6th Annual RC SELPA Mental Health Symposium: Mental Health Matters

This workshop introduces a developmentally responsive, trauma-informed grief intervention designed to help students navigate loss through the healing power of art therapy. Participants will explore how grief affects emotional regulation, peer relationships, and academic engagement—and why timely, school-based support is essential.Grounded in the restorative role of rituals, the session features the creation of a portable memorial altar as a meaningful tool for remembrance, continuing bonds, and resilience-building. Through a guided, hands-on art experience, attendees will leave with practical strategies to implement creative, school-based interventions that strengthen coping skills, social connection, and sustained student engagement.

School employees—including teachers, administrators, and support staff—are experiencing sustained levels of stress, burnout, and absenteeism that directly impact retention, morale, and student outcomes. Research from the RAND Corporation and the American Psychological Association underscores the urgency of addressing workplace stress in education through systemic, rather than episodic, responses.

This presentation highlights the development and implementation of a comprehensive Workplace Wellness Program designed specifically for school system employees. Grounded in the philosophy, “Put on your own mask first before assisting others,” the initiative reframes staff wellness as a leadership responsibility and organizational priority—not an optional add-on.

The session will outline how the Desert Sands Unified School District Staff Wellness Committee built a structured action plan that integrates physical, mental, and preventive health supports directly into the work environment. Using staff survey data and participation trends, the program established a yearlong calendar of accessible, interest-driven wellness opportunities designed to reduce barriers to engagement—particularly the common perception of having “no time” during the workday.

This interactive session moves beyond understanding trauma to focus on how educators can respond in real time. Participants will engage in simulations, real-world scenarios, and guided practice to explore how trauma impacts student behavior, learning, and emotional regulation. Emphasis is placed on creating safe, predictable environments, building strong relationships, and supporting regulation for both students and staff. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and language they can implement immediately in their school settings.

In school communities, moments of stress, conflict, or crisis can shape how people communicate, make decisions, and support one another. Under pressure, even well-intentioned professionals can fall into survival-mode patterns that impact trust, accountability, and connection across a school system.
This interactive session explores how stress responses influence behavior in real time and how all partners within a school ecosystem can stay grounded and respond from their values rather than their stress reactions. Participants will learn practical strategies to recognize their own patterns, regulate their responses under pressure, and navigate difficult conversations with greater clarity and intention.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Recognize survival-mode patterns in themselves and others during moments of stress or conflict
• Understand how stress responses shape relational dynamics across a school system
• Apply trauma-informed approaches to communication and conflict that support accountability, repair, and a culture of belonging

This session provides practical, classroom-ready behavior support strategies designed for Pre-K through 2nd grade general education settings. Grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and aligned with PBIS and MTSS frameworks, this presentation focuses on proactive approaches that prevent challenging behaviors before they escalate.

Participants will learn how to strengthen Tier 1 classroom systems, effectively use reinforcement, and implement group contingencies to improve engagement and behavior across the classroom. The session also introduces key concepts such as understanding the function of behavior, the ABCs of behavior, and how to apply simple antecedent strategies to support diverse student needs.

Attendees will leave with clear, actionable tools that can be implemented immediately to create more structured, positive, and manageable classroom environments—even in settings with limited staffing or support.

Educators and mental health professionals often support the same students using different strategies across settings and times. While each approach may be effective on its own, a lack of alignment can make it difficult for students to apply those strategies during moments of high stress.

This session introduces the Escalation Accountability Sequence™, a practical framework that helps participants understand how behavior unfolds over time and how brain states impact a student’s ability to respond to support, instruction, and accountability. Participants will explore why well-intentioned strategies sometimes fail in real-world settings. Then, with this foundation in place, participants will be introduced the DIOR Cycle™, a collaborative process that connects classroom implementation with counseling support. Attendees will learn how to align strategies across roles, use real-time feedback to strengthen interventions, and build a more cohesive system that leads to lasting behavior change.