Presented by Heather Haynes Smith, Ph.D.  Associate Professor in the Department of Education at Trinity University

This session is appropriate for educators, school leaders, and families. Dr. Smith will provide an overview of evidence-based practices in implementing learning and behavior strategies and systems that support belonging. The session will also introduce practical strategies and resources to support, or advocate for, systems of support reflecting the research evidence-base. This session will provide time for questions and discussion.

Presentation Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

1. The participants will understand evidence-based strategies for learning and behavior strategies and systems that support belonging.

2. The participants will explore a framework for whole-child education.

3. The participants will learn and identify evidence-based resources to implement, or advocate for, in schools. Similarly, they will recognize resources and practices not supported in the research.

Bio of presenter:

Heather Haynes Smith, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education at Trinity University. She teaches courses on special education, disability justice, learning disabilities, positive behavioral supports and reading instruction. Her scholarship explores these fields, educator preparation, and the implementation of systems in these areas, namely the application of universal design for learning guidelines. She has worked as an elementary teacher, K-12 literacy coach, state-level reading technical assistance specialist, reading and teacher preparation program coordinator on research grants, and researcher. She currently holds the Trinity Lubetzky Social Emotional Learning Faculty Research Fellowship and Trinity HHMI Inclusive STEM Faculty Fellowship and serves the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on a Standards Advisory Committee for Reading, Special Education, and systems in educator preparation.

Presented by Dianne P. Hengst, M.A., Psy.D, Disability Consultant and Former Executive Director/ADA Coordinator, UTSA (retired)

The Disability Rights Movement, starting in the early 1970s, joined other civil rights movements by promoting a culture of inclusion, diversity, and the capacity to appreciate and value individual differences. While the concept of diversity encompasses acceptance, inclusion, and a sense of belonging, many challenges exist as a result of a limited understanding of these individual differences and how they can provide opportunities for growth in an organization. Identity and belonging are a complex phenomenon that is often driven by one’s feelings and lived experiences. This presentation will examine how disability, diversity, and identity intersect and give context to one’s sense of belonging from the perspective of individuals with disabilities. 

Presentation Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

Participants will be able to:

*Have a basic understanding of what defines a disability
*Have a basic understanding of the intersection of disability and identity
*Describe the relationship between disability and various identity models
 

Bio of presenter

Dianne P. Hengst graduated with Masters Degrees in School and Clinical Psychology and a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology and has over 30 years of counseling/clinical experience ranging from public schools to institutions of higher education, community mental health centers, rehabilitation hospitals, state psychiatric facilities, and acute care psychiatric hospitals. Dr. Hengst presents both locally and nationally on the topic of disability, diversity, universal design, and inclusion as well as trains hundreds of individuals about providing disability accommodations in an academic setting. Dr. Hengst is a co-author of a counseling textbook on the topic of “Addressing the Needs of Children and Adolescents with Disabilities” and reviewed for Disability Quarterly Academic Journal.  She also served as adjunct faculty in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Arlington and continues to consult on administrative policies for students with disabilities in the postsecondary level as well as disability issues in both the education and workforce settings. Most recently, Dr. Hengst served as the Executive Director for Student Disability Services/ADA Coordinator at The University of Texas at San Antonio until December of 2023.
 

Presented by: Julia Avila, Stephanie Wofford, and Cynthia Diaz de Leon, Ph.D., from the Clarity Child Guidance Center

Discover the complexities of navigating social development as we explore the impact of social media on the sense of belonging among youngsters. In this presentation, we will discuss the developmental stages and needs of children and adolescents and the positive and negative impacts of social media use. We will provide information on how to help support youngsters as they navigate these pitfalls and harness the benefits of social media.

Presentation Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

• Review social development of childhood and adolescence.
• Discuss the Impact of social media on these developmental stages and needs.
• Provide information to help support youngsters as they navigate the pitfalls and harness the benefits of social media.

About Clarity:

Clarity Child Guidance Center is the only nonprofit mental health treatment center for kids ages 3 to 17 in South Texas. Our staff of children’s mental health professionals is the largest in the region. When a child is in crisis, we work with families to get much-needed treatment regardless of their ability to pay.

The mission of Clarity Child Guidance Center is to support children and families in their pursuit of mental wellness.

Presented by Heidi Johnson, M.Ed., School Counselor at The Winston School San Antonio

Participants will learn about and have the opportunity to engage in discussion on the importance of school belonging in the middle grades and the impact that can have on academic, social, and emotional development.

Presentation Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

• Develop an understanding of the important social-emotional developmental milestones for middle school aged children
• Define the concept of belonging and its importance
• Relate the concept of belonging to the social-emotional development of middle school age children and understand the significance this plays in healthy development

Bio of presenter: 

Ms Heidi Johnson graduated from Siena College in Loudonville, NY, and the University of Maryland, College Park where she earned a Master's in Education in School Counseling.  She has had the opportunity to live and work in a number of different states including Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee, New York, and Texas.  She recently was awarded the CREST from the Texas Counseling Association which recognizes model school counseling programs from across the state.  She is thrilled to have joined the Winston School San Antonio staff as their School Counselor.

Presented by: Toni Schexnyder. M.Ed., Associate Dean of College Counseling

Executive function skills are critical for success, but have you ever wondered how these skills impact our sense of belonging and connection? In this session, we will delve into the multifaceted roles executive functioning skills play in our daily lives and explore practical strategies to enhance belonging and empower individuals to unlock their potential. Whether you’re an educator, a parent, or someone interested in strengthening your own skills, this session will provide valuable insights on creating environments where everyone can thrive.
This session is great for parents and teachers!

Presentation Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

Participants will:
 • Develop an understanding of executive functioning and how to identify strengths and weaknesses in this skillset
 • Explore the connection between executive functioning and belonging
 • Discover practical strategies for supporting individuals who struggle with various aspects of executive functioning
 

Presenter's Bio:

Toni Schexnyder attended Texas State University, where she earned a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. in Secondary Education. Toni is the Associate Dean of College Counseling and an Executive Function Coach at The Winston School San Antonio. In her seven years at Winston, she has found a passion for helping parents and other educators prepare their neurodiverse students for postsecondary success. Toni presents on a variety of topics, including executive function, both locally and nationally, co-authored “Preparing Neurodiverse Students for College and Career Success,” for the Spring 2023 issue of LINK for Counselors, and is the Committee Chair of New Member Outreach for the NACAC Learning Differences Special Interest Group.
 

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Our evidence-based presentation is designed to bring awareness and solutions for identification to the one in five students with dyslexia. Our purpose is to enable every campus, school district, and student support system to be a safe, high quality educational environment where students with dyslexia may become self-driven and thrive.

Presentation Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

● Instill understanding and sympathy for individuals with dyslexia
● Build a rudimentary understanding of dyslexia to equip educators and parents with necessary information
● Inspire and motivate educators, parents and stakeholders to take action in their learning environments at various levels- classroom, school campus and district/network/community
 

Bio of presenter:

Jasmin Dean is the founder and Executive Director of Celebrate Dyslexia, a non-profit organization fostering a community to celebrate, educate and empower the 1 in 5 with Dyslexia.  She is also the founder and board chair for Celebrate Dyslexia Schools, a place where the entire ecosystem provides strength-based and evidence-based opportunities for every stakeholder in the dyslexia conversation to allow every stakeholder to learn to read, teach children to read and support those they love.  Creating a portfolio of high-profile strength-based events, assisting the education community in efforts to bring evidence-based practices to every classroom, and including efforts on medical accountability in this all important conversation with parents and children alike, her efforts are to close the action gap for all those with dyslexia and the people that love, educate and employ them.