2027 Academic Support & Student Well-Being Conference: Full Schedule

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8:00am EST

Breakfast - Exhibits Open

Monday February 8, 2027 8:00am - 9:00am EST

Meals & Networking

9:00am EST

Executive Functioning: The Foundation of Well-Being

Monday February 8, 2027 9:00am - 10:00am EST

Speakers

Mike McLeod

Founder, Grow Now

In 2016, Michael created the Internal Skills Executive Function Strengthening Model, and GrowNOW ADHD was born. His mission: improve quality of life for youth and families facing ADHD and executive function challenges.

Mike has presented this model to audiences nationwide and inte... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 9:00am - 10:00am EST

Keynote

10:30am EST

Academic Coahing as a Systems Lever for Student Independence

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Clarify what academic coaching is and what it is not (how it differs from tutoring, homework help, counseling, advising, MTSS/RTI, and specialized intervention).

Understand the areas academic coaching can address (executive functioning, planning, task initiation, organization, study strategies, self-monitoring, metacognition, self-advocacy, and ownership) and where "teaching moments" come in before handing thinking back

Identify which student needs are best matched to academic coaching and which needs may require a different support, intervention, or system.

Consider how academic coaching can help students translate support into daily academic behaviors and increasing independence.

Reflect on where academic coaching fits within a school’s broader student support structure and how it can strengthen, rather than replace, the work already happening.

Begin thinking about what structures are needed to make academic coaching more coordinated, sustainable, and independence-centered.

Speakers

Lauren Sweeting

Director, Upper School ERP, Charlotte Country Day School

Lauren Sweeting is the director of the upper school educational resource program at Charlotte Country Day School, where her work focuses on helping students become more independent, confident, and effective learners. She works closely with students, families, teachers, and school... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Breakout: Collaborative Care Models

10:30am EST

Beyond the Silo: Holistic Student Support Systems (Part 1)

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

How do schools move from isolated interventions to a coordinated system of support that helps every student thrive? This session explores a comprehensive approach to student support that pulls together faculty, learning specialists, counselors, and administrators in a shared framework centered on student success. Participants will learn effective strategies for student care based on how Ravenscroft, a PreK-12 all gender college preparatory day school located in Raleigh, NC, identifies student needs, coordinates interventions, aligns supports, monitors progress, and fosters collaboration across the division and campus. Through practical examples and lessons learned, we will examine structures, communication practices, and decision-making processes that strengthen support for students academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for building a more connected, proactive, and student-centered support system within their own schools.

Speakers

Samantha Borkovic

Director of Student-Athlete Well-Being, Ravenscroft School

Samantha Borkovic is the director of student athlete well-being at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC. She oversees the mental and emotional health of over 800 student athletes in grades 7-12 at Ravenscroft School. She partners with local clinicians, families, coaches, and school administrators... Read More →

Dania Borrero

Upper School Counselor, Ravenscroft School

Dania Borrero is an upper school counselor at Ravenscroft School, where she supports student well-being, academic success, and social-emotional development. She serves on the upper school leadership team and partners with faculty and families to strengthen school culture, belonging... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Breakout: Collaborative Care Models

10:30am EST

Built to Belong

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Students thrive when they experience a genuine sense of belonging, but belonging doesn’t happen by chance. It is intentionally designed through everyday interactions, shared experiences, and a school-wide commitment to meaningful relationships.

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how every adult in a school has the power to strengthen student well-being by creating intentional moments of connection that become the foundation of a lasting school culture. Through the lens of a practical framework developed within an independent school, attendees will learn how proactive community-building can foster belonging, increase student voice, strengthen relationships, and create opportunities for early intervention before concerns escalate.

Rather than focusing on another advisory curriculum or isolated wellness initiative, this session challenges educators to rethink how school culture is intentionally built. Participants will leave with practical tools, planning templates, and implementation strategies that can be adapted to schools of every size and structure.

