Top 5 Reasons We Love Going to the ASCA Conference Every Year!
At Hatching Results, nothing is more important than supporting the school counseling profession.
With a team made primarily of former and current school counselors, attending the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Annual Conference is one of the highlights of our year. As Hatching Results COO Dr. Danielle Duarte described, it feels like a “school counselor summer camp!”
Hatching Results team member Danielle Duarte (left) with colleagues at the ASCA Conference photo booth
This year’s conference theme was “Fired Up”. From the elaborate campfire-themed exhibitor booths to the out-of-this-world Kansas City BBQ (not to mention the 100-degree weather), that was certainly the vibe throughout the weekend!
Keep reading to learn about the top reasons why we love going to the ASCA Conference every year!
1. Reconnecting with Colleagues and Partners
Hatching Results team members Danielle Duarte (TX), Mindy Willard (WI), and Amanda Miller (AZ) at the ASCA 2024 Opening Session
The 2024 ASCA National Conference brought together 4,700 school counseling professionals from across the country, providing an opportunity to reconnect with an incredible number of colleagues and partners.
As a remote company with employees nationwide, the ASCA Conference is one of the only times that some Hatching Results colleagues see each other in person throughout the year!
We also work with districts and counties across the country, so the ASCA Conference is an opportunity to see counselors and district leaders from our current and former partner districts.
Partners often stop by our exhibitor booth to say “hi” to our team, update us on the incredible work their district is doing, and take pictures at our photo booth station.
Clockwise from top left: Stockton Unified (CA), Charter Oak Unified (CA), Douglas County School District (CO), and several school counselors from Washington!
2. Celebrating School Counselors of the Year (SCOY)
Mindy Willard (2nd from left, 2013 National School Counselor of the Year) meets up with fellow National SCOYs
One of the most exciting parts of the ASCA Conference is celebrating the profession and its leaders!
Hatching Results has a rich history of team members and trainers receiving recognition for their impact as school counselors.
Lydia McNeiley and John Nwosu being recognized as 2024 State School Counselors of the Year
This year, we celebrated two Hatching Results trainers who were recognized as 2024 State School Counselors of the Year:
Lydia McNeiley: Indiana School Counselor of the Year
John Nwosu: Georgia School Counselor of the Year
Congratulations, Lydia and John!
3. Celebrating RAMP®-Designated Schools
Just as exciting as celebrating the School Counselors of the Year is celebrating the schools receiving the Recognized ASCA Model Program® (RAMP®) designation! This year, over 100 schools, including multiple schools from our current and past partner districts, were recognized at the 2024 RAMP® Awards Dinner.
Earle E. Williams Middle School (current partner district) receiving their RAMP award, accompanied by team member Amanda Miller
Earle E. Williams Middle School (current partner district) at the RAMP Awards Dinner with team member Amanda Miller
Tracy High School (current partner district) with team member Amanda Miller
Joy Vitrano (2nd from right) from Aviara Oaks Middle School (past partner district) receiving her RAMP award, accompanied by Danielle Duarte, Tanya Bulette, and Lezya Weglarz
4. Receiving Incredible Professional Development
With nearly 5,000 school counselors and leaders in one building, the collective expertise is unmatched. It’s no surprise that one of the highlights of the ASCA Conference is professional development!
With nearly 200 breakout sessions to choose from, one of the hardest decisions of the weekend is choosing which ones to attend.
Session topics ranged from the ASCA National Model® and program advocacy to using social media and AI in school counseling, ensuring that every attendee left the conference with new ideas and strategies they could incorporate in the upcoming school year.
Hatching Results team member John Nwosu presenting “Growing Healthy Black Men” at the 2024 ASCA Conference
Hatching Results team members Dr. Paul C. Harris (3rd from the right) and John Nwosu (2nd from the right) at a panel session titled “BIPOC School Counselors Call to Action”
Hatching Results team member Lezya Weglarz presenting “Help Students Discover Their Ikigai” at the 2024 ASCA Conference
During Lezya’s session, she presented strategies for school counselors to support students in discovering their ikigai, a Japanese word meaning “reason for being” or "life purpose”
5. Creating Memories That Last a Lifetime
If you’ve attended the ASCA Conference before, you know that the evening events are just as integral to the conference as the daytime sessions!
ASCA organizes unforgettable evening events, and the 2024 Opening Night Block Party at KC Live! was no exception. With five venues to choose from, there was truly something for everyone—whether you were in the mood to see a live band, sing along at a piano bar, or ride a mechanical bull!
Hatching Results teammates at an evening social
Several of our team members, part-time external trainers, and colleagues having fun at the evening events!
A rare chance to get together with several of our part-time external trainers all in the same room!
That’s a Wrap!
The ASCA 2024 Conference was another one for the books! What were your highlights from the conference?
We’re already counting down the days until the 2025 ASCA Conference, which will be held in Hatching Results’ home state of California! Will we see you in Long Beach next summer?
Hatching Results team members at our exhibitor booth
