopting the 7 Habits of Happy Kids.
Liberty: Dr. Garner “Ethical Issues in School Counseling Part 2”
This presentation includes a review of ethics for school counselors as well as guidelines for practical
application of ethical principles in a school environment. Opportunities for learning include presenta-
tion, discussion, role play, and exploration of examples of commonly encountered ethical dilemmas
relevant to the school counselor.
Emerald: Roundtable: Elementary School A chance for elementary counselors to collaborate.
Thank You to our Sponsors!