Metro-Nashville Public Schools logo

Metro-Nashville Public Schools School Counseling Summit

Metro-Nashville Public Schools 2024 Summit logo
Metro-Nashville Public Schools 2024 Summit logo
Metro-Nashville Public Schools 2024 Summit logo

February 8, 2024 | 8:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Hillwood High School

You are invited to attend!

School Counselors from Metro-Nashville Public Schools are invited to attend a day of training and inspiration with various speakers. You can also visit with area youth service agencies and sponsors, who will display information on their available services. Come be refreshed and invigorated to continue the work you are doing. For the full schedule see below.

Also, all School Counselors will receive a COMPLIMENTARY BOOKSTORE VOUCHER to be used to shop at the on-site NCYI Resource Fair.

With grateful appreciation to Hillwood High School for hosting the Summit!

Sponsored By

MNPS for HER

In 2018, Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) was awarded the Centers for Disease Control 1807 Cooperative Grant. One of the grant’s strategies highlights the importance of Safe and Supportive Environments in improving student mental and behavioral well-being through strengthening staff capacity, increasing student access to programs and services, and engaging parents/caregivers and community partners.

The latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data reported large disparities for female students across all measures which include mental health, sexual violence, substance use, school and community connectedness. The MNPS grant team used this data to create the MNPS for HER, a student initiative to provide district and school leaders research-based professional development opportunities, current resources and programming needed to support the social, emotional, and behavioral health of our female students and their families.

The keynote speaker, Julia V. Taylor will focus on ways school counselors can better support female students they work with, in order to “Strengthen the Sisterhood” and learn Counseling Techniques to Help Adolescent Girls Manage Relational Aggression

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Christina Tillery headshot

Christina A. Tillery

Christina A. Tillery, M.Ed., is a community educator and scholar who actively bridges gaps between research and practice. She is a former high school counselor with over ten years in secondary education and a doctoral student at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Counselor Education and Supervision program in Richmond, VA. Also, she represented the commonwealth as Virginia’s School Counselor of the Year (2022 – 2023). Her research interests include utilizing youth-participatory action research and youth-led programming to create safe spaces for girls in educational settings. Christina has worked on the local, state, and national levels, advocating for equitable practices to support all students.

Empowering Girls to Resist Societal Pressures, Fight Unrealistic Media Standards, and Develop a Healthy Body Image

Today’s standards of beauty are unrealistic and unattainable. It’s not a coincidence that body image disturbances are widespread, contagious, and toxic. Girls are inundated with confusing messages that often interfere with their ability to learn, lead, and develop authentic relationships. This keynote will address these important issues, with a focus on helping girls develop leadership skills to combat and revive a generation that has become exhausted by body bashing, social media saturation, and the myth of perfection.

Navigating the cultural and social context of girl world is not a simple task. Relationally aggressive behavior is often prevalent during the tumultuous adolescent years, and intensified by the use social media. And while relational aggression in youth continues to receive national attention, resources that address this behavior remain scarce. This workshop will focus on the cultural context of relational aggression, current research including the role of bystanders, and prevention and intervention strategies to help girls manage this behavior.

Click title to expand for the session description

BREAKOUT SESSION SPEAKERS

Julia Cook headshot

Julia Cook

Kevin Yaudes headshot

Dr. Kevin Yaudes

Meghan Goldbeck headshot

Megan Goldbeck

Ferguson Brooke headshot

Brooke Ferguson

Books That Make a Positive Difference

Julia Cook

Room: Cypress

In Julia’s presentation, Books That Make a Positive Difference, she leads an entertaining discussion on the use of storybooks to offer children and adults a fun way to learn important people skills. Teach your students to become lifelong problem solvers! Julia will demonstrate humorous and effective ways to use books on such subjects as anger control, grief, following instructions, tattling, bullying, personal space, interrupting, and personal safety. The writing and publishing process will also be explained – learn to become a published author!

Introduction to Supporting Those At-Risk

Megan Goldbeck

Room: Exhibit Hall B

Megan Goldbeck will share a presentation that provides introductory information on how to support someone with lived experience. Participants who are interested in learning the basics of supporting someone with lived experience will learn what research tells us about suicide and understand the process of recovery and the complex effects that a suicidal crisis can have on a family or support system. Participants will learn strategies for helping to support someone with lived experience, as well as relevant resources.

 


 

Meghan Goldbeck is the Executive Director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Louisiana and Mississippi Chapters. Meghan has had a career in the nonprofit sector for over a decade and is a strong advocate for mental health and suicide prevention in her community. She received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is currently working on obtaining a master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport. She is certified in Mental Health First Aid and safeTALK. Meghan lives in suburban New Orleans with her husband and three rescue dogs, Indiana, Reese, and Archie.

