Finding a leadership style means finding those who inspire. It is not hard to find those who inspire me as I take the role of AkSCA President for 2012. Luckily, most of the former leaders are on the AkSCA board or an email or phone call away.
This is the time of the year when we reflect on what we are most thankful for. For me, I have so much thankfulness for: my family and friends, my place of employment, and my professional colleagues, to name a few.
As I begin my services as President, I feel fortunate to be pushed by those leaders I follow; without them, it would be difficult to take the next step. I have been observing and absorbing leadership since I became a member of AkSCA. My first pre-conference was with Shawnie Olson and her training partner, Jamie Ballentine. I learned that Alaska had a frame work for school counselors. Wow! I had something to hang onto, to take back to my rural school community, as a single counselor site K - 12. In addition to the Alaska School Counselor Framework, Shawnie taught me to have fun being a school counselor!
There are more inspiring leaders: Sara Moore, who is filled with wisdom and is a great contributing editor to this AkSCA Newsletter I have been printing and sending to you over the past few years. Sara is whom I count on and look for when searching for past board procedures. When Sara was president, I looked up to her for how easy she made it look when talking in front of the general membership, inspiring!
Nancy Haerer: I met Nancy before I was on the board. As the Professional Recognition Chair, Nancy had fun keeping my Alaska School Counselor of the Year award a secret; actually, she did such a good job working above and beyond with my principal and husband to bring them to Anchorage for the surprise. Long story short, that did not work out. Nancy kept me in the dark so much so, that I was shopping at the mall while Nancy recognized me at the conference awardʼs luncheon. We have had many good laughs over that for years. Nancy has also been a great resource to me, someone I can call day or night, she helped me help my students with accessing CTE resources in the state. Nancy makes me smile when I think of her.
Tracy Pressley is a rock, the foundation responsible for paving the way for me to consider joining the AkSCA president track. I told her at the time, and I was serious, that I would only sign up for this gig if she did not leave me. Tracy is a person who sees what needs to be done, anticipates, and makes it happen. She is intuitive and works tireless hours to help members of AkSCA for the greater cause, helping us better ourselves as professional school counselors.
Valerie Demming was board president two terms ago, at the time I was on the president track, therefore; I looked to her for knowledge, taking notes of what I learned, and what I wanted to continue with as an emerging leader. Valerie taught us to care for ourselves. She also is truly caring and I appreciate her from-the-heart suggestions. She only speaks when she has something useful to add, and we listen.
Eric Kelly, now our AkSCA past-president, has been a huge help to me, documenting and formatting everything I need in order to continue the AkSCA board work for 2012. Ericʼs organization has come a long way; when he showed for our board meeting as treasurer with his records in a grocery bag, he received some raised eye brows. Now, he is the most organized leader, helping me to start off this year with templates and goals in neatly organized electronic folders.
As you are a leader of your own style, I think youʼll find using some of your predecessorʼs leadership in yourselves as something we hold dear. In your own communities, I hope you find inspiration and I trust you will make your school community inspired. Thank you for all you do as a school counselor.
Sheila Beardsley
2011-2012 AkSCA President
