2013 Iowa School Counselor Association Conference

Keynote Speakers:

Monday and Tuesday, November 4-5, 2013

Julia V. Taylor
Growing Up Girl: Empowering Girls to Resist Societal Pressures, Fight Unrealistic Media Standards, and Develop a Healthy Body Image

Today’s standard of beauty is unrealistic and unattainable. It’s not a coincidence that body image disturbances are widespread, contagious, and toxic. School counselors have a unique opportunity to revive a culture that has become exhausted by media saturation, the myth of perfection, and body bullying.

Julia will discuss the power of the media and dangers of hyper-connectivity in regard to body image and self-loathing among girls. A diverse range of empowerment activities will be shared to provide participants with solution-focused, innovative and implementable strategies designed to raise awareness and provoke change.

Bill Withers
Staying Afloat in a Permanent Whitewater World of Change 

These days, many of us struggle to simply "keep both oars in the water" at work. Dr. Bill Withers will "workshop us" through a better understanding of leading through service to others and how we might look at ourselves as "change agents," a more-proactive approach, not just for the students and families we serve, but for our colleagues. Without question, "change" is the 'new normal' throughout K-16 education, an era Bill describes as one of "permanent whitewater," with our careers at times careening through 'turbulence, rocks, and rapids' around every corner.  Some days it's simply hard to stay afloat.  This interactive, high-energy, morning session will help us better understand the nuances of change, leadership, and service to others.  BUT, Bill warns us to make sure we've had our coffee that morning, and that it might not be a bad idea to have a lifejacket handy (chuckle)!