Pendleton, OR -- Counselor Connection, professional development hosted and organized by the Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network (REN) gathered for its final in-person training of the 2025-2026 school year on March 19, 2025. The event drew 27 participants from 9 districts. This school year, the REN has hosted two in-person Counselor Connection events, drawing 49 total participants from 12 districts. Between in-person gatherings, counselors meet to discuss problems of practice and share ideas online during monthly virtual meetings. The monthly meetings–-professional learning communities–-are organized by grade band and facilitated by counselors Tina Crowell of Morrow County School District and Teresa Dowdy of La Grande School District.
The morning portion of the gathering focused on providing training to K-12 counselors on Motivational Interviewing, an evidence-based counseling style that emphasizes empathy, self-efficacy, reflection, and open-ended questioning strategies to enhance an individual’s motivation to change behavior. The training was provided by Lisa Ladendorff, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who also founded Northeast Oregon Network (NEON) in La Grande, Oregon. In the afternoon, counselors received training provided by Dr. Will Henson, a clinical psychologist who works with school districts to provide support for educators working with adolescents with behavioral challenges. Dr. Henson covered a variety of topics ranging from technology’s impact on students to strategies for engaging reluctant learners.
Ladendorff appreciated the opportunity to work with school counselors, noting how difficult their jobs are and how important it is for them to receive their own specialized training. “Motivational Interviewing is a very strengths-based and hopeful way of approaching change conversations with people of all ages, engaging students, parents and colleagues in discovering their own motivations and reasons for change,” she said. “This highly skilled group of counselors worked to improve their ability to support all students and parents towards success in the school environment.”
Counselors, likewise, have expressed appreciation for an organized space in which to learn, receive training, and share ideas as historically, there has not been a great deal of dedicated professional learning for counselors in the region.
K-12 counselors, behavior specialists, and counseling support staff from 21 regional school districts in Union, Morrow, Baker, and Umatilla counties are invited to attend all Counselor Connection offerings. This format will continue in the 2025-2026 school year.
For more information about Counselor Connection or other IMESD/REN hosted professional development, please contact Emily Williams at emily.williams@imesd.k12.or.us.