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

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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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

8:00am EST

Breakfast - Exhibits Open

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

Meals & Networking

9:00am EST

Improving Accessibility With Technology & UDL

Tuesday February 9, 2027 9:00am - 10:00am EST

Speakers

Jeff Horwitz

Education Consultant, Novak Education

Jeff is a 20-year educator and has been an administrator at independent schools in St. Louis since 2013. He is passionate that all children deserve a high-quality education and believes strongly in surrounding students with passionate adults that can provide a personalized, 21st-century... Read More →

Tuesday February 9, 2027 9:00am - 10:00am EST

Keynote

10:00am EST

Break - Exhibits Open

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:00am - 10:30am EST

Break

10:30am EST

Breakout

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Speakers

Jeff Horwitz

Education Consultant, Novak Education

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

10:30am EST

From Talking About Students to Partnering for Students

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

When talking about students, too many meetings end the same way: everyone nods, nothing changes, and the same concerns resurface. This session presents the C.A.R.E.S. Framework: a five-part meeting structure, grounded in child and adolescent development and resilience research, that moves schools from a deficit-first, compliance-driven meeting posture to a strengths-first, partnership-driven one....
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Speakers

Jessica Laliberte

Director of the Teaching and Learning Center; College Advisor, Resident Life Faculty, Darlington School

Jessica Laliberte is the director of the teaching and learning center, a college advisor, and a member of the boarding school faculty at Darlington School, a PreK-12 independent boarding and day school in northwest Georgia. She oversees and leads alongside division heads and deans... Read More →

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Breakout: Collaborative Care Models

10:30am EST

The Accommodation Equity Crisis in Independent Schools

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

The accommodation system built to protect students with genuine learning differences has a problem, and both educators and students can see it. In independent schools especially, access to private psychoeducational evaluations has quietly transformed a civil rights protection into a competitive advantage for families with means, eroding trust, fairness, and the integrity of the support system...
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Speakers

Trish Bogdanchik

Associate Head of School, Mount Vernon School

Trish Bogdanchik is the associate head of school at Mount Vernon School, a PK-12 independent school in Atlanta, GA, where she brings 20+ years of classroom and leadership experience to the intersection of academic support, student well-being, and educational equity. She holds a Master's... Read More →

Marni Spear

Student, Class of 2027, Mount Vernon School

Marni Spear is a student in the Class of 2027 at Mount Vernon School in Atlanta, GA. As a co-author and co-presenter of this work, she brings something no adult in the room can offer: the unfiltered perspective of a student living inside the system being examined. Her willingness... Read More →

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Breakout: Mental Health & Well-Being

10:30am EST

Coaching Students to Improved Executive Function

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

In this session, participants will learn to assess and recognize student behaviors as indicators of EF challenges. Together we will walk through the steps to design an intervention plan that follows a coaching model.

Speakers

Kathleen Sullivan

Director of Professional Learning, Hill Learning Center

Kathy Sullivan is the director of professional learning at Hill Learning Center in Durham, NC. Kathy attended the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, earning degrees in elementary education, special education, and school administration. In her career... Read More →

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

10:30am EST

Let's Talk! An SLP-Led Conversation About Dyslexia

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Participants will learn how to support their dyslexic students in the classroom who may have speech and language weaknesses. Key components include Identify characteristics of how the students present in the classroom. Evaluate word-retrieval delays that manifest as slow letter naming or heavy reliance on vague filler words.Target morphological (word-internal structure) and syntactical...
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Speakers

Tasha Wisehart

Co-Director, Speech-Language Pathology Program, The Schenck School

Tasha Wisehart is a mission-driven educational leader and licensed speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience, including 11 years at The Schenck School in Atlanta, GA, which is a renowned remediation school for students with dyslexia. Tasha previously served as co-director... Read More →

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

10:30am EST

Small Groups, Big Impact: Academic Skills Coaching

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Explore how a small-group elective course, Academic Seminar, can transform executive functioning and academic skills for students in grades 6-12. Learn how Academic Seminar empowers students to build essential skills like organization, time management, study habits, goal setting, and self-advocacy through weekly coaching. Discover how instructors support students in a small group setting, offering...
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Speakers

MiLani Ramos

High School Learning Specialist, Oaks Christian School

MiLani Ramos is a dedicated education professional with over two decades of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs. After spending 20 years as a special education teacher, MiLani developed a deep expertise in individualized instruction, adaptive strategies, and... Read More →

Robin Vukoje

Senior High School Learning Specialist, Oaks Christian School

Robin Vukoje, Psy.D., is a school psychologist, licensed psychologist, and learning specialist with over 15 years of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs. She currently serves as senior high school learning specialist at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village... Read More →

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Breakout: Support Tools & Strategies

10:30am EST

Addiction-Proofing Our Students in An Addictive World

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Opportunities for addictive and risky behaviors are escalating for our students, from substances to screens to self-harm, and initiation into them is beginning progressively younger. Our students’ engagement in self-destructive behaviors can interfere with present learning, future thriving, and overall school climate. Luckily a wealth of prevention research informs us on how to foster protective...
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Speakers

Kriya Lendzion

"Retired" School Counselor, Prevention Specialist, Adolescent Addictions Clinican, Various Schools (contract services) as ThriveWise, LLC

Kriya emerged from her own journey through teen addiction and mental illness with a fierce passion for the prevention, early intervention, and treatment of substance use disorders and other self-destructive behaviors in youth. Three decades later, she has served as a school counselor... Read More →

Tuesday February 9, 2027 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Breakout: Transitions & Growth

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