Browse the sessions agenda by date/time.
Tap/click one of the tabs below to peruse the list of sessions available during that specific time of day.
CE HOURS:
Note that the entire conference is eligible for education CEs for school counselor license renewal. In addition, OSCA has a pending application to obtain provider status to also offer a limited amount of CEs through the OCSWMFT Board for attendees who are licensed social workers and professional counselors. Sessions pending OCSWMFT CE approval will be designated on the schedule accordingly.
Wednesday, October 15
Pre‑Conference Workshops
Wednesday, October 15
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
| Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 – 504 (but probably less) Ways to Enact and Navigate Section 504 in Your District | Erich R. Merkle, PhD, EdS, NCSP - Akron Public Schools | 3 Contact Hours (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| P2 – Practical Strategies for Managing Dysregulation in Students | Ashley Osinski - Ashley O Parent Coach, LLC | 3 Contact Hours | |
Pre‑Conference Workshops
Wednesday, October 15
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
| Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| P3 – School Counselor Legal Literacy and Ethical Practice | Carolyn Stone, PhD - University of North Florida | 3-E Contact Hours (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| P4 – Navigating the Road to LGBTQ+ Student Support | Richelle Frabotta, MSEd, CSE, CSES - Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County | 3 Contact Hours | |
| P5 – Smaller Districts CAN Create Mental Wellness Schools without Big District Resources | Amanda Deeter, LPCC - Montgomery County ESC Colleen Green - Montgomery County ESC Teresa Patterson - Montgomery County ESC | 3 Contact Hours (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
Thursday, October 16
Welcome Breakfast Reception
Thursday, October 16
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 |
|---|
The Ohio School Counselor Association invites you to the 2025 OSCA Welcome Breakfast Reception. Join us for a delicious breakfast, provided by OSCA, and seize the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees from all over Ohio. |
OSCA General Session & Awards
Thursday, October 16
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 |
|---|
The Ohio School Counselor Association invites you to the 2025 OSCA Awards Presentation. This is an opportunity to stand together in recognizing and celebrating your peers and colleagues for their significant achievements and contributions to the school counseling profession. Join us in acknowledging their hard work, dedication, and professionalism! |
Keynote Address
Thursday, October 16
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| KEYNOTE – School Counselors as Defendants in Court Cases | Carolyn Stone, PhD - University of North Florida | Legal implications for school counselors will be discussed in 10 primary court rulings that guide the legal work of counselors in schools. Highlighted areas include but not limited to sexually active students, bullying, academic advising, child abuse, educational records, sexual harassment, first amendment rights, and transgender youth. The goal is to facilitate participants’ legal literacy and provide guiding principles to support best ethical practice. Topics to be discussed through the lens of school counselors as defendants in negligence cases are child abuse reporting, student suicide ideation, academic advising, FERPA, PPRA, verbal and written communication, and others. | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) |
Breakouts Block A
Thursday, October 16
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 – School Counseling: What You Need to Know to Have a Successful Program | Grant Toepfer-Gaver - Springfield Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| A2 – Future-Ready Juniors | CJ Conrad - Cloverleaf High School | 1 Contact Hour | |
| A3 – Re-Entry and Re-Integration After Crises: Promoting Student Mental Health and Safety | Darcy Haag Granello - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| A4 – Effective Attendance Improvement Interventions for Chronically Absent Elementary School Students | Rebecca School - Glendale Primary / Bedford City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| A5 – Partners In Collaboration: School Counselors & SROs Working Together to Support Student Needs | Emily Stamm-Kolb - Port Clinton City Schools Curt Cochran - Port Clinton City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| A6 – But, That's My Job: Navigating the Outsourcing of LPSC's Skill Sets and Expertise | Laura Swinsburg - Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| A7 – Using Props to Engage the Lesson | Christina Menosky - Fairfield Union LSD | 1 Contact Hour | |
