School Mental Health: Leverage Your Counseling Staff for Better Student Outcomes

MSAA Professional Development Workshop for Administrators and Counselors

School Mental Health:  
Leverage Your Counseling Staff for Better Student Outcomes

Student mental health should be a priority for every school leader. School counselors are uniquely positioned to make a difference in the lives of all students, but are they given the tools and time to do so? Find out how school counselors use data and evidence-based best practices to close achievement and opportunity gaps and deliver comprehensive programs that ensure success for all students. Learn ways school counselors help to improve student mental health, school climate and reduce or eliminate bullying and discipline incidents. How do school counselors deal with crises and what is their role in preventing and responding to incidents such as school shootings, deaths in the community, or natural disasters? 

This session will explore these various roles, and how school counselors can ensure the best response and preparation for such events. Participants will leave the session with specific ideas and activities as well as a concrete action plan to support and advantage all students.

Workshop Goals and Objectives

·         Understand how school counselors contribute to student mental health, school climate, and overall well-being

·         Identify the challenges counselors face in addressing student needs effectively

·         Explore how school counselors use data to close achievement and opportunity gaps

·         Discuss ways to reduce bullying, improve school climate, and decrease discipline incidents

·         Create a concrete action plan to support counselors, and enhance student mental health services

When: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am

Delivery Method: In-Person Workshop

Location: The MSAA Office, 33 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA

Presenter: Bob Bardwell, Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc

PD Hours: 3 in Content Area Safe and Supportive Learning Environments

Fees: Member $150 / Non-Member $205

MSAA Contact: Victoria Ellison, vellison@msaa.net 

Bob Bardwell | Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc

Bob Bardwell has been a school counselor and school counseling director for 33 years. Previously he has worked in various positions at Framingham High School, the Boston Public Schools, Southwick-Tolland Regional High School, Monson High School, Tantasqua Regional High School, and Dean Vocational High School. He is a former Board Director of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Bob is a Past President of New England ACAC and MASCA. He became the part-time Executive Director of MASCA in July 2019, and was the former Team Lead of Reach Higher Massachusetts, an initiative of the former First Lady Michelle Obama.

He received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Springfield College (MA), his M.Ed. in School Counseling from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and his C.A.G.S. in Education Leadership from American International College (MA). In addition to his counseling duties, he is an adjunct professor at Westfield State University and American International College, teaching both school counseling and college admission counseling courses for aspiring school counselors. He has published numerous articles and presented at over 80 national, regional, and state conferences and in 16 states addressing school counseling, and college admission counseling topics.