Workshop Descriptions

Lyndsay Morris, M.Ed.

Social Emotional Learning

Ballroom

School counselors are asked to teach all the time: parent nights, classroom lessons, staff PD. Yet most counseling programs never taught how to teach. This session fills that gap.

Participants will:

• Learn 5 simple, brain-based strategies that make any lesson unforgettable.

• Understand the 6-part framework for sharing stories that people connect to

• Discover how to design parent nights families rave about, classroom lessons students engage with, and lead staff sessions that don’t just inform, but transform.

You’ll walk away with ready-to-use engagement tools and a simple teaching formula that works in all settings.

If you’ve ever left a lesson wondering whether it landed, this session will turn that wondering into certainty. 

Kristin Barnson, ASCA 

Academic

Redwood Room

The fifth edition of "The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs" is the next step in the journey of the school counseling profession. It guides school counselors to focus their school counseling program on access, life-readiness and success for each and every student and includes a greater focus on achievement, with attendance and discipline data recognized as contributing factors to academic performance. Learn about specific changes to the ASCA National Model, fifth edition and how this will affect your work as a data-informed school counselor. 

Andreanna Murphy and Patrick Chen, San Diego USD, NCWIT Trainers

Computer Science

Cottonwood III

To navigate a world shaped by emerging technology, counselors need more than just user experience—they need literacy. This session breaks down exactly what AI is, how it processes information, and the risks of taking its outputs at face value. We will focus on the "Human in the Loop" concept, teaching counselors how to evaluate AI-generated content critically. You will leave with strategies to help students and staff verify information and engage with AI ethically and effectively. 

Darice Ingram, CCGI

College and Career 

Pacific I/II

In today’s educational landscape, leading college and career teams are being asked to use a data-driven strategy to turn raw information into actionable student outcomes. This session empowers you to move beyond basic record-keeping to data-driven advocacy. We will show you how to simplify the collection and analysis of student data using automated reporting tools. Participants will explore how to deploy the NEW ASCA-aligned lessons to support tiered college and career initiatives. By integrating these, college and career teams can automate the heavy lifting of data tracking, ensuring that Tier 1 interventions are universal and Tier 2 supports are effective. Join us to learn how to use the lessons and reports on CaliforniaColleges.edu to visualize and communicate your program's impact to administrators, site leads, and stakeholders while ensuring that every student is ready and equipped with a plan for their post-secondary journey.

Monica Turner, Trela Peeler, and Jamie Lathrop, Capital Stars 

College and Career 

Cottonwood I/II

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) 101: Identification and Awareness Training will provide an overview of CSEC and the psycho‐social dynamics, which contribute to the ongoing victimization of young people by sex traffickers. Laws addressing human trafficking will be examined to assist in understanding their relationship to commercial sexual exploitation of children. Factors influencing the demand for CSEC will be reviewed, including how historical and ongoing gender and racial oppression intersect to create demand. The training will provide information on complex trauma with a focus on the life events and contributing factors that often lead to the sexual exploitation of a child. 

Michaela Alcorn, Common App 

College and Career 

Foothill Suite

The Common App is accepted by 1,000+ public and private colleges worldwide, including more than 40 in California. We’re committed to helping all students - especially low-income and first-generation students - access, afford, and attain higher education. Join us to learn more about connecting your students with college and scholarship opportunities, even starting before their senior year. We’ll discuss data insights and resources you can use to advise and celebrate students on their postsecondary journey. Come with your questions and ideas! 

Amber Jacobo, Sacramento County Office of Education

Amanda Meyer, CORE Districts 

College and Career 

Forest Suite

The CDE School Dashboard is more than a set of colors—it is a powerful equity tool that tells the story of student experiences and outcomes. But what does it mean for school counselors?

This interactive session will explore the purpose and structure of the California School Dashboard and unpack the indicators most closely aligned with the daily work of school counselors, including attendance, graduation rates, college and career readiness, suspension rates, and academic performance.

