Equipping Educators in San Antonio
“Counselors and advisors deserve high-quality, relevant professional learning opportunities. Having spent over a decade as a teacher and then the other half of my career as a college counselor, I can say that my experiences differed widely. When I was a teacher, my learning was often aligned to some standards, and had clear learning outcomes with activities designed to meet those objectives. Here at Contigo Ed, we believe school counselor and advisor training can be like that and so much more. ”
That's the fire that ignited Contigo Ed. We believe counselors and advisors deserve better. They deserve high-quality, relevant professional learning that ignites their passion and equips them to truly empower students.
Equip Educators
Donald Kamentz, our CEO, puts it perfectly: "Imagine the look on a student's face when they discover a hidden passion, a college that's the perfect fit, or a career path that ignites their dreams. This is the future we're building, counselor by counselor, student by student."
Take our recent workshop with nearly 100 school counselors and advisors, in 3 different school districts across San Antonio and Bexar County, Texas. Rooted in our beliefs that postsecondary credentialing matters, and that there’s a program or institution for everyone, counselors participated in a variety of credentialing and job-related exploratory activities. “There are so many different jobs in the healthcare field that I hadn’t even considered. I can’t wait to do this activity with my students!”, one participant shared with us. Participants also explored the concepts of college match and fit as they relate to building robust college wishlists. These sessions blended the approach to counseling as both an art and a science. While we used data-informed advising practices in our resources, we leveraged the background and experiences of the counselors themselves in the case-study advising activities that were customized specifically for students in the region. There were real, authentic conversations about match and fit in a rapidly changing postsecondary environment.
Note: It was also very important to us that participants were well fed throughout the workshop, and we always seek out local vendors to provide us with culinary delights. See the video for more!
Building College and Career Identities
We believe that building a career and college going identity is a developmental process, and we take an asset-based, culturally sustaining approach in all our activities and resources. And the results speak for themselves. Nearly all participants in our San Antonio workshop agreed the content and activities directly impacted their work. Ms. Tiffany Venzor, Director of School Counseling in San Antonio Independent School District, noted that “[the] Contigo Ed counselor and advisor professional development was informative and interactive. The activities embedded throughout the session provided real world applications for campuses to use with students and faculty and staff. We look forward to additional professional development opportunities with Contigo Ed.”
What sets us apart?
Extensive firsthand knowledge: We understand postsecondary pathways advising, instructional planning, and the intricacies of school leadership.
Proven results: We have a track record of success in supporting counselors and creating lasting impact for students.
A passion for equity: We're dedicated to ensuring all students, especially those traditionally underrepresented, have access to the resources they need to thrive.
Contigo Ed offers a variety of live in-person and virtual learning experiences. These workshops cover a variety of topics related to building a college and career going identity; college list building with an emphasis on match and fit; college and postsecondary applications; and, postsecondary transition and summer melt. Reach out to us now for beginning-of-year workshops for your counselors and advisors.
Contact us to learn more about our professional learning offerings and how Contigo Ed can become your partner in ensuring equitable postsecondary access and opportunities for all.
