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 CONTACT HOURS & OCSWMFT CEs:
The entire conference qualifies for education CEs, making it a valuable opportunity for school counselors seeking license renewal. OSCA also provides a select number of CEs through the OCSWMFT Board for licensed social workers and professional counselors. Look for sessions marked on the schedule to find those eligible for OCSWMFT CE credit.
For those who need an OCSWMFT CE Certificate, there will be a separate online sign-up available at the conference for you to request that certificate. All attendees will be provided access to a general certificate of attendance.
Wednesday, October 14
Pre‑Conference Workshops
Wednesday, October 14
10:00 AM
| Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 – Are You a Character Counselor or Just a Counselor? | Jim Place - Jim Place Services Carolyn Heller - Nagel Middle School | 6 Contact Hours | Madison (County Corridor) | |
| P2 – School Counselor Impact on Student Success: Changing Lives with the Science of Hope and the Power of Belonging | Brett Zyromski, PhD - The Ohio State University Melissa Lafayette - The Ohio State University | 3 Contact Hours | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
Pre‑Conference Workshops
Wednesday, October 14
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
| Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P3 – S.O.S. for School Mental Health: Strategies for Staff & Students in Crisis | Charle Peck - Thriving Educator | 3 Contact Hours (OCSWMFT) | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
| P4 – Creating Safe & Supportive Digital Spaces for Students | Kim Karr - Digital4Good | 3 Contact Hours | Fayette (County Corridor) | |
| P5 – The Why Behind the Behavior: Acquisition, Performance, and Trauma-Informed MTSS Solutions | Nicole McDonald - Centerville City Schools Katie Thornton - Centerville City Schools Justin Moorman - Centerville City Schools | 3 Contact Hours | Franklin D | |
Thursday, October 15
Welcome Breakfast Reception
Thursday, October 15
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | |
|---|---|
The Ohio School Counselor Association invites you to the 2026 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. | Regency Ballroom (3rd Floor) |
OSCA General Session & Awards
Thursday, October 15
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | |
|---|---|
The Ohio School Counselor Association invites you to the 2026 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! | Regency Ballroom (3rd Floor) |
Keynote Address
Thursday, October 15
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEYNOTE – Personal Climate and Culture… It’s Up to You | Gerry Brooks - Keynote Speaker | The focus on student achievement should always start with climate and culture. When a school has a positive climate and culture, student achievement goes hand in hand with those characteristics. Test scores do not change climate and culture. Climate and culture changes test scores. Gerry uses his videos to develop a strategy for making the workplace a pleasant place where faculty, administrators, and support staff all maintain mutual respect, regardless of personal differences, resulting in more efficient and fulfilled workers. Gerry will share policies that he has incorporated that promote a healthy respectful working relationship even when opinions differ. He will also share ideas that maximize opportunities to get to know staff members and create camaraderie, taking advantage of 15 seconds here and there throughout the day. Gerry will inspire educators with personal stories to remind them of the reason they endure the trials of working in education today. They will leave refreshed and encouraged. | 1.25 Contact Hours | Regency Ballroom (3rd Floor) |
Breakouts Block A
Thursday, October 15
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A10 – From Muffin Monday to Wellness Wednesday: Flipping Student Success Plans into Systems That Work | Delaney Carnes - Glass City Academy Jesse Baum - Glass City Academy | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin D | |
| A1 – Rooted in Relationships: Growing PBIS Success Through Restorative Practices | Jennifer Fitzer - Olentangy Local Schools Emily Russell - Olentangy Local Schools Kristi Litzenberg - Olentangy Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Fairfield (County Corridor) | |
| A2 – From Insight to Impact: Counselor-Led Approaches to College & Career Readiness SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Autum Barry - College Board Ester Hall - Indian Hill Local School District Miranda Szink - College Board | 1 Contact Hour | Union CD | |
| A3 – SUPERvision in School Counseling: How to Get Started and Support Your Supervisee | Shelby Gonzales, PhD - The Ohio State University Reina Wang - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Madison (County Corridor) | |
