The Business Education Partnership Foundation (BEP) will hold Counselors' Leadership Institute (CLI) from June 8th - 10th at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. CLI is a summer conference designed to equip K-12 school guidance counselors with information that will enable them to more effectively guide students as they make choices about their futures.
The CLI summer conference provides school guidance counselors in the Murfreesboro City and Rutherford County public school systems with information on post-secondary education options, workplace trends, skill gaps, and careers.
According to BEP Executive Director Amelia Bozeman, students and parents depend on counselors for advice on subjects ranging from middle school class schedules to life after high school. "We've had a tremendous response to this conference. School guidance counselors are tasked with a diverse array of responsibilities, and CLI is a tremendous opportunity for them to obtain updated and accurate information. Families rely on school counselors, and we want to provide our counselors with the best information possible," she said.
CLI will feature Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Workforce Development Beth Duffield, who will provide counselors with updated information on workforce trends and challenges through engagement with local business leaders. Topics will include career and technical education pathways, "training the trainer" and job interviewing skills. In addition, counselors will hear expert industry presentations in healthcare, IT, logistics, and manufacturing accompanied by site visits and tours.
"We are excited to provide an opportunity for guidance counselors in Rutherford County to learn more about the dynamics of five key business sectors in our community including manufacturing, information technology, healthcare, and logistics, as well as hospitality and tourism. We believe the information gained by participating in the field trips and panel discussions available during CLI will enable the counselors to help our Rutherford County freshmen make more informed choices about their career pathway tracks in high school as well as help juniors and seniors make wise post-secondary choices after high school," Duffield said.
In addition to updates on workforce and post-secondary education options, CLI will be packed with speakers who will address overall development as well as emotional and mental health challenges, including presentations on topics such as: the Autism Spectrum and Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy, growing with ADHD, addressing bullying, suicide prevention, identifying children who are at risk for mental health issues, signs of child abuse and neglect, as well as recognizing students who are physically harming themselves.
Bozeman said, "When students are facing adverse situations, often teachers and school counselors represent the first, and perhaps the only, opportunities children have to get help. We know that counselors want to help students in difficult circumstances, and we want to do everything we can to equip them to provide that help for students who are hurting."
United Way partner agencies will provide information and local resources on helping families meet the critical needs of food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. President and CEO of the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties Meagan Flippin said, "United Way is proud to partner with BEP to provide resources and education to our local school counselors on the services available to students. United Way recognizes the importance of addressing the whole child, and our community offers a wide array of programs to complement what is being accomplished in the classroom. Our students are the leadership of tomorrow, so it's critical that we position them for success in every opportunity."
The Business Education Partnership (BEP) Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1988 with the help of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. The BEP states as its mission: "To foster interest in and to promote and support programs in public schools of the City of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County that will prepare students for the business world."
To learn more about the Business Education Partnership Foundation and its programs for teachers, guidance counselors, and students, visit rutherfordbep.org, or call (615) 278-2008.