Participants will:

• Deepen their understanding of the Dashboard’s purpose and key indicators

• Examine how Dashboard measures connect directly to counseling practice and student support systems

• Explore how equity is embedded in the Dashboard’s design and how counselors can leverage student group data to promote more equitable outcomes

• Brainstorm practical ways to use Dashboard data, along with other site-based metrics to advocate for counseling programs and drive meaningful change

Through discussion and collaborative idea-sharing, counselors will leave with actionable strategies to move from compliance to impact—using the Dashboard as a catalyst to strengthen systems, close opportunity gaps, and amplify the essential role of school counseling. 

Kristin Barnson and Sarah Kirk, ASCA 

Academic 

Redwood Room

This session will show school counselors how to leverage data within the ASCA National Model framework to design and improve their school counseling programs. School counselors will learn how to collect, analyze, and report data using ASCA tools to drive targeted interventions, strengthen program effectiveness, and demonstrate measurable impact. 

Andreanna Murphy and Patrick Chen, San Diego USD, NCWIT Trainers 

Computer Science 

Cottonwood III

AI is here—how will you lead the conversation? This session empowers school counselors to take a leadership role in the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence. We will explore the influence of AI on the counselor's daily work and the wider school ecosystem, focusing on ethical guidelines, student privacy, and equity. Participants will learn how to advocate for safe school-wide policies and support students in building healthy, non-dependent relationships with technology. Join us to discover how to turn AI challenges into opportunities for advocacy and student growth. 

Tawny Reinhardt

Academic 

Cottonwood I/II

Every student is unique, but writing individual social narratives to address specific behaviors—like transitions, sensory triggers, or conflict resolution—takes hours that counselors don’t have. In this hands-on session, we will use free AI tools to generate personalized, evidence-based social stories and social scripts in minutes. We will move beyond the basics, teaching you how to "prompt engineer"—ensuring positive framing and human-centered language. Whether you need a story for a 1st grader learning to ask for a break, a group project negotiation script for a 10th grader, you will learn how to prompt AI to get the perfect tone. Bring a laptop and leave with resources ready for your students.

What you’ll leave with:

• A "Cheat Sheet" of prompts for Elementary vs. Secondary students.

• A workflow to turn AI text into visual storybooks.

• A guide on how to do this safely without inputting student data. 

Jill Thom and Christia Espinosa, Sacramento City USD

Academic 

Foothill Suite

This session models a graduation/A-G lesson that embeds research-based engagement strategies to promote active learning and can be implemented with any topic. Participants will experience how interactive approaches enhance student understanding, improve knowledge retention, and foster social skill development.  Based off of Kagan Cooperative Learning structures. 

Will Reliford, Jr.

College and Career 

Orchard Suite

Discover how Sacramento State's Accelerated College Entrance (ACE) Program empowers high school juniors and seniors to earn university credits while completing their high school education. This workshop will provide an overview of ACE's two options: the On-Campus Program, which allows students to attend courses on the Sacramento State campus (in-person and/or online), and the Off-Campus Program, which offers students in area high schools the opportunity to partner with Sacramento State academic departments to matriculate university-level coursework at their own school site. Learn about eligibility criteria, enrollment procedures, and the benefits of dual enrollment, including exposure to advanced coursework and a smoother transition to college. Equip yourself with the knowledge to guide your students toward academic success through early college experiences. 

Jason Jedamski, Ignite2Unite 

Social Emotional Learning 

Pacific I/II

Counseling teams are constantly supporting others—but rarely pause to name where they are. This interactive breakout helps counseling teams identify whether they are operating in survival mode, striving for stability, or truly thriving. Participants will engage in three intentional, practical conversations that build awareness, strengthen trust, and promote sustainability within the counseling team. Counselors will leave with shared language, reflection tools, and conversation frameworks they can immediately use to support one another and create a healthier, more effective team culture. 

Kayla Vogt, CSUS 

College and Career 

Lobby Suite

Have you had a chance to tour the CSUS campus? This is your chance! Join the CSUS Visitor Experience staff to learn more about the campus. 

