The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guest is Meredith Lee, Director of Professional Learning at CharacterStrong. We talk to Meredith about how to effectively engage staff and maintain our commitment to Social and Emotional Learning in our classrooms. She reminds us of the importance of reminding staff of their purpose and not just staying there, but quickly transitioning to the "how". Meredith outlines the 3W Check-in, a tool we can use to reflect and evaluate with staff. Additionally, she shares a structured protocol that can be used as we move forward and take action with our staff.

Today our guest is Dr. Alvia Baldwin the Director of Guidance and Counseling in Alief ISD in Texas. We talk to Dr. Baldwin about how to increase staff and Admin buy-in in our schools and districts. She talks about the different ways that they have put a focus on character education across the district at Alief, not just with the students but also with the staff. Dr. Baldwin shares how having fun has be an important piece of creating a culture of character, and how they have connected this with what was already happening in schools. She also talks about the ways they have implemented character education with pilot schools and how this has helped schools creatively support this work all across the district. Dr. Alvia Baldwin is the Director of Guidance and Counseling for Alief ISD, one of the most diverse and highly acclaimed districts in the state. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor who has served in education and counseling for over two decades. Dr. Baldwin is also a Certified School Counselor and a Board Approved LPC Supervisor. Dr Baldwin has supported mental health in many arenas including public schools, faith-based communities, private practice, and post –secondary institutions. Dr. Baldwin has a heart for all people and a sincere devotion to help others grow through experience and education always through the lens of empathy and equity. Dr. Baldwin has been married to her wonderful husband for over 20 years and they enjoy their three amazing children, three awesome grandchildren, and energetic Jack Russel Terrier, Frosty Max!

Today, our guest is Dr. Clay Cook, the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong. We speak with Clay about why Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports should run concurrently instead of waiting for Tier 1 to be fully in place before starting Tier 2. He identifies some of the necessary components for this approach and discusses the differences between Tier 1 and Tier 2. Clay also emphasizes the time required to support students with Tier 2 needs, and he shares about the impact that it can have when Tier 1 and Tier 2 are efficiently implemented together. To Learn More: CharacterStrong Tier 2 Solution: https://characterstrong.com/tier2/ CharacterStrong Tier 2 Certification Training CharacterStrong MTSS Certification Training Visit CharacterStrong's Website: https://characterstrong.com/

Today our guest is Sharon Bradley, Founder and Principal Consultant of Restorative Flow Educational Solutions. We talk to Sharon about the need to create schools where kids want to be vs have to be, and how we can leverage SEL to do this. She reminds us of the collective responsibility that we all share to help create this healthy school culture, and shares some practical ways that we can proactively start to connect with students. To learn more: Email: restorativeflo@gmail.com Website: www.restorativefloeducationalsolutions.com Chronic Absenteeism Guide: https://www.nprinc.com/chronic-absenteeism Sharon Bradley serves as Director of Family and Social Services for the Plano Independent School District where she has helped shape the district's approach to social and emotional development and truancy prevention for all students. Throughout her 22 years in education, she has served as director, alternative high school principal, assistant principal, dropout prevention program coordinator, general education teacher, and special education teacher. In her current role, she supports programs such as: Truancy prevention, SEL, Restorative Practices, Parent Education and Engagement. Sharon Bradley has recently been recognized by Education-First "SEL in Action" and D CEO Magazine for her innovative efforts of leveraging SEL to help decrease chronic absenteeism. Sharon is the author of the reference guide "Chronic Absenteeism: Prevention and Intervention Strategies for Schools, Families and Communities". She is a graduate of Mississippi State University where she earned her bachelor's degree in Special Education; and her master's degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A & M University.

Today our guest is Meredith Lee, Director of Professional Learning at CharacterStrong. On this episode we discuss with Meredith the importance of community agreements, what they are, and how we can use them with staff and students. She emphasizes the need for co-creation when creating community agreements and shares a four-step process to help us be successful in setting them up. Meredith also highlights the importance of revisiting these agreements regularly throughout the school year.

Today, our guest is Dr. Clay Cook, the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong. We discuss some of the common roadblocks that make Tier 2 work more challenging. Clay shares the two most important steps a school can take to ensure successful Tier 2 implementation: having a strong leadership team and having a coordinated problem-solving process. He also explains what it takes to match students to the right interventions. To Learn More: CharacterStrong Tier 2 Solution: https://characterstrong.com/tier2/ CharacterStrong Tier 2 Certification Training CharacterStrong MTSS Certification Training Visit CharacterStrong's Website: https://characterstrong.com/ Dr. Clay Cook is the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong and is an implementation scientist, psychologist, and former paraprofessional and middle school math teacher. He has spent the past 15 years working in partnership with school systems across the country to support the implementation of effective practices that promote better and more equitable outcomes for students. He has been a professor and researcher at three universities (Louisiana State University, University of Washington and University of Minnesota) studying topics such as implementation of evidence-based practices, educator well-being and resilience, social-emotional learning, and youth mental health. He has obtained over 20 million dollars in grant funding for his research and published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles. For his work, he has been invited to the White House and served on expert panels with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Education.