Talk Saves Lives

Dr. Kevin Yaudes

Room: Exhibit Hall A

Dr. Keving Yaudes provides participants with a clear understanding of this leading cause of death, including the most up-to-date research on suicide prevention, and what they can do in their communities to save lives. Participants will learn common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide, and how to keep themselves and others safe.

 


 

Dr. Kevin Yaudes has a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a doctorate in Cognitive Science. He teaches psychology at the undergraduate level and counseling at the graduate level at McNeese State University. As the Assistant Department Head for the Department of Psychology & Counseling, he has clinical responsibility for the Applied Behavioral Analysis and Counseling programs within the department. He is directly responsibility for the Kay Doré Counseling Clinic (KDCC) at McNeese which is a community counseling clinic with the Department. The clinic provides counseling services to individuals in Southwest Louisiana (SWLA) and serves as a placement site for students in the counseling program at McNeese. KDCC has an established collaboration with Sam Houston High School (SHHS) in Moss Bluff, Louisiana and because of this he came to see the need for a consistent and sustained effort to address suicide in SWLA. He created a Suicide Prevention and Education Program within KDCC and through this KDCC provides services and support to SHHS, conducts professional and educational presentations regarding suicide, has trained all K-12 educators on QPR (an evidence-based suicide prevention training), and conducts research on the topic of suicide. To date, KDCC has trained over 4000 people in SWLA on QPR. Dr. Yaudes is the current Mental Health Content Expert for the University of Louisiana System and through this has created a Mental Health Advisory Council consisting of two individuals from each of the System’s 9 member universities. Each university will also establish a Mental Health Advisory Council on their campus. This is being piloted at McNeese. He serves on the boards of a number of local behavioral health clinics, serves on the state board for the America Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and is a member of two suicide prevention coalitions. Dr. Yaudes has chaired the Lake Charles Out of the Darkness Walk for AFSP for the past four years and believes that addressing suicide prevention is a way to identify the challenges and needs of local, state, and national mental health systems in general.

Age-Related Trends in Grief Among Students: Supporting Students through the Grieving Process

Brooke Ferguson

Room: Audobon

Brooke Ferguson will present a research-based talk aimed at school counselors. The presentation delves into the unique experiences of students from different age groups as they cope with grief and loss. The overarching goal of this presentation is to equip school counselors with research-based knowledge and practical tools to better understand and support students as they navigate grief and loss, creating a compassionate and empathetic school environment that fosters healing and well-being.

 


 

Meet Brooke Ferguson, an experienced Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) based in Louisiana. With a solid educational foundation including a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work, she brings a practical blend of knowledge and real-world practice.

Having traversed the landscape of both outpatient and inpatient settings, Ms. Ferguson’s aptitude includes an array of invaluable services, encompassing the realms of psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and the profound modality of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Her proficiency extends to orchestrating transformative encounters within groups, couples, family and individual sessions, nurturing the soil for restoration and personal advancement.

Currently a therapist at the esteemed Family and Youth Counseling Agency, Brooke Ferguson consistently demonstrates her dedicated commitment to driving positive change. With an emphasis on research-based insights drawn from practical experience, her conference presentation will illuminate the intricacies of mental health dynamics related to age-based trends in grief.

Click title to expand for the session description

SCHEDULE

Tentative

8:00 am – 8:45 am

Check In, Breakfast, and Visit Sponsors

8:45 am – 9:45 am

Welcoming Ritual, Updates, Sponsor Presentations, and MNPS for HER

9:45 am – 10:45 am

Keynote Session
Strengthening Sisterhood – Christina A. Tillery

10:45 am – 11:00 am

Sponsor Break

11:00 am – 11:45 am

Session 1
Threat Assessment – Joe Gordon

11:45 am – 1:00 pm

Lunch, Shop at the NCYI Resource Fair, and Visit Sponsors

Lunch will be from Jim N’ Nicks

  • Meats: chicken tenders, pulled chicken, bone in chicken, pulled pork, brisket, smoked turkey
  • Sides: mac and cheese, collard greens, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, mixed fruit
  • Salad with dressing
  • Cheese biscuits

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Session 2
Counseling Techniques to Help Adolescent Girls Manage Relational Aggression  – Christina A. Tillery

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Optomistic Closure

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Shop at the NCYI Resource Fair

8:00 am – 8:30 am

Check into Registration

Cafeteria

3:45 pm – 4:30 pm

Shop at the NCYI Bookstore

Presentation Room

This was supported by Cooperative Agreement number 5 NU87PS004358-02-00 funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

We have many great breakout sessions that we will be offering at the conference! Look through the list below and choose the ones you would like to pre-register to attend. Please note that space in each session is limited.