Monica Turner, Trela Peeler, and Jamie Lathrop 

Social Emotional Learning 

Forest Suite

Protect is a comprehensive, evidence-informed prevention education program that equips schools and communities with tools to prevent human trafficking. 

Kristin Barnson and Sarah Kirk, ASCA 

Academic 

Redwood Room

This session will show school counselors how to leverage data within the ASCA National Model framework to design and improve their school counseling programs. School counselors will learn how to collect, analyze, and report data using ASCA tools to drive targeted interventions, strengthen program effectiveness, and demonstrate measurable impact. 

Andreanna Murphy and Patrick Chen, San Diego USD, NCWIT Trainers 

Computer Science 

Cottonwood III

Computing is no longer just for "techies"—it is the foundational skillset for every modern industry. This session challenges the misconception that digital skills are optional, introducing the "Computing + Passion" model to connect students’ interests—from fashion to farming—with necessary technical competencies. We will explore how to shift advising conversations from "What do you want to be?" to "What problem do you want to solve?" using NCWIT’s career exploration tools. Counselors will leave with lesson plans and strategies to make computational thinking accessible and relevant to all students, regardless of their perceived tech affinity. 

Tawny Reinhardt 

Academic 

Cottonwood I/II

School counselors are often drowning in data—school climate surveys, needs assessments, and exit tickets—but lack the time to analyze it. In this hands-on, deep-dive workshop, we will use free AI tools to instantly analyze qualitative data (student comments) to find trends, gaps, and safety concerns. Crucially, we will master the "Data Scrubbing" protocol to ensure student privacy is never compromised. Data isn't just math. Data is student voices, and AI can help us listen to 500 voices at once.

Bring your laptop: You will practice cleaning, analyzing, and reporting on a raw dataset during this session. 

Cara Bartell

Academic 

Forest Suite

Postsecondary access does not expand by accident — it expands through intentional counselor leadership. As student needs grow more complex and opportunity gaps persist, counselors play a critical role in ensuring that every student has equitable access to rigorous coursework, college and career exploration, and pathways beyond high school.

This session will examine how AP course expansion with newer AP courses, BigFuture college and career planning resources, and equitable assessment access through PSAT and SAT School Day can work together as a cohesive system to shift student trajectories. Participants will explore how AP participation — not just exam performance — influences college enrollment and persistence; how PSAT data can be used strategically to identify overlooked potential; and how SAT School Day removes structural barriers that disproportionately impact first-generation and underrepresented students.

Through guided reflection and practical discussion, counselors will identify common barriers facing their students and consider how to leverage existing systems more intentionally to address them. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to expand access to advanced coursework, scale college and career advising practices, and advocate for policies that increase opportunity at their sites and districts.

Loretta Whitson, CASC 

Social Emotional Learning 

Foothill Suite

Across California, concerns about children’s and youth mental health have sparked powerful momentum for systemic change. Through sustained advocacy and leadership, the California Association of School Counselors (CASC) has played a pivotal role in advancing policy solutions that strengthen school counseling practice and student support statewide.

This workshop examines key policy developments shaping the school counseling profession in California. Participants will review the 2023 California-specific School Counseling Standards and explore the newly released California Continuum for Advancing School Counseling Practice (CASCP) (December 2025). The session will also clarify the relationship between school counselors’ scope of practice and the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Fee Schedule, highlighting implications for professional roles, responsibilities, and service delivery.

Through discussion and reflection, participants will consider both the opportunities and challenges ahead as policy, practice, and advocacy continue to evolve, positioning school counselors as essential leaders in advancing student mental health and well-being.

     Amber Jacobo and Amanda Meyer, SCOE 

Academic

Pacific I/II

Ninth grade is the make-or-break year—and counselors sit at the heart of the system that keeps students on track. In this session, participants will explore practical routines and structures that strengthen collaboration between counselors, teachers, and school teams. We will share data-driven strategies used across CORE Districts and the Breakthrough Success Community to reduce D/Fs, strengthen belonging, and build predictive practices that catch students before they fall off-track. 

