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Kimberly Burnett
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Sabrina Hite of Ipswich, along with 21 Salem State school counseling graduate students had the opportunity to present original research to school counselors representing various Massachusetts school districts at the 2017 Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA) Annual Conference held in Boxborough on April 4.
Hite’s research and presentation focused on her work with English language learners (ELL) and increasing school involvement. Hite worked at Saugus High School with a year-long global group focused on how increasing self-advocacy enhances involvement in extracurricular activities thus increasing social development and academic success.
“Attending the MASCA Conference was an incredible opportunity. In addition to networking with professionals in the field, I was able to spread my knowledge about the challenges English Language Learners (ELL) face when starting school in an entirely new country,” she said.
“I am passionate about working with ELL students and I hope I enlightened other educators."
The graduate students developed their action research by identifying specific areas of need for the students, families, and educators served at their practicum sites. Data derived from this research provided evidence to support school counselors’ advocacy efforts, highlighting areas of needed growth for comprehensive school counseling programs and the schools they serve.
Research was shared with informative poster displays on a variety of academic, career, and personal/social research initiatives pertaining to elementary, middle, and high school counselors, such as empowering combating anxiety, decreasing chronic absenteeism, fostering career readiness, and supporting transgender students.
Salem State School Counseling program supervisor and professor, Laurie Dickstein-Fischer, PhD, received the 2017 MASCA Counselor Educator of the Year Award for her relentless commitment to advancing the School Counseling program at Salem State University.
The accredited school counseling program at Salem State has over 60 students enrolled, with nine faculty members.