For school counselors, school psychologists, learning specialists, educational administrators, and school service professionals
Partnering with Parents: Collaborating Effectively to Support Student Success and Wellbeing
February 25-26, 2025 // 27-28 Shevat 5785
Engage in high-level learning and collaboration around mental health challenges and opportunities in Jewish day schools and yeshivas. Over the course of two days, participate in interactive learning, gain skills, perspectives, and new approaches to navigating mental health challenges in your school community.
Take the dedicated time and space to nurture your skills and grow your knowledge to enhance your practice. School teams are encouraged to register together. Schools with more than two participants will receive $50 off per person.
Program
During this online summit, school mental health professional teams will engage in workshops focused on building meaningful connections with parents to enhance student success and wellbeing. Sessions will emphasize practical strategies, innovative frameworks, and collaborative approaches to address the challenges schools and families face together. Through open communication and trust, you will leave with tools to strengthen partnerships and make a lasting impact on your school community.
Please note that only the Wednesday morning sessions will be recorded, to accommodate school professionals in Mountain and Pacific time zones. Participants are encouraged to join in real time to create a collaborative learning experience with colleagues.
Schedule at a Glance
Tuesday February 25, 2025
The Mental Health Summit will open at 12:30 PM ET // 9:30 AM PT. Dive right into your first day of learning with a powerful opening keynote, followed by the opportunity to choose from two engaging panel discussions.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ET // 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Opening Keynote: Creating a Culture of Mattering in Schools for Students, Parents, and Staff
Jennifer Wallace
This opening keynote explores the transformative power of creating a culture of mattering in schools. Drawing on the latest research, Wallace will highlight how fostering a sense of mattering, where students feel valued for who they are rather than for what they achieve, is critical to their emotional wellbeing and success. Wallace will also discuss how schools can ensure that parents and staff feel they matter too, emphasizing the importance of strong, collaborative partnerships between schools and families. Participants will learn about a practical mattering framework that schools and parents can use to cultivate healthy achievers and create environments where every member of the community feels seen, supported, and valued.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET // 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PT
Panels - Please choose one of the following options
Seeking Understanding, Relationships, and Belonging: Partnering with Parents When Children Are Struggling Socially
Rona Novick, Tamar Appel, and panelists: Amy Grolnick, and Nicole Rzonzew
This panel discussion explores how schools and parents can work together to support children facing social challenges. Panelists will discuss the importance of understanding the positions and emotions of all stakeholders, fostering open communication, and creating space for addressing complex, difficult-to-solve problems. Learn about effective communication strategies and collaborative approaches that foster strong partnerships with parents and surround the struggling child with a network of supportive adults.
Collaborative Care: Partnering with Parents of Children With Eating Disorders
Carly Namdar and panelists: Sarah Roer, and Rayzel Yaish
This panel discussion explores strategies for fostering effective partnerships between schools and parents to support students with eating disorders. Panelists will discuss challenges such as stigma, confidentiality, treatment coordination, and the delicate balance of trying to maintain a student life for the child while navigating their recovery journey. Learn best practices for enhancing communication and collaboration between schools, mental health professionals, and families to create a supportive and understanding environment for students.
Wednesday February 26, 2025
The second full day will continue with sessions to explore the vital collaboration between schools and parents to support students in meaningful and impactful ways. Our closing keynote will leave everyone inspired with renewed commitment to working together for every student's growth and success.
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM ET// 6:15 AM - 7:30 AM PT
Cultivating Strong School-Parent Partnerships for Neurodiverse Students
Monica Adler Werner
Consider mindsets and ideas that foster meaningful partnerships between schools and parents of neurodiverse students. This session explores how to set realistic expectations, acknowledge where families are, and address challenges with empathy and collaboration. Learn how to align school goals with family priorities, foster trust, and build a shared path to success. Together, we’ll uncover the power of slowing down to deeply understand and support every student’s unique journey.
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM ET // 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM PT
Fostering Post-Traumatic Growth: Empowering Families for Resilience and Renewal
Betsy Stone
From the rise in antisemitism, to political anxiety, to the pandemic and climate change, our students and their parents have faced many years of disruption, loss and trauma. Research tells us that trauma presents opportunities for personal and communal growth. Explore how we can partner with parents to understand this paradigm, so that adults can both model this growth for children and give students the inner tools they need to meet whatever challenges lie ahead after their Jewish day school experience.
12:45 PM - 2:15 PM ET // 9:45 AM - 11:15 AM PT
Empowering Parent-School Partnerships with the Right Question Strategy
Dan Rothstein from Right Question Institute (RQI)
Learn how the Right Question Strategy equips parents to actively and effectively partner with educators and other members of the school team. This simple, adaptable approach enhances parents’ ability to ask meaningful questions, support their children, and engage constructively in dialogue. The session will introduce you to a model for facilitating more effective partnerships with parents who are less involved, as well as with those who may need more guidance in how to advocate for their children strategically and productively.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM ET // 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PT
The Dance of Partnership: Why Do My Feet Hurt? Strengthening the Family- Student- Professional Partnership
Janice Fialka
This closing keynote addresses the challenges and joys of cultivating partnerships among families, students and professionals. Using humor and compelling stories, Janice explores the unique dimensions that often complicate this “dance.” Drawing from her 45 years as a social worker and mother, she understands why and how it is necessary to build relationships based on kindness, compassion, and respect. She weaves in stories of her two adult children and the partnerships experienced over the decades. Micah, her son, is a nationally recognized disability activist, featured in the film, Intelligent Lives. Her daughter, Emma is an elementary school principal in Boston Public Schools with a strong practice in inclusion. Janice’s stories and practical wisdom have energized audiences across the country to return to the “dance floor” with renewed respect, empathy and appreciation for the slips and swirls of the dance!