K-12 Administrators and Counselors Working Together to Impact Student Achievement & Success

MSAA Professional Development Workshop for School Administrators and Counselors 

Celebrating National School Counselors Week

K-12 Administrators and Counselors Working Together to Impact Student Achievement & Success

Schools across the country are struggling with declining student achievement, increased chronic attendance issues, reduced student engagement and connection, increased mental health challenges, and rising school safety concerns. Despite these many challenges, school administrators and counselors working together have and can make a difference on all of these factors. 

This workshop will focus on how school counselors and school administrators can work together to address these numerous challenges and provide hope and inspiration to make all aspects of our schools better, stronger and more successful.

Participants will:

         Learn what the literature says about the importance of the relationship between the school administrators and school counselors and how to work effectively together

         Hear from school counselor and administrator practitioners at the high school, middle and elementary levels who will share specific and successful strategies to improve student success and achievement when these two groups collaborate together

         Share best practices and resources and everyone will leave the session with an action plan to implement upon return to their schools/communities

Check out the Day s Agenda 

Presenter: Yolanda Johnson, Chief of Student Services, Springfield Public Schools

When: Friday, February 7, 2025, from 8:00 am to 11:30 am (breakfast begins at 8, workshop begins promptly at 8:30)

Delivery Method: In-Person Workshop

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

Fees: Member $150 / Non-Member $205 

(School Counselors & MASCA members $30)

Includes Hot Breakfast

PD Hours: 3 hours in Content Area Leadership and Administration

MSAA Contact: Victoria Ellison, vellison@msaa.net 

Yolanda Johnson | Springfield Public Schools
Dr. Yolanda D. Johnson is the Chief of Student Services for Springfield Public Schools, a Cabinet-Level position where she oversees school counseling and social work services, dropout prevention and graduation improvement strategies, college access and success initiatives and implements a variety of multifaceted programs that enhances excellence, scholarship, achievement, and equity for all students. She has worked for the Springfield Public Schools for the past 26 years as a school counselor, teacher, principal, and district administrator. 

Dr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Westfield State College (now University), a Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut, a Certificate of Advance Study from Springfield College, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was born and raised in Springfield and is a graduate of the Springfield Public Schools. She has a passion for leadership development, scholarship, service and helping students envision their postsecondary future. Further, she is a champion for educational equity and opportunities for under-represented students in college and career pathways. 

Dr. Johnson s civic and community affiliations include St. John s Congregational Church, Trustee at Holyoke Community College, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Xi Xi Omega Chapter, Greater Springfield (MA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, Western Massachusetts Chapter, and the Western Region of the Massachusetts Coalition of Women of Color. Dr. Johnson is married to her husband of 24 years, Attorney V.Van Johnson III. They are the proud parents of two children.