Counselor Leadership: Driving System-Wide Change for Student Success

This hybrid course combines the flexibility of asynchronous learning with the engagement of live sessions to provide a comprehensive exploration of the pivotal role school counselors play as leaders in educational communities. Designed to empower you with insights and strategies to navigate complex school environments, this course encourages you to leverage your unique skills to drive meaningful change, make impactful decisions, and facilitate growth among students, staff, and the wider school community.

Through three dynamic modules, supported by live 90-minute sessions after Modules 1 and 3, you’ll explore the multifaceted responsibilities of school counselors as leaders:

Module 1: Counselors as Change Agents

Discover the essential role of counselors as catalysts for change. You’ll explore change theory models and reflect on your school’s unique challenges and opportunities. By the end, you’ll apply these theories to craft an actionable plan for a change initiative you aim to lead or support, setting the stage for sustainable, positive transformation in your school.

Module 2: Counselors as Decision-Makers

Examine the critical concept of values-driven leadership and its role in guiding ethical, impactful decisions in a school setting. You’ll learn about several decision-making models, evaluate their strengths and practical applications, and choose one to implement in your school as a structured, informed approach to decision-making that prioritizes student well-being and fosters a positive school culture.

Module 3: Counselors as Facilitators

Master the “3 P’s” of effective meetings: Purpose, Process, and People. You’ll learn to design intentional, productive, and inclusive meetings by clarifying objectives, structuring the process, and engaging the right stakeholders. By applying these principles, you’ll craft a detailed agenda for an upcoming meeting, ensuring collaboration and meaningful outcomes in your school community.

Live Sessions

To enhance your learning experience, the course includes live 90-minute sessions after Modules 1 and 3. These interactive sessions provide opportunities to consolidate your knowledge, share insights, and collaborate with peers as you apply concepts to real-world scenarios.

Intended Audience

Whether you’re a seasoned counselor or stepping into the role for the first time, this course will elevate your impact and influence as a school counseling professional, empowering you to inspire change, make strategic decisions, and facilitate a thriving educational community.

ISCA Student Standards

This course will empower participants in effective leadership strategies, enabling school counselors to indirectly support the student standards through improved decision-making, change management, and facilitation skills. Although specific student standards will not be covered directly, the course will equip counselors to implement impactful initiatives, create supportive school environments, and use their time more efficiently—ultimately enhancing their availability and effectiveness in delivering services aligned with these standards.

ASCA Professional Standards and Ethical Standards and Practices

This course is aligned to the following school counselor standards and competencies:

ASCA Professional Standards & Competencies:

B-PF 7. Demonstrate leadership through the development and implementation of a school counseling program

B-PF 8. Demonstrate advocacy for a school counseling program

B-PF 9. Create systemic change through the implementation of a school counseling program

B-SS 6. Collaborate with families, teachers, administrators, other school staff and education stakeholders for student achievement and success

Essential Questions

1. How can school counselors effectively lead and support change initiatives that foster sustainable and positive transformation within their school communities?
2. What role does values-driven leadership play in ethical decision-making for school counselors, and how can various decision-making models be applied to support a collaborative school culture?
3. In what ways can school counselors use the principles of Purpose, Process, and People to design and facilitate impactful meetings that promote clarity, inclusivity, and meaningful outcomes?

Participants will have knowledge about:

1. Change Theory Models
2. Key factors that affect change and resistance to change
3. Role of School Counselors as Change Leaders
4. Methods to involve stakeholders (students, staff, families, and administrators) in the change process effectively.
5. How personal and professional values shape leadership decisions, especially within a school counseling context.
6. Various decision-making frameworks.
7. How structured decision-making processes improve clarity, efficiency, and consistency in group settings.
8. How Purpose, Process, and People shape the effectiveness of any meeting.
9. Insights into structuring meeting agendas that promote clarity, engagement, and productivity.
10. The counselor’s role as a facilitator and how effective meetings support broader school goals.

Participants will be able to:

1. Reflect on past and present school changes, assessing successes, barriers, and personal roles in change efforts.
2. Create a structured, actionable plan for implementing a change initiative, including goals, timelines, and measures of success.
3. Select and apply a relevant change model to a specific issue or goal within the school setting.
4. Communicating change objectives clearly and persuasively to various stakeholders.
5. Apply different decision-making models to real-world scenarios, selecting the most appropriate model for various types of decisions.
6. Identify core values that influence one’s approach to leadership and decision-making.
7. Engage colleagues and stakeholders in shared decision-making processes, fostering a sense of inclusivity and collective ownership.
8. Create a detailed, purpose-driven agenda that aligns with meeting goals and objectives.
9. Facilitate discussions, keeping meetings on track, and fostering inclusive, balanced participation.

Kristine Mizzone

Kristine Mizzone is the Learning and Development Coordinator for the International School Counselor Association (ISCA). She is also an educational consultant supporting schools in the areas of social emotional learning (SEL) and organizational leadership. She has served as both a teacher and school leader for nearly two decades in US public schools and private international schools. Most recently, Kristine served as the Director of Learning at Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to that, she was the Curriculum and Professional Learning Coordinator at the International School of Beijing, China. She currently resides in Bangkok, Thailand.

ISCA Member Price: $395

Non-Member Price: $475

Dates and times of offerings:

Through three dynamic asyncronous modules, supported by two live 90-minute sessions after Modules 1 and 3, you’ll explore the multifaceted responsibilities of school counselors as leaders.

• Option 2:
  • Asynchronous work: May 1 to September 30, 2026 
  • Two Live 90-min sessions: June 1 and September 14, 2026 - 11:00am to 12:30pm UTC

Contact Hours: 9 hours

Time commitment between sessions: The self-paced modules will take between 4-6 hours to complete asynchronously.

Required Resource(s):All resources will be offered in the Canvas resource bank for this course.