| A8 – School Counselors, Essential Elements in Comprehensive School Safety | Nichole Miller - Ohio School Safety Center | 1 Contact Hour | |
| A9 – School Counseling Supervision: Best Practices and Ethical Considerations | Jeremy Oehrtman - Bowling Green State University | 1 Contact Hour | |
Lunch (on your own)
Thursday, October 16
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 |
|---|
On your own, not provided by OSCA |
Breakouts Block B
Thursday, October 16
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 – Creating Opportunities for Student Leadership | Morgan Eilerman - Williamsburg Local Schools Amanda Ervin - Williamsburg HS | 1 Contact Hour | |
| B2 – Career Tech Counselors Connect | Melissa Nowicki - Knox County Career Center Clarissa Bush - Clarissa Bush, Knox County Career Center | 1 Contact Hour | |
| B3 – Yellow Flags and What to Do with Them: A Preventative Approach to School Safety | Brittany DeWitt - Greeneview Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| B4 – Creating Grief Informed Schools | Kailey Bradley - Refuge Counseling, LLC Nancy Baur - Hopewell Health Centers | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| B5 – Postsecondary Planning with Students: How to Plan for Your Students’ BigFuture | Kelly Simmons - Streetsboro High School Maureen LaRaviere - College Board | 1 Contact Hour | |
| B6 – The New Baseline: Tier 1 Supports in a Changing World | Emily Hough - Olentangy LSD - Johnnycake Corners Elem. Jen Fitzer - Olentangy Schools Jaimie Perry - Olentangy Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| B7 – Captivating Classroom Lessons | Melissa Lafayette - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| B8 – Supporting Military-Connected Students: A Guide for School Counselors | Andrea Edmonds - United States Air Force | 1 Contact Hour | |
| B9 – Pathways through Graduation | Travis Taylor - Ohio Department of Education and Workforce | 1 Contact Hour | |
| OSCA Member Listening Session | OSCA Board of Directors | 1 Contact Hour | |
Breakouts Block C
Thursday, October 16
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 – Counseling Gen Z from a Gen Z School Counselor | KatiLynn Condes - R G Drage CTC | 1 Contact Hour | |
| C2 – Full STEAM Ahead: Hands-On Lessons for Classrooms & Counseling Groups | Marie Weller - Retired School Counselor Paula Vertikoff - Newark City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| C3 – School Counseling Advocacy 101 | Robyn Walsh - Capital University Cristina Foster - Ohio Virtual Academy Rebecca School - Glendale Primary / Bedford City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| C4 – Strengthening Crisis Response: Building Systems of Support | Ashley Mariano - ESC of Eastern Ohio | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| C5 – Meeting ODE’s Career Mandates Without the Mayhem: A Proven Model for School Counselors | Vicki Weisbrod - Bishop Fenwick High School Lisa Marker-Robbins - Flourish Coaching | 1 Contact Hour | |
| C6 – Beyond the Backpack: Meaningful Family Engagement in Schools | Melissa Wengerd - Wooster City Schools Kaley Egli - Wooster City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| C7 – College Credit Plus in Action: Examining the Vital Role of School Counselors in Expanding Early College Opportunities | Rebecca Stewart - Ohio Department of Higher Education Tyrone Spencer - Ohio Department of Higher Education | 1 Contact Hour | |
| C8 – National School Counseling Week: Moving in a New Direction to Advocate for Our Profession | Amy Weinrich - Blendon Middle School Marcia Childs - Blendon Middle School | 1 Contact Hour | |
| C9 – Chaos to Clarity: Tools to Save Time & Sanity for Counselors | Corrina Centers - Springboro High School | 1 Contact Hour | |
| OSCA Member Listening Session | OSCA Board of Directors | 1 Contact Hour | |
Breakouts Block D
Thursday, October 16
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 – The Club No One Asked to Join: School-Based Grief Interventions | Grace Whistle - OhioHealth Sarah See - OhioHealth | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| D2 – Virtual Horizons: Empowering Students in Ohio with VR | John Strawn - Ohio Technology Consortium Betsy Kordes - Ohio Technology Consortium Luke Austin - Ohio Technology Consortium | 1 Contact Hour | |
| D3 – Tending Students’ Mind, Body & Soul: The Interwoven Benefits of Knitting, Gardening, and Mindfulness | Julie Taylor - Oregon City Schools Hannah Jaqua - Bowling Green State University Marlise Lonn - Bowling Green State University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| D4 – Creating a Hands-on Career Exploration Simulation to Build Awareness for Elementary School Students | Rebecca Smith - Lakota Local School District | 1 Contact Hour | |