Speakers

Nikecia Silvera Thompson

School Counselor, Jewish Leadership Academy

Nikecia Silvera-Thompson is a school counselor and student support leader with more than 15 years of experience in education. She has developed comprehensive student wellness initiatives, advisory programming, crisis response protocols, and collaborative support systems within independent... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

10:30am EST

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations for Growth, Well-Being & Change (Part 1)

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Engage in a comprehensive mini course on Motivational Interviewing (MI). Learn and practice a transformative communication method that shifts resistance and reluctance to readiness for students and staff alike! Motivational Interviewing is a research-backed communication approach that fuels growth, well-being, and lasting change.

As independent school educators committed to the whole child, we know that meaningful support goes beyond academics. It requires strong relationships and responsive, connected school communities. MI offers a compassionate approach to collaboration that helps educators turn everyday interactions into opportunities to build trust, spark motivation, and strengthen the bonds that support both academic success and student well-being. In this workshop, educators will learn the framework of MI and practice specific skills for using MI through dynamic, experiential sessions. MI doesn't just improve conversations, it transforms them, turning everyday interactions into powerful catalysts for growth, connection, and change.

Speakers

Tamara Hamilton, LCSW, CMBT

MS Executive Functioning Specialist, The Lovett School

Tamara Hamilton is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience in behavioral health. For the past 13 years, she has focused on issues affecting children's well-being, with a particular emphasis on integrating social and emotional learning and executive... Read More →

Sebastian G. Kaplan, PhD

Associate Professor, Wake Forest University

Sebastian G. Kaplan, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. Sebastian is a former high... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

10:30am EST

Missing Link: Emotional Regulation to Support Executive Functioning

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Executive functioning has become a central focus in schools, yet many interventions fail to address a critical prerequisite: emotional regulation. Students cannot effectively plan, organize, initiate tasks, manage impulses, or sustain attention when their nervous systems are operating from a place of stress, overwhelm, or disconnection. In this interactive session, a school counselor and learning support coordinator will explore the dynamic relationship between emotional regulation, belonging, and executive functioning.

Drawing from neuroscience, counseling, and learning support practices, participants will examine how emotional safety and connection directly influence students’ ability to access and demonstrate executive functioning skills. Through case studies, reflection, and practical strategies, attendees will learn how to identify regulation barriers that are often mistaken for executive functioning deficits and how to create environments that foster readiness to learn. Participants will leave with actionable tools to strengthen student engagement, independence, resilience, and academic success across diverse learning environments.

Speakers

Renea Bartlett

Primary Learning Support Coordinator, Atlanta International School

Renea Bartlett, MAT, is the primary learning support coordinator at Atlanta International School. She is an international education leader who has taught K-9 and adult education in Japan, Chile, Argentina, and the U.S. and is a licensed special education teacher and literacy specialist... Read More →

Kalee Thompson

School Counselor and Student Support Coordinator, Rabun Gap Nacoochee School

Kalee Thompson, MSW, is the lower school counselor and learning support coordinator at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. She has a background in international school counseling, therapy, yoga, and early childhood education, with experience supporting students and families across diverse... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

10:30am EST

Parent Education for Executive Functioning (Part 1)

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Speakers

Mike McLeod

Founder, Grow Now

Monday February 8, 2027 10:30am - 11:15am EST

Breakout: Transitions & Growth

11:15am EST

Break - Exhibits Open

Monday February 8, 2027 11:15am - 11:45am EST

Break

11:45am EST

Beyond the Silo: Holistic Student Support Systems (Part 2)

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Speakers

Samantha Borkovic

Director of Student-Athlete Well-Being, Ravenscroft School

Dania Borrero

Upper School Counselor, Ravenscroft School

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Breakout: Collaborative Care Models

11:45am EST

Supporting Families Beyond Accommodations

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Explore current research on parent experiences raising children with high-incidence disabilities and examine emerging findings from a qualitative study of parents navigating support within private middle schools. Identify the challenges families experience when seeking accommodations, collaborating with educators, and advocating for their children in independent school settings. Discover how trust, communication, transparency, and shared problem-solving influence family-school partnerships. Reflect on ways independent schools can strengthen systems of support while maintaining their unique missions and cultures. Participants will leave with practical strategies for improving collaboration with families, increasing parent trust, and creating more responsive educational environments for students with learning differences.