Joyce Long and Nicole Gallo, SJUSD 

SEL

Orchard Suite

In this session we will cover creating and running groups, from start to finish. This includes data review, referrals and student selection. From there, we will discuss different ways to plan, schedule, and run weekly groups. We will also cover the challenges of behavior management systems in a group dynamic, while also providing different curriculum options. 

Leah Diaz, Camille Broussard Wise, ED., Sacramento City College 

College and Career 

Green and Gold

This brief presentation introduces City Scholars, a two-year transfer support program at Sacramento City College designed to support students from historically underrepresented communities. Counselors will learn who the program is for, key student benefits, eligibility criteria, and how to refer interested students. We’ll also review how City Scholars complements existing counseling and student support services to ensure a smooth, collaborative referral and transition process for students. 

Terri Tchorzynski, Consultant, Hatching Results 

Academic 

Ballroom

Dive deeper into practical tools and strategies to strengthen collaboration by clarifying roles, aligning school counselor and administrator efforts to district and site priorities, and establishing systems for ongoing communication. Develop approaches for having courageous, student-centered, and solution-focused conversations that are centered around student outcomes and designed to strengthen collaborative efforts. Walk away with actionable strategies to transform the school counselor/administrator relationship into a true ‘Dream Team’ that works together to win for student success.

Session Objectives:

• Articulate shared responsibilities and priorities between school counselors and administrators

• Identify common data metrics that can be used to strengthen collaborative efforts to impact student outcomes that align to district and site priorities

• Utilize tools and resources to maximize the school counselor/administrator relationship and begin working together more collectively

Phoenicia Grant, DeKalb County School District

Academic 

Redwood Room

Graduation rates for English Learners (ELs) have risen nationally; however, many districts struggle to engage long-term ELs, meet four-year graduation cohorts, and to graduate ELs who are college or career ready. ELs are often burdened by the task of passing graduation requirements while learning English. School districts that adopt a standard operating procedure for transcript evaluation and enrollment can boost graduation rates by awarding transfer credits that meet graduation requirements. Participants will receive a comprehensive toolkit with resources that can minimize liability and decrease Office of Civil Rights complaints for immediate implementation. 

Caleb Fowler, Computer Information Science

 Abida Mukkarram, Data Science

Suha Al Juboori, Artificial Intelligence

Juana Ruiz, Articulation Officer, Counseling

Sarah Aldea, Outreach Specialist 

Computer Science 

Cottonwood III

California’s job market is evolving rapidly as AI, automation and data reshape industries statewide. Join us for this interactive session designed for counselors to explore how Folsom Lake College is preparing students for in-demand careers in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Computer Information Science. We’ll examine current workforce trends, discuss how AI is influencing skills-based hiring, and highlight tech careers students can pursue without leaving their communities.

Participants will engage in discussion around foundational courses that launch these pathways, including AI Foundations, Introduction to Data Science and Statistics, and Computer Science Principles and Programming. 

Sheree Meyer and Sharyn Gardner, CSUS 

College and Career 

Cottonwood I/II

What happens when you are still building a program as you launch it? The Discovery Pathways Program at Sacramento State, developed for Undeclared students, is in its first year. We built it to address the needs of “courageously clueless” students who are brave enough to admit they don't know what major or career pathway they want. We also began without additional resources and without having actively recruited our first cohort. So, what have we learned? What are the preliminary results of our new program? What are the academic, cultural, institutional, and social barriers we've faced? Lastly, what work lies ahead as we collaborate with our high school and community college colleagues to create an authentic pathway to success? During this interactive workshop and presentation, we will share our lessons learned and co-create a strong narrative outlining the ways in which “discovery” is a legitimate pathway to academic and career success. 

Jarrett Klein

Social Emotional Learning 

Foothill Suite

The goal of our discussion will be to illuminate Trauma-Informed Care in a practical and useful manner, so as to enhance one's skills at creating safety, promoting resilience, and empowerment, along with developing another's self-awareness to advocate for themselves, empathy to collaborate, and how to be open and receptive. Within this, we'll review complex trauma, ACES, protective factors and how TIC is not just a humanistic approach, but genuinely helps the individual, as well as the system they're in, i.e. how it leads to productivity within the workplace, while promoting personal and interpersonal wellbeing. 

