Community Keynotes

Dr. Marc Brackett, director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, describes the theory of emotional intelligence, including how it provides a framework to both measure and study the impact of emotions on important life outcomes. He also discusses an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning which involves the teaching of emotional intelligence to all stakeholders in schools, including students, teachers, leaders, and families. How social and emotional learning decreases bullying, and enhances school climate, problem-solving skills, empathy, and academic performance is the focus of the discussion.

Daniel Horgan is the founder and CEO of D.G. Horgan Group, a social enterprise that drives impact through effective leadership development across the talent pipeline. He works with youth in grades K-12, college students, and adults to fully leverage their power, potential and purpose. He speaks with attendees at the 2015 FCPS Leadership Conference about how leaders can predict behaviors, leverage strengths, and identify areas for growth.

Dr. Tracy Cross is the president of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and executive director of the Center for Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary. During his session at the 2nd Annual Community Conversation on Teen Stress: Fostering Wellness and Resiliency, he spoke about academic success and performance perfection among students and the often resulting feelings of inadequacy and/or performance anxiety. Dr. Cross also addressed suicide among children and adolescents, offering understanding and paths for healing.

Dr. Catherine McGill, a pediatric neuropsychologist at Children’s National Health Systems, shares her expertise on the science behind concussions and how research is driving new management strategies. Certified Athletic Trainer Kathy Ayers discusses the stages a student athlete must go through before returning to play after a concussion. This program also features a look at Heads Up Football, a national program designed to promote player safety and reduce concussions.

During this community discussion on substance abuse, participants share their personal stories about substance abuse, the signs and symptoms of teenage drug abuse, proactive actions parents can take, and where to locate supportive resources. Paula King, intake officer with Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, moderates the forum. Panelists include Bill Fulton, school resource officer coordinator, Fairfax County Police Department; David Edleman, clinical supervisor, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Service Board Youth and Family Team; and Lori Shapiro, parent of a son in recovery.

In this edition of Community Keynotes, presenters discuss how we safeguard the mental wellness of our students. They discuss tough issues like depression, self-injury, and suicide, and provide parents with tips on how to identify when their children may be at risk. They also present techniques for how to promote mental wellness and how to lessen the impact of precipitating events that could put children at risk.

FCPS student ambassadors from the Assistive Technology program and their parents promote an understanding of how technologies can help students overcome disabilities and improve their learning experience. The students and their parents discuss their disabilities and the process of identifying assistive technologies to help them. They talk about the challenges involved in adopting the technologies, and share their observations about the various support systems in place in FCPS. They also provide tips on how the technologies work for parents and teachers in the audience.

In this program, Dr. Anita Archer, author of Explicit Instruction, speaks with Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) teachers and administrators on the topic of explicit instruction. She speaks to FCPS educators about a systematic, engaging, and success-oriented method for improving student achievement. She shares her expertise on how to implement the structure and effective instructional strategies to ensure success.

This program features the keynote panel from the August 2014 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Academic Diversity Institute, Portrait of a Graduate: Creating Pathways to Success. The Institute is an annual conference that brings together teachers, school administrators, central office, students, and parents to share and promote practices that create success among diverse learners.

How do some students reduce their stress levels and improve their focus and performance? They practice mindfulness. Tara Brach, Ph.D., a nationally recognized mindfulness teacher and author of Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha and True Refuge: Finding Peace & Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart, discusses how practicing mindfulness can help improve a student’s ability to respond to events and circumstances with clarity and balance. They also present scientific evidence that supports the benefits of mindfulness.