ISBE School Wellness Conference

Teaching is one of the most meaningful and demanding professions—and too often, educators are expected to do it all without losing themselves in the process. In this energizing and empowering session, Dr. Kristen helps educators and school leaders break free from the pressure to constantly perform and instead lead from a place of clarity, strength, and authenticity.
Dr. Kristen’s MAGIC framework invites educators to reconnect with their purpose, shift from survival mode to intentional leadership, and take small, courageous steps toward greater balance and impact—both in and out of the classroom. Through honest stories and practical strategies, attendees will walk away with renewed energy to lead with confidence, compassion, and courage.
You don’t have to change who you are to thrive as an educator—you just have to step into your MAGIC.

"Run Your Best Life"  Are you ready to pursue your dreams and design your best life? Whether you struggle to maintain focus, feel stuck in mediocrity despite 

The current landscape of youth mental health in Illinois has reached a critical inflection point. With nearly half of Illinois youth reporting worsening mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness, rising hospital visits for mental health needs, and suicide remaining a leading cause of death among youth, the urgency for change is undeniable.

The "business as usual" approach characterized by well-intentioned but siloed agencies, fragmented community partnerships, and reactive school-based interventions is failing to keep pace with the increasing needs of our youth. This challenge is further compounded by the persistent and widespread shortage of mental health professionals and resources in both public agencies and school settings.

This session serves as a critical call to action, urging a shift beyond merely co-locating community mental health services in schools. Instead, we advocate for a true public health model that integrates the departments of education and public health. We will introduce the Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF)—a research-validated logic model and process designed to integrate systems into a single, cohesive continuum of support between schools and their communities. Participants will be introduced to and walk away with multiple resources to support your agency in installation of an ISF. This session will also share the design logic of the new ISF-SHINE (School Health and Interventions for Nurturing Excellence) research grant, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Education Innovation and Research (EIR) office and is implemented through the Lake County #34 Regional Office of Education (IL) in partnership with WestEd and the University of Illinois–Chicago.

Across the country, educators are grappling with the growing impact of social media on student mental health, behavior, and learning. What once began as simple online interactions now shapes attention, relationships, and trust both inside and outside the classroom. From group chats to viral challenges, digital culture has redefined school climate—often faster than policies or adults can respond.


This session helps school and district leaders understand and lead through the youth mental health crisis fueled by engagement technology. Grounded in current research and real-world implementation, participants will explore how social media and device use affect attention, emotional regulation, and belonging before students even enter the building. The discussion highlights why current responses such as like phone bans, monitoring software, or compliance-based mandates, often fail to address root causes or foster long-term change.

Self-worth is crucial for overall mental health. You will learn how to evaluate the impact of self-worth on your life, your students' lives, and apply strategies for improvement. You will gain insights into best practices, action research, and evidence-based learning that can be implemented for you and your students. This presentation will help you understand the importance of self-worth and how it can benefit both you and your students. It will provide practical strategies and techniques that can be applied to real-life situations, creating a more positive and supportive school environment.

Hot take: educators don’t need one more thing. They need one simple thing they’ll actually use.


Teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff are constantly being asked to do more... more SEL initiatives, more mental health support, more interventions, more documentation, more everything. And while the intention is good, the reality is that overload doesn’t build connection. It builds burnout. The real need isn’t another program, it’s a universal tool that fits into the hallway, the classroom, the office, the meeting, and the moment a student (or colleague) is clearly not okay.


In this interactive session, Brittany Richmond shares that tool: three words that can change a conversation, a relationship, and sometimes the entire direction of a life—“Tell me more.” Brittany introduces her signature, evidence-based
Tell Me More Method™ — a practical framework rooted in the power of curious questions. Rather than trying to fix, lecture, or force teens to open up, the Tell Me More Method™ teaches educators how to create psychological safety, reduce shame, and invite honest dialogue that builds trust and belonging.


Grounded in real school-based experience and storytelling, Brittany uses the relatable lens of The Breakfast Club not just as a movie reference, but as a mirror of her own lived experience navigating anxiety and isolation as a student. Along with other personal stories, they highlight a powerful truth: students don’t need perfect adults—they need present adults who know how to respond with empathy and confidence.


This session is designed to support students and the adults who serve them. Participants will learn how the Tell Me More Method™ can be used with students, families, and coworkers, because school staff needs tools that strengthen connection not only with teens, but also within their own teams. Educators will practice real-life language, experience the method in action, and leave with a simple strategy they can use immediately to build connection, reduce isolation, and create a culture of support.
Because when educators feel supported, students feel supported and sometimes the most powerful intervention is just three words: Tell me more.

This session highlights the partnership between Hawthorn District 73 and Youth and Family Counseling to expand access to student mental health services by providing therapy on site during the school day. Participants will learn how this district–community collaboration reduces barriers to care, supports student wellness, and maximizes impact through coordinated scheduling and systems-level planning. Attendees will leave with practical insights for developing similar partnerships in their own districts.

SOS Signs of Suicide teaches students how to identify signs of depression and suicide in themselves and their peers, while training school professionals, parents, and community members to recognize at-risk students and take appropriate action. Using SOS, 90% of schools have seen an increase in students seeking help for themselves or a friend, with 95% believing the program also reduced stigma in schools.

Hot take: educators don’t need one more thing. They need one simple thing they’ll actually use.


Teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff are constantly being asked to do more... more SEL initiatives, more mental health support, more interventions, more documentation, more everything. And while the intention is good, the reality is that overload doesn’t build connection. It builds burnout. The real need isn’t another program, it’s a universal tool that fits into the hallway, the classroom, the office, the meeting, and the moment a student (or colleague) is clearly not okay.


In this interactive session, Brittany Richmond shares that tool: three words that can change a conversation, a relationship, and sometimes the entire direction of a life—“Tell me more.” Brittany introduces her signature, evidence-based
Tell Me More Method™ — a practical framework rooted in the power of curious questions. Rather than trying to fix, lecture, or force teens to open up, the Tell Me More Method™ teaches educators how to create psychological safety, reduce shame, and invite honest dialogue that builds trust and belonging.


Grounded in real school-based experience and storytelling, Brittany uses the relatable lens of The Breakfast Club not just as a movie reference, but as a mirror of her own lived experience navigating anxiety and isolation as a student. Along with other personal stories, they highlight a powerful truth: students don’t need perfect adults—they need present adults who know how to respond with empathy and confidence.


This session is designed to support students and the adults who serve them. Participants will learn how the Tell Me More Method™ can be used with students, families, and coworkers, because school staff needs tools that strengthen connection not only with teens, but also within their own teams. Educators will practice real-life language, experience the method in action, and leave with a simple strategy they can use immediately to build connection, reduce isolation, and create a culture of support.
Because when educators feel supported, students feel supported and sometimes the most powerful intervention is just three words: Tell me more.