Hosted by the American School Counselor Association, "I Hear You Say" is a podcast for school counselors and other leaders in education. Tune in for conversations on school counseling hot topics and practical tips, legal and ethical considerations, and other themes relevant to school counselors.
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In this episode of I Hear You Say, hosts Jill Cook and Janae Douglas welcome Charle Peck, international keynote speaker, author, former educator and clinical trauma therapist, for a conversation about helping school counselors build stress tolerance and thrive under pressure. Peck explores the difference between simply surviving and truly thriving, why even highly capable educators can struggle when stress takes over and how anticipating pressure points can help school counselors prepare before challenges arise. She shares practical strategies for strengthening communication with teachers and
In this episode of I Hear You Say, hosts Jill Cook and Janae Douglas welcome Brent Burnham, nationally recognized educator, former school counselor and creator of the Bully Blockers and Cool2Care Revolution programs, for a conversation about supporting students' mental health and resilience. Burnham explores how school counselors can use data and the ASCA Student Standards to proactively support the whole child while addressing the growing impact of stress, anxiety and depression. He shares practical strategies for fostering a growth mindset, helping students reframe setbacks, recognize negati
In this episode of I Hear You Say, host Jill Cook, ASCA executive director, and co-host Christy Welch, chair of ASCA, welcome board candidates Ebonee Magee-Dorsey, DPC, Monica Bryant, Ed.D., Andres Castro, Ed.D., and Tosha Todd to discuss their backgrounds, leadership philosophies, and visions for the future of the profession. The candidates share why they are seeking board service and explore key issues facing school counselors, including advocacy, equitable access to comprehensive school counseling programs, student mental health, workforce readiness, and counselor retention. They also discu
In this episode of I Hear You Say, host Jill Cook, ASCA executive director, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA education and training coordinator, are joined by Dr. Emily Goodman-Scott, Dr. Jennifer Betters-Bubon, Dr. Margaret Donahue and Dr. Jacob Olsen, collectively known as School Counselors for MTSS, for a conversation about the growing role of multitiered systems of supports (MTSS) within the school counseling profession and its integration into the ASCA National Model®. The guests reflect on how the field has evolved from introducing MTSS concepts to focusing on deeper, more intentional imp
In this episode of I Hear You Say, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Leisl Moriarty, director of affiliate relations at ASCA, are joined by leaders from the Oklahoma School Counselor Association – Chelsea Hinkle, Dr. Sarah Kirk and Allison Morris – to discuss their 2025 award-winning Supporting Emergency and Alternative Licensure (SEAL) program. Created in response to a growing number of emergency-certified school counselors across the state, SEAL is a semester-long virtual training series designed to build foundational skills and alig
In this special episode of I Hear You Say, host Jill Cook, ASCA executive director, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, are joined by the four 2026 School Counselor of the Year finalists – Leka Anitema (Maui High School, Hawaii), Annie Goldberg, ACSC, (Broadview Middle School, N.C.), Lydia Thu Kim Larimore (Neabsco Elementary School, Va.), and Summer Royale Whittington (Ernest Gallet Elementary School, La.). The conversation explores the most urgent challenges facing school counselors nationwide, including rising student mental health needs, gaps in self-regul
In this episode of I Hear You Say, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, welcome Danielle R. Crankfield, school counselor at Crofton High School in Gambrills, Md., and the 2026 ASCA School Counselor of the Year®. Danielle reflects on how her own high school counselor inspired her career and what continues to fuel her passion 15 years later. She shares how, during Crofton’s founding year amid the pandemic, she analyzed course enrollment data to uncover inequities in honors and AP sci
In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, are joined by Dr. Sylvia Hollins, an experienced school counselor and trauma specialist. Hollins shares her journey into trauma and multicultural counseling and explains how trauma can affect students’ academic performance, behavior and social/emotional development. The conversation explores what it truly means to create trauma-informed school environments – spaces where students feel safe, supporte
To view a full list of the school counselor associations (SCAs) please visit the following. At the state level, ASCA supportsin developing effective and sustainable advocacy programs to advance state-specific issues affecting school counseling and K-12 education. School counselors are encouraged to actively participate with their state association as one way to increase their civic engagement. For more information on local advocacy efforts in your district and state, please contact your state association and get involved.
