Keynote Speakers

Dr. Bryan Pearlman

Dr. Bryan Pearlman will be presenting “Maslow Before Bloom”. He is a former school administrator, a mental health therapist, PD leader, and adjunct professor. He is the author of two books: Maslow Before Bloom: Basic Human Needs Before Academics released in May 2020 & Whatever It Takes For All Students To Succeed In School and Life, released in January 2019. Dr. Pearlman is also the co-founder and board member of the mental health non-profit DSMHW.org. His expertise is helping all children to succeed, challenging behaviors, trauma, school improvement, mental health, and self-care. Dr. Pearlman has presented to over 45,000 people in the past two years. He is regularly asked to provide keynote addresses, featured presentations, and trainings for state, regional and national organizations.

Dr. Eric Rossen

Dr. Eric Rossen will be presenting “Applying Trauma Informed Practices In School”. He is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, a licensed psychologist in Maryland, and a credentialed National Register Health Service psychologist. Dr. Rossen has worked in public schools and in independent practice and has served as a college instructor and adjunct faculty at the University of Missouri and Prince George’s Community College. He has presented across the US and internationally, and published dozens of articles and book chapters related to school psychology, school safety, and trauma. He is most recently the editor of Supporting and Educating Traumatized Students: A Guide for School-Based Professionals, 2nd Edition, and co-author of the book Applying a Trauma-Informed Framework to The IEP Process: From Referral to Development.

Bethany Hill

Bethany Hill will be presenting “The Invisible Backpack: Overcoming Trauma”. She is the founder of #joyfulleaders and a teacher who is currently serving as an administrator. During her 21 years in education, she taught kindergarten, first, second, and third grades. She was a curriculum/academic coach for 3 years, an assistant principal in an K-4 building for 5 years, a principal in a P-4 building for 5 years, and is currently serving as an assistant principal in a P-4 building. All of her service has been in the Cabot School District in Cabot, Arkansas.

Kevin Briggs

Sergeant Kevin Briggs’ story and lived experiences have been featured at the Technology, Entertainment, and Design 2014 Conference as a TED Talk, Ciudad de Las Ideas (Mexico), NBC’s Access Live, Yahoo News, The New Yorker Magazine, Men’s Health Magazine, NPR’s Bob Edwards Radio Show, People Magazine, USA Today, as well as other publications. He is the author of, Guardian of the Golden Gate: Protecting the Line Between Hope and Despair. Briggs, a retired California Highway Patrol sergeant, spent many years patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge. While on patrol, he encountered numerous individuals clinging to life by a thread – individuals who had lost hope and could see no way out of their current situation - ready to jump off the bridge to what they assumed was a sudden death and ending of their pain and hopelessness. Briggs, through his compassion, gentle voice, eye contact, and his innate ability of “listening to understand” encouraged more than 200 individuals over his career to not end their life, but to begin a new chapter. These challenging but rewarding efforts earned him the nickname “Guardian of the Golden Gate.”

Featured Speaker

Rick Ramirez

Rick Ramirez was featured on The Ellen Show. He is an educator, 2018 El Paso ISD TOY, AVID Staff Developer, Golden Glove Champion and US Marine.

Breakout Speakers

Dr. Roxxi Davis

Social Work Professor in Wisconsin
Presenting: "I See You, Do You See Me: Recognizing White Privilege & It's Impact On Black & Brown Children In The Classroom.

Dr. Basil Marin

School Administrator in Georgia
Presenting: "Reaching The Unreachable Student"

Dr. Douglas Sanders

School Administrator & Foundation CEO
Presenting: Teaching Black Boys In Hip-Hop Generation: A Praxis For Public Schools
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Jennifer Haston-Maciejewski

Special Educator in Indiana
Presenting: "Mindful -- Be It To Teach It"

Mandy Noa, LCSW

School Social Worker in Georgia
Presenting: "Creating Through Maslow: Using Art To Address Needs"
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Dr. Paul Blair

Educator in Tennessee
Presenting: "Why Students Drop Out"

Christine Ravesi-Weinstein

School Administrator in Massachusetts
Presenting: "Anxious - Practical Strategies To Support Students With Anxiety"

Dr. Robin Choquette & Jacqueline Rhew, LCPC

Mental Health Clinicians in Illinois
Presenting: "Successful Parenting Workbook"

Lisa Koenecke

Counselor Educator in Wisconsin
Presenting: "Inclusion & Equity For The LGBTQ Community"

Mark Brown

School Administrator in Oregon
Presenting: "Choose To Be You -- Self-Care"

Robyn Harris

School Principal in Alaska
Presenting: "Look Beyond The Behaviors"

*More Speakers To Be Announced Shortly