Today, we welcome Elizabeth Congdon-McGee, the 2021 Alaska School Counselor of the Year and a professional school counselor for the Anchorage School District. Elizabeth talks about how she and the principal of her school have collaborated, and how investing in relationships and using data has made a difference in their work. She also provides insight into how school counselors can advocate for their work by intentionally sharing their story with different groups in the community. Elizabeth also offers advice on how to get more involved on a local and state level. Elizabeth Congdon-McGee was the 2021 Alaska School Counselor of the year. Elizabeth Congdon-McGee is a professional school counselor for the Anchorage School District with over 20 years of experience in education and counseling. Mrs. McGee began her career as a clinical therapist working with young children and at-risk youth, as well as a classroom teacher. Currently, she is a professional school counselor at Whaley K-12 School. She has presented at many statewide conferences and participated in many workgroups to enhance the profession and increase awareness of the role of a school counselor. She has recently moved her presentations to outside of Alaska-NWPBIS Conference and Washington School Counselor Conference. She will be presenting at the Nevada School Counselor Conference in March 2023. Elizabeth has enjoyed being the President of the Alaska School Counselor Association (AkSCA) from 2015-2016, Chair of AkSCA Membership Committee 2015-2021 and currently chairs the AkSCA Advocacy and Public Policy Committee-2015--present a NEA-AK Delegate for many years, and the Anchorage Education Association school counselor committee chair.

Today, our guest is Zulema Fragoso, school counselor at Nogales High School and the 2023 Arizona School Counselor of the Year. We chat with Zulema about how she began her career in school counseling and what has kept her motivated for the past 16 years while she works with students and families. She explains how she collaborates with other staff and advocates for the role of school counselors. Additionally, Zulema discusses how she continues to build relationships and support students in the community through a student-led University Club at her school. Zulema Fragoso is a school counselor at Nogales High School in Nogales Unified School District #1. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Master's in School Counseling. Has been working in school counseling since 2006 when she started with GEAR UP. Started her career at Rio Rico High School and then moved to Nogales High School. Has found her passion in helping students obtain post-secondary education in whatever are they pursue. Major accomplishments include: • 2017 Arizona Star Award recipient from College Success Arizona • Arizona School Counselor Association Board of Director (Elected term 2020-2023) • Horatio Alger Field Director for the State of Arizona (2020-Present) Ms. Fragoso enjoys spending time with her family, baking and enjoying her friends.

Today, our guest is Deirdra Hawkes, the Director of Programs and Advocacy at ASCA. We discuss the significance of taking a break to recognize the efforts of school counselors both during NSCW, and also regularly during the year. Deirdra also emphasizes the importance of teachers and staff as we work together to help students, and encourages us to have conversations about what is beneficial for students to learn and the various ways we can continue to support our communities. She also shares some practical ways that school counselors can help advocate for the school counseling profession at the school, district, and state level. Deirdra Hawkes is currently ASCA Director of Programs and Advocacy. Prior to this role, she engaged students, teachers, administrators and parents as a school counselor and Dean of Counseling and Student Services. She earned her B.A. in French Language and Literature from NC State University, M.A. in School Counseling from NC Central University and her M.A. in School Administration from East Carolina University. She is passionate helping others understand how school counselors impact positive change in their students and supporting school counselors in their efforts to do so. Outside of ASCA, Deirdra enjoys quick trips to the beach, time with family and being a soccer mom.

Today, we are joined by Kat Pastor, the Executive Director of School Supports at CharacterStrong, and Cory Notestine, the Director of Continuous Improvement at CharacterStrong, from Washington D.C. to kick off National School Counseling Week. They discuss the past, present, and future of school counseling, as well as the changes that have taken place and what keeps them passionate about school counseling today. Kat Pastor has passionately served as a student and educator advocate for over 20 years in the roles of coach, student council advisor, school counselor at the secondary level and financial aid counselor/coordinator of student employment and adjunct professor at the post-secondary level. Through Kat's leadership, her school counseling department received both state and national recognition, including ASCA RAMP recognition in 2020. Kat has facilitated professional development with various state and national associations, along with individual schools and districts. Kat exudes a commitment to community, having served on numerous local, state and national associations, boards and committees. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Masters in Education in Student Affairs and School Counseling from Northern Arizona University. Kat was named the ASCA 2016 National School Counselor of the Year and Northern Arizona University's President's Alumni Awardee in 2021. Cory Notestine spent the last 14 years working in rural and urban school settings across North Carolina and Colorado as a school counselor and district leader. Over the past 7 years he's led successful district-wide SEL curriculum adoption and implementation; redesigned and integrated MTSS teaming, protocols, and service delivery; and created a behavioral matrix that was student centered and restorative in nature. He is passionate about thoughtful and timely change management, the intersection of politics and education, and how to identify high leverage action items to increase successful implementation. Cory was named the 2015 national School Counselor of the Year.