Ebony Benzing, Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research

College and Career 

Green and Gold

This session explores current and emerging labor market trends in Greater Sacramento with a focus on workforce demand, equity, and educational alignment. Designed for K–12 practitioners, the presentation provides an accessible overview of population and labor force trends, high-demand industries, and in-demand occupations across multiple education levels. Particular attention is given to equity considerations, including demographic disparities in employment and access to living-wage careers. Participants will examine how K–12 practitioners can use labor market data to better connect students to high-opportunity, family-sustaining careers through career exploration, pathway development, and postsecondary planning. 

Lyn Poll and Deborah Camacho, Schools Insurance Authority, JPA 

Social Emotional Learning 

Orchard Suite

Busy schedule? No problem! In this hands on workshop, discover simple moves you can fit in at your desk or on the go. No equipment necessary, just practical movements you can use right away. Includes a handout with exercises you can take home to keep you moving. 

Nicolette Gonzaba, Tamara Gray, Jose Cardenas, Stockton USD 

Social Emotional Learning 

Pacific I/II

This presentation will focus on designing a comprehensive school counseling program that emphasizes leadership and ensures services are available to every student, regardless of their school. In today’s educational landscape, school counseling programs need to provide equitable support to all students, fostering an environment where every individual can thrive.

During this session, we will delve into effective strategies for implementing a comprehensive school counseling program, highlighting the importance of aligning all counselors across the district to deliver consistent and high-quality services. This alignment is crucial, as it ensures that every student receives the same level of care and counseling services, fostering a cohesive and supportive academic environment.

We will also address the challenges that often arise when attempting to standardize practices across various school sites. These challenges can include differences in resources, training, and community needs. Therefore, it is vital to engage in open dialogue and collaborative planning to overcome these hurdles. 

Milton Bowens, Arts for Education Founder

Social Emotional Learning 

Forest Suite

Teaching history supports students’ identity, empathy, and emotional resilience. For school counselors, historical understanding strengthens SEL by fostering self‑awareness, belonging, and appreciation of diverse perspectives. In this activity, counselors will use the academia flash‑card template to show how history promotes awareness, empowerment, and core values. Through creative visual expression, students explore challenges, emotions, and solutions, connecting with generations of problem‑solvers. This activity can support school counselors in guiding their students in finding a different SEL outlet. Integrating history, art, and SEL helps students grow into informed, empathetic, and resilient learners. 

Deborah Camacho and Lyn Poll, Schools Insurance Authority, JPA 

Social Emotional Learning 

Cottonwood III

Practical ways to renew you-and everyone you support. Supporting students begins with supporting yourself. This session introduces simple, evidence-based techniques that help you reset your body and restore your calm in just minutes. Through this hands on workshop you will learn easy and effective techniques to reduce stress, boost resilience and create a steady presence students rely on. 

Kristin Wright and Jillyan McKinney, SCOE 

Academic 

Foothill Suite

This interactive presentation will address the creation, legislative intent, and practical considerations of this pathway to a high school diploma for students with disabilities including considerations for Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams, and support for families navigating this diploma pathway. This session aims to provide insight, clarity, and practical guidance for LEAs, students, and families with a special focus on the role of school counselors in helping IEP teams as they navigate the opportunity for every student to have access to a high school diploma. 

Tawny Reinhardt 

Academic 

Cottonwood I/II

Every student is unique, but writing individual social narratives to address specific behaviors—like transitions, sensory triggers, or conflict resolution—takes hours that counselors don’t have. In this hands-on session, we will use free AI tools to generate personalized, evidence-based social stories and social scripts in minutes. We will move beyond the basics, teaching you how to "prompt engineer"—ensuring positive framing and human-centered language. Whether you need a story for a 1st grader learning to ask for a break, a group project negotiation script for a 10th grader, you will learn how to prompt AI to get the perfect tone. Bring a laptop and leave with resources ready for your students.