Speakers

Caryn London

Middle School Student Support Specialist, Ransom Everglades School

For the past two years, Caryn has been the middle school student support specialist at Ransom Everglades, overseeing middle school students' learning accommodations and providing academic support. Previously, she was a school counselor at another independent middle school for 13... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Breakout: Collaborative Care Models

11:45am EST

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations for Growth, Well-Being & Change (Part 2)

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Speakers

Tamara Hamilton, LCSW, CMBT

MS Executive Functioning Specialist, The Lovett School

Sebastian G. Kaplan, PhD

Associate Professor, Wake Forest University

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

11:45am EST

Scroll Less, Thrive More: A Digital Wellness Blueprint for Tweens and Teens

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Examine the growing research linking adolescent short-form video use to sleep disruption, fear of missing out, anxiety, and diminished academic performance. Explore a school-based Integrative Digital Wellness Curriculum designed for middle schoolers ages 11–14, evaluated through a rigorous pre-test/post-test research design using four validated instruments: the SVAS-MSS, FoMO Scale, ASHSr, and SMDS-P. Investigate the evidence-based, three-phase Digital Detox Protocol (Preparation, Detoxification, and Maintenance) as a replicable model combining behavioral, nutritional, and psychological strategies proven to restore adolescent well-being. Discover how dopamine recalibration through physical activity, mindfulness, sleep hygiene, and authentic social connection supports lasting digital resilience. Walk away with curriculum frameworks, assessment tools, and implementation strategies ready for immediate use in your independent school community.

Speakers

Cynthia Ley-Sepe

Middle School Dean, The Cushman School

Cindy Ley Sepe is the dean of The Cushman School, one of the oldest independent schools in South Florida, where she has also served as an educator for over twenty years. In her role as dean, she works at the intersection of student wellness, academic culture, and school leadership... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

11:45am EST

Leveling Up Your Academic Support

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Explore how The Out‑of‑Door Academy’s Academic Café levels up academic support through practical, consistent, and student‑centered systems. This session highlights how the learning center improves outcomes for all learners by establishing routines and providing supports for stakeholders. Participants will see how we run effective small‑group support sessions, develop a schoolwide executive functioning curriculum, track accommodation usage, and foster meaningful parent involvement, with resources provided for attendees to adapt in their own schools. The session also shares approaches for supporting college transitions and equipping students and teachers with practical learning tools. Attendees will leave with replicable structures, ready‑to‑use strategies, and a clearer vision for elevating academic support.

Speakers

Aaron Kaufman

Upper School Learning Specialist, The Out-of-Door Academy

Aaron Kaufman is a learning specialist and educator with a decade of experience supporting neurodiverse learners across elementary, middle, and high school settings. He currently serves as an upper school learning specialist at The Out‑of‑Door Academy, where he co‑built the... Read More →

Gabriela Maraia

Upper School Learning Specialist, The Out-of-Door Academy

Gabriela Maraia is an upper school learning specialist at The Out-of-Door Academy, where she supports students through accommodations, executive functioning coaching, and individualized academic support. She also develops and presents professional development sessions for educators... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

11:45am EST

Parent Education for Executive Functioning (Part 2)

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Speakers

Mike McLeod

Founder, Grow Now

Monday February 8, 2027 11:45am - 12:30pm EST

Breakout: Transitions & Growth

12:30pm EST

Lunch

Monday February 8, 2027 12:30pm - 1:30pm EST

Meals & Networking

1:15pm EST

Better Together: Collaborative Support for Student Success

Monday February 8, 2027 1:15pm - 2:30pm EST

Discover a successful framework for collaboration among school personnel, parents, and private practitioners to effectively support students with learning and speech-language needs. Learn how the lower school director of learning services at Battle Ground Academy and the Franklin Special District speech-language pathologist have built a collaborative partnership that bridges institutional boundaries and creates seamless support for students and families.