| A4 – Meeting Ohio House Bill 123 with Confidence: Practical Strategies and New Sandy Hook Promise Resources SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Dani Towns - Sandy Hook Promise | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin C | |
| A5 – Can’t Do or Won’t Do: Identifying Acquisition vs. Performance Issues Within the MTSS Process | Nicole McDonald - Centerville City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin A | |
| A6 – Pathways Through Graduation | Nick Klein - Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Travis Taylor - Ohio Department of Education and Workforce | 1 Contact Hour | Union AB | |
| A7 – Crash Course or Support Group: A School Counselor's Guide to Their First Year | Jessica Meyer - Reynoldsburg City Schools Michael Britten - Bedford City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Fayette (County Corridor) | |
| A8 – Elementary School Counselors: Better Together | Diana Arie - Olentangy Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
| A9 – Counseling in the Digital Age: SEL Strategies for Online Safety and Wellness | Kim Karr - Digital4Good | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin B | |
Lunch & Learn
Thursday, October 15
Noon – 1:00 PM
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch & Learn – OSCA Member Linkage Luncheon | Laura Hogue - Ohio School Counselor Association Shawn Grime - Ohio School Counselor Association | This special lunch session will provide OSCA members with an opportunity to engage with members of the Board of Directors to share their thoughts and ideas about the association and the profession. This time is intended to help guide the board to ensure the policies of the association are aligned with the needs of members and the current state of the profession. NOTE: Participation in this session is limited to the first 60 individuals who must hold active OSCA membership at the time of the conference. A complimentary lunch will be provided to all participants. | 1 Contact Hour | Union E |
Breakouts Block B
Thursday, October 15
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B10 – From Plans to Action: Aligning College & Career Follow-Through with School Counseling Frameworks SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Stephen Guillette - Level All | 1 Contact Hour | Union CD | |
| B1 – Interview‑Ready Seniors | Clarissa Bush - Knox County Career Center Melissa Nowicki - Knox County Career Center | 1 Contact Hour | Fayette (County Corridor) | |
| B2 – The Blueprint for Connection: Relational-Cultural Theory as Systemic Prevention | Michael Wadham - Oakwood City Schools | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Franklin D | |
| B3 – Beyond the Bill: Understanding Statehouse Action and Impact for School Counselors | Heather Fairs - South Western City Schools | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Fairfield (County Corridor) | |
| B4 – Game On: Interactively Exploring Ohio’s Postsecondary Campuses | John Strawn - Ohio Technology Consortium Betsy Kordes - Ohio Technology Consortium Luke Austin - Ohio Technology Consortium | 1 Contact Hour | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
| B5 – Emphasizing Multicultural Competencies in School Counselor Supervision | Jeremy "J.P." Oehrtman, PhD - Bowling Green State University | 1 Contact Hour | Madison (County Corridor) | |
| B6 – Planting Hope, Growing Voices: Empowering Multilingual Learners Through Counseling and SEL | Jolene Young - Huber Heights City Schools J. David Vásconez - Huber Heights City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin C | |
| B7 – Caught in the Middle: Ethical Decision-Making in Dual Enrollment | Jessica Fager - Hamilton County ESC Lorrie Bishop - University of Cincinnati | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin B | |
| B8 – Research-Based Strategies for Supporting Anxious Students SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Sara Cottrill-Carlo - The Responsive Counselor | 1 Contact Hour | Union AB | |
| B9 – From Freshmen to Future: A Comprehensive Approach to College and Career Readiness | Kait Tucker - Springboro Schools Corrina Centers - Springboro Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin A | |
Breakouts Block C
Thursday, October 15
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C10 – More Than a Game: Integrating Chess Into a Comprehensive School Counseling Program | Leah Brough - Metro Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Fayette (County Corridor) | |
| C1 – Survive & Thrive: Insights for New School Counselors | Robyn Walsh, PhD - Capital University Darin Billiter - Upper Arlington Public Schools Oliver Bellamy - Bexley Public Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Madison (County Corridor) | |