What you’ll leave with:

• A "Cheat Sheet" of prompts for Elementary vs. Secondary students.

• A workflow to turn AI text into visual storybooks.

• A guide on how to do this safely without inputting student data. 

Dana Salas - CA State Treasurer's Office

Maria Sandoval - CalABLE

Michael Gillis - HOPE

Karlene Bittler - Twin Rivers USD 

Academic 

Redwood Room

Whether saving for college or future expenses, the California State Treasurer's Office has an array of programs for all individuals, students included. Come learn about valuable resources available to students with disabilities, low-moderate income students, and vulnerable children throughout the state. All students can be successful and many programs like CalKIDS, CalABLE, ScholarShare 529, and HOPE are available to help them succeed in being financially secure for college and beyond. With this workshop you will feel confident in sharing these financial resources and better prepared to educate students and families of all backgrounds.

Attendees Will Get an Overview of the Following Programs:

1. CalKIDS - Automatic scholarships for Eligible Children

2. ScholarShare 529 - Savings accounts for Higher Education

3. CalABLE - Ability to save for disability-related expenses

4. HOPE - Trust accounts for eligible children who lost their parents or guardian to COVID-19. 

Jill Thom, Kari Lofing, and Christia Espinosa, Sacramento City USD 

Academic 

Green and Gold

Stop reacting to your schedule and start designing it. This hands-on workshop explores the intersection of student demographics and course requests. We’ll dive deep into IEP representation and ethnic diversity within specialty programs, giving you the tools to ensure your master schedule is as equitable as it is functional. 

Monica Magana Barragan and Jenni Hernandez, Dreamer Resource Center, CSUS 

Social Emotional Learning 

Forest Suite

This research-informed UndocuAlly training video was created to help faculty, counselors, administrators, and staff at Sacramento State to learn about the experiences of undocumented and mixed-status family college students, as well as ways to support these students’ practical and psychological needs. The video features real stories from undocumented and mixed-status college students and is organized into three modules:

1. Basic Immigration Terms and Policies

2. Living with Undocumented Status

3. Supportive Practices and Resources 

Karen Schoonmaker, 3Strands Foundation 

Social Emotional Learning 

Orchard Suite

School counselors are often the trusted adults students turn to when navigating unsafe, confusing, or overwhelming experiences. This session offers a trauma-informed, school-centered framework for understanding and responding to human trafficking that centers student voice, choice, and dignity.

Participants will receive a concise overview of Human Trafficking 101–103, using developmentally appropriate language relevant to K–12 settings. The session explores how exploitation can impact students’ academic engagement, emotional regulation, and sense of safety—and how prevention education strengthens protective factors such as boundaries, help-seeking, and trusted adult connections. Participants will also learn how 3Strands Global Foundation supports schools through prevention education and community partnerships, including The Table, its Sacramento-based drop-in center that provides low-barrier, survivor-informed support for youth and young adults. 

Diana Maslovtsova, Leslie Ramirez, Maria Sandoval, Anna Hoehenrieder, Olga Prizhbilov, LRCCD, Patsy Arellano, Mai Ye Vang, SCOE

College and Career 

Pacific I/II

Imagine helping students earn college credit before they even graduate high school. This workshop introduces participants to the newly released Los Rios Community College District and Sacramento County Office of Education Dual Enrollment Guide, a powerful tool designed to expand early college opportunities across Sacramento County. In this session, attendees will learn how the guide clarifies Dual Enrollment and CCAP options, outlines step-by-step enrollment processes, and organizes career education pathways to support informed decision-making. We will walk through the guide’s user-friendly structure—including application steps, counselor guidance, and program maps—to demonstrate how students can save time, reduce college costs, and explore pathways aligned with regional labor market demand. Participants will also examine sample program pages to understand how certificates, degrees, and career outlooks are presented.

The ideal attendees for this session are K-12 counselors, though all are welcome to participate. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops to fully participate in the workshop. 