Explore practical strategies for sharing information across providers, interpreting evaluation data collaboratively, aligning intervention goals, and monitoring student progress through a unified plan. Examine best practices for facilitating joint parent meetings that strengthen communication and ensure every professional speaks with one clear voice. Leave this session with actionable ideas and tools for building collaborative and cohesive academic support systems to increase student success.

Speakers

Suzanne Hayes

Lower School Director of Learning Services, Battle Ground Academy

Dr. Suzanne Hayes is the lower school director of learning services at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, TN. In this role, she partners closely with the school's speech-language pathologist, the learning services team, teachers, parents, and private therapists and tutors to ensure... Read More →

Angie Young

Speech-Language Pathologist, Battle Ground Academy/ Franklin Special District

Angie Young is a speech-language pathologist with more than 20 years of experience serving school-aged children with a wide range of speech and language needs. She is currently employed with Franklin Special District (FSD) in Franklin, TN. In her role as SLP with FSD, Angie works... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 1:15pm - 2:30pm EST

Breakout: Collaborative Care Models

1:15pm EST

Serving Well: Sustaining Ourselves for Lasting Impact

Monday February 8, 2027 1:15pm - 2:30pm EST

This session is a capacity-building workshop designed to support educators', practitioners', and leaders' wellness and the sustainability of impactful work. In this workshop, participants will envision and define what it means to be well, individually and collectively. Participants will identify obstacles to wellness and create action plans to consistently reflect on and maintain their wellness in service.

Speakers

Ashley Ellis

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging and Director of Enrichment, Atlanta Speech School

Ashley Ellis is a wife, mother, educator, leader, and creative dedicated to helping individuals and organizations cultivate environments where people can thrive. She holds an M.Ed. in Learning, Leadership, and Organizational Development from the University of Georgia and a B.S. in... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 1:15pm - 2:30pm EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

1:15pm EST

Circle Practice: Strengthening Advisory & Student Well-Being

Monday February 8, 2027 1:15pm - 2:30pm EST

Speakers

Stephanie Ressler

St. Anne's-Belfield School

Monday February 8, 2027 1:15pm - 2:30pm EST

Breakout: Transitions & Growth

1:30pm EST

The Parent Anxiety Call Was Never Yours

Monday February 8, 2027 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST

Name the call you take three times a week: the parent convinced something is wrong with their kid, when what is actually wrong is that their kid is 11 and the door just closed for the first time. From 17 years as an independent school dean, walk through the exact conversations, the voicemail, the pickup-line ambush, the 10 p.m. email, and the specific words that turned a spiraling parent back into a capable one. Distinguish the parent trying to stay close from the parent managing their own anxiety, two things that look identical from the inside and completely different from where the kid is standing. Learn the WILD Compass, a framework you can use in the doorway Monday morning to run these redirects yourself. Leave understanding why this call was never yours to carry, how to hand the load back, and what it takes to shift a whole parent community, not one call at a time.

Speakers

Megan Saxelby

Keynote Speaker and Parent Coach, Wild Feelings

Megan Saxelby spent 17 years inside independent schools as an educator and grade-level dean at Berkeley Carroll and Hawken before founding Wild Feelings. She is the U.S. Country Chair for Global Dignity, certified in Dr. Susan David's Emotional Agility framework, and a collaborator... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST

Breakout: Collaborative Care Models

1:30pm EST

Helping Students Thrive Through the New 3 R's

Monday February 8, 2027 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST

Discover how resilience, emotional regulation, and relationships shape students' academic success, well-being, and sense of belonging. Explore the neuroscience of stress and its effects on learning, executive functioning, motivation, and mental health. Practice brief mindfulness and regulation strategies that support students experiencing anxiety, overwhelm, learning differences, and everyday stress. Apply adaptable techniques that strengthen communication among educators, counselors, families, and students while creating emotionally supportive school environments.

Through a learn-discuss-do model, participants will experience practical activities, reflect on real student scenarios, and collaborate on implementation strategies tailored to independent schools. Attendees will leave with evidence-informed tools that can be integrated into advisory programs, counseling, classrooms, athletic programs, and student support services to promote resilience, belonging, and student well-being without adding significant demands to already busy schedules.

