The FSCA Delegate Assembly held Saturday, October 31, 2009 voted to accept the following unopposed candidates for the positions of President-elect, Vice-President Region 5, and Vice President, High School respectively.

Candidate for President
Three-year term beginning July 1, 2010
(President-elect, President, Past-President)

Chris Smith

School Counselor, Beacon High School
Naples, Florida.

Personal Statement

A strong believer in FSCA’s vision and mission I was with FSCA as it transitioned to a successful independent organization. I am committed to helping FSCA reach its goals and serve school counselors. My activity with FSCA started in 2004 when I was recognized as Secondary School Counselor of the Year and appointed Member At Large to FSCA’s Board. I was Membership chair of the newly independent FSCA during which time I helped oversee a huge jump in FSCA’s membership and was elected Vice President for High School. I have been instrumental in planning and implementing the School Counselor Summer Academy in 2008 and am currently coordinating the 2009 FSCA Convention. I have twice represented Florida at ASCA’s Delegate Assembly. I am also active in the Collier School Counselor Association serving as its Vice-President.

I have been secondary school counselor for 26 years in Lee and Collier Counties, having served as Director of Guidance at Gulf Coast, Barron Collier, and Mariner High Schools. I am a believer in strong counseling programs based on data and student needs. I am certified in both guidance and leadership and am currently working at Beacon High School serving at-risk and drop-out students in Collier County.

Candidate for Vice-President, Region 5, South Florida
Two-year term beginning July 1, 2010

Clifford H. Mack, Jr.

Florida Bible Christian School, Miramar, Florida

Personal Statement

I believe School Counseling to be a calling to serve and advocate for students with whom we have been entrusted. As a school counselor, I am challenged to provide an empathetic environment where students are encouraged, prepared and equipped for their desired paths of life. I accepted the calling for this honorable and worthy profession based on the opportunity to invest in lives. This profession, with its long hours and rare times of underappreciated efforts, permits me to invest in relationships that make a difference.

As a school counselor, I strategically put my students in position to gain knowledge and understanding as it relates to selecting the college or career that fits their uniqueness and develop appropriate personal and social life skills. FSCA has been an asset to me as I sojourn in my pursuits to put my students in the best position possible. Based on my commitment to the craft and art of school counseling, I desire to serve as the Region 5 Representative (South Florida) for the purpose of serving and advocating for the school counseling community and giving back to FSCA family with my time, talents, and passions.

Candidate for Vice-President, High School Level
Two-year term beginning July 1, 2010

Hope Sims

School Counselor,
Olympia High School
Orlando, Florida.

Personal Statement

My name is Hope B. Sims and I am applying for the position of Vice President, Secondary. I have always had a desire and a need to make a difference. Being a Professional School Counselor is a rewarding career and one that I take pride in. I have been a practicing Professional School Counselor for nine years and I have experienced changes that are concerning to the profession.

Professional School Counselors are constantly being challenged with the question, “How do you help students?” It seems that no other educational profession is questioned more in regards to accountability than the Professional School Counselor. That is why I feel sharing of ‘best practices’ is a very important resource. I feel that I have reached a point in my career that my desire and need to make a difference for Florida students must go beyond the school doors.

In recent years, Professional School Counselors, particularly in Florida, have had to deal with the increase of responsibilities with limited resources and support. It would be an honor to represent high school counselors and Florida students by serving on the board.