Hampton City Schools Counselors Present at Virginia School Counselor Association Annual Conference

Hampton City Schools’ counselors showcased their expertise and commitment to fostering inclusivity and advocacy at the annual Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA) conference. The event, held October 9 to 11 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center, brought together professionals from across the state to discuss innovative strategies for supporting students and families in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.

Two key presentations from Hampton City Schools highlighted the district’s forward-thinking approaches:

Fostering Inclusive School Environments: Working with Non-traditional Families - presented by Carla Mahn, director of student development and counseling, and Emily Sims, professional school counselor at Burbank Elementary School

In this session, Hampton’s counselors explored the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for non-traditional families, including single-parent households, LGBTQ+ families, grandparents as guardians, and other family structures. The presentation offered practical strategies for school counselors and school administrators to ensure that every family feels supported and respected within the school community.

“Creating a sense of belonging and acceptance is imperative for all students but especially true for children from non-traditional families. At Burbank, we have a very diverse community of students and families, so it’s important we understand the variety of familial needs and cultures in order to best support our families so that our students can thrive academically and socially,” said Sims.

“Our goal is to recognize the diversity in family structures and ensure that no student or family feels marginalized because of their background,” said Mahn. “As a part of our conference session, we provided tools and resources for counselors to understand and recognize the dynamics and challenges of non-traditional families, to enhance their communication with non-traditional families, and to better advocate for the needs of all students.”

Advocacy through an Effective Program - presented by Kara Hart, professional school counselor at Jane H. Bryan Elementary School

Hampton’s second presentation focused on the power of advocacy within a comprehensive school counseling program. The session emphasized the importance of establishing strong, data-driven counseling programs that not only address academic needs but also advocate for student well-being and equity. 

“As a school counselor, I am passionate about providing an effective program where all stakeholders recognize what we as school counselors do and the benefits of our programs. Our profession has evolved over time, but not everyone understands our role, so it's important that we advocate for the profession and implement comprehensive programs to best benefit our students and school community as a whole. As the Virginia School Counselor Association Advocacy & Government Relations co-chair, my goal is to move the profession forward and ensure that we have a voice in any legislation that pertains to our role as counselors, to our students, and to our schools,” said Hart.

The two presentations reflect Hampton City Schools’ dedication to addressing the diverse needs of their student population and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed in a supportive environment.

Hampton City Schools is committed to providing a comprehensive school counseling program that supports academic, career, and social-emotional development for all students. Through collaboration with families, educators, and the community, the counseling program strives to prepare students to become productive citizens and lifelong learners.

You can find out more about the Virginia School Counselor Association at vsca.org