Speakers

Dr. Christopher Willard

Psychologist and Consultant, Harvard Faculty, CEO and Founder, Independent Practice, Harvard Medical School, Enlightened Livelihoods

Dr. Christopher Willard (Psy.D.) is a clinical psychologist, author, and consultant based in Massachusetts. He has spoken in over 40 countries and presented at two TEDx events. He is the author of twenty books, including Alphabreaths (2019), Growing Up Mindful (2016), and How We... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

1:30pm EST

Navigating the Gray: What Does Care Look Like? A Conversation between Counselors and Deans of Students

Monday February 8, 2027 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST

How do school leaders and counselors balance student well-being with accountability? This interactive session is designed to bridge the gap between counseling and student discipline. Led by counselors and student affairs deans, this workshop explores how to build foundation-level trust, protect confidentiality, and extend grace while upholding school standards.

Participants will examine the delicate balance of mental health and accountability, discussing whether "care" means allowing a mental health day, holding a student accountable, or a mix of both. Through collaborative, scenario-based discussions, attendees will learn how to engage families as partners and navigate complex student situations with clarity and collaboration. Join us to bring clarity to the gray areas of student support.

Speakers

Beth Eberl

K-12 Director of Counseling, University School of Nashville

Beth Nakamaru Eberl is a dedicated mental health leader with almost 30 years of experience spearheading counseling and student wellbeing initiatives in independent K-12 schools. She currently serves as the director of counseling at the University School of Nashville. Grounded in an... Read More →

Nicole Jules

Assistant Head of High School, Student Affairs, University School of Nashville

Nicole Jules has spent 20 years at University School of Nashville building the systems that hold a school community together (discipline policy, advisory curriculum, faculty culture, and student support), the last 8 of those years chairing the school's Cultural Competency Committee... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

2:15pm EST

Break - Exhibits Open

Monday February 8, 2027 2:15pm - 2:45pm EST

Break

2:45pm EST

Scaling Support Through Student-Centered Data

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Academic support is deeply relational, but traditional, isolated caseload models make it difficult to systematically identify school-wide trends. In this interactive session, Mount Vernon School shares its operational blueprint for scaling student coaching to reach 97.39% of the high school population. By analyzing over 4,300 student touchpoints, our team transitioned from a reactive, remedial space to a visible, proactive, schoolwide Tier 1 division. We will demonstrate how to physically redesign support environments to destigmatize help-seeking, optimize existing flex blocks to target executive functioning, and utilize private AI as a collaborative partner to securely translate qualitative logs into Tier 1 classroom strategies. Participants will leave with a practical toolkit, including automated tracking templates, to sustainably expand coaching capacity and foster student agency.

Speakers

Lori DeCamp

Upper School Learning Coach, Mount Vernon School

Lori DeCamp is an upper school learning coach at The Mount Vernon School, with 22 years of educational experience, including 16 years teaching Latin and 6 years in academic support. She holds an MA in Psychology with a focus on adolescent learning. In addition to her passion for helping... Read More →

Margaret Gunter

Director of Grade 9 & 10 Counseling and Upper School Academic Resource Coordinator, Mount Vernon School

Margaret Gunter is an experienced educational leader with a passion for supporting student growth, fostering meaningful connections, and building strong school communities. As the director of counseling for grades 9 and 10 and academic resource coordinator, she brings expertise in... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Breakout: Collaborative Care Models

2:45pm EST

ADHD Remixed: Dropping the Latest Treatment Research

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

ADHD is everywhere, but is the conversation keeping up with the neuroscience? In this session, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Scott Hamilton will drop the latest research on one of the most diagnosed and most misunderstood conditions affecting students today.

This session will cover current research findings on ADHD: updated prevalence data, evolving diagnostic criteria, cutting-edge pharmacotherapy, and the emerging concept of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome. Dr. Hamilton will examine what actually works (evidence-based school and home strategies, effective accommodations, and comorbidity considerations including ADHD's frequent overlap with anxiety, learning disabilities, and autism spectrum disorder) and what doesn't, calling out popular interventions and widely-held assumptions that lack empirical support. Special attention will be given to how updated diagnostic frameworks and treatment approaches can inform the work of learning specialists across educational settings. Attendees will gain current, actionable knowledge they can apply immediately in their schools and share with parents.

