Professional Travel Grants for Graduate Students
2017-2018
VAASL Conference 2017
6 years
This was my first conference for school librarians. I attended two days worth of sessions and gained lots of great new ideas to use in the library. One session I attended was about different topics and trends for 2017 in the library. Some great ideas I am excited to learn more about are breakout boxes, teaching students about fake news, global goals, libraries as learning spaces, and using social media as an advocacy tool. Audrey Church was the session leader and she provided great example materials for us to get started. I was also able to attend two author sessions. The first was with Kwame Alexander (pictured with me). He talked about his love for poetry and how hard he worked to become a published author. His talk about visiting different schools and letting students see what poetry really is was very moving. The next author I was able to listen to was Ruta Sepetys. Her session was about why she writes historical fiction and why she focuses on specific topics. Her session was extremely powerful. Another great session I attended was on makerspaces for the elementary library. The speaker told us how he was able to create his space and what are good things to add to a makerspace. He also brought some of his breakout boxes for us to try to open. I definitely came home with some amazing ideas on how to make the library new and exciting for students. The sessions also gave me helpful ideas on new lessons. I cannot wait to attend next year!
VAASL 2017 Rocks!
6 years
Hello all! I had the privilege of attending the Virginia Association of School Librarian’s annual conference last week, which was held in Chantilly, VA. This was my first VAASL Conference, but it will definitely not be my last! Before the conference even began, I was able to plan out the sessions that I wanted to attend. I had such a good time reading about all of the sessions and choosing which ones really struck my fancy. During my sessions, I was educated on various topics, such as problem based learning, the Virginia 529 plan, coding (which was new to me), and ways to implement the Virginia Reader’s Choice nominee books in our libraries. As you can see from my picture, we were able to actually complete a project in our PBL session. So fun! All of these sessions gave me ample “take-aways” that I have actually already started using in my school library. This week, I am using some of the VA Reader’s Choice lesson plan ideas with my students. So far, they are loving the activities! An aspect that I also enjoyed was getting to visit the library vendors during our break times. There were vendors from several book companies, which allowed me to peruse books in person, that I normally would only have been able to see in print or online. Also, some of the book companies were giving away books, which I am now able to add to my school library collection. All in all, I had a fabulous time at the VAASL Conference. I was able to take away physical items to add to my library collection and also use for my library programs; as well as getting intellectual take-aways that I can use to enhance my current library management and facilitation.
VAASL 2017 Conference
6 years
VAASL Conference
6 years
This past Thursday and Friday, I attended the VAASL conference for school librarians. This conference was required for one of my grad classes, however, I had the best time and I learned so much! While I was at the conference, I was able to meet, speak with, and get autographs from six different authors! I attended sessions that will be extremely useful for when I become a school librarian. I am very thankful to have been able to attend this conference!
VSCA Conference 2017
7 years
Hi all! My name is Jessica Morris (in the navy dress!) and last week, I attended the Virginia School Counselor Association conference in Hampton, VA. My school counseling cohort arrived to the Embassy Suites in Hampton on Wednesday night. After we checked in to our hotel rooms, we went downstairs to a meet and greet where we could mingle with other school counseling professionals. We were up bright and early on Thursday morning for continental breakfast and we then headed next door to the conference center. After an exciting keynote speech, we split up and attended breakout sessions about various school counseling topics. That night, there was another meet and greet at our hotel and we were able to connect and talk with some of the people we had met earlier in the day. Friday was our last day. We again attended breakout sessions and a closing keynote speech and luncheon. For my first conference experience, I really enjoyed it! I think my peers and I learned a lot and I look forward to going again in the future!
