Empowering Practice Through Evidence: Our Experience at EBSCC 2025
From left: Dr. Danielle Duarte, Melissa Lafayette, Lisa De Gregorio, Angie Ness, Dr. Julie Hartline, Ebony Payno, and Whitney Triplett at EBSCC 2025
Attending the Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference (EBSCC) is always a meaningful professional experience, and this year’s conference was no exception. Our team had the privilege of presenting tools, strategies, and research that are actively shaping the future of school counseling. Through our sessions and discussions, we aimed to spotlight the practical power of data-driven school counseling and showcase innovation happening across districts.
Sharing What Works: Our Presentations
Several of our staff members presented on tools and strategies designed to elevate and evaluate school counseling practices. Here are just a few highlights:
“Did it Work?!? A Tool for Evaluating Intervention Effectiveness”
By Whitney Triplett and Glenda Ortez-Galan (Counselor on Special Assignment, Sequoia Union HSD)
This session introduced a Hatching Results tool designed to help school counselors assess the effectiveness of their interventions. The tool, already piloted with success, empowers counselors to clearly determine whether their efforts are producing the desired student outcomes.
“Breaking Barriers: Using the Logic Model to Transform School Counseling Programs”
By Dr. Julie Hartline and Melissa Lafayette
This interactive session invited participants to explore the Context, Mechanism, and Outcome framework. Attendees engaged in group activities and used worksheets to identify and address implementation barriers in their own districts.
“Beyond Compliance: Utilizing the Implementation Fidelity Inventory for Effective School Counseling”
By Lisa De Gregorio and Dr. Danielle Duarte
We proudly presented this unique tool, co-developed by our team, which helps districts assess the fidelity of school counseling program implementation. With data from over 99 districts, this tool is already supporting impactful growth across the field.
“Incorporating Socially-Just Practices to Dissolve the Root”
By Ebony Payno and Angie Ness
This session urged school counselors to look beyond surface-level symptoms and examine deeper root causes of inequity. Attendees learned how to develop culturally responsive, tailored interventions rooted in student and community strengths.
“Planning for Impact: Checklist for a Comprehensive Program”
By Whitney Triplett
This new tool, developed in collaboration with Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington School Counselor Association, supports school counselors in planning data-informed, evidence-based programs for the school year.
“Reimagined Group Counseling: Utilizing the Principles of YPAR”
By Angie Ness and Dr. Christina Tillery (who supported but was not on site)
Another standout session introduced Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) principles, positioning students as experts and co-creators of small group interventions.
Moments That Mattered
Our team with John Nwosu, EBSCC 2025 Keynote Speaker (and part-time Hatching Results trainer)!
The conference offered much more than presentations—it created space for reflection, inspiration, and connection. One of the most powerful moments came during John Nwosu’s keynote, where his examination of inequitable educational systems challenged attendees to dig deeper into the "why" behind the work we do. Another highlight was Dr. Carey Dimmitt’s reminder to care for ourselves and each other, which created a moment of shared breath and healing among attendees.
Our team also reflected meaningfully during informal moments, such as lunch discussions about current challenges in education and how national policy changes are affecting schools. And of course, spending time together at an open-air dinner on the final night was a joyful way to connect and recharge.
As our team noted:
"I go to a lot of conferences, and one thing I notice that is different about EBSCC is that no one lingers in the hallways during sessions – everyone is actually IN a session because the content is just that good." -Whitney Triplett
"EBSCC is one of the premier conferences for school counseling. Its focus on evidence-based practices helps counselors use data to truly impact student success." -Dr. Julie Hartline
"Attending EBSCC is like a reunion of passionate professionals. You leave feeling recharged, inspired, and ready to put new ideas into action." -Lisa De Gregorio
"It’s a rare opportunity to learn directly from the researchers shaping our field—people whose work we use every day." -Angie Ness
"School counselors play a major role in shaping student success, but evidence-based practices ensure lasting impact.” -Ebony Payno
“EBSCC unites practicing school counselors, counselor educators, district leaders, and other school counseling experts in one space—where research meets practice and the outcomes can transform student success across the country.” -Dr. Danielle Duarte
Looking Ahead
EBSCC is going virtual in 2026! It will be highly accessible to school counseling practitioners and leaders across the nation. Mark your calendars now - registration opens Nov. 1.
We are proud to contribute to a profession that’s constantly evolving, and even prouder to be part of a community dedicated to what works in supporting students. EBSCC reminds us that evidence-based school counseling is grounded in research, driven by equity, and fueled by passion.
We’re already looking forward to next year!
