Awards

2006 PSCA Career Education and Development Award / Kenneth B. Hoyt Award (ASCA)
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PSCA HIGH SCHOOL CO-AWARDS

David Harris, high school principal; Dane Hildebrand, instrumental music teacher; Lisa Bowman, Senior High Project coordinator; Maureen Shay, School to Career Coordinator;
Jeff Geisel, Alternative Education teacher; Steve Kessler, guidance counselo; Monica Shirey, gifted education teacher/ biology teacher

The Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School services the suburban area of Upper Allen Township, Mechanicsburg and Shiremanstown boroughs. The enrollment of the High school is approximately 1175 students. In the 1998-1999 school year, the district implemented a full-time School to Career Coordinator position to facilitate specific career development activities at the high school. This was the first full-time career coordinator position in the Cumberland, Perry, and Dauphin county area. Additionally the high school has a full-time Senior High Project Coordinator on staff.

The high school has made a steady progression in advancing career development in the past 7 years. Work experiences such as Senior Internships and Health Care Careers Exploration have been added to the continuum of courses offered to students. Also, the Senior High Project has evolved by the addition of a career portfolio as a requirement of completion. Job seeking skills such as resume and cover letter writing, job applications, and Mock interviews are components of the Senior High Project for all students at the high school.

In the past 3 years, Project D.R.E.A.M.S.: Developing Relevant Educational experiences And Meaningful Skills, has emerged from an original pathway concept. It is now expanding to involve personalized career development activities. These activities fit into a framework that includes, but is not limited to the following: Discover (explore); Curriculum (explore & develop); Advisory model based on student interests and teacher skills and knowledge (explore & develop); Clusters (develop & pursue).

Pocono Mountain School District
Pocono Mountain East High School and West High School, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania 18370

Renee J. Garvey, Guidance Counselor, Pocono Mountain East High School Brian Cusatis, Guidance Counselor, Pocono Mountain West High School Deborah Murphy, Acting Director of Guidance Dr. Dwight Pfennig, Superintendent

From Left: Renee J. Garvey, School Counselor Pocono Mountain East High School, Deborah Murphy, Acting Director of Guidance PMSD, and Brian Cusatis, School Counselor Pocono Mountain West High School

Pocono Mountain is one of the fastest growing school districts in the State of Pennsylvania. We are considered rural by looking at a map, but we serve as a bedroom community to New York and New Jersey which means our population is more suburban / urban. Our student population consists of over 11,000 students - 37.4 % of which are minorities.

The district's motto is to prepare "all" students to for tomorrow's challenges and opportunities. For the past decade, a mandatory career education class has been required during the 11th grade physical education block. All juniors are given approximately 36 hours of career education instruction. The curriculum was developed with consideration of the National Career Development Guidelines and with input from alumni, business and industry representatives, college professors, students, parents, and school district personnel. Differentiated instruction is used to meet the personalized needs of students interested in four year college, technical school, military, the workforce and those who are undecided.

Utilizing a "Graduation Planning Packet," the students manage their career planning experience by documenting what they learn daily in class from guest speakers, presentations, field trips, job shadows, and class lectures. The course is divided into three key areas: learning about themselves, learning about what they want, and learning how to get there. Students take personality tests, research various careers and learn strategies for obtaining financial aid, resume preparation, interviewing techniques and many other ways to help them achieve their desired goals. Students also work in groups to learn about various careers, offer input on resumes and give constructive feedback on mock interviews. A computer lab offers the ability for students to complete a computer research packet which allows them to obtain details such as salary, requirements and types of jobs available in their field of interest. For a final presentation, each student is required to obtain a guest speaker for the class.

Students are given a 50 question pre-test the first day of class and a post test the last day of class to help measure student competencies. They also fill out a course evaluation upon completion of the course. Feedback from students has helped the program evolve over the past ten years. Student feedback has been tremendously positive.

The career education program provides students an opportunity for individual exploration and provides a myriad of choices and networking opportunities. We also have feedback that the program is highly valued by parents, employers, higher education, the military and the community as playing a vital role in helping students plan for their future and make educated career decisions.