VSCA Conference 2017
7 years
I enjoyed my experience at the 2017 Virginia School Counseling Association (VSCA) Conference in Hampton Roads. Lead Well was the theme for the 2017 conference. My favorite part of the 2017 conference was the opening session keynote speaker Dan St. Romain, M.Ed. Mixed Messages: The Changing Face of Discipline. The home, school and society has drastically changed within the past few decades resulting in a striking effect on student behaviors. During Dan St. Romain’s collaborative session, participants assessed the dynamics and examined implications for school counselors as a result. The remainder of my day consisted of attending specific breakout sessions focusing on Well-Being Therapy, Supporting Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students, Graduate Student- Roundtable, Filling the Gap: Identifying and Developing School Counselor Leaders and The Power of Passion in Career Development. I appreciated the Graduate Student Round Table the most since it focused on the issues and topics related to starting careers in school counseling. That night I attended a Networking Social for School Counselors. Friday involved attending three other breakout sessions and closing out the conference with an awards luncheon and keynote speaker. I am glad that I attended the 2017 VSCA Conference and appreciative of the experiences I took with me.
VSCA 2017
7 years
I was able to attend the Virginia School Counselor Association 2017 conference in Hampton, Virginia from October 11-13 thanks to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Longwood University. School counselors from across the state were in attendance. On Wednesday evening my classmates and I dined with Dan St. Romain, the conference’s keynote speaker. After hearing him speak the next morning, I attended many informative breakout sessions. I learned about current trends in the school counseling profession, ways to align a school counseling program with the American School Counselor Association national model, and how to motivate unmotivated students. The next morning there were more informative breakout sessions followed by an awards luncheon. Going to this conference allowed me to gain knowledge from current school counselors in the field.
Virginia School Counselor Association 2017
7 years
Attending the Virginia School Counselor Association Conference helped improve my professional identity. This conference was full of influential speakers who have experience working with students from several districts in Virginia. Having the opportunity to listen to these speakers was both informative and eye-opening. The most impactful speaker was the keynote speaker, who discussed the mixed messages delivered to students and how they effect their actions and behaviors within a school environment. This information will be very beneficial to me and my future as I continue to develop my professional identity. I also had the opportunity to meet school counseling coordinators from districts around Virginia. During this time I was able to discuss current issues and trends that school counselors are encountering in their everyday work. It was great to be surrounded by individuals who spoke the same language as me and understand the impact we have within schools. I look forward to attending more conferences surrounding counseling education!
VSCA
7 years
I had such a wonderful time at the Virginia School Counseling Association (VSCA) Conference in Hampton, Virginia. This was my first time attending VSCA and definitely will not be my last. I attended alongside of five of my School Counseling cohorts (pictured above)! I was able to attend sessions throughout my time at the conference that I hold near and dear to my heart. Dropout Prevention in Elementary and Middle School Students, Technology Smarter Not Harder, and Emerging Leader Lead Counselors were just a few of the breakout sessions I attended. I thoroughly enjoyed networking with other school counselors across the state of Virginia. I was so proud of Longwood’s representation at VSCA this year and was very proud to say I was a Graduate Student from Longwood. This experience is one I will never forget and am so thankful for the opportunity of being able to attend and represent Longwood!
VSCA
7 years
The cohort of students at Longwood who are studying to become school counselors is relatively small, with our smallest class containing only 6 students. We all have a shared passion and spend much of our time together discussing topics related to school counseling. Being used to such a small group of people, it was exhilarating to walk into the Virginia School Counselor Association conference and see hundreds of school counselors who were all speaking our language! From small group action plans, to advocacy, to implementing the ASCA national model- it was clear that we had come to the right place. I had the opportunity to view 8 different presentations over the course of the conference, each one offering helpful information for school counselors to know. My favorite presentation was about technology tools and how school counselors can use technology to work smarter, not harder. Through this presentation, I was introduced to several apps, websites, and ideas that I could easily see myself implementing as a school counselor. Another benefit of attending this conference was meeting experienced school counselors. I enjoyed learning the different ways that school counselors work to help their students, schools, and communities. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many professionals who share my passion and love the career that they have chosen, and I hope to attend more VSCA conferences in the future.