NJSCA's Winter Professional Development Day 2026

Register here!

7:30 AM-8:30 AM - Registration/Continental Breakfast

8:00 AM-9:00 AM - Welcoming Remarks

9:15 AM-10:45 AM - Session 1

10:45 AM-11:00 AM - Break & Vendor Visits

11:00 AM-11:40 AM - Keynote Speaker

The Heart of Our Evolution: Leadership, Advocacy, and the Future of School Counseling in New Jersey - Dr. Cindy Povall

11:45 AM-1:10 PM - Lunch & Vendor Visits

1:15 PM-2:30 PM - Session 2

When you register, you will be required to choose which sessions you would like to attend. Please reference the workshop descriptions below.

Session 1 – 9:15-10:45 AM-Workshop Descriptions

S1A: Enhancing School Climate & Student Success Through MTSS: A Focus on Attendance & Mental Health-Dr. Keyoshia C. Liverman

Discover practical Tier 1–3 strategies to weave SEL, attendance supports, and mental health services into a cohesive MTSS framework. Learn data-driven approaches that boost engagement, strengthen climate, and promote wellness.

S1B: Table Top! Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Games that Your Students will Actually Like-Dr. Matthew Zakreski

Explore how to adapt SEL instruction for today’s learners—especially neurodivergent students—through game-based strategies. Experience games designed to teach emotional regulation, social skills, and communication in engaging, accessible ways.

S1C: Daily Calm: Small Group Counseling for Every Age-Gina Neri  CANCELED

Between crisis calls and parent conferences, small groups still need to happen. Daily Calm offers quick, no-prep, 30-minute sessions for all ages that build emotional expression, coping skills, and social skills.

S1D: Enhancing Supervision Skills for Empowering Gen Z Interns and Enhance Counseling Programs-Stephanie Wick, Kasey Rigg

This interactive session equips school counselor supervisors with practical tools to effectively support Gen Z interns. Explore generational strengths, communication styles, and supervision strategies that build confidence, professional identity, and innovation in your program.

S1E: Implementing Wellness into Everyday Learning-Kate Robinson

Amid rising academic pressure and student stress, this workshop explores how to integrate wellness practicesc into daily instruction, classroom culture, and student support systems to promote resilience and balance.

S1F: Mission: Career Possible Laurie Corizzo, Florentina Crawford, Samantha Incramona

Career exploration isn’t just for middle and high school—school counselors play a key role in building its foundation in the elementary years. Curiosity, imagination, and self-awareness begin early, and counselors are uniquely positioned to nurture these skills through intentional, developmentally appropriate activities. In this hands-on session, participants will learn practical strategies to introduce career awareness to K–5 students through small groups, classroom lessons, and schoolwide initiatives. We’ll explore engaging activities that help students connect their strengths, interests, and values to future possibilities. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use resources and creative, counselor-centered ideas for integrating career exploration into their comprehensive school counseling program.

S1G: Building Wellness from Within: Creating School-Based Wellness Centers to Foster SEL and Mental Health-Claudia Wolf, Shannon Conte

Discover how one school transformed its SEL commitment into a fully functioning Wellness Center for students and staff. Gain practical guidance on design, implementation, stakeholder engagement, and sustaining a culture of wellness.

S1H: Boot Camp for New School Counselors-Carl Palmer, Patty Israel, Guy Crawley

Aspiring and new counselors will learn how to secure—and succeed in—their first role. Topics include professional associations, interview strategies, and an introduction to the ASCA National Model to strengthen school-wide impact.

Session 2 - 1:00-2:30 PM - Workshop Descriptions

S2A: AI in School Counseling: Sharing Tips & Tricks-Paul Sommers, Michael Maitag

Explore how AI tools like Canva AI, Notebook LM, Magic School, and ChatGPT can enhance counseling work. Gain time-saving strategies and engage in a guided discussion on ethical, student-centered AI use in schools.

S2B: Lessons Learned in Threat Assessment-Elizabeth Schopfer

With school threat reports increasing, effective interdisciplinary threat assessment is essential. Review case studies, clarify team roles and confidentiality, and learn best practices to strengthen collaboration and enhance school safety.

S2C: From Theory to Practice: Managing Real-World Challenges in the First Year in School Counseling-Khadijah Barnes, Kathy Lewis

New school counselors will explore how to apply counseling theory to everyday challenges, including ethical decision-making, crisis response, team collaboration, and self-care. Leave with practical skills for a successful first year.

S2D: Bridging the Gap: Empowering Students Through Pre-ETS and DVRS-Toni Scott, Renee Caratozzolo

School counselors play a key role in linking students with disabilities to Pre-Employment Transition Services. Learn how to identify eligible students, navigate misconceptions, and bring valuable vocational resources back to your school so no student is overlooked.

S2E: The Impact of Social Emotional Learning-Brianna Drew CANCELED

This session highlights how SEL and school counseling improve student well-being and achievement. Learn effective strategies and best practices for integrating SEL with counseling services to build supportive, thriving school environments.

S2F: Gateway 2 Careers: Career Experiences Meet SEL Skills-Melissa Eckstein

Learn how collaborative career-education programming can build SEL skills and boost student confidence. Explore the award-winning Gateway to Careers model and discover turnkey strategies for integrating career exploration across grades 7–12.

S2G: The Silent Target: When It Is the School Counselor Who Is Getting Bullied-Stacey Solomon

Participants will learn to recognize workplace bullying dynamics in schools, understand personal and professional impacts, and develop strategies for coping with and reporting harassment or undermining behaviors.

S2H: Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Your First Year as a School Counselor-Tara Hipple, Veronica Schumann

Designed for pre-service counselors, this session covers first-year “need-to-knows,” unexpected challenges, and practical tips for starting strong. Includes an open Q&A with current practitioners.