The 2025 ISCA Conference was held in Des Moines from November 2–4, 2025, at the EMC Expo Center, with the theme “Shining Bright: 60 Years of School Counseling Excellence” — a celebration of ISCA’s 60th anniversary.
We look forward to gathering again for the 2026 Iowa School Counselor Conference, “Write Your Legacy,” November 1–3, 2026, at Prairie Meadows in Altoona.
Featured Speakers
Monday Keynote — Dr. Lori Desautels
Dr. Lori Desautels, Assistant Professor at Butler University and a leading expert in applied educational neuroscience, served as the Monday morning keynote and a Sunday pre-conference presenter. She shared how our nervous systems shape behavior, discipline, and well-being, offering trauma-informed strategies to promote regulation, connection, and felt safety in schools.
Monday Special Guest — Kriya Lendzion
Known as a “Teen Whisperer,” Kriya Lendzion, LCMHC, LCAS, CPS, brought more than two decades of experience in the prevention and treatment of substance use. As a Sunday pre-conference presenter and Monday special guest, she shared proactive, compassionate strategies to help foster “addiction-proof” students.
Tuesday Thought Leader — Lasada Pippen
An engineer turned motivational speaker and coach, Lasada Pippen energized attendees with a message of resilience and reinvention, empowering counselors to turn challenges into opportunities.
Tuesday Thought Leaders — Dr. Soumya Palreddy & Ian Lowe
Dr. Soumya Palreddy, a licensed psychologist and national trainer on mental health literacy, and Ian Lowe, a Wisconsin-based educator and restorative justice practitioner, closed the conference with insights on mental health literacy and on centering justice, equity, and relationship-centered practices in schools.
Pre-Conference Sessions
Sunday’s pre-conference offerings allowed attendees to select a workshop from each time block, including a New Counselor Bootcamp, a collaborative Counselor/Administrator session, and workshops with Kriya Lendzion and Dr. Lori Desautels.
Sponsors & Exhibitors
A heartfelt thank you to all of our 2025 sponsors and exhibitors for their ongoing support of school counselors across Iowa. Your partnership helps make our annual conference a success!