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The Resiliency Conference is a special day to celebrate the capacity of educators to be resilient. This conference is an opportunity to explore and unlock the power of positive actions to overcome difficulties, cultivate hope, and nurture empowerment for you and your students. The conference's goal is to expand the participants' knowledge with magnificent strategies to be resilient in the face of challenges both in school and life. The Resiliency conference's purpose is to instill hope and reinvigorate your passion for being an educator.
WHEN EDUCATORS ARE WELL, STUDENTS WILL BE WELL, and students will learn from our actions.
Important Note:
These sessions are virtual. Prior to the each session, participants will receive an e-mail with information regarding how to access the event. Participants should ensure the correct e-mail is on file to ensure receipt of the login information. Each session will have a separate registration and notification.
Shawn Nemeth
Trauma TALK: An Introspective Look at Trauma and the Need for Self-Care
If we want to help children in the classroom who may be struggling with trauma, we must also understand the basics of trauma and its effects within ourselves. In this session, participants will discover how personal or secondary trauma may prevent being fully available for others and learn strategies for self-care.
Shawn Nemeth is a speaker, author, coach, and CEO of Chester Street Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded to shed light on childhood trauma. After suffering years of abuse and as a child, Nemeth found the strength to recover and thrive with the help of treatment, courage, and self-compassion. His life purpose is to help childhood trauma survivors recover and thrive.
Natalie Fikac
Personal Development Precedes Professional Development
Self-compassion is critical to our wellbeing. As educators, we understand the importance of taking care of others, but we often don’t offer ourselves this same level of kindness and support. In this session, participants will learn about the art of self-compassion as well as develop a plan to become more self-compassionate.
Natalie Fikac, Ed.D. is a mental health professional, educator, and consultant for Be Well, Lead Well, LLC. Her experience includes roles as a teacher, reading interventionist, school counselor, and campus and district level administrator. She has served at the Texas Education Agency on the mental and behavioral health team and now supports school mental health at the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center {MHTTC) at the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Adam Sáenz
The Resilient and Fulfilled Educator
Just as a cell phone battery must be recharged regularly to not lose all capacity, the life of an educator must also be recharged to not lose the passion for the noble calling of teaching. Personal balance and fulfillment are attainable, and if we nurture them, we will find ourselves maximizing our impact—both instructionally and relationally. Based on the book The Power of a Teacher, participants will explore the five areas of wellbeing: physical, occupational, emotional, financial, and spiritual, as well as actionable strategies to achieve and maintain well being.
Adam Sáenz earned his Ph.D. in School Psychology from Texas A&M University as a U.S. Department of Education doctoral fellow. He has presented at TEDx Yale and is the author of the best-sellers, The Power of a Teacher and
Relationships That Work, and The EQ Intervention.
Anne Douglas-Rowald, RYT 200 ![]()
Douglas-Rowald, RYT 200, is the director of the Innovation Center 4 Educator Preparation, a center dedicated to improving the quality of teacher preparation through alternative certification pathways focusing on quality preparation and supports. Yoga has brought peace and provided a way to center her being for the past 20 years. Daily practice of the asanas and meditation provided a healthy way to process the stress of working in education, first as a science teacher and then in various administrative roles. |
Ange Dickson Finn ![]()
Dickson Finn is an advanced emotional freedom techniques and a thought field therapy-algorithms practitioner, working with clients using simple, fast techniques to help people overcome fear, worry, and stress. She is certified and accredited with EFT International. She is also a member of ACEP where she serves on the Humanitarian Committee, teaching their Resources For Resilience techniques.
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Ann Friedman, PhD
Simple Mindful Practices for Teacher Stress and Burnout and Using Gratitude Practices to Increase Your Joy
Ann Friedman, PhD, is a psychologist who has studied mindfulness intensively with various national teachers since 2007. She began teaching as a volunteer in 2012 and in 2015, Dr. Friedman received a Certification in Mindfulness Facilitation from the Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) of the Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Friedman has also completed courses for teaching mindfulness to children and teens through Mindful Schools, Sitting Like a Frog, and A Still Quiet Place.
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Ashley Whitley ![]()
Ashley Whitley is a licensed marriage and family therapy associate. She has worked in the mental health community for more than 10 years. She is currently a non-physician mental health professional under the leadership of The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD and is currently at Region 4 Education Service Center. She serves as a liaison between multiple local mental health authorities, the Region 4 Education Service Center, and the learning community and community stakeholders. While serving the community, she provides multiple trainings such as Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, A.S.K. about Suicide and other carefully curated trainings on mental wellness for diverse audiences. Whitley is an advocate for reducing stigma concerning mental health and self-care. She additionally works with children, adolescents, and families in support of healthy family systems that create a foundation for life satisfaction and abundant living. |
Natalie Fikac, Ed.D.
Daring to Lead While Living a Self-Compassionate Life with Intentionality and Purpose Who we are is how we lead. In this session, participants will take a deep dive into who they are individually as leaders as well as the importance of self-compassion and emotional literacy. During these difficult times, heart-centered leadership is essential and when we truly understand who we are, we are better able to pour more into those that we serve.
Natalie Fikac, Ed.D. is a mental health professional, educator, and consultant for Be Well, Lead Well LLC. Her experience includes roles as a teacher, reading interventionist, school counselor, and campus and district level administrator.
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Rohanna Sykes, LPC-S, CSC
District Showcase: Commitment to District Wellness |
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Building Trauma Sensitive Schools This session will review resources for introducing all school staff to the concept of trauma-sensitive schools, why it is important to adopt a trauma-sensitive approach, and trauma-sensitive practices for use in the classroom and school-wide. In addition, participants will discover a framework and process for adopting a trauma-sensitive approach school-wide, including guidance for how to roll-out school-based implementation plans. This session is intended for administrators, safe and supportive school program team members, MTSS team members, and mental health team members.
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District Showcase: Title IV Multi-tiered System of Support for Mental Health This panel discussion will highlight the Region 4 districts participating in the Title IV Multi-tiered System of Support for Mental Health Project. Districts will share their “Grows and Glows” in their journey of creating a systemic approach to meeting the needs of their educators, students and parents.
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