Ohio School Counselors Association - http://www.ohioschoolcounselors.org

Note: OSCA membership dues have been raised to $50.00 effective January 1, 2010

IT’S ELECTION TIME! We are looking for District Directors for the even numbered districts and a President-Elect. District Directors must live or work in the district they would be representing and will serve a two-year term. District Directors can only serve two consecutive terms. Please be aware that a couple of odd-numbered districts will also need a new Director. President-Elect must have been an OSCA Board member for one year, and the term is three years (president elect, president, past president). Please help us with this important task! Nominate someone you know for office!

Ohio School Counselor Association Announces 2009 School Counselor Award Winners

OSCA is pleased to announce this year's school counselor award winners for 2009:

Tami Mazzella, Carolyn Moseman, Joan Jerome, Darren Drake, Victor Carman, Amy Miller and Judy Maver.

The award recipients represent a diverse and talented group of school counselors and friends/supporters of the school counseling profession. The award winners will receive professional recognition at this year's All-Ohio Counselors Conference Luncheon, scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2009 at noon in Columbus.

The Ohio School Counselor Association is pleased to announce the following individuals who were selected as outstanding school counselors in their respective region for the 2008-09 academic year. These counselors demonstrate the highest level of school counselor professionalism, strong ethical standards, and outstanding programming opportunities for their students. If you get the opportunity to congratulate these individuals, please do so.

OSCA would like to congratulate the follow individuals for being outstanding in their regions.

Ms. George Anne Baldridge, Anthony Wayne Junior High School, District #1

Ms. Suzanne Reinhart, Washington Elementary School, District #2

Ms. Joan Jerome, Parkside Intermediate School, District #3

Ms. Deborah Hinckley, St. Mary’s Memorial High School, District #5

Ms. Diane Abood, Garfield High School, District #7

Ms. Kathie Baxter, Freedom Elementary School, District #10

Mr. Darren Drake, Toll Gate Elementary School, District #12

Ms. Ruth Toopes, Pickerington Elementary School, District #12


	School Counselors in Ohio had a significant victory on Friday, July 17th. The Ohio General Assembly adopted the Governor's evidenced-based model of school funding/reform and the Governor signed the bill into law. The bill established a formula for school districts to follow; which included a school counselor to student ratio of 1 to 250 for grades 6 - 12 beginning in 2012. This is the first ratio for school counselors, since the early 1980's. In addition, counselors have been advocating for a definition of the role of a school counselor in the law, and this bill also provides a definition for school counselors. If you would like to see the actual copy of the bill, click on: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_1 (pg. 1065) Definition of a School Counselor (pg. 1088) 1:250 School Counselor to Student Ratio
The wording of these two sections of the bill can also be seen on this website, located at the top of the OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION page. Be sure to congratulate the work done by counselors across the state, in particular the work by the Ohio School Counselor Association and by the Towner Policy Group, as well as the counselors, students, and counselor educators who sent letters, met with their representatives, and traveled to Columbus to provide testimony. This is truly a significant accomplishment for counseling in Ohio! Announcement submitted by Jake J. Protivnak, Ph.D., Ohio Counseling Association - President

OSCA Network

The Ohio School Counselor Association is launching a new professional networking site known as the Ohio School Counselor Association Network. As a member or friend of OSCA, you have been invited to join this new site. OSCA membership is NOT required to join.

The OSCA Network will allow professionals in Ohio to connect and collaborate with others through various tools. You can post discussion questions and get feedback from others, share files that others may find useful or download files that will help you, and get updated on current happenings within OSCA. There is a discussion post already started for you to share your thoughts, impressions and suggestions about the Network. The site is still in development stages and we hope to have it fully up and running come August.

This site is similar to the ASCA Scene, and you may already be a member. If so, you will not have to create a new account. You can access both networks using your one account. Just click on the Switch Groupsites function in the top right and go to find groups to add the OSCA Network to your account.

Otherwise you will need to create a new account. When you click to become a member, you will choose your own username and password and will be asked to answer some questions and set up a profile. This site is intended for professional use only so you may bypass any information on the social profile.

Please feel free to start posting discussions, sharing files, and exploring the other functions of the site. Go to http://ohioschoolcounselor.groupsite.com to join!

Three Cincinnati High School Counselors Honored Three Cincinnati school counselors are the recipients of the first ever Greater Cincinnati School Counseling Recognition Awards. The award honors and affirms the vital role school counselors play in providing guidance to students as they complete high school and move on to future education or career opportunities.
	The recipients are: a. Maureen Ferrell - Walnut Hills High School b. Kevin Jones - Winton Woods High School c. Sandra Mosley - School for Creative and Performing Arts
The awards were presented to the recipients during three separate events earlier this summer. This annual award is sponsored by Career Quest, a division of IKRON, a corporation which helps young adults navigate their paths toward career success. The award was created in partnership with the school counseling departments at the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.

The Joyce Ivy Foundation

The Joyce Ivy Foundation has issued their findings report from a survey that was done during the past few months. School counselors' issues are addressed. Please take the time to read the report. The summary is here: JIF F.A.Q. and for the full report, click here: JIF REPORT.