ALSDE Prevention and Support Services Section and Office of School Improvement in collaboration with Alabaster City Schools will host a virtual conference on the important topics of climate and culture, community partnerships, mental wellness, and restorative justice! The conference will feature the personal success story in overcoming life’s challenges as told by Quinten Aaron, the actor who portrayed Michael Oher in the movie, The Blind Side . This conference will fill quickly, so reserve your spot today!

If you need assistance with the virtual conference, please contact help@clasleaders.org .

Registered attendees will return to this page to access conference content and resources.

8:30 am - 8:40 am
8:40 am - 8:50 am
8:50 am - 10:00 am

Welcome
Challenge and Charge
Filling Your Cup: Self-Care Strategies for Educators

Learn about resilience strategies following emergency events and how to engage in and teach others about this critical topic. These resilience strategies are aimed at helping educators and school staff increase their ability to work more effectively with students impacted by stress, loss, and trauma brought on by emergency events, such as community or family violence, and economic hardship. Participants will gain knowledge and hands-on skills needed to implement steps to prevent compassion fatigue.

Presenter (s): Denise Riemer, Mental Health Services Coordinator, Mobile County Schools and Andrea Zavitz, Mental Health Services Coordinator, Dothan City Schools

10:00 am - 10:15 am

Break

10:15 am - 11:15 am

It’s No Puzzle: The Florence City Story!

Come learn about all the pieces you need to build a well-balanced, multi-tiered student support system. This session will explore data to help you build a support system with wrap around services including early warning detection, to prevention and SEL as well as closing the gap of individual student support. Participants will hear testimonies from district leaders who utilize these services. 

Presenter (s):  Casey Reed, Support Services Coordinator, Florence City School

April Moore- Mental Health Service Coordinator, Florence City Schools, Allison Moore-ThriveWay

11:15 am - 12:30 pm

Lunch Break

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

The Restorative Classroom and Beyond

Professional educator of 29 years, Ms. McNair serves as the Restorative Approaches Coordinator for Prince George’s County Schools.  She received her Restorative Practices training from Restorative Strategies, LLC and Community Justice for Youth Institute of Chicago, IL.  She also received her certification in Restorative Justice from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada.  Her work involves assisting schools with Restorative Approaches implementation, providing training for educators, administrators, and community members.  Ms. McNair served on the Maryland State Commission for the School to Prison Pipeline and Restorative Practices, the Arlington County Schools Restorative Justice Workgroup Review Board, and is currently an RJ consultant with American University in Washington, DC.

Presenter (s):  Robin L. McNair, Restorative Approaches District Coordinator, Maryland

1:30 pm - 1:45 pm

Break

1:45 pm - 2:45 pm

Re-tooling the School Code of Conduct: Restorative Justice in Action

Restorative Justice is an alternate method of disciplining students that seeks to balance the process between being too permissive and being too punitive and is reflected in the student code of conduct. The goal of restorative justice is to work with students (the victims and the accused) to come to a solution rather than simply handing down punishment.

Presenter (s):  Portia Martin, Program Coordinator for PBIS, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm

Questions and Answers

8:30 am - 8:50 am
8:50 am - 10:50 am

Recap of Day 1
The Impact of Relationships and Connections to Student Success

In this interactive session participants will learn about the four essential components of school connectedness-effective student-school staff relationships, supportive peer groups, pro-social activities, and positive school climate which research shows lead to better school outcomes and greater student well-being.  They will also consider how they can be developed and applied in their schools and districts.

Presenter (s): Dr. Robert Balfanz, Linda Muskauski, Jeri Crispe, Everyone Graduates Center, School of Education, Johns Hopkins University

10:50 am - 12:30 pm

Lunch Break

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Combined with Quinton Aaron's session.

Selling the High Cs: Collaboration, Communication, and Community Mental Health Centers

The power of successful communication, collaboration, and strengthening community partnerships increases the opportunities for students and families to benefit from identified services with wraparound support. Many resources will be shared, and connections made for you.

Presenter (s): Gayla Caddell, Coordinator Child & Adolescent Mental Illness Services

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Supportive Relationships Make a Difference

Quinton Aaron is best known for his lead role in the 2009 film The Blind Side playing Michael Oher who rose from meager beginnings to become a high and college football star and a first-round draft pick in the National Football League. Mr. Aaron’s session will share his own story of how building relationships provide the inner strength to achieve greatness.

Presenter (s):  Quinton Aaron, American Actor

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Questions and Answers

If you need assistance with the virtual conference, please contact help@clasleaders.org .