Summer Training Institute Participants: What Educational Consulting is All About
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA
On the final day of IECA’s 2009 Summer Training Institute, the participants worked on their personal business plans. It’s an exercise that demonstrates the dual hats consultants wear: advisors to students and families on one hand and small businesspersons on the other. As the exercise began, I reminded the participants of the importance of being honest with their thoughts and feelings—only such honesty can make a business plan work.
The exercise starts where all good business plans originate: by considering one’s reasons for wanting to pursue an educational consulting career. I gave a few examples: the need to realize some income after retiring as a school counselor or wanting to continue the excitement one felt when they went through a college, school, or therapeutic placement with their own children.
After some quiet introspection, the answers flowed from the novice consultants in the room: “to see children reach their potential,” “to see students achieve their dreams,” “to be there for first generation and impoverished students,” and “help a family in crisis discover a path toward healing.”
It was a terrific moment. In the midst of a session that was (in theory, at least) about the business side of educational consulting, the heart of consulting came through and shone.
No one argued in favor of preying on parent anxieties as a marketing tool; no one held to the belief that the profession engaged in packaging students or re-writing students essays; no one promoted the claims of admission secrets or whispered connections; no one spoke of perks or growing rich. Many, however spoke of service, of establishing non-profits to better help the under-served, of the importance of ethics and passion.
When I shook hands and thanked participants following the final dinner, I never felt better about the direction of the profession. The 90 members of the class of 2009 will, both collectively and individually, enhance and promote educational options for adolescents with compassion, competence, and commitment.
IECA’s Summer Training Institute – Class of 2009
Related posts:
- Curious About IECA’s Summer Training Institute? Then, Read This…
- Information Dump: The Summer Training Experience for Upcoming Independent Educational Consultants
- Blogging from the IECA Summer Training Institute
- Opening Day of Summer Institute: Becoming an Entrepreneur & Attendee Insights
- Summer Training Institute Becoming Just a Memory? Time for a Tune Up!
After having a few days to reflect on the IECA summer institute, it was an amazing time! The energy, commitment and interest from the staff at the conference was unmatched. (Even as we bombarded them with questions during breaks and meals!) The attendees were also wonderful and I came away with lots of new ideas on how to better meet my students’ needs, as well as the importance of bringing fun and humor into what can sometimes be a stressful process.
Thanks Mark and all the STI faculty. I returned home yesterday incredibly (exhausted!) energized and motivated to get started making my consulting operation “Guidance for College” a living, breathing and helping entity! The experience was made complete by getting to know my fellow attendees. The sharing of information and feedback was invaluable. Thank you!!
I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a non-profit organization to help the underprivileged, can we get someone to talk about how to go about doing this at the next conference? While we do a fair amount of probono work now, the businessman inside of me knows that establishing a separate entity to do the pro bono work is a better business move. I would really like to learn more about it so I can avoid any potential pitfalls.
I’m so proud to be an associate member of IECA! When I read Mark’s latest blog about the final day, I almost started to cry…but, instead, I linked it to my (personal) Facebook page for all my friends to read. And don’t worry, Mark. Shortly my (professional) Next Step College Counseling Facebook page also will be up and running (with a big nod to you and your energetic social networking session!) so the IECA site as a whole will be linked there as well! Thanks again to everyone who made the STI so inspiring.
Simply the best educational training experience I have had in years! Thank you IECA!