Student Well-Being Online Summit

Student Mental Health

This event occurred on April 28, 2021 2:30 PM EDT and is only accessible to those who originally registered.
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Rising incidence of student mental health challenges was already a big issue for educators before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Now, research shows that the physical, economic, and emotional impacts of COVID-19 are taking a striking toll on children’s mental health—and the effects are likely to last for years to come.

This online summit will explore what the data tell us about the worsening state of kids’ mental health, what schools can do now to address those issues, and best practices for ensuring students get the supports and services they need going forward. Participants will discuss the specific challenges LGBTQ students and students of color face, and examine the ways school counselors have adapted during the pandemic.

The summit will feature exclusive EdWeek Research Center survey data on these topics as well as insights from mental health, trauma, and education experts.

First Time Summit attendee? Learn More about our Summits.

Agenda

How to Support LGBTQ Students During—and After—School Closures

Supporting Students’ Mental Health Needs Over the Long Haul

School Counseling in a Virtual Space

Student Mental Health During the Pandemic: Minding the Gaps

Supporting the Emotional Well-Being of Students of Color

Content Provided by Gaggle

How Education Leaders Are Saving Student Lives

Sponsors

Speakers
Amber Andrade
Principal Paradise Valley Engineering Academy (Morgan Hill, Calif.)
Andrade is an elementary school principal in Morgan Hill, Calif., and serves on GLSEN’s Educator Advisory Council. A former teacher, project specialist, and middle school principal, Andrade believes that all students deserve to feel valued, safe (physically, emotionally, and mentally), respected, and included, and that it is her job as a leader to ensure that happens for every student. In her previous job, Andrade implemented inclusive restrooms and data systems that showed authentic names and gender, recruited inclusive therapists, started an LGBTQ library section, and trained staff in trauma-informed care, de-escalation tactics, suicide prevention, and other information about how to best serve LGBTQ students. She also worked to create safe spaces for LGBTQ students, including a student-run club.

Kim Bolz-Andolshek
Regional Vice President Gaggle
Kim Bolz-Andolshek is currently serving in her 17th year as an elected school board member in the state of Minnesota. She has had a passion for public education and supporting students in her personal and professional life for almost two decades. Kim joined the Gaggle Team as a Regional VP in early 2020. She also volunteers at the national crisis text line 4–6 hours a week supporting students and adults in times of crisis.


Sheila Desai
Director of Educational Practice National Association of School Psychologists
Desai is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and currently works as the director of educational practice at the National Association of School Psychologists. Previously, she worked as a school psychologist in K-12 public schools and clinical day treatment settings.
Lisa DiMurro
School Counselor Vancouver Public Schools (Wash.)
DiMurro joined Vancouver Public Schools in 2005, working as a paraeducator. She later became a school clerk, then a school secretary. After earning her master’s degree in school counseling, DiMurro joined the Franklin Elementary staff. At Franklin, DiMurro’s number one goal is to build relationships and connect with students and families. She teaches social emotional awareness and strategies for recognizing naming and managing feelings through whole group instruction. As a school counselor, one question DiMurro always keeps in mind is: “How can I and other educators help students learn to become the best version of themselves?” DiMurro was awarded the 2020 School Counselor of the year by the Washington School Counselor Association.
Robin Gurwitch
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Duke University
Gurwitch is a psychologist, professor, and a specialist in childhood trauma. Since the Oklahoma City bombing 1995, she has focused much of her clinical work and research on children who have experienced traumatic events such as terrorism and natural disasters. She has worked with schools and communities in the aftermath of mass shootings, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks. She has helped develop training materials for the American Red Cross and has written a manual on trauma treatment for children and adolescents following disasters. Gurwitch is a member of the American Psychological Association’s Disaster Response Network and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
Tiombe-Bisa Kendrick-Dunn
School Psychologist School Board of Miami-Dade County Florida
Kendrick-Dunn is employed with the School Board of Miami Dade County Florida as a school psychologist where she has practiced since 2005. She holds a license, professional educator’s certificate, and national certification in the field of school psychology. Kendrick-Dunn is currently a doctoral candidate at Loyola University Chicago and is adjunct professor at Barry in the School Psychology Program. She also runs a private practice where she specializes in in identifying and servicing gifted and talented children. She also specializes in providing culturally competent services. Kendrick-Dunn serves on the board of directors for several organizations and is a current member of the NASP Social Justice Committee and coordinates the NASP Gifted and Talented Interest Group. Kendrick-Dunn is married, and family is a priority in her life.
Lydia McNeiley
Lead School Counselor Charles N. Scott Middle School (Ind.)
McNeiley is the lead school counselor at Charles N. Scott Middle School in Hammond, Indiana. She has been focused on implementing programs that meet the needs of a very diverse student population. Through her efforts, Scott Middle School has been able to engage students, families, and other stakeholders in supporting military veterans, enhancing Social Emotional Learning programs, exploring college and career readiness opportunities, and building ongoing partnerships with numerous outside agencies. McNeiley holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Indiana University Northwest and a Master of Education in School Counseling from Purdue University Northwest. She was recently named a 2020 Indiana School Counselor for the Year finalist and is a Hammond Education Foundation Hero in Education Award winner. She serves as a member of the Hammond Hispanic Community Committee and volunteers with the Your Biggest Fan mentoring program and Girls Literacy Program through Athletes for Charity.
Christine Rockwell-Wardlow
English teacher Marine Academy of Science & Technology (Highlands, N.J.)
Rockwell-Wardlow is an English/language arts teacher at the Marine Academy of Science & Technology in Monmouth County, N.J. Her work to infuse her 11th and 12th grade curriculum with LGBTQ+ voices and sustain a positive classroom and school culture for queer students is ongoing. Previously, Christine served as the founder and faculty adviser for a high school GSA and a mentor for a weekend LGBTQ+ youth drop-in program. She is a current chair for her high school’s professional learning community focused on social justice initiatives.
Lisa Strohman
Psychologist, Author, and Founder Digital Citizen Academy
A psychologist, attorney, author, and mother, Strohman established Digital Citizen Academy to help keep families safe from online dangers. Her background working as a visiting scholar with the profiling unit at the FBI during one of the most tragic school shootings in the U.S. helped create her passion to help proactively prevent and educate students, educators, and parents on issues related to technology.
Marleen Wong
Senior Vice Dean, David Lawrence Stein and Violet Goldberg Sacks Endowed Professor of Mental Health University of Southern California
Wong is a clinical professor and a nationally recognized expert on school crisis response. She was previously the Director of Mental Health, Crisis Teams and Suicide Prevention Programs at the Los Angeles Unified School District. She has worked with survivors and school districts of targeted violence and terrorist attacks including Littleton, Newtown, Parkland, Oklahoma City, San Bernardino, and New York City. Internationally, Wong has worked as a subject matter expert and program developer for disaster recovery after earthquakes and typhoons in China, Japan, The Republic of the Philippines and Taiwan. Currently, she is involved in training and consultation with the Center for Safe and Resilient Schools and Workplaces focused on Trauma Informed Schools, Crisis Intervention and Recovery, and Threat Assessment including assisting schools to develop post-COVID 19 recovery strategies.
Moderators
Evie Blad is a reporter for Education Week.
Alyson Klein is an assistant editor for Education Week.
Holly Kurtz
Director EdWeek Research Center
Arianna Prothero covers technology, student well-being, and the intersection of the two for Education Week.
Sarah D. Sparks covers education research, data, and the science of learning for Education Week.
Madeline Will is a reporter for Education Week who covers the teaching profession.
Paget Hetherington
Vice President of Marketing Gaggle
Paget Hetherington has empowered children to achieve academic success for more than three decades, leading sales and marketing efforts for global publishing and EdTech companies. As the vice president of Marketing, Paget’s focus is spreading Gaggle’s message to school districts across the country, helping to ensure the safety and well-being of students.


Education Week can provide 1 hour of Professional Development credit for online summits if the educator attends live. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you shortly after the summit has ended. On demand viewing of a summit cannot be used for credit. As with all professional development hours delivered, Education Week recommends each educator verify ahead of the online summit that the content will qualify for professional development in your school, district, county, or state with your supervisor, human resources professional, and/or principal or superintendent’s office.