Monday, February 25, 2008

Session 1: 8:00-9:30 a.m.

101 SAP 101-Donna Holladay, Greater Atlanta Christian School, and Sally McKinley, Baldwin High School, and SAPA of Georgia Board Members Participants will learn how to build a core team composed of school personnel and community resources and work together to identify and assess student problems, decide on the appropriate interventions, and ensure on-going help and support for at-risk students. Emphasis will be placed on helping school personnel identify issues which prevent students from being academically successful.

102 Eating Disorders Multiplying Among Students: It’s A Complicated Equation–Dr. Deborah Russo, Remuda Ranch, and Christine Engstrom, Ridgeview Institute– continued at 2:45 p.m.  Eating disorders continue to affect our youth at alarming rates causing devastating effects on their bodies, minds, and spirits.  Accompanying disorders often seen with eating disorders may be missed as well such as OCD, Depression, and Impulse Control Disorders (i.e.) Self-Harm Tendencies. This workshop will address the multifaceted nature of eating disorders.

103 Confronting Death in the School Family–Dave Opalewski, Grief Recovery, Inc. Thousands of school-age children die each year and thousands more experience the untimely death of a parent, sibling, classmate, teacher, or other significant person in their lives.  This presentation is designed to help school staff develop appropriate and helpful procedures and policies in dealing with tragedy and gain a better understanding of grief from a child's and adolescent's perspective.

104 Legal Issues and SAPs–Gus Douvanis, J.D., Ed.D., University of West Georgia Participants will focus on the legal and ethical issues facing SAPs. Some of the topics include liability, bullying (including cyber-bullying), FERPA, and custody issues.

105 Helping Young People Build Cultural Competence Assets–Dawn Oparah, Amadi Leadership Associates The role of educators in helping to build cultural competency assets in young people so they can live and thrive in a world of diversity will be explored in this participatory workshop. Attendees will increase their understanding on how to peacefully go to school with, work with, and live with people who are different. Presenter is the author of a Search Institute publication.

106 Adult Bullying Behavior: What Is Appropriate, Positive Role-Modeling Behavior & How Does It Look When Teachers/Administrators/Coaches/Parents Model Bullying Behavior?–Dr. Mike Carpenter, Cobb County Schools and Founder of SAPA of Georgia  This workshop will examine what bullying is, how students bully, where bullying comes from and how adults handle bullying with students and by adults.  Adult examples will be shared from education to the sports field to everyday home life.  Bullying will be examined from the covert (manipulative, southern charm) to the overt (coercive, arm-wrestling) styles.  Join us as we discuss how educators can become part of the solution or part of the problem.

Break
9:30-10:00 a.m.

Keynote: 10:00—11:30 a.m.

111 Healthy Kids, Smart Kids: Achieving Academic Excellence Through Nutrition and Fitness-Dr. Yvonne Sanders-Butler, President and Founder of Ennovy, Inc.   Anyone who works with students will benefit from the practices of this principal who developed and marketed the first Sugar Free School in the country seven years ago.  As a result of the program, students’ test scores increased; misbehavior decreased; and obese students lost weight.  Her easy-going, humorous delivery will keep you entertained and provide valuable information, strategies and tips for improving healthy eating and physical fitness behavior while experiencing an increase in academic achievement.

Lunch 11:30-1:00 p.m. (On your own)

Keynote: 1:00—2:30 p.m.

121 A Journey of Survival and Redemption-Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Actor, Author - SPONSORED BY CARON TREATMENT CENTERS Author, Activist and Actor, Christopher Kennedy Lawford, shares his experience with addiction and recovery. His own life has led him on a path of self-discovery, intense therapy, personal growth and eventually to advocate for issues such as parity for mental health and addiction treatment. His story is about asking questions, searching for the truth and finding courage no matter the consequences.

Break
2:30-2:45 p.m.

Session 2: 2:45—4:15 p.m.

