One-of-a-kind national conference designed specifically for school counseling leaders
NSCLC 2027
February 2–4, 2027
Sheraton Resort
San Diego, CA
The National School Counseling Leadership Conference addresses a critical gap in professional development for administrators and leaders who support school counseling programs at the school, district, and state levels.
A one-of-a-kind conference, NSCLC focuses specifically on empowering those who oversee school counselors, helping them lead with confidence, data-driven strategies, and cutting-edge frameworks.
What Makes NSCLC Unique
Leadership Focused Content
This conference is tailored for administrators and leaders who mentor, evaluate, and support school counselors. Sessions are designed to provide practical tools for fostering comprehensive, data-driven school counseling programs that improve student outcomes.
Nationwide Networking
Join a community of district-level leaders, school administrators, and state education officials who are all dedicated to advancing school counseling. Exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaborate with peers who face similar challenges in leading school counseling programs.
Expert-Led Sessions
Learn from national experts and practicing leaders who are implementing successful, evidence-based school counseling programs. NSCLC brings together a combination of seasoned professionals from the Hatching Results team and educational leaders from across the country, offering insights you won’t find elsewhere.
Actionable Takeaways
Leave the conference equipped with strategies you can implement immediately. Whether you’re looking to enhance school counselor evaluation, improve program data use, or implement new leadership frameworks, NSCLC ensures you walk away with practical solutions.
Meet Your Keynote Speaker
Elena Aguilar
Founder & CEO, Bright Morning Consulting | Author of Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching and seven other books
School counseling leaders carry the emotional weight of their entire team — and too often, no one is coaching the coach. Elena Aguilar has built her career around exactly that gap.
Elena is the founder and CEO of Bright Morning Consulting, an organization committed to helping individuals and organizations create the conditions for transformation. She's the author of eight highly acclaimed books including Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching, Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators, and Coaching for Equity and a frequent contributor to Edutopia, ASCD's Educational Leadership, and EdWeek Teacher.
At NSCLC 2027, Elena brings her signature focus on transformational coaching, team leadership, and coaching for equity directly to school counseling leaders — practical, evidence-based strategies for sustaining your own resilience while leading your team toward the systems-level change students deserve.
What You’ll Gain from Attending
Attending the National School Counseling Leadership Conference (NSCLC) offers a unique opportunity to drive real change in your school counseling programs. Here’s what you can expect to gain:
Proven Strategies for Success: Leave with practical, evidence-based tools and techniques you can implement immediately to improve the effectiveness of your school counseling teams and boost student outcomes.
Increased Program Efficiency: Learn how to leverage data and performance metrics to streamline your school counseling programs, ensuring they are not only comprehensive but also measurable and accountable.
Elevated Leadership Skills: Discover how to become a more effective leader by learning new frameworks for supporting and evaluating school counselors, ultimately helping them perform at their best.
A Stronger Professional Network: Connect with peers who share your challenges and goals. Build a community of colleagues to collaborate with long after the conference ends.
Exclusive Resources: Gain access to materials, tools, and frameworks shared by national experts, which you can take back to your district or school to start making immediate improvements.
Tailored Solutions to Your Challenges: Whether you’re struggling with program implementation, counselor evaluation, or data integration, NSCLC provides specific solutions to the unique challenges faced by school counseling leaders.
By attending NSCLC, you’ll return to your role with actionable strategies, a stronger network of professionals, and a renewed sense of confidence in your leadership.
Venue & Lodging
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
Join us at the beautiful Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, conveniently located just minutes from San Diego International Airport (SAN). View driving directions.
Situated along the waterfront, this resort-style hotel offers a stunning setting for three days of learning, networking, and relaxation. Attendees will enjoy convenient access to San Diego’s top attractions, including SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, as well as the hotel’s pools, marina views, and on-site dining.
Explore San Diego
Make your California dreamin' a reality! Located along the stunning San Diego Bay, the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina puts you right at the heart of a city known for its beautiful waterfront views, vibrant culture, and year-round sunshine. With so much natural beauty and energy, it’s easy to see why San Diego is called “America’s Finest City.”
The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina offers the perfect blend of convenience and coastal charm. Just minutes from downtown and steps from the marina, you’ll have easy access to everything the city has to offer. Nearby attractions include San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, Belmont Park, Old Town, USS Midway, Gaslamp District, Fashion Valley Mall, and Balboa Park
Plan your trip and explore San Diego's attractions by visiting Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Attractions Guide and the San Diego Tourism Authority.
Conference Schedule
Our conference is designed to maximize your learning and networking opportunities, with a packed schedule that spans three dynamic days.