In this special live episode of I Hear You Say, recorded at the 2025 Navigate and Innovate ASCA Annual Conference in Long Beach, host Qisti Gitosuputro, ASCA’s member engagement coordinator, brings together leaders from several of ASCA’s affinity groups for a heartfelt conversation about connection, community, and representation in the school counseling profession. Guests Angie Pereida, Annie Goldberg, Rebecca Edelman, Ph.D., and Brandon Gernux share their personal journeys into leadership and the vital role affinity groups play in supporting school counselors—especially those working in rural
In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, talk with Danna Mirviss from PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center about the evolution of bullying prevention efforts. Danna shares how initiatives like National Bullying Prevention Month and Unity Day inspire awareness, kindness, and inclusion in schools. The discussion highlights the vital role of school counselors, educators, families, and peers in creating safe learning environments—and wh
In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, sit down with Sarah Ritchie and Carol Clemens to explore how school counselors can strengthen relationships with families. The conversation highlights the power of personal connections and positive communication, while also offering practical strategies for time management, proactive outreach, and navigating tough conversations with empathy. Together, they share insights designed to help counselors
<img class="wp-image-4594 aligncenter" src="https://videos.schoolcounselor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ep50_social_media_1080x0180.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="275" /> <p style="text-align: center">In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, recorded live at the 2025 Navigate and Innovate ASCA Annual Conference in Long Beach, host Jill Cook, Executive Director of the American School Counselor Association sits down with ASCA board Chair Christy Welch and Assistant Chair Dr. Ebonee Magee-Dorsey. Welch reflects on her journey from emerging leader to ASCA board chair, while Dr. Magee-Dors
<img class="wp-image-4505 aligncenter" src="https://videos.schoolcounselor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ep49_social_media_1080x0180.jpg" alt="" width="376" height="376" /> <p style="text-align: center">In this special episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, recorded live at the 2025 Navigate and Innovate ASCA Annual Conference in Long Beach, host Janae Douglas captures the voices and experiences of attendees throughout the event. From first-time participants to long-time professionals, guests reflect on mentorship, professional growth, and the importance of building meaningful connections. Co
This I Hear You Say podcast about the fifth edition of the ASCA National Model® was built with AI. Here's how we did it. Step One: Uploaded the ASCA National Model® to Google NotebookLM and asked it to turn it into a two-person podcast, using a conversational tone. The human touch: NotebookLM doesn’t allow you to edit scripts, so we put the podcast into Wondercraft and asked it to generate an editable script. We then edited the script, fixing some mistakes and changing other things to reflect our style. Step Two: Using the edited script, used Wondercraft re-record the podcast. The human touch:
This I Hear You Say I podcast interview about the September/October 2025 issue of ASCA School Counselor magazine was developed using AI. Here's how we did it:Took all the main feature articles and ran them through ChatGPT, asking it to condense each article into its key points, keeping it in an informal, conversational tone.Edited/revised some of the descriptions to fix some mistakes and rework some of the language.Took the revised versions of all the article outlines and asked ChatGPT to combine them all into a script for a podcast interview between a host and the magazine editor to discuss t
In this episode of ASCA’s special mini-series, Deirdra Williams, ASCA's Director of Programs and Advocacy, explores the impact and evolution of the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), which celebrates its 21st year of honoring schools with exemplary, data-informed counseling programs. She’s joined by four RAMP recipients—Leann Munoz (Perry Harrison Elementary, Pittsboro, NC), Laura Robbins (South Newton High School, Kentland, IN), Dr. Keisha Burns (Shadow Hills Engineering and Design Magnet Academy, Palmdale, CA), and Gina Montague (Powell Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, NC)—who share how
In this episode of ASCA’s special mini-series, Deirdra Williams, ASCA's Director of Programs and Advocacy, explores the impact and evolution of the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), which celebrates its 21st year of honoring schools with exemplary, data-informed counseling programs. She’s joined by two RAMP recipients—Jeff Hargis from Legacy High School (Legacy High School, Broomfield, CO) and Jeff Pastiak (Oak Lawn Community High School, Oaklawn, IL)—who share what it’s like to pursue RAMP as part of a large counseling team. They discuss how collaboration, strategic task-sharing, and adap
In this episode of ASCA’s special podcast mini-series, Adapting the Model: RAMP Success Stories from Non-Traditional Schools Deirdra Williams, Director of Programs and Advocacy, explores how non-traditional schools are successfully implementing the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP). She’s joined by RAMP recipients Priscilla Grijalva (San Jacinto Leadership Academy, CA), Dr. Kristina Hall (POLYTECH High School, DE), and Laura Krapf (Sarah Pyle Academy, DE), who share their experiences navigating challenges, leveraging data, and engaging their communities. The discussion highlights the power
In this episode of ASCA’s special podcast mini-series, Deirdra Williams, ASCA's Director of Programs and Advocacy discusses the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), an initiative by the American School Counselor Association, now in its 21st year. RAMP honors schools that deliver comprehensive, data-driven school counseling programs aligned with the ASCA National Model. Joining the conversation are RAMP recipients Jennifer Alberth (Stone Hill Middle School, Ashburn, VA), Katie Doss (Vista Grande Elementary, Rio Rancho, NM), Rachel Hagelin (Belton High School, Belton, Missouri), and Mirna DeLeo
In the inaugural episode of this ASCA podcast mini-series, Deirdra Williams, ASCA's Director of Programs and Advocacy discusses the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP), an initiative by the American School Counselor Association, now in its 21st year. RAMP honors schools that deliver comprehensive, data-driven school counseling programs aligned with the ASCA National Model. Joining the conversation are RAMP recipients Summer Davis (Grand Bay Middle School, AL), Nicole Moody (Sycamore Elementary, GA), and Mirna DeLeon (Upland Unified School District, CA). They share their firsthand experiences
In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Janae Douglas, ASCA’s education and training coordinator, sit down with the four exceptional finalists for the 2025 School Counselor of the Year award. Listeners will hear from Lisa Delgadillo, school counselor at Hibbard Elementary School in Chicago; Stephanie Leibowitz Nelson, Ph.D., school counselor at Garner Magnet High School in Garner, N.C.; Hanna Kemble-Mick, USD 437 dean of elementary school counseling at Indian Hills Elementary in Topeka, Kan.; an
In this episode of thepodcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and Brian Levy, ASCA’s director of sales and partnerships, chat with Dr. Reberkah Cole, Dr. Crystal Hatton, and Dr. Taqueena Quintana about the unique challenges and strengths of military-connected students. With personal ties to military life, the guests highlight the impact of frequent moves, shifting routines, and emotional transitions on these students. The conversation explores practical ways school counselors can foster resilience, from building strong family partnerships to im
In this episode of the I Hear You Say podcast, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and Deirdra Williams, ASCA’s director of programs and advocacy, engage in a powerful discussion with Dr. Brandy Richeson and Dr. Crystal Hatton of Liberty University, along with Dr. Krystal L. Clemons, founder and CEO of Our Village Consulting. Together, they explore the vital role of supporting and advocating for Black students, particularly during Black History Month. The conversation delves into their personal journeys, the significance of authenticity, intentional
