Bridging to Resilience

The brain behaves differently depending on its emotional state. Bruce Perry references this as "state dependent functioning." This seems like an obvious truth to most on an individual level when we consider our personal experiences. We have all made better or worse decisions depending on how we were feeling in a given moment. However, how much of our educational system, procedures, protocols, practices, school cultures, instructional design are built to support and incorporate this understanding? This presentation contends the answer to this question historically is, "very little." This session is designed to explore how we have, or more importantly, how we can factor state dependent functioning into our work as educators. Why is this important? Critical? As our emotional states shift as adults or students, the amount and type of access we have to our cognitive abilities changes.  Our IQ is impacted. If student learning, safety and well-being are priorities, we not only need to understand state dependent functioning, but how we can use this understanding in our various roles.This session is designed to explore how we have, or more importantly, how we can factor state dependent functioning into our work as educators. Why this is important... Critical.

Take a journey with me as we experientially feel the emotions and dysregulation a special education student may feel in any classroom. Then we'll see and feel the difference when trauma responsive and restorative justice practices are implemented.  

In this session we will walk through McPherson Middle School’s journey towards our comprehensive counseling program.  We will explore how we utilize data to develop a tier one SEL program as well as tier two and tier three interventions. We will share different strategies used and obstacles we encountered while implementing our program.

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!

School districts are facing challenges that can seem insurmountable when it comes to supporting the mental wellness of staff and students. In addition to the challenges of the last few years, education itself has one of the highest burnout rates across all professions. In response to this critical need, self-care models are being promoted with the best intentions, however, self-care alone is not sustaining. While this is an important step in the right direction, without effective organizational care structures to support self-care models, they fall short. In this session, participants will walk away with a greater understanding of the foundations for organizational care through the lens of neuroscience. Additionally, practical first steps and tools will be provided to begin implementing effective, systemwide organizational care that addresses the limitations of traditional approaches.