2006 PSCA MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARD

Grade 8--Career Awareness Course Principal: Dr. Stephen Subers Teacher: Mrs. Holly Dunleavy Guidance Counselors: Jennifer Cipollone, Craig Riley, Linda Wigo

Paxon Hollow Middle School is part of the Marple Newtown School District, www.mnsd.org, in Delaware County. The suburban district is located approximately 10 miles southwest of Philadelphia. The K through 12 enrollment is 3,400 students with approximately 860 students in the middle school. For over five years, Paxon Hollow Middle School has offered a career development class called Career Awareness as part of the cycle rotation for 30 days. During the first semester, students meet for 14 days and return again during the second semester for 16 days, totaling 1,320 minutes of career development. Consequently, over 315 eighth grade students begin their school-to-career journey.

By using various resources and web sites, students explore and gain knowledge on many areas in the world of work. Topics covered are non-career planning, personal budgeting, career assessments, occupational choices, career research, goal setting, and job application. The major focus of the course is the occupational research process from assessment, occupation selection, research, creating a presentation (i.e. PowerPoint) and presenting their portfolio in class.

Paxon Hollow Middle School has made a difference by providing career development for all eighth graders. They have an opportunity to explore, discover and research occupations based on their abilities, interests, and skills. Students discover more about themselves and the possible career choices available to them. In addition, they have gained the knowledge to make better career decisions in a constantly changing 21st Century workforce.

PSCA NOMINEE FOR The 2006 ASCA Kenneth B. Hoyt Award and WINNER OF the 2005 PSCA Career Development PSCA MULTI-LEVEL PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Penn Manor School District Twilight School, In Partnership With Millersville University, Millersville, Pennsylvania

Philip Gale, Associate Principal, Penn Manor High School Don Krow, Twilight School Coordinator, Penn Manor High School Dr. Beckie Meyer, Supervisor, Millersville University Melissa Ostrowski, School Counselor, Penn Manor

PSCA HIGH SCHOOL AWARD

Blue Ridge High School, New Milford, PA
Christina M. Whitney, Career Services Counselor

Blue Ridge High School is a public located in rural Susquehanna County. Located in Northeastern PA, Blue Ridge educates approximately 400 students in grades 9 - 12. Our largest industries are Bluestone Quarrying, Timbering, and Farming. In the 2003-04 school year, Blue Ridge High School successfully introduced a career services position to the Guidance Office. Though postsecondary plans had always been included in each student's counseling plan, the School Board and Principal saw an opportunity to enhance the process and carry out new initiatives.

During a 2-day per week assignment in the latter 10 weeks of the school year, the new Guidance Team was able to increase one-on-one meeting time with each student and as a result, accomplish many things. From utilizing comprehensive checklists based on the student's individual goal (i.e. higher education, military, or career) to job shadowing / mentoring experiences, the Team was afforded the most precious gift - time. There was time to follow-up with students. There was time to search for new scholarship opportunities. There was time to contact parents with information and to answer questions. There was time to organize career days and college visit days for students. There was time to do all of these things and more.

After the Blue Ridge Board of Education reviewed the details of what the Team was able to accomplish in such a short period of time, the very insightful decision was made to take the position from part-time to full-time. In doing so, the Guidance Team was given the latitude needed to initiate several programs and activities aimed at improving the postsecondary plans of our students. Some of the activities are: Individual meetings with students, Classroom presentations, Information Sessions for parents (The College Process, Being A Student Athlete, The New SAT, Financial Aid), Revamp college visit process to increase attendance, Assembly for seniors - "What Should I Be Doing?", Special Guest Speakers, Facilitate Community Partnerships, College visits, Correspondences to parents to inform & support, Worked with faculty in Keys to Careers classes, Continual contact with Transition students utilizing Choices/Bridges lesson plans, Participation in Transition updates with Team, Start-up of job shadowing experience for high school, Provide faculty with career lessons within specific disciplines.

