2025 Summer Symposium: Full Schedule

10:15am CDT

The Resilient Youth Program: Prevention is the Best Medicine

Thursday June 12, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

In this interactive and engaging session, you will learn 10 research-backed resiliency building techniques and tactics to motivate all students to practice them. You will also be introduced to a prevention-based mental health curriculum, The Resilient Youth Program, and learn ways this program is being integrated into existing educational frameworks here in Illinois.

Speakers

Tom Klisiewicz

Founder and President, Smart Health Wellness and Performance

As the Founder and President of Smart Health Wellness and Performance, Tom Klisiewicz is dedicated to teaching youth and teens practices that build their resilience, strengthen their mental health and help them achieve success in all aspects of their lives. He has been an educator... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Nelson Room

Breakout #1

global Y

12:15pm CDT

It Starts With: Thoughts + Feelings = Actions ...A recipe for school-wide compassion

Thursday June 12, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm CDT

Nelson Room

While the climate, culture, and well-being of a school is the responsibility of everyone in the building, sometimes we center only the needs of students and forget the needs of the adults. This workshop focuses on introducing CBT/Collective Wellbeing Framework and the associated assessment and toolkit. Participants will learn the CBT/ Collective Wellbeing framework and be guided through assessing their own school, analyzing the data, and determining next steps so they can leave with a professional learning experience tailored to the specific needs of their school community.

Speakers

Devon LaRosa

Chief of High Schools, Chicago Public Schools

Devon supports high school leaders to ensure that all students receive a world-class education. He believes in taking a student-centered approach to education that focuses on equity and rigorous academic experiences.

Carla Tantillo Philibert

CEO, Mindful Practices

Carla Tantillo Philibert, is the author of Cooling Down Your Classroom (2012), and the Everyday SEL series (Routledge, 2016 & 2017). Carla has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, is a certified yoga teacher and is a founding teacher and curriculum director of a high... Read More →

Kierra Pickens

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Key Points Counseling

Dr. Kierra Pickens is a counseling private practice owner and international psychologist with over a decade of experience working in the mental health field. Dr. Pickens has a professional background in community mental health, inpatient and residential psychiatric facility mental... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm CDT
Nelson Room

Breakout #2

global Y

1:30pm CDT

Thrive & Adapt: Executive Function Strategies for Overcoming Challenges

Thursday June 12, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT

Nelson Room

This session is led by the executive function experts of The Goalden System. As former educators Krissy and Kate are aware of the demands of overcoming obstacles and incorporate their understanding into this mindset-shifting presentation. Experience an interactive session and learn about what executive function skills are, how they help us thrive, and how improving these skills can support a more resilient community. Executive function skills are life-long foundational skills that can help empower individuals and improve overall well-being. By incorporating executive function skill development into community support structures, school districts and community agencies can become more aware of their own needs, identify resources and develop a toolbox of strategies that build confidence and resiliency.

Speakers

Krissy Metzler

Co-Founder & Coach The Goalden System, The Goalden System

Krissy Metzler (M.A. Special Education), co-founder of The Goalden System, is a Chicagoland native who served as a high school English and writing teacher prior to becoming an executive function coach. Throughout her journey in the classroom, embedding executive function skills was... Read More →

Kate Wade

Co-Founder & Coach The Goalden System, The Goalden System

With a background in educating students throughout the country, Kate Wade (M.Ed. Education Psychology) has honed her ability to communicate educational principles and support individuals in advancing their executive function abilities. Kate and Krissy Metzler (M.A. Special Education... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
Nelson Room

Breakout #3

global Y