131 Tobacco Cessation for Adolescents-Ruth Scott, Caron Treatment Centers Adolescents who use before the age of 15 are four or five times more likely to become addicted than they are if they wait until they are 21.  The two drugs that cause the most deaths are also the most available: tobacco and alcohol.  In response to these serious concerns, Caron has developed a tobacco cessation program for adolescents, which is 100% grant funded and available to your schools and students free of cost!

132 Eating Disorders Multiplying Among Students: It’s A Complicated Equation– Dr. Deborah Russo, Remuda Ranch, and Christine Engstrom, Ridgeview Institute- continued from 8:00 a.m.

133 Adolescent Grief Issues: Help for the Caring Adult-Dave Opalewski, Grief Recovery, Inc. They are not children and not adults. Adolescents make up a group of unique grievers who require a unique approach and understanding. This session will provide a fundamental overview of adolescent grief and issues truly unique to adolescents. Participants will learn how to help adolescents whose lives are disrupted by the death of someone they know and care about and how to best assist the grieving teen when he/she returns to the school and community environment.

134 Camp Good Grief: A Bereavement Camp for Children Ages 6 years to 14 years-Provided to Schools by Hospice Care Options-Dora Parks, Mary Taylor,  Hospice  and  Dana Brown, Dodge County Schools North Dodge Elementary, South Dodge Elementary & Dodge County Middle School have partnered with Hospice Care Options to provide a youth bereavement camp designed to help grieving students appropriately cope with loss. The camp is held on the South Dodge School campus and over the past two years has served approximately 100 students. This is a great example of teaming between school and community.

135 Youth Stress and Culture-Jeff Inman, Cobb County Schools What are the dangerous games kids are playing today, how are they dealing with stress and how is the internet impacting their lives?  Today’s culture is moving at twice the speed it did in the eighties.  Do you IM, have a MySpace or FaceBook, or spend time in an alternate world?

136 A Practical Guide for Organizing and Implementing a School-Wide Bullying Prevention Program- Mimi Dennis, Dana Brown, Lynn Williams, Peggy McCranie, Dodge County Schools South Dodge Elementary has implemented a Bullying Prevention Program by using creative methods for training staff, parents and students in recognizing bullying behaviors and intervening appropriately when necessary.  Join us as we share our successful program that can be duplicated in any school!

Membership Meeting
4:30-5:15 p.m.
Join us for a brief meeting-share your ideas regarding future trainings/conferences. Refreshments will be provided.

Tuesday, February 26

Session 1: 8:00-9:30 a.m.

201 Positive Discipline in the Classroom-Tracy McConaghie, Psychotherapist, McConaghie Family Counseling Managing student behavior is often a frustrating challenge.  Permissive approaches to discipline disrespect teachers; punitive, controlling approaches disrespect students.  Positive Discipline teaches school personnel how to use firmness with kindness and a host of strategies that work long term to reduce misbehavior and increase cooperation, contribution and respect.  Participants will identify the difference between short term and long term discipline  approaches, the reasons for misbehavior, and the benefits of class meetings for solving common discipline problems, including bullying.

202 Terrorism Awareness in Schools-Michael Ogelsby, Investigative Specialist, FBI This workshop will provide an overview of how educators can protect themselves, students and the public by identifying signs of a potential terrorist.  Steps to take in the event an attack becomes imminent to minimize the loss of life or property will also be shared.

203 Generation Rx-Paul Hildreth, Cobb County Public Schools Today’s drug of choice is changing, more and more students are choosing to abuse prescription painkillers more than ecstasy, cocaine, crack or LSD. The abuse of over-the-counter products is up as well with almost 10 percent of today’s students abusing cough medicine. In most cases students don’t need a prescription, or even a drug dealer, as most of these drugs are in their medicine cabinet at home. This interactive session will provide information to help identify this threat and signs, symptoms, and ways to help prevent this type of abuse. 

204 HIV/AIDS-John Darden, District 4 Health Services This workshop provides a practical, down to earth guide in how to talk to teens about HIV/AIDS along with other associated sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy. You become the class as Mr. Darden teaches about the dangers and prevention of these diseases and pregnancy.