Speakers

Scott Hamilton

owner/clinical psychologist, Understanding Minds, PC

Dr. Scott Hamilton is a licensed clinical psychologist who founded Understanding Minds PC in Atlanta. He has over 25 years’ experience providing comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations of children, adolescents, and young adults.

Scott received his Master’s and Doctorate D... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

2:45pm EST

Beyond Wellness Week: Building Comprehensive School Mental Health

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Explore how independent schools can move beyond isolated wellness initiatives to build a comprehensive, schoolwide mental health strategy. Examine current trends affecting student well-being, including anxiety, executive functioning challenges, school avoidance, and the growing need for trauma-informed support. Assess your school's strengths and gaps through a strategic lens and identify opportunities to strengthen prevention, intervention, and community-wide mental health practices.

Learn how to build student resilience and mental health literacy, increase faculty capacity to recognize and respond to student needs, and develop meaningful partnerships with families. Apply a framework for designing tiered systems of support, aligning policies and practices with student well-being, and creating sustainable structures that support learning, belonging, and success.

Leave with practical tools, planning resources, and a draft multi-year mental health roadmap tailored to your school's unique needs and priorities.

Speakers

Katharine Halsey

Consultant, 12M Recruiting

Katharine March Halsey is an educational leader and social worker with more than 15 years of experience leading independent, therapeutic, and innovation-focused school communities. She specializes in building student-centered environments that support adolescent well-being, executive... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

2:45pm EST

Beyond Accommodations: A New Model for Student Support

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Explore how one independent school moved beyond a traditional accommodation model to better support bright middle school girls with dyslexia and executive functioning challenges. Examine how changing applicant profiles, gaps in early intervention, and increasing student needs led to the development of a comprehensive school-based support program within a college preparatory environment. Learn how GPS designed a program that integrates evidence-based literacy intervention, executive functioning coaching, confidence-building, and strong collaboration among students, families, teachers, and support staff. Consider both the practical and philosophical aspects of building a program like this, including identifying student needs, staffing and scheduling, balancing rigor with support, supporting faculty, and communicating with families. Leave with practical ideas, guiding frameworks, and implementation strategies for strengthening student support systems within your own school.

Speakers

Sarah Clardy

Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning & Instructional Coach, Girls Preparatory School

Sarah Clardy is the director of The Center for Teaching and Learning and an instructional coach at Girls Preparatory School. She holds a B.S. in Organizational Management, an M.Ed. in Special Education, and has completed her Instructional Coaching Certification through University... Read More →

Kathryn Outlaw

Head of Middle School and Director of Student Support Services, Girls Preparatory School

Kathryn Outlaw is the head of middle school and director of student support services at Girls Preparatory School, where she also serves on the senior leadership team. She holds an Ed.S. in School Psychology and is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership at Vanderbilt... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

2:45pm EST

Soundboards: A Listening Process for Well-Being & Prevention

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Speakers

Lee Bergeron

Soundcheck Prevention Network

Liz Boeschen

Porter-Gaud School

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

2:45pm EST

Building Resilience While Maintaining High Expectations

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Independent Schools strive to challenge students academically while supporting their well-being, yet many educators wrestle with balancing rigor and support. Explore how resilience can be intentionally developed without lowering standards or removing productive struggle from the learning process. Examine practical strategies that help students confidence in the face of challenges.

Learn how to create environments that encourage growth while maintaining accountability and high expectations. Discover approaches for integrating resilience-building practices into advisory programs, student support systems, classroom experiences, and everyday interactions with students. Review real-world examples and actionable tools that promote perseverance, emotional regulation, and healthy coping skills.

Leave with framework for helping students embrace challenges, recover from setbacks, and develop the skills needed to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally in today's increasingly complex world.