From an engaging keynote by Elena Aguilar, Founder & CEO of Bright Morning Consulting and author of Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching — to in-depth breakout sessions on leadership strategies, all carefully curated to empower school counseling leaders, you won't want to miss a single session!
Photos & Videos: Please be aware that National School Counseling Leadership Conference staff will capture photos and videos in which event attendees may appear and may be shared publicly.
Pre-Conference Workshop:
Moving Teams Forward
Understanding Behavior ~ Building Better Relationships
How we respond matters. And it can change.
Three-hour interactive pre-conference workshop
Presented by Dr. Trish Hatch & Dr. Danielle Duarte
People experience change differently. People may lead the way, happily come along, become disengaged, or actively resist the direction things are going. And the same person may respond very differently depending on the situation.
In this highly interactive pre-conference, featuring the P3H framework, Dr. Trish Hatch and Dr. Danielle Duarte explore the behavior patterns that shape team culture and either move a group forward or hold it back.
Through stories, real-world scenarios, discussion, and reflection, participants will…
Explore behaviors that can strengthen (or undermine) a team
Consider how they themselves may show up differently in different situations
Understand what may be driving the behavior they see in others
Learn practical strategies for responding in ways that improve relationships and help teams move forward
Participants will learn to recognize common behavior patterns, navigate challenging relationships and conversations, and choose responses that help people, teams, and schools/districts move forward for the benefit of students.
Come prepared to think about the people you work with, and perhaps think a little differently about yourself.
Included With Pre-Conference Registration:
Lunch
A copy of Dr. Hatch's Pilots, Passengers, Prisoners & Hijackers: An Educator's Guide to Handling Difficult People While Moving Forward.
Attending the National School Counseling Leadership Conference is an investment in your professional growth, your leadership skills, and the future of your school counseling programs.
Your Investment
Full Conference Registration:
$899 by June 30, 2026
$949 by July 1 - December 1, 2026
$999 from December 2 - January 15, 2027
Includes access to all sessions, keynotes, networking opportunities, and more over three dynamic days.
By attending NSCLC, you're not just gaining knowledge, you're joining a community of forward-thinking leaders committed to transforming school counseling programs for the better.
Bring Your Team and Save
Comprehensive school counseling grows stronger when teams learn together. Register a group and save on your registration:
Groups of 5–9: Save $50 per registration
Groups of 10 or more: Save $70 per registration
Group discounts are available through December 30, 2026.
Ready to Transform Your Leadership? Register Today!
Don't miss this unique opportunity to join hundreds of school counseling leaders at our one-of-a-kind conference.
Whether you're looking to strengthen your leadership skills, network with peers, or dive into the latest trends in education, this conference is designed with you in mind.
NSCLC has sold out months in advance for the past two years! Act quickly to secure your spot!
Sponsors & Exhibitors
Reach 1,000 school counseling decision-makers — the leaders who design, fund, and direct counseling and student support programs at the school, district, and state level.
By the numbers:
1,000 attendees from all 50 states, Washington DC, and Canada
30% Director/Admin Lead, 40% Counselor, 6% Superintendent/Asst. Superintendent
35% high school, 24% district office representation
Sponsorship Tiers:
Plus à la carte options — from tote bag inserts ($500) to Lanyard or Photobooth sponsorship ($4,000) and the Networking Social ($5,000).
Questions? Reach out to sponsors@hatchingresults.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this conference for?
This conference is specifically designed for leaders who oversee and support school counseling programs at all levels. Ideal attendees include:
District-level leaders responsible for overseeing school counseling programs
School administrators seeking to better support counseling teams
Department chairs or lead counselors looking to enhance school counseling program leadership
State and regional education leaders focused on student success
State school counseling association leaders
Graduate students in educational leadership, principal, or superintendent programs
Note for Practitioners: This conference primarily focuses on leadership and systems. While school counselors are welcome to attend, we recommend doing so alongside site or district-level leaders for a collaborative experience.
What is the cancellation policy?
By January 15, 2027: You will receive a full refund, minus a $50 cancellation fee per ticket.
Between January 16 and January 27, 2027: You will receive a refund, minus a $291.50 cancellation fee per ticket.
After January 27, 2027: No refunds will be issued.
These terms apply to both conference and pre-conference registrations. All deadlines refer to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the dates listed.
If your registration was submitted using a purchase order, you are still responsible for paying any applicable cancellation fees based on the timeline above.
Refunds will not be issued for no-shows or for attendees who are unable to participate for any reason after the event begins.
Refunds will be issued to the original payment method. If payment was made by purchase order and the invoice has already been paid, a refund check will be mailed. If payment has not been received, an updated invoice will be sent reflecting the cancellation fee(s).