TeleEmpower

Partnering with OSDE

Image with a group of people holding hands in a circle and the offical logos for OSU-CHS Project ECHO and the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Oklahoma’s current student-to-school counselor ratio of 411:1 is significantly higher than the recommended ratio of 250:1. School counselors and school-based mental health professionals play an integral role in helping students build academic, college and career, and mental health regulation , thus positively impacting student mental health and well-being. We are at a critical moment that calls for advancing a new paradigm for student supports in schools, one that will provide wraparound resources and have outcomes that expand beyond the classroom. (As a result of this work, school counselors will be required to serve in leadership capacities, and be empowered to lead district student support efforts. This work will require our school counselors to be placed in leadership capacities and be empowered to lead districts in all student support efforts that remove barriers and increase academic success.

Schedule

Once a month on the following Thursdays, from 9-10 AM CST

TeleEmpower schedule for 2024:

September 19
October 10
November 21

TeleEmpower schedule for 2025:

January 16
February 20
March 13
April 17
May 15

Why TeleEmpower?

The following outcomes are expected from participation in TeleEmpower:

Enhanced leadership capacities for school counselor and student support staff
Capacity building of districts as they implement a Multi – Tiered Systems of Support and School Counselor Framework
Shared understandings of challenges faced by school counselors
Development of strategies to address those challenges
Enhanced school counselor efficacy as they grow in their ability to communicate and collaborate with stakeholders
Enhanced school district understanding of social capital (access to resources, support, etc.) through networks established in TeleEmpower
Decrease in challenges as school leaders, teachers, and counselors work together

Who Should Join?

School counselors, student support staff, school leaders and teachers.

Team

Oklahoma State Department of Education

Rebecca Damron
Project Manager, Program RESPECT

Jennifer Peters
Program Manager; College and Career Readiness

Christi Sturgeon
Program Manager; Comprehensive School Counseling

Marissa Lightsey
Program Director for Student Development

Tara Jackson
Project ECHO Director

Jade Goodson
Assistant Director

Jessica Tucker
ECHO Coordinator