Speakers

Jeff Haddock

Assistant Head of Middle School, Davidson Day School

Jeff Haddock is the assistant head of middle school at Davidson Day School is Davidson, NC. With experience spanning school counseling, student support services, wellness programming, and educational leadership, he is passionate about helping students develop the skills and mindsets... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST

Breakout: Transitions & Growth

3:45pm EST

Break - Exhibits Open

Monday February 8, 2027 3:45pm - 4:15pm EST

Break

4:15pm EST

Redefining Success: Combatting Achievement Culture By Centering Student Voices

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

In today's educational landscape, the pressure to excel often overshadows students' holistic development. The Lovett School, a K-12 independent school in Atlanta, GA, has partnered with Challenge Success to address this issue by promoting a balanced approach to success. Over the past two years, this collaboration has focused on redefining priorities, fostering a healthier community, and emphasizing student well-being. Dedicated teams of teachers, parents, students, administrators, and trustees have worked together to broaden the notion of success, guided by survey data. This session will share insights from Lovett’s journey, highlighting the importance of shared decision-making in creating meaningful change.

Speakers

Amy Darsey

Assistant Head of Lower School for Teaching and Learning, The Lovett School

Amy Darsey has dedicated over two decades to education, with a steadfast focus on elementary-aged learners. Beginning her career in 2002, she has spent most of her professional journey at Lovett, building deep expertise across both teacher and student facing roles.

As one of the assistant heads in the lower school, Amy channels her passion into three core priorities: cultivating teacher growth and instructional craft, championing student development, and fostering meaningful partnerships with families to strengthen the school-home connection... Read More →

Sara Friedman

Director of School Counseling, The Lovett School

Sara Friedman brings over 20 years of experience in independent school counseling, spanning lower, middle, and upper school settings. For the past 15 years, she has been an integral part of the Lovett School community, first serving as a middle school counselor before being named... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Breakout: Collaborative Care Models

4:15pm EST

Equipping Faculty to Support Students After Crisis

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Schools are increasingly navigating moments when students’ sense of safety and belonging is disrupted: an identity-based incident on campus, a regional crisis (e.g. the L.A. wildfires) or a divisive national event. As administrators coordinate a response plan, faculty are expected to show up ready to manage classrooms thoughtfully, often feeling uncertain about what to say and how to say it. Learn how to prepare faculty to respond to challenging moments with confidence, clarity, and care and ensure cohesion in the school’s communication and approaches. The session will include practical language strategies, facilitation moves, and classroom practices to best support students processing difficult events.

Speakers

Carley Dryden

Founder, Carley Dryden Coaching and Consulting

Carley is the founder of Carley Dryden Coaching and Consulting, where she partners with schools to translate equity, leadership, and faculty development goals into practice. Carley has deep experience as a senior leader at K-12 schools, serving as a director of equity and inclusion... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

4:15pm EST

Real Talk: A Framework for Student Well-Being

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Explore how intentional, relationship-centered initiatives can strengthen student well-being, character, and belonging during the middle school years. Examine how one school developed Real Talk, a structured initiative created in collaboration with a school counselor to provide meaningful opportunities for students to discuss the challenges, questions, and experiences of adolescence. Discover strategies for identifying student needs, partnering across disciplines, and integrating proactive student support into advisory, leadership programs, and other schoolwide initiatives. Leave with practical tools and a framework for designing developmentally responsive experiences that strengthen relationships, foster student voice, and build a positive middle school culture.

Speakers

Alyssa Johnson

School Counselor, Episcopal Day School

Alyssa Johnson, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, is a licensed professional counselor, mental health therapist, and school counselor at Episcopal Day School in Augusta, GA. She brings experience from both clinical and school settings to her work supporting children, adolescents, and families, with... Read More →

Ty Jenkins

Head of Middle School, Episcopal Day School

Dr. Ty Jenkins is the head of middle school at Episcopal Day School in Augusta, GA. She is passionate about creating school cultures where every student is known, challenged, and supported through meaningful relationships, strong instructional practices, and intentional student support... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

4:15pm EST

Learning Detectives: Uncovering Executive Function in Your Own Classrooms

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Join in as learning detectives and help crack what executive function really looks like in your classroom. Teachers do executive function triage every day, trying to teach reading, math, and everything else on their schedules. This session pulls that hidden work into the light, names it, and empowers teachers to strengthen it together.

