Lunch and Learn Sessions

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 11:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

221 Collaboration between School Counselors and SAP-Dr. Jim Bergin, President of the Georgia School Counselors Association, and Dr. Cindy Murphy, Counselor, Oconee County Schools and President of SAPA of Georgia  Come and join a discussion of how school counselors and SAP professionals can collaborate to benefit students. We will discuss how SAP programs can be implemented as part of a school counseling program using the ASCA model as its foundation.

222 Using “Colors” (Directionality) to Enhance Your SAP Program – Dr. Joyce Chandler, Executive Director of SAPA of Georgia The Directionality “colors” inventory can be used to enhance the climate of your school, reduce barriers to learning, and enhance your personal life. Participants will have an opportunity to take the inventory, learn how to process it, and then learn the many ways it can be easily used. Directionality  is a valuable tool  in parent education, staff development to enhance teaming,   communication and a better understanding of learning styles and multiple intelligences; career education; classroom guidance; and in the training of peer mediators and peer helpers.   

223 Social Skills-A Blueprint for Success – Susan McCarthy, Counselor and Consultant Learn how one metro Atlanta middle school used social skills training to reduce school office discipline referrals. Through a systematic approach, which combined character education and violence prevention skills, discipline referrals were decreased.  The presentation will review the history and development of the program, lesson plan topics, data collection on discipline referrals and students’ and teachers’ perceptions. Sample lesson plans will be provided in handouts. 

224 Classroom Meetings – Susie Brookshire, Prevention Specialist, Forsyth County School System  Conducting effective classroom meetings can teach students concepts and skills that are critical to their future and to the future of our nation.  Research has shown that elementary students who participated in classroom meetings had a reduced number of disciplinary visits to the office and increased problem solving skills.  Classroom meetings can simultaneously and directly discourage bullying behaviors and teach prosocial skills while fostering a sense of belonging and changing the climate of the school. This workshop will provide practical tools to help you start classroom meetings; examples will be provided.

225 Graduation Coaches and School Counselors Teaming Together for Student Success – Dr. Terescah Lemon, Systemwide Head Counselor, DeKalb County School System, and Stacy Benton, Student Assistance Coordinator, Hall County Schools Join counselors and graduation coaches as all learn how to better network together in order to support successful transition strategies from elementary to middle school and from middle school to high school. Please be prepared to share about your comprehensive prevention and early intervention programs for at-risk students.

226 Youth Leadership and Action – Developing and Implementing Youth-Adult Training and Community Mobilization Programs-Jessica Andrews and Mary-Kate Murray, GUIDE, Inc. Youth Leadership and Action is a youth empowerment and substance abuse prevention initiative that trains, supports and encourages Youth Action Teams to become active change agents in their communities.  This workshop will provide a program overview and will offer participants an opportunity to discuss avenues in their community through which youth-adult trainings, community mobilization, and youth empowerment programs could be developed.