Agenda
8:30am Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00am Understanding the Role School Climate, Culture, and Relationships Play in Student Well-Being | Nina Kumar, Authentic Connections | Sloan Theatre
The COVID-19 pandemic had profound and far-reaching implications for student and educator well-being. Rates of clinically significant student anxiety and depression have risen since early 2020, and a majority of educators continue to report high levels of burnout. According to resilience research, well-being relies on relationships; if we want students to do well, we must ensure that their primary caregivers, including adults at school, are doing well.
Using results from evidence-based surveys administered to over 118,000 students and 18,000 educators since Spring 2020, Authentic Connections (AC) has identified the aspects of school life most closely linked to student and educator well-being. In this session, Nina Kumar, CEO of AC, will:
- describe the modifiable aspects of school life that are most closely linked to student and educator well-being,
- highlight aspects of school climate commonly mentioned as areas for improvement by students and educators across schools,
- share specific best practices and concrete recommendations that can be applied to protect social-emotional well-being in your community.
10:00am Break | Kaplan Lobby
10:15am Breakout Session I | Select One
Strategies to Prevent and Address the Impact of Stress on Adolescent Mental Health and the Adolescent Brain | Kelly Graves, The Kellin Foundation | Kaplan Lobby
The adolescent brain has always been associated with significant change and growth, but how does cumulative stress like COVID and other stressors impact how teens think, feel, and behave inside and outside the classroom? In this workshop, we will explore how the brain changes in response to stress and how it “shows up” in adolescent mental health and adolescent behavior. Participants will review tangible tips and tools to help support student well-being and social-emotional learning as critical components to student success.
Overcoming Communication Barriers: How to have the Crucial Conversations | Dr. Hayley Watson | Black Box
This session will focus on strategies to communicate effectively in situations of conflict and challenge. Communication roadblocks will be identified, as well as tools for overcoming these roadblocks with students, colleagues and families. There will be a chance to practice language that can be used to achieve the best outcomes for all, so that these interactions can become more calm and less stressful.
11:30am Keynote with Dr. Hayley Watson: Supporting Teachers to Navigate Student Mental Health Challenges | Sloan Theatre
As an education leader, you are faced with student mental health challenges every day, and you know the pressure that this places on your team. Often teachers aren’t sure what to say or how to help students who are anxious or overwhelmed, which means there is an increased reliance on mental health ‘intervention’ and less focus on ‘prevention’. This session will provide you with simple strategies that you can use as a leader to create a school culture that supports student mental health every day, while also supporting your teachers to thrive.
12:30pm Lunch & Small Group Discussion | Kaplan Lobby
During this time, we encourage participants to sit with NCAIS colleagues from around the state to make new connections by selecting a table with a topic that resonates.
1:30pm Breakout Session II | Select One
How to help students build habits and skills they need to handle the pressure online and offline | Chelsea Lopez, The Social Institute | Kaplan Lobby
From FOMO to increased stress, students are facing the pressures of social media, especially since social media engagement increased by 61% during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020. And now, 54% of teens feel it would be difficult to give up social media completely. In fact, no other generation has been exposed to social media in the way that current students are.
Between school work, at-home responsibilities, and social lives, both online and offline, students are balancing more than ever. Join this session to explore expert tips on how your school can equip students with the habits and skills they need to handle the pressure online and off.
In this session, we will explore ways to help your students:
- Handle their emotions even with it's tough
- Understand how their minds and bodies respond to stress and anxiety
- Build habits that promote high performance under pressure
I'm WITH You: A Restorative Approach to Student and Teacher Wellness | Bridget Gwinnett | Greensboro Day School
The fundamental hypothesis of Restorative Practices is that "people are happier, more cooperative and more likely to make positive changes when those in authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them." Learn how these evidence-based strategies not only enhance student wellbeing but also nurture teacher satisfaction and collaboration. This session will focus on proactive and responsive techniques for teachers and administrators to build a positive, inclusive learning environment where everyone thrives emotionally, socially, and academically.
Drawing in Peacefulness | Sandy Litzenberger, The Fletcher Academy | Black Box
For our students, social media can be an unlimited source of useless information. It feeds anxieties, fears of judgment, as well as fears of the future. Because consuming this information is registered unconsciously, it is difficult to identify and verbally communicate the resulting emotional responses. They remain bottled up or work their way out in ways that have a negative impact on emotional well being.
Using our senses helps to deal with the trauma and anxiety of living through stressful times. In the cultural arts around the world, the senses are intrinsic to the creation of music, dance, poetry and special art objects to cope with the mysteries and stressors of living in the world. Engaging the arts is helpful in dealing with the problems people face. In this breakout session, using “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain,” Sandy Litzenberger will introduce a drawing exercise that provides shelter for anxious minds.
2:45pm Breakout Session III | Select One
Creating Environments to Boost Wellness Practices in School Settings | Ana Forte, FLIK | Black Box
Wellness initiatives for the whole school community is top of mind this school year. From creating stress free zones, providing nutritious meals, school gardens and wellness plans FLIK is working in partnership with its schools to understand their unique needs and how we implement holistic wellness initiatives that work.
Naloxone (NARCAN®) Availability in Schools: Practical, ethical and legal implications | Rachel Rumbarger, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP, Cone Health Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator | Sloan Theatre
The opioid epidemic is an ongoing and increasing problem that unfortunately impacts children. Naloxone (NARCAN®) is a safe and effective treatment for an opioid overdose, but should schools be carrying and administering it when needed? This session will review how naloxone works, how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to administer naloxone. The ethical and legal implications will also be discussed along with available resources.
3:45pm Adjourn
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