Through short, hands-on activities, teachers will map implicit executive function demands across a typical morning, complete a quick self-audit on the skills they already teach explicitly, and unpack one common executive function challenge from their own classrooms. Teachers will realize what supports they already have in place, identify gaps, and walk away with one clear next step to implement right away.

Speakers

Jennifer Barcella

Teaching and Learning Coordinator, St. Timothy's School

Jen Barcella is in her 29th year in education. She has dedicated her career to serving students in a variety of roles, including classroom teacher, support teacher, curriculum specialist, athletic coach, and more. A lifelong learner, Jen is passionate about fostering student success... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

4:15pm EST

The Overwhelmed Generation: Rebuilding Student Engagement Through Connection

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Many schools are seeing rising levels of disengagement, anxiety, and behavioral challenges among students. While many people interpret these behaviors as laziness, apathy, or defiance, they may instead reflect emotional overload, chronic stress, or difficulties with executive functioning. Understanding the difference can transform how educators respond.

This interactive session explores the growing impact of cognitive overload, emotional regulation, and digital demands on student engagement. Participants will examine current research on adolescent development and student well-being while learning how these factors influence attention, motivation, classroom participation, and behavior.

Rather than focusing solely on compliance, attendees will learn practical strategies that prioritize connection, psychological safety, and responsive teaching practices. The session includes immediately applicable tools for building stronger relationships, increasing student engagement, reducing power struggles, and creating classroom environments where students can thrive academically and emotionally.

Participants will leave with a framework for recognizing when behavior shows unmet needs, practical interventions that can be used in all grade levels, and strategies for supporting students while keeping expectations high. Whether serving as teachers, counselors, learning specialists, or school leaders, attendees will gain actionable ideas they can use to foster resilience, strengthen belonging, and improve learning outcomes throughout their schools.

Speakers

Rashad Young

High School Counselor, Author, Psychology instructor, Christian Brothers College High School

Rashad Young is a high school counselor, psychology educator, counselor-in-training, and national speaker based in St. Louis, MO. His work focuses on student engagement, adolescent mental health, and practical strategies that help educators better understand today's learners. Rashad... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

4:15pm EST

Rethinking Math Instruction Through a Literacy Lens

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Many teachers who confidently teach literacy feel real anxiety about teaching math. Often, this is because math instruction hasn't been approached as language instruction. But math is a language, with its own vocabulary, syntax, and comprehension strategies, and teachers already have powerful literacy tools they can apply to it.

In this session, two passionate, experienced math educators will show how to bring reading and writing practices into math class: explicit vocabulary-building, sentence stems for math talk, multi-sensory strategies for building number sense, fact fluency practices modeled on literacy fluency instruction, story-based word problem analysis, dedicated time to practice strategies, and formative assessment beyond paper-and-pencil tests.

Participants will leave with concrete, low-prep strategies to shift their mindset about teaching math and build a classroom culture where math talk and multi-sensory learning are as natural as literacy instruction.

Speakers

Danielle Cogbill

Learning Strategist and Athletics Academic Support, The Westminster Schools

Danielle Cogbill joined Westminster with more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, department chair, and learning specialist. As learning strategist and athletics academic support, she works directly with student-athletes, coaches, and families to support academic growth, executive... Read More →

Sasha Mills

Educational Consulting & Academic Coach, SGM Educational Consulting & Academic Support

Sasha Mills brings more than 15 years of experience as a teacher, learning strategist, and school leader supporting students across early childhood through middle school. In her current role, she provides individualized educational consulting for families, delivers multisensory math... Read More →

Monday February 8, 2027 4:15pm - 5:00pm EST

Breakout: Transitions & Growth

5:00pm EST

Reception - Exhibits Open

Monday February 8, 2027 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST

Meals & Networking

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