To Whom it May Concern,
My name is Kayla Selby and I am writing to express my interest in becoming the secondary level vice president on the Iowa School Counselor Association board from 2016-2019. Currently, I am the 7-12th grade school counselor at Earlham Community Schools in Earlham, Iowa. This is my second year as a school counselor, as I graduated in December of 2014 with my masters degree in School Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa.
Since entering graduate school, the ISCA conference has been something I have looked forward to each year. My first year I went as a student and was blown away by the size and depth of the conference. Each year my expectations have been exceeded, and I am always able to leave feeling rejuvenated and inspired. I am routinely impressed by those that put the conference on, and after this year I left feeling like the ISCA board was something that I wanted to be a part of.
School counseling is a profession that I feel very passionate about. When I tell
people what it is that I do for a living, there is typically a pretty negative response. I jump at any chance to correct people’s perception that being a school counselor is an awful job, and I let them know that there is no need to be “sorry” for what I do. I am reminded daily of how important of a job I have, which is why I would like to join the ISCA board.
As part of the ISCA board, I would like to be a part of advocating for counselors and their jobs. I want to help counselors get connected with resources that they may not know about, and help plan a meaningful and inspirational conference each year. It is very easy and safe to stay within the four walls of my school, but I feel that my passion and drive need to expand elsewhere, which is why I am applying for this position.
I am excited about the possibility of meeting with others on the board who are as passionate as I am. Working in a small school, I do not get to collaborate with others in my line of work, which is something that I am looking forward to if being selected for this position. I look forward to joining committees that will help me develop professionally while assisting other school counselors in the state. Although young, and fairly new at this job, I feel that I would be a great addition to your already strong board. My passion and enthusiasm are the things that keep me going each day, and are things that I believe would be an asset to your board.
Thank you for your consideration and all that you do. I feel blessed to be a school counselor in the state of Iowa and much of that is due to the work of our ISCA board. Sincerely,
Kayla Selby
7-12 School Counselor Earlham Schools
ISCA Secondary VP Application
Please fill out the application form below. Attach your resume and a letter of intent. The letter of intent should include a statement of your willingness to attend meetings and participate on committees as well as why you are interested in this board position and how you would hope to contribute to the
organization.
You may send all materials to Amy DeGroot-Hammer at [email protected]. Materials are due to Amy DeGroot-Hammer by January 4, 2016. The election will be held January 11-22, 2016. Candidates will be notified about the election outcome shortly after voting closes.
Applicant’s name: Kayla Selby
Address: 1077 Cobalt Drive West Des Moines, IA 50266
School Counseling Position: 7-12 School Counselor Earlham Community Schools Telephone: 515-758-2214 x449
Email address: [email protected]
Please provide one reference that I may call: Name: Jennifer Knight
Professional position: Secondary Principal Earlham Community Schools Phone number: 515-758-2214 x141
Email: [email protected]
Please attach a picture that can be used for election purposes. Thank you for your interest in this board position.
Kayla S. Selby
1077 Cobalt Drive West Des Moines, IA 50266 | 563-212-8410 | [email protected]
EXPERIENCE_______________________________________________________________________
7-12 School Counselor | Earlham Community Schools | August 2014- Present
● Duties
o Scheduling for 7-12 graders via JMC, organizing testing (ACT, SAT, PSAT, & ASVAB), career planning (ACT Profile) for 8-12th graders, organizing scholarships, sending transcripts, running small group and individual
counseling sessions, organizing concurrent college classes, setting up college visits, running an academic group with struggling students, organizing informational parent nights, etc.
● Student Council Advisor 2015-present
● Middle School Basketball Coach 2015-present ● District Leadership Team 2014-present ● School Safety Committee 2014-present
● School Improvement Committee 2015-present ● Building Assistance Team 2014-present
● Student Advisory Planning Team 2014-present ● 504 & IEP Team 2014-present
Graduate Assistant | University of Northern Iowa | August 2012-May 2014
● Assisted program professors with research & helped with everyday tasks ● Interviewing committee for new applicants and faculty members
● Assisted with CACREP Accreditation Fall 2013
● Trainings include: Drupal website training, and SPSS training.
EDUCATION________________________________________________________________________
Master’s Degree| December 2014| University of Northern Iowa| Cedar Falls, IA
● School Counseling MA
● 4.0 GPA
● Graduate Assistant (2 years)
● Chi Sigma Iota Honors Society –Secretary
Bachelor’s Degree | May 2012 | University of Northern Iowa| Cedar Falls, IA
● Major: Sociology
● Minor: Coaching
● 3.58 GPA
● Certificate in Family and the Life Course
● Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society
● Missouri Valley Conference All-Academic Team: Spring 2009 and Spring 2010
● Dean’s List: Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, and Spring 2012
● Track and Field athlete Fall 2008-Spring 2010
High School | May 2008| Central High School| DeWitt, IA
● Graduated with honors
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS______________________________________________
● American School Counseling Association (ASCA) ● Iowa School Counseling Association (ISCA)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT________________________________________________
2015-2016
● Iowa School Counselor Association Conferences- Des Moines, IA November 2015 ● Self- Regulation Seminar- Des Moines, IA November 2015
● School Based Mental Health Conference- Des Moines, IA October 2015 ● Family Engagement Symposium- Des Moines, IA September 2015 2014-2015
● At-Risk Conference Des Moines, IA April 2015
● Iowa School Counselor Association Conferences- Des Moines, IA November 2014 ● School Based Mental Health Conference- Des Moines, IA September 2014
2012-2014
● Trauma Training Kathie Barry-Aplington-Parkersburg School Counselor April 2012. ● Iowa School Counselor Association Conference-Des Moines, IA November 2013 ● Play Therapy Seminar-Dr. Kristin Meany-Walen November 2013
REFERENCES_______________________________________________________________________
Jennifer Knight Secondary Principal
Earlham Community Schools (515) 758-2214 x141
[email protected] Jon Peterson
Secondary Instructional Coach Earlham Community Schools (515) 778-8616
[email protected] Bailey Gulley
English Teacher
Earlham Community Schools (515) 975-9933
[email protected] Penny Jacobi
Manager DeWitt Aquatic Center & PE Teacher Calamus-Wheatland Elementary Wheatland, IA
(563) 212-2266
[email protected] Steve Plummer
Manager & Owner Peppers Sports Bar & Grill Cedar Falls, IA
(319) 266-9394