| C2 – Plant Some Hope for Me Too: Words and Research of Comfort for the Disgruntled, Angry, or Burned Out Counselor | Laura Swinsburg - Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin D | |
| C3 – Better Together: Aligning School Counselors and School-Based Mental Health Counselors for Student Success | Ben Shultz - Alexander Local School District Christine Bhat, PhD - Ohio University | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Union CD | |
| C4 – Ninth Grade Know-How: Tools That Make a Difference | Catherine "CJ" Conrad - Cloverleaf High School | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin C | |
| C5 – Power Tools: Helping School Counselors with FAFSA | Carlos Bing - Ohio Department of Higher Education Edward Hill - The Management Council of Ohio Education Computer Network (OECN) | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin B | |
| C6 – Growing Tier 1 Supports | Diana Arie - Olentangy Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Union AB | |
| C7 – Using Kindness to Transform School Culture SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Stuart Muszynski - Kindland (Values-in-Action Foundation) | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin A | |
| C8 – Doing the Work While Changing the System: School Counselors, 504 Plans, and Advocacy in Action | Jocelyn Mathis - Whitehall City Schools Mike James - Spring Point Counseling | 1 Contact Hour | Fairfield (County Corridor) | |
| C9 – We’ve Optimized for the Wrong Finish Line: A Better North Star for School Counseling SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Andy Bobowski - Backrs | 1 Contact Hour | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
Breakouts Block D
Thursday, October 15
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D10 – Fun with Tier 1: Engagement Strategies for Whole Group Instruction SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Marshall Nagy - QuaverEd | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin C | |
| D1 – Career Tech Counselors Connect | Melissa Nowicki - Knox County Career Center Clarissa Bush - Knox County Career Center | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin D | |
| D2 – Supporting Students Together: Navigating Disordered Eating & Body Image Concerns in School Settings | Valerie Ashby - The Emily Program Cailin Chumita - Youngstown State University Shannon O'Mara - Clinic for Individual & Family Counseling | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Franklin B | |
| D3 – Collaborative Prevention: Supporting Best Outcomes Through Diversified Programming | Benjamin Miller - Nationwide Children's Hospital John Ackerman, PhD - Nationwide Children's Hospital | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
| D4 – Youth Participatory Action Research: Changing Systems, Building Hope, and Finding Belonging | Ryan Max - Pickerington Local Schools Sarah Geiger - Pickerington Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Madison (County Corridor) | |
| D5 – Attendance Interventions: Increase Belonging & Increase Achievement | Rebecca School - Brecksville Broadview Heights Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Union CD | |
| D6 – A Creative High School Schedule with Results: Academics Meets Wellness & Intervention | Heidi Steyer - Port Clinton City Schools Gary Steyer - Port Clinton City Schools Kaitlin Sandrock - Port Clinton City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin A | |
| D7 – Gamification and Student Voice: Strengthening Student Support SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Jackson Klein - MEandMine | 1 Contact Hour | Fayette (County Corridor) | |
| D8 – K-12 Industry-Recognized Credential Update | Graham Wood - Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Connor Rigney - Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Anthony Battaglia - Ohio Department of Education & Workforce | 1 Contact Hour | Fairfield (County Corridor) | |
| D9 – Connecting the Dots: Trauma, Behavior, and Social Emotional Learning | Eleanna Vlahos-Hall - Warren City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Union AB | |
Breakouts Block E
Thursday, October 15
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E10 – Cultivating Careers: Enhance Your College, Career, and Resource Fair | Emelie Bensing - Columbus City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Fairfield (County Corridor) | |
| E1 – Stabilizing School Culture: A Systems Approach to Policy Alignment and Discipline Reform | Lisa Sims, PhD - Akron Public Schools Lt. Col. Laurie Arellano - US Air Force / Akron Public Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
| E2 – Transition Health Education from Weight Stigma to Wellbeing | Angel Sipp - Aster Springs | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Fayette (County Corridor) | |
