MASCA 2025 Governing Board Election

Thank you for participating in the 2025 MASCA Governing Board election. This year, we have four candidates running for three open governing board seats. Each open seat is for a three-year term, running July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2028. Please review the candidates’ information and vote for the THREE (3) candidates of your choice.  Voting will be open from 8 am on Tuesday, January 21st  through 11:59 pm on Friday, Febrary 7th, 2025. 

 Note:  Per our bylaws, only professional and retired members may vote in this election. 
Membership must be active and voters must be logged in to vote.
(You may log in now by clicking on the blue icon on the upper right of this page.)

Note: the above voting link will only be functional between January 21 and February 7, 2025.

Meet the Candidates   (listed in alphabetical order):

Mindy Cripps

Melinda (Mindy) Cripps is in her 22nd year of being a professional school counselor.  She graduated from Bridgewater State College ('01) with a Bachelors in psychology and Assumption College ('03) with a Masters in School Counseling and Social and Rehabilitation Services.  Mindy began her school counseling career in Barnstable High School, then spent eleven years at Haverhill High School as a school counselor. Over the last ten years, Mindy has been the Director of School Counseling for grades K-12 at Billerica Public Schools, where she oversees the school counseling department, student records and confidentiality, districtwide 504 compliance, is the Title IX coordinator, the civil rights coordinator, and the person who handles bullying and harassment complaints, among various additional roles.  Mindy stepped into a leadership role with MASCA in February 2021 as the chairperson for the newly formed Ethics Committee, and has led the committee through a revision of the ASCA Ethics Standards, the Ethics Symposium series, and a multitude of PD offerings for MASCA Members as a seasoned presenter.  In 2022, Mindy was elected to the MASCA board.  She is also a co-founder of the MASCA LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, and the recipient of the 2022 MASCA Leadership Award.  Mindy recently served as the Assistant Chairperson (22-23) and the Chairperson (23-24) of MASCA, and is also a founding member of MASCA's Summer Camp for school counselors.   She believes deeply in supporting all students, and ALL means ALL.  On a personal note, she lives in Andover with her two teenagers.  In her free time, she enjoys lacrosse, paddleboarding, kayaking, and hiking.   

What will you champion for as a MASCA Board Member?  As a MASCA Board Member, I aim to ensure that all school counselors across the Commonwealth understand that there is a place for them in MASCA.  Whether counselors are in graduate school, just starting their career, are a veteran counselor, or in the twilight of their tenure, MASCA consistently has offerings for everyone, at every level of participation.  It's important as a profession that we collaborate with colleagues, build trusting relationships across districts, and learn from each other.  I believe that fostering dialogue at the state level with our MASCA members is a key part of our growth as individual counselors, district departments, and as a professional community. Our students are stronger when we as professionals are stronger.  Our students are best supported when we are able to share best practices not only in our departments, but across the state.  Connection and relationships are everything when it comes to working with students, and MASCA allows school counselors to foster a similar connection with peers to discuss best practices, create valuable PD opportunities, and enjoy collegial interaction with counselors who will inspire your growth, frame your mindset, and open your heart to new opportunities in learning.  

Cory McGann

My name is Cory McGann and I am currently head of the Counseling Department at Ashland High School in Ashland, Massachusetts.  I am in my 15th year as a counselor in Massachusetts and my 18th year overall, having spent the first three years of my career as a School Counselor in Connecticut.  For the past seven years I have served as the head of the Counseling department here at AHS, leading a team of now six counselors in our department (as well as a very handsome good boy named Huxley who serves as our therapy dog).  For MASCA I am currently serving as a Governing Board member as well as leading the Emerging Leaders team, and a member of the School Counseling shortage committee, helping to address the current shortage of counselors in our profession. I have been married to my wonderful wife Laura for the past 21 years, and have a daughter who is a senior in high school and a son who is a freshman in high school.  I am passionate about music, travel, and the insistence on using the oxford comma when listing things (particularly if it is a list of things I am passionate about).

What will you champion for as a MASCA Board Member? I feel so immensely lucky and grateful to have found this profession.  I really love my job, primarily because it serves two specific needs: it allows me to help people, and the work we do matters and is vitally important.  Some of the best work we do purposely flies under the radar, so it can be difficult to champion what we do.  That is why an organization like MASCA is so hugely important.  I've met a lot of School Counselors and while we are quick to help others and be advocates for our students, we have a harder time representing ourselves and the great work we do.  Having a strong, vital, and vibrant professional organization helps us advocate for ourselves and to ensure that our profession is not only protected, but helps us communicate the wonderful work we are doing.  In my role as a member of the MASCA governing board is to ensure that whenever possible we are advocating for our profession and communicating the valuable work we are doing day-in and day-out.  

Amanda ugrinow

Amanda Ugrinow is a Nationally Board Certified School Counselor, and is currently a school counselor at Westborough High School in Westborough MA. Amanda earned her School counselor master's degree at New York University, and her undergraduate degree in English and Secondary Education from Lesley University. In her free time, she is often playing with her two cats (Oswald and Moe), sewing, or cooking. Amanda currently is the chair of the MASCA summer camp professional development conference, as well as the professional development co-chair for MASCA.

What will you champion for as a MASCA Board Member?  My plan is to champion bringing back fun into the profession. School counseling is hard, a lot of work, and can be emotionally draining. My hope as a board member is to remind others why school counseling is the profession they chose to get into, and bring excitement to new and prospective school counselors. I always tell my students "do what you love", and I want to help others fall back or fall in love with this job as well. Also, as a nationally board certified counselor, I am hoping to work with MASCA to get CEU's approved so we can start offering them to everyone, and work to make sure everyone in this profession is supported.

bertha weche

My name is Bertha Weche, and I am a first-year school counselor. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and have faced numerous challenges throughout my life. As a first-generation student from an immigrant, single-parent household, and a teenage mother, I have worked hard to overcome adversity. Today, I am a married woman who deeply values the power of education. I now reside in Springfield, MA, where I proudly serve my community as an educator and a liaison for parents, helping their children reach their full educational potential. In my spare time, I enjoy reading—especially historical fiction—traveling and indulging in my love of food. My guiding philosophy is Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

What will you champion for as a MASCA Board Member?  As a MASCA board member, I am committed to championing several key priorities. First and foremost, I aim to advocate for the school counseling profession, ensuring that the role of school counselors is recognized and supported within educational settings. I will work to highlight school counselors as essential members of the educational team who play a crucial role in student success. Additionally, I will focus on ensuring that all students, particularly those facing adversity—such as mental health challenges, academic struggles, or socio-economic barriers—have access to the necessary resources and support they need. A major priority for me is fostering stronger community engagement and increasing conversations with stakeholders. I believe school counselors serve as vital connectors between various groups in the educational process, and I will work to build more meaningful partnerships with these stakeholders. Finally, I recognize the growing need for mental health support in schools, and I am committed to advocating for more resources and programs to help students build resilience, manage stress, and improve their emotional well-being.

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