| D5 – Exploring the Path: Pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision | Sarah Hope - John Carroll University Alana Stanbery-Sigg - Walden University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| D6 – Bills, Bills, Bills: Not Yours, But Those of the Statehouse | Heather Fairs - Central Crossing High School | 1 Contact Hour | |
| D7 – Effective SEL Lessons for Middle and High School Students | Jessica Meyer - Reynoldsburg City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| D8 – Beyond the Office: Creative Counseling in Everyday Spaces | Taylor Piatak - Hamilton Township High School Caley Stevens - Hamilton Township High School | 1 Contact Hour | |
| D9 – Youth Gambling: Risks, Consequences, and Prevention Strategies | Abdullah Mahmood - Maryhaven, Inc. Janet Thode - Maryhaven, Inc | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| OSCA Member Listening Session | OSCA Board of Directors | 1 Contact Hour | |
Breakouts Block E
Thursday, October 16
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 – Empowering School Counselors to Implement Best Practices in Suicide Prevention Programming | Rachel Jones - Nationwide Children's Hospital Shannon Gregory - Nationwide Children's Hospital | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| E2 – How Kindness Can Change Your School, Decrease Bullying and Improve Mental Health | Stuart Muszynski - Values-in-Action Foundation Susan Muszynski, PhD - Values-in-Action Foundation Thea Sako - Copley-Fairlawn Middle School | 1 Contact Hour | |
| E3 – Forging Partnerships: Helping Students Experiencing Homelessness Transition to College | Danielle Rains - Project Connect Elizabeth Shipman Laurenson - Project Connect | 1 Contact Hour | |
| E4 – How to Coach Gen Z to Be "Hirable" | Bethany Yeend - Montgomery Catholic School | 1 Contact Hour | |
| E5 – Educator to Advocate: Using Shared Skills To Navigate Your Way From Classroom to Counselor's Office | Aaron Eechaute-Lopez - The Miami Valley School Ashley Gloor - Xenia Community Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| E6 – Exploring Typologies of Student-Teacher Relationships, School Belonging, and Safety in U.S. Schools | Zhi Jie Lee - The Ohio State University Juan Chavez, PhD - The Ohio State University Hanghang Li - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| E7 – Unleashing Success: The Power of Therapy Dogs in Schools | Samantha Muniz - United Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| E8 – Leveraging Community Connections in Small Districts to Provide Relevant Elementary Career Education | Natalie Storie - Brookville Elementary School Jamie Neely - Brookville Intermediate School | 1 Contact Hour | |
| E9 – A Unique Position: Prescribed Roles Versus Reality of Practice for Urban School Counselors | Angela Clarke - Columbus City Schools Melissa Lafayette - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| OSCA Member Listening Session | OSCA Board of Directors | 1 Contact Hour | |
Friday, October 17
Breakouts Block F
Friday, October 17
8:15 AM – 9:15 AM
| Friday, October 17, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 – Elementary School Career Awareness and Exploration | Rebecca School - Glendale Primary / Bedford City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| F2 – Survive and Thrive: Insights for New School Counselors | Robyn Walsh - Capital University Lisa Pontius - Canal Winchester Local Schools Darin Billiter - Upper Arlington Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| F3 – Self-Regulation: What It Takes to Be Successful in School & Life | William DeMeo - Specialty Psychological Services | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| F4 – Industry-Recognized Credentials 101 | Connor Rigney - Ohio Department of Education & Workforce | 1 Contact Hour | |
| F5 – Beyond The Game: Research-Based Strategies to Better Support Student-Athletes | Dara Perry - Akron Public Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| F6 – Increasing Sense of Belonging for Your Staff & How to Address Toxic Culture | Nick Rediger - Lincoln Elementary - Gahanna-Jefferson | 1 Contact Hour | |
| F7 – Purposeful Data: Demonstrating Your Impact as a School Counselor | Diana Arie - Olentangy Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| F8 – Bridging High School and College: How Modern States Unlocks Free Credit | Michelle Riffe - Gallia County Local Shaun Yoder - SYC Strategies & Modern States | 1 Contact Hour | |
| F9 – Erika’s Lighthouse: A HB 123/SAVE Students Act Approved, Suicide & Violence Prevention Program | Derick Elkin - Erika's Lighthouse | 1 Contact Hour | |
Breakouts Block G
Friday, October 17
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