Since the decision by our Board, the Guidance Team has also developed a Comprehensive Career Development Program that would serve K-12. We have also started a redesign of the Graduation Project, using the Choices/Bridges software that will culminate in an electronic or hard copy portfolio for each senior to take with them after graduation. Our focus is exploration, education, and preparation. Our goal is to announce at every graduation ceremony, "100% of the Senior Class has been given the tools necessary to be successful on any path they choose." We are well on the path of achieving our goal.

PSCA MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARD

Robert K. Shafer Middle School, Bensalem, PA
Gerda Freeeman, School Counsleor
Wayne Goodrow, School Counselor

William Incollingo, Acting Principal Gerda Freeman, School Counselor Wayne Goodrow, School Counselor/ Student Advisor Charlotte Kresge, Assistant Superintendent Victoria Gehrt, Superintendent Ann Klibert, Director of Pupil Personnel/Public Relations

Bensalem Township School District is located in southeastern Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. The Bensalem Township School District covers approximately 21 square miles and has a school enrollment of about 6,800 students. Our school system is comprised of six elementary schools for grades K-6, three middle schools, grades 7-8, and our high school, grades 9-12. The Robert K. Shafer Middle School has an enrollment of 406 students; this is less than usual because this year we reorganized and relocated the sixth graders to our elementary schools. We anticipate an enrollment of about 600 for next year.

Over the last two years, the administration and school board have committed resources and support to help us develop a program that builds self-understanding and career awareness and provides each eighth grade student at Shafer with an individual career plan. The short term effect is that our students are better equipped to make decisions for ninth grade high school course selection and technical school selection. And for the long term, the program starts the students thinking about their career paths and the steps needed along the way to meet their goals.

The careers program at Shafer is a pilot program for the district. Utilizing computers donated by the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, counselors Gerda Freeman and Wayne Goodrow, as well as district personnel, configured a computer lab, formatted hard drives, and networked the computers. The career lab is staffed by the counselors and their counseling interns. Students are scheduled into the lab initially once a week for six weeks, and then they can schedule sessions at their convenience.

Curriculum was developed based on the proposed Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Career Education and Work. The online parts of the lessons feature district purchased rights to Discover software as well as the free web site www.educationplanner.org, which is a collaboration of American Education Services and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. The free hands on materials offered by AES/PHEAA are informative and interesting as well. Counselor developed materials include budget lessons and career decision making activities.

In addition to our eighth grade program, all Shafer students are encouraged to participate in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, this year on April 28, 2005. Students who participate are asked to answer a number of work-related questions in order to stimulate their interest in future careers. We work hard at presenting a high-interest/high-impact program. The program is extremely successful and our students give us excellent feedback.

The mission of the Bensalem Township School District is to educate all students to be productive members of a diverse society by maximizing individual potential, promoting respect for self and others, implementing world class standards for graduation and promoting lifelong learning.

PSCA MULTI LEVEL AWARD

Penn Manor School District Twilight School, in Partnership with Millersville University, Millersville, PA

Philip Gale, Penn Manor High School Administrator
Melissa Ostrowski, Penn Manor School Counselor
Don Krow, Twilight School Coordinator
Dr. Beckie Meyer, Millersville University Supervisor

The rationale for establishing a partnership between a university and an alternative school within a public school district reflects distinct advantages. As one considers the needs of those students who reside in regions where it seems difficult to cross the "digital divide", it would appear that access and equity might be important factors in life career planning. Secondly, attention to the advantages of experiential and constructivist classrooms for graduate students enrolled in school counseling programs is essential to those who will need to apply theory to practice as they become professionals in public schools. Experience in this vital competency can be introduced early in the graduate program.

The proximity of the Penn Manor High School to the Millersville University campus requires only a 5 minute walk to a wonderful "living laboratory" in which students from both schools interact. Graduate students in two required courses (Career Development and Group Procedures) in the Millersville University School Counseling Program practice implementing lessons designed around student competencies from the ASCA National Model which are directed toward students in an alternative education placement whose experience with career education is limited. It has been apparent that the Career domain does not stand alone when considering career education for adolescents. Therefore the Academic and Personal/Social domains must also be addressed if one understands a life career development model.

