A former educator and superintendent, Maridada previously served as president of BRIGHT New Leaders for Ohio Schools, a nonprofit, statewide public-private partnership funded by the Ohio General Assembly. He is a world-class educator who, over the course of a 25-year career, has raised academic achievement and created a brighter future for thousands of young people. Prior to joining BRIGHT, Maridada served as national director of education policy, practice and strategic initiatives for the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. Currently, he is the Jim and Susan Swartz Fellow in Christian Studies at the Harvard Divinity School at Harvard University.

Often, adults tell students what they need. Today, students will use their voices to describe how we can support them in the areas of mental health and social-emotional learning. Join McFarland, a former educator and principal and current Ohio School Boards Association deputy chief executive, to hear what students are asking of you to promote better student success and health in your school district and community.

The recently passed biennial budget includes $675 million in new funding for student wellness and success programs that will be distributed to districts across the state. Experts from the Ohio School Boards Association and the Ohio Department of Education will provide insight into this new funding and answer your questions.

The recently passed biennial budget includes $675 million in new funding for student wellness and success programs that will be distributed to districts across the state. Experts from the Ohio School Boards Association and the Ohio Department of Education will provide insight into this new funding and answer your questions.

Hear how Marion City’s social-emotional learning (SEL) district leadership team was created to lay the foundation for sustainable change in a district where students are economically disadvantaged and the majority are impacted by trauma. Learn how the team implemented an effective, trauma-informed approach in conjunction with SEL standards to allow for instruction to improve students’ self-regulation skills and reduce noninstructional barriers.

Emotional poverty has become a deterrent to academic success. Understanding the social-emotional needs of children of trauma in order to avoid using ineffective strategies and consequences is imperative to creating a thriving culture. This session will provide information on leadership, brain integration, empathy and nine personal and professional strategies for keeping wounded children engaged.

Review community and school resources for suicide prevention, integrated mental health care and the role of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in meeting the behavioral health needs of students in Ohio schools. Learn about the SOS Signs of Suicide program, PAX Good Behavior Game, intervention options and family resources available through the On Our Sleeves program.

Miami University shares an overview of programming that specifically targets mental health interventions at the K-12 level. Learn about universal screening, addressing mental health triage in schools and suicide prevention strategies.

This session includes a panel discussion about using social-emotional learning (SEL) to infuse the work of multiple departments and roles within one school district. District personnel whose roles focus on equity and inclusion, SEL curriculum, mental health services, student well-being, multitiered system of supports and professional development will share strategies for SEL implementation.

Discover tools and strategies for social-emotional learning. Learn how educational leaders can implement social-emotional learning programs.