Episode 54: Advocacy in Action: State Leaders Strengthening the School Counseling Profession

About this episode

This episode features advocacy leaders discussing their roles in strengthening the school counseling profession.

<img class=" wp-image-4702 aligncenter" src="https://videos.schoolcounselor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ep54_social_media_1080x0180.jpg" alt="" width="373" height="373" /> <p style="text-align: center">In this special live episode of I Hear You Say, recorded at the 2025 ASCA Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif., host Leisl Moriarty, CMP, CAE, ASCA’s director of affiliate relations, brings together advocacy leaders from four state school counseling associations. Joining her are Amy Baltimore, Ed.D., board chair of the Tennessee School Counselor Association; Lauren Mendez, CEO of the Washington School Counselor Association; Ashley Seeklander, government relations chair for the South Dakota School Counselor Association; and Becky Lins of the Iowa School Counselor Association. Each leader shares how they first became involved in advocacy, the legislative challenges they’re navigating and the proactive initiatives shaping their states. They also highlight successful campaigns that have advanced and protected the school counseling profession. Throughout the conversation, the guests emphasize the importance of…

People in this episode

Host: Leisl Moriarty

Guests: Amy Baltimore, Lauren Mendez, Ashley Seeklander, Becky Lins

Topics covered

• advocacy
• school counseling
• legislative challenges
• relationship-building
• state associations

Keywords

• advocacy
• school counseling
• legislative challenges
• state associations
• community resources

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tennessee School Counselor Association, Washington School Counselor Association, South Dakota School Counselor Association, Iowa School Counselor Association, ASCA

Places: Long Beach, Calif.

More episodes of I Hear You Say

• Beyond Tiered Interventions: Strengthening MTSS in Schools · June 1, 2026
• Episode 58: Strengthening School Counseling: A Model for Training and Support · April 30, 2026
• Episode 57: The Power of School Counseling: 2026 SCOY Finalists Share Their Impact · March 26, 2026
• Episode 56: Opening Doors: The 2026 SCOY on Using Data to Help Each and Every Student Succeed · February 23, 2026
• Episode 55: Creating Safety: How School Counselors Support Students Through Trauma · January 27, 2026
• Episode 53: Finding Our People: The Power of Affinity Groups in School Counseling · November 29, 2025