Happy and Healthy at Home: Student Mental Health and Distance Learning

Presented by Dr. Lisa Strohman, Psychologist, Author, and Founder of Digital Citizen Academy; Dr. Susan Enfield, Superintendent, Highline Public Schools, WA; Dr. Tom Leonard, Superintendent, Eanes Independent School District, TX; and Dr. Michael Muñoz, Superintendent, Rochester Public Schools, MN
Hosted by Annie Galvin Teich, Writer, Editor, and K-12 Market Specialist

Sponsored by Gaggle

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Today’s students are experiencing an unprecedented shift in the way they learn. School buildings across the country have closed in response to the pandemic, affecting more than 55 million students. Educators have worked hard to move to distance learning, ensuring that students can still be engaged in their education from home. But with more than a dozen states announcing their intention to keep buildings closed for the rest of the semester, it’s unlikely that students will return to their normal routines anytime soon.

Distance learning can be challenging and isolating for students, who may feel disconnected from friends and teachers. Educators can get a sense of students’ mental health and well-being in the classroom, but losing that face-to-face contact makes it harder to gauge how students are doing during this stressful time. While schools may have protocols in place to support struggling students on campus, educators may be unsure of how they can help remotely.

Watch this edWebinar for a discussion about this “new normal” of distance learning. We dive into the trends of how and what students are doing as seen through Gaggle’s data, as well as how educators can keep students safe and connected while they learn at home.

This recorded edWebinar will be of benefit to school and district leaders of elementary through high school grade levels.

About the Presenters

Dr. Lisa Strohman is a clinical psychologist, author, public speaker and the founder and director of Digital Citizen Academy. She established Digital Citizen Academy to proactively prevent and educate students, educators, and parents on the issues resulting from technology use and misuse. Dr. Strohman has spent more than a decade working with adolescents and families in her private practice and a career working with schools to address challenges with student mental health and well-being. In addition, Dr. Strohman was a Visiting Scholar for the FBI working on homicidal pedophilia when Columbine occurred, giving her the opportunity to be on the front lines of how technology impacts our youth. She has continued to work with law enforcement and the FBI on safety and cybercrimes involving adolescents, while also lending her knowledge and guidance to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Dr. Susan Enfield serves as Superintendent of Highline Public Schools in Washington. Knowing every student by name, strength, and need is the promise of Highline Public Schools. Under the leadership of Dr. Enfield, the district is delivering on this promise by implementing a bold strategic plan committed to ensuring that students graduate bilingual and biliterate with problem-solving and critical thinking skills that will prepare them for the future they choose.

A former high school English, journalism, and ELL teacher, Dr. Enfield served as Chief Academic Officer and then as Interim Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools before coming to Highline in 2012. She previously held leadership positions in Evergreen Public Schools (Vancouver, WA), Portland Public Schools, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Dr. Tom Leonard serves as Superintendent of Eanes Independent School District in Texas. Since joining the highly- acclaimed Eanes ISD in July 2014, Dr. Leonard has focused on transparency, building relationships, and communication with the many constituents throughout the district. Under his leadership, the district passed an $80 million bond in 2019, a Tax Ratification Election in 2017, a $52.5 million bond in 2015, launched a Kindergarten Spanish Immersion program at four elementary schools, and started a Westlake High School Business Incubator program that saw five teams receive funding in its inaugural year. He was recently named Citizen of the Year by the Westlake Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Michael Muñoz serves as Superintendent of Rochester Public Schools in Minnesota. Dr. Muñoz began his tenure in this role in 2011. He works collaboratively with staff, students, and the community to inspire, challenge, and empower all students with the knowledge and skills required to reach their full potential, to contribute to future generations, and to become involved members of a global community. Board members and stakeholders describe Dr. Muñoz as having extensive knowledge of all academic programs and services, as an advocate for high achievement for all, an excellent communicator, and a visionary leader. He engages the community, is collaborative in his work, and is highly respected by his staff as a productive and positive leader.

About the Host

Annie Galvin Teich is a writer, editor, and content marketer who has spent more than 25 years working in educational publishing and education technology. She has significant experience in sales and marketing, business development, corporate communications, copywriting, and product development.

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Gaggle provides school safety products and solutions to the K-12 market. Using both artificial intelligence and trained safety experts, Gaggle’s early-warning system proactively assists districts 24/7/365 in the prevention of suicide, bullying, inappropriate behaviors, school violence, and other harmful situations. Gaggle has helped hundreds of districts avoid tragedies and save lives, while also protecting their liability.