Greetings from RISCA President, Anne-Marie Flaherty

As we embark on a new school year, I am honored and excited to warmly welcome each of you back from what was hopefully a restful and rejuvenating summer break. As an association, we begin another chapter in our journey to support and uplift the students, families, and educational communities we serve across Rhode Island.

This year promises to be one of growth and opportunity, and I want to take a moment to express my deep appreciation for your dedication and passion. Your tireless efforts in advocating for students' emotional, social, and academic well-being do not go unnoticed. You are the heart of our educational system, and your work truly makes a difference in the lives of countless students.

As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the coming year, I encourage you to remain connected and engaged with one another. Our association is built on the strength of our collective knowledge and experience. Whether through professional development opportunities, collaborative projects, or simply sharing best practices, let us continue to support each other and enhance our skills.

On October 28, we will host our annual Fall Conference: Ignite a Spark. This event will feature keynote speaker Peg Donohue to speak about the counselor’s role in MTSS as well as a series of breakout sessions designed to equip you with the latest tools and strategies to address the evolving needs of our students. Be sure to check your email or the RISCA website for registration information.   Stay tuned for more information on the redesigned Rhode Island Framework for School Counselors.  The work on this document is scheduled to be completed in the fall and a professional development day is being planned for late January to provide in-depth training in how to best utilize the framework to enhance and inform your practice.

As we embrace this new school year with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment, let’s make sure that we are taking the time to see to our own mental health.  As school counselors, we often carry the weight of others on our shoulders.  I ask that you not only take time for yourselves but also check in on your colleagues.  Together, we can face any challenge and seize every opportunity to ensure that we thrive so that we can best support our students.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication and for being a part of this incredible community. Here’s to a successful and impactful school year!

Warmest regards,