The Twilight School population includes students who live in the Penn Manor School District as well as those who are adjudicated and away from home in a residential placement facility within the school district. Each student has individual instruction with a graduate student on the computer using the Bridges software program as well as appropriate tasks with internet search engines. Assessments include knowledge of personal skills, interests, values and work styles. Examination of local Career-Tech Center opportunities, online and via field trip, as well as future planning using categories of post-secondary options, allows students to add to growing career maturity. Acknowledging and learning about support systems needed when returning from alternative school to "day school" provide strategies for success when re-entry occurs. The process of interviewing is addressed, looking at legal and illegal questions, preparation for the interview, dress, and other factors. A culminating event gives students the opportunity to visit Millersville University's videotape clinic to practice their skills and review the tapes with a graduate student.

The partnership between Millersville University and Penn Manor School District is approximately 4 years old. Since students enter and exit the Twilight School at various times depending upon need and documented progress, graduate students are learning the value of flexibility in planning for a somewhat transient population. Although leaving the alternative school to enter the regular mainstream school experience is always cause for celebration, it is challenging to end those relationships and move on to the new students arriving at Twilight School. This experience has helped adolescents build trust with young adult grad students who don't "know their history" and accept them unconditionally. In return, Millersville University gains an opportunity for students to apply theory to practice experientially, to change, revise, and return with an even better plan, most of which can not be done in a college classroom.

2005 SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Outstanding Partnership and Support of the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association and Extraordinary Service to Counselors, Families and Students

PHEAA: Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Richard E. Willey, President and CEO
Vee Blaine, Director of Regional Offices

"The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency has grown from a small student loan guarantor in 1964 with a guaranty volume of only 4,600 student loans to one of the largest, full-service financial aid organizations in the nation. Today, PHEAA manages more than $56.5 billion in total assets and serves millions of students and thousands of schools nationally through its state grant, guaranty, servicing, and financial aid processing systems. Since 1964, PHEAA has devoted its energy, resources, and imagination to creating affordable access to higher education for students and their families. The Agency continues to take a leadership role in developing innovative ways to ease the financial burdens of students and borrowers, while streamlining delivery systems for schools and lenders. One example of PHEAA's commitment to students is its longstanding Zero Guaranty Fee Policy, which saves students across the nation more than $20 million each year. Beyond the disbursement of funds, PHEAA remains committed to eliminating financial risk for customers and ensuring that affordable funds remain readily accessible to all students. Extensive and highly successful default prevention initiatives have furthered this effort and have yielded the Agency the lowest default rate (1.62 percent) among all major guarantors. Over the years, PHEAA has also established a reputation as a pioneer of new technology, as a result of their continuous efforts to increase efficiency and accuracy. The Agency saves schools more than $24 million in administrative costs through its advanced financial aid delivery products and services. PHEAA has also been a long-time supporter of school counselors. Independently and through initiatives such as the PHEAA / PSCA Partnership and other collaborative efforts including the Early Access Advisory Committee whose members include school counselors from throughout the Commonwealth, PHEAA (www.PHEAA.org) has developed a myriad of programs and educational materials to assist K-12 counselors, students, and their families. This valuable information, free to counselors, teachers, and the public includes: Career Clusters Wheel, Challenge Your Future Middle School CD-ROM, Portfolio Planner, Going Places Activity Brochure, and much, much more. The Education Planner Website is a student's one-stop career and planning site containing the information needed for students to research careers, choose post-secondary schools, apply on line, and discover ways to finance education. Information for parents is featured in the Going Places Newsletter and in publications such as Guide Your Child to Success and First Generation among others. "While these examples highlight just a few achievements, they all reflect how PHEAA has evolved during the past 35 years to become responsive to customer's needs, expanding and enhancing their programs and services. With the same innovative spirit, PHEAA will continue to build and grow, remaining a trusted partner and visionary force in the financial industry."