Episode 58: Strengthening School Counseling: A Model for Training and Support

About this episode

The episode discusses the SEAL program aimed at training emergency-certified school counselors in Oklahoma.

<img class=" wp-image-4856 aligncenter" src="https://videos.schoolcounselor.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ep58_social_media_1080x0180.jpg" alt="" width="376" height="376" />In this episode of I Hear You Say, host Jill Cook, executive director of the American School Counselor Association, and co-host Leisl Moriarty, director of affiliate relations at ASCA, are joined by leaders from the Oklahoma School Counselor Association – Chelsea Hinkle, Dr. Sarah Kirk and Allison Morris – to discuss their 2025 award-winning Supporting Emergency and Alternative Licensure (SEAL) program. Created in response to a growing number of emergency-certified school counselors across the state, SEAL is a semester-long virtual training series designed to build foundational skills and align participants with the ASCA National Model®. The conversation explores how the program is strengthening confidence, improving program quality and expanding access for school counselors in rural and virtual settings. The group also shares lessons learned along the way, including navigating funding challenges, building buy-in and using data to support advocacy efforts.

People in this episode

Host: Jill Cook

Guests: Chelsea Hinkle, Dr. Sarah Kirk, Allison Morris

Topics covered

• school counseling
• training programs
• emergency certification
• rural education
• advocacy

Keywords

• school counseling
• SEAL program
• training
• emergency certification
• ASCA National Model
• rural counselors
• advocacy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: American School Counselor Association, Oklahoma School Counselor Association, Supporting Emergency and Alternative Licensure (SEAL)

More episodes of I Hear You Say

• Beyond Tiered Interventions: Strengthening MTSS in Schools · June 1, 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 54: Advocacy in Action: State Leaders Strengthening the School Counseling Profession · December 22, 2025
• Episode 53: Finding Our People: The Power of Affinity Groups in School Counseling · November 29, 2025