2026 Conference Schedule | Iowa School Counselors Association

November 1-3, 2026 · Prairie Meadows, Altoona, Iowa

Monday, November 2

6:15 - 7:00 AM Yoga with Jamie Varangkounh (Bishop)

7:00 AM Registration, Check-In & Help Desk open

7:00 - 8:00 AM Breakfast: Bishop Ballrooms

8:00 - 8:15 AM Welcome & Roll Call

8:15 - 9:30 AM Opening Keynote: Malcolm Mitchell

9:30 - 9:40 AM Morning Announcements

9:45 - 10:15 AM Exhibitor Interactions & Snacks

Room	Session	Presenter(s)	Audience
Skinner A	Voices Behind the Screen	Aimee Hospodarsky, AEA	K-12
Skinner B	Drug Endangered Children: The Tools to Respond and Intervene	Nikki Romer & Carrie Jensen, National DEC	K-12
Skinner C	Before They Can Learn: The Neuroscience Every Educator Needs to Know	Laura Overby, Elementary Counselor	Elementary
Salon 1	Micro Moments Matter: Every Interaction is an Intervention	Brittany Roberts, Professional Learning Coordinator, Four Oaks	K-12
Salon 2	A Transparent and Team Approach to Section 504 Coordination	Shelby Bryce & Mackenzie Campbell, School Counselor/Assistant Principal	K-12
Salon 3	You Are Already an Advocate: Expand Your Reach	Lauren Cerqueira & Erin Lane, School Counselor/University of Iowa	K-12

Room	Session	Presenter(s)	Audience
Skinner A	More than the Score: Moving from ACE Awareness to Building Resilience	Jo Ann Lee, Iowa State University	MS, HS
Skinner B	2D Drug Endangered Children: The Tools to Respond and Intervene (need to have attended the powerpoint session prior)	Nikki Romer & Carrie Jensen, National DEC	K-12
Skinner C	Thinking Functionally About Behavior Across All Three Tiers	Diana Wood, AEA	K-12
Salon 1	Dual Enrollment: Maximizing Opportunities, Mitigating Challenges	Thomas Paulsen, Director of Admissions and New Student Programs, University of Iowa	High School
Salon 2	Writing Our Legacy: One Data Point at a Time	Kelly Bergmann, Megan Johnson-Gott, Debra Brokaw, School Counselors/Debra Brokaw Consulting	High School
Salon 3	Addiction Proofing Our Students	Kriya Lendzion, Retired School Counselor, Adolescent Therapist, Addictions Clinician, Prevention Specialist	K-12

12:30 - 1:30 PM Lunch & Awards Presentation: Bishop Ballroom

12:30 - 1:45 PM Exhibitor Interactions

Room	Session	Presenter(s)	Audience
Skinner A	Stop Reassuring Me: Recognizing and Responding to OCD in Schools	Angela Eisenman, LMHC	K-12
Skinner B	3D Experience (Invite Only): Drug Endangered Children: The Tools to Respond and Intervene	Nikki Romer & Carrie Jensen, National DEC	K-12
Skinner C	Start Small, Dream Big: College Visits with Elementary Students	Aimee Hospodarsky, AEA	K-12
Salon 1	Character Strong Tier 2	Sheila Kinyon-Johnson & Anita Townsley, School Counselors	Elementary
Salon 2	Value-Added: Supporting School Counselors and Students Through Iowa ACAC	Juanita Zavala & Gail McMahon, Iowa ACAC	K-12
Salon 3	Yoga for Teacher/Counselor Care	Jamie Varangkounh, School Counselor	Focus on School Counselors/Adults

Room	Session	Presenter(s)	Audience
Skinner A	Providing GPS to COA’s: Guidance, Protection and Support to Children of Addiction	Kriya Lendzion, Retired School Counselor, Adolescent Therapist, Addictions Clinician, Prevention Specialist	K-12
Skinner B	Power in Prevention: Fostering Felt Safety and Belonging at Tier 1	Brittany Roberts, Professional Learning Coordinator, Four Oaks	K-12
Skinner C	GED to PhD! Every Broken Story Deserves a RESET!	Dr. Craig Boykin, CEO, Educator	K-12, Postsecondary Transitions
Salon 1	Authoring Access: Ditching the Tow Truck for Predictable K-12 Counseling Systems	Debra Brokaw, School Counselor	Middle School, High School
Salon 2	Beyond the Diploma: Measuring What Matters in Career Readiness	Brittania Morey & Carrie Talbot, ICAN	K-12
Salon 3	ICAP Inspiration: Success Stories & What’s Next with Xello	Delfina Manocchio, Xello	K-12

4:00 - 4:15 PM Prize Drawings & Closing Remarks

7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Registration & Help Desk: Bishop Ballrooms

7:00 - 9:00 AM Breakfast on the Go Stations

7:00 - 7:45 AM Morning Wellness Sessions

7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Exhibitors Open

Room	Session	Presenter(s)	Audience
Skinner A	Partnering with the Field: Supervision Models and Site Supervisor Support Across Iowa School Counseling Programs	Andrew Eisenman; Erin Lane; Renee Fensom; Chambray Burk; Branis Knezevic; Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp; Scotti Hagensick, Counselor Educators	K-12
Skinner B	Small but Mighty: Writing a Legacy of Statewide Support for Every School Counselor	Aimee Hospodarsky, Diana Wood, Tara Christiansen, Kathy Hanafan, AEA School Counselor Consultants	K-12
Skinner C	Writing Your Legacy Through Systems, Not Survival Mode	Janine Gacke & Kate Gerber, Director of SPED/School Counselor	K-12
Salon 1	The Power of Parents	Shannon Allen, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)	Middle School, High School
Salon 2	Beyond Behavior: Neuroscience & Brainspotting-Informed Strategies for Student Regulation and Counselor Resilience	Elise Healzer, DM, LMFT, Owner, Seasons of Life Family Therapy	K-12
Salon 3	Partnering For An Ag-Business Experience	Chris Conover, 6-12 Counselor	High School

9:30 - 10:00 AM Exhibitor Interactions

Room	Session	Presenter(s)	Audience
Skinner A	Mind Over Mountains: Building a Legacy of Resilience, Wellness, and Student Success	Tia Banks, Chief Executive Officer, Mind Over Mountains	K-12
Skinner B	Mapping the Mission: Evaluating and Designing Systems for College & Career Preparedness	Amy Smith, Karey Hawkins, Gear Up Facilitator, Education Program Consultant	K-12
Skinner C	Understanding Iowa’s Redesigned Behavioral Health System: Resources and Supports for Schools, Students, and Families	Abbey Ferenzi, LMHC	K-12
Salon 1	Recognizing & Addressing Anxiety in Children & Adolescents in the School Setting	Diana Wood, AEA	K-12
Salon 2	Building Leaders: Using Empathy to Teach Leadership and Community Building	Kelly Holand, Middle School Counselor	Middle School

11:00 - 12:00 PM Exhibitor Interactions

11:30 - 12:00 PM ISCA Annual Meeting, Prizes & Farewell