| E3 – Permission to Feel: Redefining Emotional Safety for Black Boys | Mike James - Spring Point Counseling | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Franklin A | |
| E4 – TTRPG Is Bibliotherapy: How to Use Tabletop Role-Playing Games to Teach Social-Emotional Skills | Brent Krumdiack - Preble County ESC Success Academy | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin C | |
| E5 – Overview of Ohio Cares (Comprehensive Assessment for Risk Evaluation and Supports) Training Model | Nichole Miller - Ohio School Safety Center Dale Gooding - Ohio School Safety Center | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin D | |
| E6 – The Seeds of Awareness: Recognizing the Red Flags of Grooming and Meeting the New SB 322 Mandate | Jillian Cowell - Anthony Wayne Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin B | |
| E7 – Using AI to Strengthen Your School Counseling Program | Melissa Lafayette - The Ohio State University Jocelyn Thomas - Whitehall City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Union AB | |
| E8 – See Me, Hear Me — Cyberbullying: Raising Awareness of MRSS Through Original Play with Q&A Session | Dora Bayliss - American Legacy Theatre | 1 Contact Hour | Madison (County Corridor) | |
| E9 – A School Counselor-Led Small Group Intervention to Improve Emotional Regulation with Adolescents | Sarah Geiger - Pickerington Local Schools Ryan Max - Pickerington Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Union CD | |
Friday, October 16
Breakouts Block F
Friday, October 16
8:15 AM – 9:15 AM
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F10 – Supporting Students Through the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy | Lauren Shaffer - Dalton High School Luke Grau - Dalton High School | 1 Contact Hour | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
| F1 – Play Time: The Journey of Becoming a School-Based Registered Play Therapist | Angie Curlette - Cedar Cliff Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin C | |
| F2 – Building Self-Advocacy Skills with Foster Youth | Jenny Stotts - ODJFS | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Fayette (County Corridor) | |
| F3 – From Pushback to Partnership: Navigating Parent Relationships Effectively | Dusty Timmons - Redefined Counseling and Consulting / Kent State University | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Union CD | |
| F4 – Cultivating Futures: Counselors + ESC Making Students’ Career Dreams Take ‘Root’ | Christine Baker - Milton Union High School Chelsey Keller - Milton Union High School Kristi Voisard - Miami County ESC | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin D | |
| F5 – Meeting Ohio’s Suicide Prevention & Safety Mandates: A Continuum Model for Grades 6-8 | Jeff Williams - Upper Arlington Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin B | |
| F6 – Building Hope and Belonging: Practical Strategies That Improve Student Outcomes | Melissa Lafayette - The Ohio State University Brett Zyromski, PhD - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour | Fairfield (County Corridor) | |
| F7 – Strengthening Transition Planning: A Collaborative Approach for Students with IEPs & 504 Plans | Jocelyn Mathis - Whitehall City Schools Mike James - Spring Point Counseling Stephanie Wilcox - Whitehall City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Madison (County Corridor) | |
| F8 – Behavior, Behavior, Behavior: What Is My Role as the School Counselor? | Kathryn "Katie" Gastaldo - Lakeview Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Union AB | |
| F9 – Still in Your Corner: LGBTQ+ Advocacy in Ohio Schools — What's Possible and What's at Stake | Aaron Eechaute-Lopez - The Miami Valley School | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin A | |
Breakouts Block G
Friday, October 16
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G10 – The Broccoli & The Buffet: Balancing Brain Development and Classroom Expectations | Nick Rediger - Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin A | |
| G1 – More School Counselors, Stronger Programs: Practical Advocacy Strategies for the Profession | Sarah Hope - John Carroll University Lisa Sims, PhD - Akron Public Schools | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
| G2 – Adapting Counseling Interventions to a School Setting: Practical Strategies for Ohio School Counselors | Kristin MacCaughey - Worthington Christian School Cynthia Durbin - Worthington Christian School Janelle Dethloff - Worthington Christian School | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Union AB | |
| G3 – Planting Hope, Growing Resilience: Small Groups to Help Middle Schoolers Manage Stress and Build Resilience | Deidre Kilpatrick - Ashland City Schools Kalie Godsey - Ashland City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Union CD | |