| Friday, October 17, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| G1 – Making Community Connections: Finding Your Local Resources | Clarissa Bush - Clarissa Bush, Knox County Career Center Melissa Nowicki - Knox County Career Center | 1 Contact Hour | |
| G2 – Developing and Implementing a Comprehensive School-Based Suicide Prevention Program | Darcy Haag Granello - The Ohio State University Paul Granello - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT CEs Pending) | |
| G3 – Helping School Counselors Help Students with the FAFSA | Edward Hill - The Management Council Carlos Bing - Ohio Department of Higher Education | 1 Contact Hour | |
| G4 – Utilizing Business Advisory Councils to Help Students Achieve Success Beyond High School | Michelle Washington - Ohio Department of Education & Workforce | 1 Contact Hour | |
| G5 – Level Up Your AI Craft: Smart Prompting & App Smashing | Karen Stepic - Akron Public Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| G6 – Bridges to Belonging: Connecting Families, Schools, and Communities for Lasting Impact | Jacie Womack - Montgomery County ESC | 1 Contact Hour | |
| G7 – 1040 Unity: Helping Refugees Feel Welcome | Lisa Sims - Akron Public Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| G8 – Building a Unified Approach: Integrating SEL into a District-Wide Framework | Stephanie Hammond - Akron Public Schools Nicole Hassan - Akron Public Schools Taylor Hair - Akron Public Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| G9 – Brain Games to Career Gains: Exploring YouScience | Sarah Becker - Ottawa-Glandorf High School Lindsey Brinkman - Ottawa-Glandorf High School | 1 Contact Hour | |
Breakouts Block H
Friday, October 17
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
| Friday, October 17, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| H1 – Incorporating a Therapy Animal into your School Counseling Office | Kami Blakeman - Central Trail Elementary Samantha Burkholder - Sylvania Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| H2 – Social Justice Counseling in Action: Turning Advocacy into Practice | Jocelyn Thomas - Whitehall Yearling High School Melissa Lafayette - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| H3 – Empowering Student Voices: A Peer Leader Panel on Creating Change through Sources of Strength | Scott Koebel - Newark City Schools Erin Horn - Sources of Strength | 1 Contact Hour | |
| H4 – Enhancing and Updating Your District's Crisis Response Plan | Cara Sanders - Massillon Junior High School | 1 Contact Hour | |
| H5 – Create Hope and Build Resilience through Career Intervention with Middle School Students | Mei Tang - University of Cincinnati Drew Mitchell - Loveland City Schools Machen Champion - University of Cincinnati Aneesa Bhimani-Trimble - Warren County Educational Service Center | 1 Contact Hour | |
| H6 – Ethics in Action: Preventing Negligence in School Counseling | Sarah Hope - John Carroll University Mariam Hammoud - John Carroll University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| H7 – DEW Career Exploration & Planning: Setting the Stage for Ohio’s Future | Kayla Mack - Ohio Department of Education & Workforce | 1 Contact Hour | |
| H8 – Cultivating Success: Strategies to Support Counselors & Drive Student Engagement | Lacey Caviness - PowerSchool | 1 Contact Hour | |
| H9 – Creating S.P.A.C.E.: Group Counseling Lessons from Black Girls to Support Student Growth and Change | Heather Hill - Evergreen Educational Consulting & Coaching | 1 Contact Hour | |
Breakouts Block I
Friday, October 17
Noon – 1:00 PM
| Friday, October 17, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| I1 – Implementing an Evidence-Based Crisis Response | Meagan Neumann - Wadsworth City Schools Carolyn Colbow - Highland Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| I2 – Change CAN be Good: Creative & Inexpensive Large Group Guidance Lesson Objects and Materials to Promote Deeper Levels of Learning | Laura Swinsburg - Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |
| I3 – Application Bootcamp: Empowering High School Seniors for College Application Success | Donita Jackson - Indian Hill High School Ester Hall - Indian Hill High School Dayton Ward - Xavier University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| I4 – Ignite Early Ambitions | Jolene Young - Rushmore Elem. - Huber Heights | 1 Contact Hour | |
| I5 – Counseling with Compassion: Practical Approaches for Supporting Students with Severe Behaviors | Dusty Timmons - Kent State University Kate Hill - Kent State University Jessica Meadows - Kent State University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| I6 – Rethinking ADHD: Understanding the Brain Behind the Behavior | Alaina Schrader - West Virginia University | 1 Contact Hour | |
| I7 – Good Grieving: A Guide to Small Group Grief Counseling for Children | Lori Morgan - Green Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | |