LGBTQ+ youth, and especially gender expansive youth, experience disparities as a result of violent and non-violent victimization as compared with their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This session will highlight these risks and explore ways schools and educators can work to reduce these risks among their students.
Kristal Lynn Larson is the Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County, an organization committed to making Lake County a place for LGBTQ+ identifying persons and their families a place to feel welcome and thrive in their personal and professional lives. She blends her passion... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 9:20am - 10:05am CST
Room B1151350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
Far too many leaders have been indoctrinated towards perfection and correction. This method fails to highlight for staff their integral worth by virtue of existing. This presentation will work to show, through story telling and data, how taking a human centered approach to supporting staff increases their performance.
Stephanie is a veteran administrator focused on leading with humanity. Host of the upcoming podcast dropping in April, she shares her ways of managing the change process effectively and with humans at the center.
Friday February 14, 2025 9:20am - 10:05am CST
Room B1361350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
This session equips middle school educators with trauma-informed strategies based on Relationship, Responsibility, and Regulation: Trauma-Invested Practices for Fostering Resilient Learners. Educators will reflect on trauma’s impact, explore its relevance to their practice, and learn actionable ways to create supportive, inclusive classrooms. Through reflection and data-informed interventions, participants will gain tools to enhance student resilience, engagement, and connection while adopting mindset shifts that prioritize regulation, relationships, and responsibility in their teaching.
Four whole class discussions strategies will be presented. Resources, assessment processes, and instructional tips will be included. The strategies will be applicable for any subject area that wants to develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, and self-reflection.
Transform classroom conflicts into opportunities for connection and growth. This engaging workshop equips K–12 educators with practical restorative practices to prevent disruptions, resolve peer-to-peer conflicts, and build mutual respect. Learn how to foster empathy, establish positive relationships, and create a supportive classroom culture where every student feels valued. With actionable tools and real-world strategies, you'll leave prepared to nurture harmony and collaboration, making your classroom a space where everyone thrives.
Dr. Don Parker is a transformational keynote speaker and professional development provider. Hespecializes in social-emotional learning, supporting teachers to build trusting relationships withstudents, restorative practices, trauma-informed practices, and improving the culture and... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST
Room C2081350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
Angel is a creative and passionate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion trainer with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Trinity International University. She is also a certified DEI professional from Cornell University. Angel enjoys creating a judgment and shame-free... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST
Room C2111350 West Hawley Street, Mundelein, IL 60060, USA
LGBTQ+ youth, and especially gender expansive youth, experience disparities as a result of violent and non-violent victimization as compared with their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This session will highlight these risks and explore ways schools and educators can work to reduce these risks among their students.
Kristal Lynn Larson is the Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County, an organization committed to making Lake County a place for LGBTQ+ identifying persons and their families a place to feel welcome and thrive in their personal and professional lives. She blends her passion... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST
Room B1151350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
Far too many leaders have been indoctrinated towards perfection and correction. This method fails to highlight for staff their integral worth by virtue of existing. This presentation will work to show, through story telling and data, how taking a human centered approach to supporting staff increases their performance.
Stephanie is a veteran administrator focused on leading with humanity. Host of the upcoming podcast dropping in April, she shares her ways of managing the change process effectively and with humans at the center.
Friday February 14, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST
Room B1361350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
Four whole class discussions strategies will be presented. Resources, assessment processes, and instructional tips will be included. The strategies will be applicable for any subject area that wants to develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, and self-reflection.
In this session, we will explore evidence-based best practices that teachers can use to ensure every student feels seen, heard, and supported in the classroom.
For school and district leaders, we’ll dive into actionable strategies to build and sustain systems that promote equity and excellence at all levels including student achievement, school vision and mission statement, and leadership practices.
Dr. Don Parker is a transformational keynote speaker and professional development provider. Hespecializes in social-emotional learning, supporting teachers to build trusting relationships withstudents, restorative practices, trauma-informed practices, and improving the culture and... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 11:05am - 11:55am CST
Room C2081350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
"Participants will be equipped and empowered to care for adopted, foster and kinship students with the following knowledge gains and skills: The myths and misconceptions of adoption and foster care. The complexities involved in assessing and supporting children with attachment and complex developmental traumas. The tricky element of trust. The profound impact of grief and loss on the brain, beliefs and biology. How emotions and behaviors can look like mental health diagnoses and turn into them when not properly supported Foundational principles for support of adoptive, foster and kinship students. The benefits of coordination with parents for enhanced assessment, service utilization and improved student outcomes. How to integrate parent perspectives and historical information for student success. How to better navigate the divide between school policies and best practices for student support. How incorporating this knowledge facilitates more equitable care and inclusive support.
Through this presentation you will be able to improve adopted, foster and kinship student outcomes through more compassionate and effective support of children and their families. It encompasses learning standards of knowledge, equity, transformational processes, culture of collaboration and leadership.
Founder and President, iCARE4 Adoptive And Foster Families
Laura is a dedicated advocate for children and families with over 30 years of experience across nonprofits, schools, churches, and businesses. After raising her own internationally adopted daughters, she founded iCARE4 Adoptive and Foster Families, and Sequoia Families to support... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 11:05am - 11:55am CST
Room B1301350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
When a student leaves school for a mental health program, how do we as teachers support them? This session explains what happens to kids who enter mental health programs from the child, parent, and teacher perspective. We will examine what the student's day in program looks like, and exactly how much work is appropriate while they are away. This will cover IOP, PHP, and inpatient programs.
We will also look at: parent concerns regarding cost/insurance, possible medical treatments, how the parents are involved in different levels of care, what the child actually goes through when entering a program, and what a transition back to school actually looks like for the child.
Audrey Grunst has been a provider in the mental health field since 2007, most known for her therapy skills in outpatient and intensive therapeutic programs. She opened Simply Bee in 2018 after spending 10 years in residential, group homes, intensive outpatient and partial hospital... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 11:05am - 11:55am CST
Room A120 Auditorium1350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
Angel is a creative and passionate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion trainer with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Trinity International University. She is also a certified DEI professional from Cornell University. Angel enjoys creating a judgment and shame-free... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 11:05am - 11:55pm CST
Room C2111350 West Hawley Street, Mundelein, IL 60060, USA
Audrey Grunst has been a provider in the mental health field since 2007, most known for her therapy skills in outpatient and intensive therapeutic programs. She opened Simply Bee in 2018 after spending 10 years in residential, group homes, intensive outpatient and partial hospital... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 12:00pm - 12:55pm CST
Room C2061350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
Audrey Grunst has been a provider in the mental health field since 2007, most known for her therapy skills in outpatient and intensive therapeutic programs. She opened Simply Bee in 2018 after spending 10 years in residential, group homes, intensive outpatient and partial hospital... Read More →
Friday February 14, 2025 1:00pm - 1:55pm CST
Room C2061350 W Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060