| G4 – Setting Boundaries to Prevent Burnout | Christina Menosky - Fairfield Union Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Fairfield (County Corridor) | |
| G5 – Supporting High-Quality Mathematics Instruction Initiatives | Brian Bickley - Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Wendy Jones - Ohio Department of Education and Workforce | 1 Contact Hour | Fayette (County Corridor) | |
| G6 – Manufacturing a Successful Pre-Apprenticeship Graduation Pathway Through Community Partnerships | Jesse Baum - Glass City Academy Delaney Carnes - Glass City Academy | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin B | |
| G7 – Research-Based Strategies for Supporting Anxious Students (Repeat) SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Sara Cottrill-Carlo - The Responsive Counselor | 1 Contact Hour | Madison (County Corridor) | |
| G8 – Beyond the Office: Creative Counseling in Everyday Spaces Part II | Taylor Piatak - Hamilton Local Schools Caley Stevens - Hamilton Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin C | |
| G9 – Silent Pandemic: The Sex Trafficking of American Youth | Brandi Cosgrove - Wright State University Karla Highman - Walking Wise | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin D | |
Breakouts Block H
Friday, October 16
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H1 – BREATHE for Wellness While Supporting Others | Mike James - Spring Point Counseling Jocelyn Mathis - Whitehall City Schools | 1 Contact Hour (OCSWMFT) | Franklin A | |
| H2 – Every Student, Every Day: Using School-Based Health Care to Improve Attendance and Well-Being | Gabrielle Yeater - Mansfield City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin B | |
| H3 – Future Focus: Junior-Year College & Career Prep for Senior Success | Nancy Gillespie, PhD - Grove City Christian SWCSD Taylor Fitch - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour | Union AB | |
| H4 – Planting Seeds of Connection: Growing Futures Through a Formalized Check-In/Check-Out Program | Jennifer Hayhurst - Gahanna-Jefferson Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Union CD | |
| H5 – Calm on the Outside, Googling on the Inside: Real Talk for New School Counselors | Cara Sanders - Massillon City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin C | |
| H6 – Collaborating with Community Partners for College and Career Readiness P-12 | Diane Zimmer - Capella University | 1 Contact Hour | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
| H7 – Ready, Set, GROW: School-Based Self-Regulation Systems That Empower Student Independence | Nicole McDonald - Centerville City Schools Valerie Durkle - Centerville City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Fairfield (County Corridor) | |
| H8 – The Universal Language of Support: Counseling Strategies for Emergent Bilinguals | Stephanie Belschner - Hamilton City Schools Jessica Hendrickson - Hamilton City Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Madison (County Corridor) | |
| H9 – School Counseling for a Global Perspective | Debra Sanderman - Bellbrook High School | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin D | |
Breakouts Block I
Friday, October 16
Noon – 1:00 PM
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I1 – In My Online School Era: School Counseling at an Online Public School | Jessica Harrenton - Great River Connections Academy Olivia Lenfest - Great River Connections Academy | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin D | |
| I2 – Maximizing Every Minute: Designing Small and Large Group Sessions with Intentionality | Brenda Gerhardt, PhD - University of Dayton Ashley Overman - Montgomery County ESC | 1 Contact Hour | Union CD | |
| I3 – Building High-Impact PLCs for School Counselors | Melissa Lafayette - The Ohio State University | 1 Contact Hour | Morrow (County Corridor) | |
| I4 – Boys2Men(torship) | Rosie Williams - Lima Central Catholic Jessica Gronas - Lima Central Catholic Sue Janowski - Lima Central Catholic | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin C | |
| I5 – Lessons from Our Nordic Neighbors: Finland's Approach to Student Support and Well-Being | Elizabeth Ko - The Summit Country Day School | 1 Contact Hour | Fairfield (County Corridor) | |
| I6 – Rounding Up Resources for Student Interventions | Teresa Peter - Talawanda Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin B | |
| I7 – Plan It, Track It, Own It: Credentials, Seals & College Exploration | Chris Trisler - Hamilton Local Schools Taylor Piatak - Hamilton Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Union AB | |
| I8 – Yellow Flags and What to Do with Them: A Preventative Approach to School Safety | Brittany DeWitt - Greeneview Local Schools | 1 Contact Hour | Franklin A | |