205 Constitution to Restitution-Creating the Conditions for a Learning Community-Glenn Smith, Life Connections, Inc. This workshop will present the framework of developing school wide, classroom, and individual constitutions – agreements based on principles.  Also, shared will be information about Restitution which is two fold. First, it is to help educators to develop specific skills for resolving conflict and to learn to practice and teach the life skill of self-evaluation. Second, it is to train educators to understand what conditions need to be created for students to both become more self-directed and likewise more willing to live in a cooperative community setting.

206 Cyberbullying-Dr. Patti Agatson, Prevention/Intervention Center Bullying has moved from the real world to the virtual world, and educators and parents need to collaborate to prevent and respond to this new form of bullying.  Dr. Agatston spent the past school year conducting interviews and focus groups with students regarding cyber bullying in collaboration with Clemson University.  Her findings may surprise you!  Come prepared to learn about the dynamics and research regarding cyber bullying, as well as prevention and intervention strategies for parents and educators.

Break
9:30-10:00

Session 2: 10:00-11:30 a.m.

211 Sneak Preview to Teaching and Parenting with Love and Logic- Anna Arnold, Family Resource Would it be great to have fewer hassles with kids in the classroom and at home…so that you have more energy leftover at the end of the day? “ Love and Logic” created by Jim Fay and Dr. Foster Cline is dedicated to providing practical, easy–to-learn techniques for creating classrooms, schools and homes where kids enjoy cooperating and working hard for their teachers and parents. “Love and Logic” achieves this goal by offering a very powerful set of skills. Caution: Do not attend this session if you are afraid to giggle!

212 How Educators Can Minimize the Failure of At-Risk Students-Michael Ogelsby, Investigative Specialist, FBI This workshop will provide an oversight into the definition, problem, understanding of and solution for helping an at-risk student become successful in school.  It will allow an educator to see the obstacles facing an at-risk student  and how to help him/her successfully overcome the obstacles while leaving a life long positive impact in the life of that child. 

213 Building  Children by Strengthening Family, School,  and Community Partnerships -Laying a Strong Foundation in the Early Years-Terri Martin-Yates, Dr. Kathy Cook, and Heather Roach, Challenged Child and Friends  A tenfold increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and the overall need for improved social skills among our student population is a public crisis facing our nation.  This workshop addresses the current expulsion rates of preschoolers, the positive impact of early intervention, particularly at the PreK-1 level, and the pivotal role student assistance professionals play in coordinating proactive strategies to address this national crisis.

214 HIV/AIDS-John Darden, District 4 Health Services-repeated from 8:00 a.m.   This workshop is a practical, down to earth guide in how to talk to teens about HIV/AIDS along with other associated sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy. You become the class as Mr. Darden teaches about the dangers and prevention of these diseases and pregnancy.

215 Activities That Teach-Mary Johnson, SAPA Board Member Yes, teaching can be fun!!  This is an interactive workshop where participants will experience first-hand activities that can be used with students and/or adults.  We will investigate the difference between right-brain and left-brain learners and how to reach both through fun activities.

216 How to Obtain Funding for SADD Chapters-Randall Townley, Northeast Georgia Rural Roads Coordinator, SAPA Board Member This presentation will educate the attendees on the availability of SADD Chapter funding and the success of club participation in the Pioneer RESA District in reducing destructive behaviors. Come see how you too can obtain

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

Lunch on your own or attend one of our Lunch and Learn Sessions.  Attendance is optional-registration is recommended. See link on left. 

Keynote: 1:00—2:30 p.m.

231 Becoming the Educator You Always Wanted to Be: Creating A School With Character-Glenn Smith, Life Connections, Inc.  Imagine a school where students set academic and personal goals, self-evaluate these goals, and chart their own progress. Imagine a school where rules are not arbitrary but are there to protect common beliefs developed by all members of the learning community, administrators, teachers and students alike. Imagine a school that has a banner displayed across the entrance stating, "Imagine a School with Character".  This presentation will take a close look at the process of being the educator you want to be and helping your students be who they really want to be.