Expert Advice on the Student Mental Health Crisis

Presented by Christopher Jenson, M.D., Senior Health Advisor, Educator, Public Speaker, and Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author on School Mental Health; Kristi Dixon, School Counselor, Blue Valley Unified School District 229 (KS); Heidi Albin, Teacher, Curriculum Author, Gaming Concepts Curriculum; and Brett Derickson, Assistant Principal, Carson Middle School, Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 (CO)

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View this edWebinar for a discussion with Dr. Christopher Jenson and experts with deep experience in the field of student health and wellness. They discuss:

• The acceleration of the student mental health crisis, student health metrics from 2000 forward (pre, during, and post-pandemic), and the driving forces for the downward spiral
• Implementations are currently in place: Are we happy with them? Why or why not?
• The current assets and limitations of schools: What are they? What roles do we feel communities are pushing us into? Do we have the capacity to treat?
• The role of embedded preventive mental health (novel approach) with a discussion of the research data and perspectives from presenters

This edWebinar is of interest to K-12 educators and counselors who want to learn more for their own self-care and for the mental health and wellness of their students.

This edWebinar is part of Mental Health & Wellness Week. Join us for a week of advice, resources, and solutions that address educator and student mental health and wellness.

About the Presenters

Dr. Christopher Jenson proudly served as an emergency medicine physician, CDC Science Ambassador Fellow, and nationally recognized educator before launching into his current passion—designing practical solutions for health-related challenges in schools across the U.S. and Canada. His first book, After the Mask: A Guide to Caring for Students and Schools, peaked at Amazon’s #1 Best Seller and #1 New Release during the summer of 2021, making an impact in both educational and mental-health-related categories. Dr. Jenson recently completed a nationwide study of 34 schools and more than 700 students, assessing the quantitative performance of preventative mental health with secondary students. The escalating health needs in schools have inspired Dr. Jenson to focus on his current passions: creating operational frameworks where teachers can seamlessly embed preventative mental health into the daily classroom experience and implementing specific action items from healthcare to deter educator burnout.

Kristi Dixon began her professional career as a special education teacher before moving on to school counseling in 2001. Kristi earned her Bachelor of Science in elementary education (1993) and Master of Science, special education – learning disabilities and serious emotional disability (1995) at Kansas State University. She then completed her second master’s degree in school counseling at Emporia State University (2000).

Since 1996, Kristi has supported countless students while also serving on her district’s Drug & Alcohol Intervention and Prevention Task Force, as well as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives with students, staff, and the community at large. She has taught as an adjunct instructor in graduate programs for school counseling at Emporia State University and University of Missouri-Kansas City. In 2016, Kristi was awarded Kansas School Counselor of the Year. Kristi is most proud of her role as Mom to her 16-year-old son, Elijah.

Heidi Albin, a Milken Educator and National Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, began her career in alternative education as a teacher and character education coordinator at Complete High School Maize. In addition to helping CHSM receive recognition as a Character.org National School of Character, Heidi successfully implemented a facility therapy dog program in her school, helped CHSM receive recognition as a Green School of the Year, and established a handicap-accessible community garden.

As a Master Angler with Fishing’s Future and a member of the board of directors for Wild KS, Heidi wrote and implemented curricula for fishing, wilderness survival, and camping. She loves sharing her resources by presenting at conferences and serving on committees such as the KSDE Learning COVID-19 Response Task Force and on a national 100Kin10 team. Heidi has co-authored character education curricula as well as esports curricula.

Brett Derickson is a veteran educator of 25 years primarily as a social studies teacher, soccer coach, and International Baccalaureate coordinator. Brett has a BS in education from Ohio University (1999) and advanced degrees in curriculum and instruction as well as educational leadership. For six years Brett has continued his leadership as a secondary assistant principal. Working primarily with military dependents and their families in Colorado Springs, his leadership continues to evolve as mental health initiatives and support take the main stage in schools today. Brett is also the co-founder of School House Cracked, an education podcast/vlog examining all aspects of school and community that impact American society. A father of three high-school-aged students, adapting to parenting in an era of social-emotional turmoil has shaped his approach to school policy and practices as well as the significance of relationships with all stakeholders.

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