Bridging to Resilience

Our kids and families are coming to us under high stress and often with trauma.  What are some researched techniques that can help kids and families find self-regulation?  Mindfulness, meditation, and Emotional Freedom Techniques are all in the same family of tools.  What is EFT?  In this interactive session Deborah Factor, an EFT practitioner of 15 years, will share and demonstrate the powerful healing available to people though EFT.  Physicians, pastors, teachers, schools, parents and kids are finding a new emotional freedom through the power of tapping.  Come and participate in this session and leave with the ability to heal yourself and others.

In order to learn, to connect with others, and to thrive, all people need to be in a calm, ventral vagal state. I promote a universal approach which means everyone present participates.  This makes it feel safe for individuals to engage. Based on polyvagal theory & the research work by Bessel van der Kolk & others, I encourage group activities that are done in sync or in cooperation with one another such as communal rhythms (drumming or “trash can band”), dance (line dancing), yoga (so useful to learn how to use one’s body to self-regulate and de-escalate emotions), or theater (no pressure in engaging with others, as one is playing a part.)
Mental health treatment has been cognitively heavy for decades; however, there is good research support for physical activities that bring us into sync with others. After the central nervous system is settled, the individual is prepared to use their mind in any way they choose.

Get ready for a dynamic and interactive breakout session that will energize your leadership style! Join us as we dive into the concept of INspired Leadership and explore the seven levels of energy that can elevate your influence and impact.
In this lively session, you’ll participate in games, activities, and collaborative discussions designed to help you uncover how different energy levels affect your leadership effectiveness and the culture of your team. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just starting your journey, you’ll walk away with actionable insights and strategies to inspire those around you!
Key Takeaways:

• Learn about the seven levels of energy and how they can transform your personal and professional relationships.
• Engage in fun, hands-on activities that illustrate the power of energy dynamics in fostering a positive and productive environment.
• Discover practical tools to assess and shift your energy levels.
• Connect with fellow participants in a supportive atmosphere that encourages sharing and collaboration.

Join us for an uplifting experience where you can harness your energy, elevate your leadership, and leave feeling inspired to make a difference in your community!

In this session participants will learn about co-regulation and the importance of relationships. Participants will learn and practice multiple mindfulness and regulation techniques that can be used individually or in groups, classrooms, meetings, sports, practices; or really anywhere! Participants will come away with multiple applicable skills at the end of this interactive session!

They did what?  I did this!  How I as the adult respond to behaviors leads to a regulated classroom and provides the opportunity to build a culture of belonging.

Have you heard of Restorative Practices and believe it is the right path that you want to be on as an educator? Have
you talked to colleagues, read a couple articles, maybe read.a book...and you still are not sure where to start! Come
join my session to learn about three practices you can implement starting tomorrow (and 1 bonus idea) that will get you
and your school on the first steps to Restorative Practices being implemented to support all kids and behavior! Oh, and
these things will create positive behavior practices in your classroom and school grounded in connection and empathy!

There is a lot of talk in trauma-responsive schools that we are shifting from punishment vs. discipline - but what does that mean, and how do we do that in a way that still maintains high expectations and accountability for students and staff? If you've ever asked yourself this question, this session is for you! During this session, we will identify common classroom behaviors and move our practices from threat, isolation, and shame to promoting safety, dignity, and belonging in four steps. This is a beginner's session.

Immerse yourself in this interactive session on how to promote healing with trauma-informed physical practices.  Participants will learn current research on the relationship between the mind and body and how to implement physical activity techniques.  Topics include: grounding techniques, classroom based physical activities, cross-lateral exercises, and therapeutic movement.

So often we assume that the body and brain are two separate things.  We teach the brain but ignore the body.  
We know that your brain craves routine, consistency, and predictability but it also craves novelty.
We have seen an upswing in dysregulation in our classrooms and when we don’t take the time to sit beside our students in those moments and provide opportunities for coregulation and teach them some responsive, proactive strategies to begin to notice the onset of dysregulation we are putting them at a disadvantage.
I will be focusing on the applied educational neuroscience framework, nervous system development, and lots of strategies that can be incorporated into your classroom or practice with very little time - no money and will have tremendous impact on focus, attention, restoring some calm, and continue to support building resilience within our students and ourselves.
Discipline begins with us and these responsive strategies can be built into our daily routines that are going to make a real difference!