ISCA Advocacy Efforts-Time for all of us to STEP UP!!

It is such an exciting time to be a school counselor!  After keynoting ISCA 2014, Trish Hatch, and many talented folks met for the White House Convening at San Diego State University on November 17-18. A lot of commitments were made to reinforce the #Reach Higher Initiative. It is phenomenal that the First Lady Michelle Obama has validated the importance of school counselors.
 “School Counseling is a necessity to ensure that all our young people get the education they need to succeed in today’s economy.”   Michelle Obama, ASCA 2014

Now is the time for school counselors to step up and do our part to make the #Reach Higher commitments happen and make sure everyone knows our role!  Keep the fire burning from ISCA 2014 and make it your time to continually reach higher!  Some school counselors have an easier time doing this due to many reasons.  Maybe their administrators understand their role and the student-counselor ratio is reasonable.  Many times this isn’t the case.  We all need to make efforts to advocate for our profession every day.  However, sometimes we need help.  Education is a very hot topic in the Iowa legislation and school counselors have not been well represented.  We are so proud to announce that ISCA has hired “The Capital Group” lobbyist firm.  We will be working closely with lobbyists Pete McRoberts, Bob Mulqueen, and Jim Obradovich to make sure that school counselors now ARE represented.

However, our work has just begun.  The lobbyists will help us be heard.  We need to make sure ALL school counselors are doing their part.  We need to continue our efforts so that every student in Iowa has a school counselor doing work that will help him/her graduate and be ready for the next step.  We need to make sure school counselors are being represented by our lobbyists but also by our organization.

Please make your voice heard.  Attend Visit the Hill Day on February 25th at the Embassy Suites in Des Moines. The morning is spent within sessions, and the afternoon is spent at the Capitol visiting with legislators.  Iowa ACAC and ISCA work very closely to make sure this is a worthwhile day.  Iowa ACAC provides a stipend also to bring students.  There is NO cost to attendees.  We have had a great turn out the last few years.  We need to be well represented this year and continue the work that our lobbyists will be doing for us in the trenches.  Please attend Visit the Hill Day!  Also, be looking for more information about our legislative efforts and be ready to act to advocate for school counselors!!