Using Data to Advocate and Optimize Your Comprehensive School Counseling Program
Date: February 3, 2026
Time: 12:00-1:00pm UTC
About this webinar
This webinar explores how school counselors can use data not only to evaluate their programs, but to advocate effectively for their role, time, and impact within the school community. Participants will review the different types of data used in school counseling, with a focus on process data as an accessible and powerful entry point for becoming data-informed.
A live demonstration of the SCUTA platform will show how easily counselors can collect process data and analyze use-of-time reports to support decision-making and advocate for appropriate responsibilities, interventions, and services. Real-world examples will highlight how data can be used to communicate impact to leadership, align counseling work with school priorities, and strengthen professional credibility and growth. This webinar is relevant whether or not participants currently use SCUTA, and all attendees will receive access to a free trial of the platform to explore it firsthand.
Speaker
Laura Zaharakis has 30 years of school counseling experience in rural, suburban, and urban settings. She is an accomplished and effective practicing school counselor who understands data-driven school counseling and the importance of aligning services with school goals, student needs, and curriculum standards. She is currently the Elementary Lead School Counselor in Allentown, Pennsylvania (US) where she led her school in becoming a Recognized ASCA Model Program (American School Counseling Association). Professional interests include child trauma, data informed school counseling, and coaching/supervision. She has facilitated training on Trauma-Informed Schools, Use-of-Data in School Counseling, Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, and School Counseling Supervision. She has certification in Supervision of School Guidance Services from the PA Department of Education as well as Child Trauma and Play Therapy. In response to a need to increase understanding of her school district’s counseling services, Laura asked her husband Steve Zaharakis, a software engineer, to develop SCUTA. They are very excited to share SCUTA with the International School Counseling Association community and support school counseling development around the world.