Marshall Shimmon, Schools Insurance Authority 

Social Emotional Learning 

Orchard Suite

Do you find yourself burned out or overwhelmed with multitasking more than ever before?  Treat yourself for a change, spend some quality time focusing on your needs.  You will learn indicators of imbalance, examples of beneficial self-care practices, and how to implement a strategy for incorporating self-care into your daily life to achieve better life satisfaction and balance.  Prioritizing self-care will provide you with tools to enable you to be more effective and present in life activities, interactions, and help you to more positively impact your professional and personal relationships.

Marcy Merrill and Chay Bettencourt, CSUS College and Career Center 

College and Career 

Cottonwood III

This presentation is designed to support newer school counselors, or counselors with limited experience collaborating with on-site mental health clinicians, in building effective and ethical partnerships at their school sites. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how school counselors and clinicians can work collaboratively to best support students’ academic, social-emotional, and mental health needs. The presenters will walk through real-world examples of referral forms, explain their school’s COST (Coordination of Services Team) process, and outline practical strategies for communication and collaboration. Attendees will also learn how to differentiate services by clarifying the distinct yet complementary roles of school counselors and mental health clinicians, including when and how to refer students for additional support. This session will provide tools, shared language, and practical insights that participants can immediately apply in their own school settings. 

Tawny Reinhardt 

Academic 

Cottonwood I/II

School counselors are often drowning in data—school climate surveys, needs assessments, and exit tickets—but lack the time to analyze it. In this hands-on, deep-dive workshop, we will use free AI tools to instantly analyze qualitative data (student comments) to find trends, gaps, and safety concerns. Crucially, we will master the "Data Scrubbing" protocol to ensure student privacy is never compromised. Data isn't just math. Data is student voices, and AI can help us listen to 500 voices at once.

Bring your laptop: You will practice cleaning, analyzing, and reporting on a raw dataset during this session. 

Jill Thom and Christia Espinosa, Sacramento City USD 

College and Career 

Forest Suite

Stop burying your success in spreadsheets! Join us for a hands-on workshop on turning data into compelling visuals that showcase your team’s growth. Bring your laptop and see how quick and powerful these tools really are! 

Guadalupe Delgado, SCOE; Jennifer Gama, UC Davis 

College and Career 

Green and Gold

Join K–12, college access, and higher education professionals for a dynamic session on creating impactful partnerships that foster student success. Presenters will share proven strategies for establishing systems of support through shared goals and the strategic use of collective resources to student success. Topics will include collaborative planning, joint programming, staff resource sharing, and effective data-sharing practices. 

Jocelyn Lopez and Aubrey Manongsong, Twin Rivers USD

Social Emotional Learning 

Pacific I/II

This presentation is designed to support newer school counselors, or counselors with limited experience collaborating with on-site mental health clinicians, in building effective and ethical partnerships at their school sites. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how school counselors and clinicians can work collaboratively to best support students’ academic, social-emotional, and mental health needs. The presenters will walk through real-world examples of referral forms, explain their school’s COST (Coordination of Services Team) process, and outline practical strategies for communication and collaboration. Attendees will also learn how to differentiate services by clarifying the distinct yet complementary roles of school counselors and mental health clinicians, including when and how to refer students for additional support. This session will provide tools, shared language, and practical insights that participants can immediately apply in their own school settings. 

Jody Decker and Lexie Williams, Community Collaborative Charter School 

Social Emotional Learning 

Foothill Suite

Alternative education counselors often navigate unique school environments, student needs, and systemic challenges that traditional counseling resources don't fully address. This interactive session introduces the newly formed Alternative Education Counselor Network, created to uplift and connect counselors working in non-traditional learning settings across the Sacramento region.

By the end of this session, participants will:

1. Understand the mission and vision of the Alternative Education Counselor Network and why it is needed in the Sacramento region

2. Connect with fellow alternative education counselors through structured meet-and-greet and community-building activities.

3. Identify common challenges, strengths, and resource gaps in order to shape priorities and future meeting topics.