10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Breakout Session 1

The Importance of Relationships: Connecting with Hard-to-Reach Students

Lead Presenter: Ginger Healy

Ginger discusses attachment- what it is, how it’s developed, and why it’s important for academic success. She explores buffer relationships and attunement to student needs. She digs into teacher triggers and how to look at behaviors that get under our skin. Ginger will offer strategies for removing barriers that block academic success and emotional healing. Participants will make a paradigm shift in understanding behaviors and be able to implement strategies to help children reach academic success and get on the path to healing adversities.

Let’s Move: Chair Yoga

Lead Presenter: PGCPS Benefits Office

Through guided instructions, participants will be able to strengthen their muscles with seated exercise to help build healthier muscles and bones, improves posture, and relieve back pain. Chair yoga can also improve flexibility and balance. By incorporating chair exercises into your routine helps stretch your muscles to achieve their full range of motion.

Managing Explosive Behaviors in the Classroom

Lead Presenter: Dr. Jeff Bostic

This presentation will review types of explosive outbursts and matching responses to different types of explosive outbursts. In addition, the stages of outbursts are described, with interventions to help deescalate students provided at each stage.

Understanding and Managing Disruptive Behaviors in Schools

Lead Presenter: Raychelle Cassada Lohmann

Nationwide schools are experiencing a rise in disruptive student behaviors. Behavioral issues can adversely impact the school environment leading to more peer-to-peer conflict, classroom disruptions, and even staff exhaustion. Educators know firsthand the amount of time spent on disciplining and redirecting challenging behaviors. In this interactive session, you will learn how to accurately assess and interpret challenging behaviors and effectively identify the antecedents for disruptive outbursts. Additionally, you will learn evidence-based coping skills to help your students manage their emotions and control their behavior, leading to more favorable outcomes. This session will help equip you with the essential knowledge to help your students minimize challenging behaviors and maximize academic, emotional, and social success.

Title Lead Presenter: NAME Description
Title Lead Presenter: NAME Description
Title Lead Presenter: NAME Description
Title Lead Presenter: NAME Description

REGISTRATION

All conference activities, including lunch, the training sessions, showcase voucher, and parking are FREE OF CHARGE. Please register below to attend and to receive a Resource Fair coupon (note the deadline).

Registration deadline:

August 15, 2023

Register to attend and receive a Resource Fair Coupon

Name(Required)
Work Address(Required)
Email(Required)

Breakout Sessions

Choose the breakout sessions that you would like to attend at the summit. Please note that space in each session is limited and will be closed once capacity is reached.
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10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Breakout Session 1(Required)
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Breakout Session 1(Required)
CLOSED - Behavior Threat Assessment (Showalter/Pasco) and Understanding and Managing Disruptive Behaviors in Schools (Cassada Lohmann)
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12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Breakout Session 2(Required)
12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Breakout Session 2(Required)
CLOSED - Understanding and Managing Disruptive Behaviors in Schools (Cassada Lohmann)

Please Note: If we are forced to cancel the Summit because of a “force majeure” event, such as a government restriction on large gatherings that cover the intended size of the conference, then we will issue full refunds of the registrations. On social distancing and other health and safety measures, the regulations/guidelines that apply to large gathering centers may change. We will conform to all necessary regulations/guidelines that are in place as of the date of the Summit.

NCYI RESOURCE FAIR

All School Counselors in attendance will receive a COMPLIMENTARY COUPON to shop the NCYI Resource Fair at the conference!

This is an opportunity for you to personally review and purchase curriculum, activity and small group manuals, books, videos, DVDs and CDs. NCYI has the newest and best guidance resource materials available from America’s foremost publishers in Classroom Guidance, Character Education, Bullying Prevention / Intervention, Anger Management, Conflict Resolution, Separation Issues, Grief Recovery, Learning Disabilities and Social Skills Training.

Save on shipping and handling – You can save 5% to 8% by purchasing from the on-site display and taking the resources with you, which eliminates shipping and handling charges! On-site discounts will also be offered.

Specialty savings on overstock items – Save 50% or more off the retail price of a unique selection of overstock items.

NCYI accepts all major credit cards, personal checks, purchase orders, and even cash for additional purchases! If you have building level funds available, you can use a school purchase order.

Hero Speaker-people shopping

Practical Guidance Resources Educators Can Trust

National Center for Youth Issues, or NCYI, is a national non-profit organization that publishes and distributes guidance resource materials for schools. In addition to publishing its own publications, NCYI represents over 40 different publishers of educational resources. They also provide training opportunities for educators through on-site training services, as well as regional and state-wide conferences.

CONTACT INFORMATION

866.318.6294

National Center for Youth Issues
P.O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185

866.318.6294

National Center for Youth Issues
P.O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185

The Attendee will receive an email confirmation to the email address provided when their registration is processed. (Make sure to check Junk/Spam folders.)

Make all checks and purchase orders payable to:
National Center for Youth Issues