California Safe and Supportive Schools

The Art of Participatory Leadership

Webinar Recording

The Art of Participatory Leadership

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Education systems change efforts are more likely to be equitable and sustainable when they are designed, implemented, and continuously improved in partnership with the communities they serve. In this recording explore leadership competencies that are necessary for system leaders to facilitate change efforts that work towards eliminating inequity and generating opportunity and well-being. 

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Session Speakers:

Amber Valdez, EdD (she/her) is a Senior Program Associate II with WestEd’s Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities team where she supports local, regional, and state agencies and organizations to design and transform complex systems for equity. Her expertise includes complex systems change, transformational leadership, participatory change approaches, cross-sector collaboration, continuous improvement/improvement science, and human-centered/liberatory design. Valdez brings experience working with public and private sector systems, including education, health, and community development agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and foundations. Before coming to WestEd, Valdez led a consulting business supporting youth-, family-, and community-serving agencies and organizations with strategic planning, resource development, and community partnerships. She also served as a nonprofit leader supporting school and district administrators with resource development, community schools design, family engagement, and educational leadership. 

Lan Nguyen (she/her) serves as a Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

Lan is also a Program Associate at WestEd in the Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities content area and has experience in diverse roles within large K–12 school districts supporting and guiding the implementation of Restorative Practices programs. As a former high school science teacher and experienced Restorative practitioner, Lan is grounded in the daily realities of school and classroom life and has used that knowledge to guide her work with school and district leaders. She has seen firsthand the transformative potential of effectively implementing Restorative Practices programs on the culture and climate of schools. Lan also has years of experience providing professional development and technical assistance to schools and districts around LGBTQ+ issues in education.

Session Moderator: 

Laura Buckner (she/her) serves as a Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

Laura is a Technical Assistance Specialist with WestEd’s Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities team. Laura’s work centers on sharing information that is timely, relevant, and useful to education leaders as they seek to improve systems and address the whole-person and whole-community needs of students, staff, and families. She is skilled at translating research to practice, supporting implementation of evidence-based practices in education, and designing learning opportunities that help practitioners align their goals with their activities. Prior to joining WestEd, Laura worked with community-based organizations, partnering successfully with schools and school districts to provide mentorship and mental health services to students in grades K–12.

Reducing Stress and Trauma by Normalizing School Safety Practices

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This recording dives into the idea that school safety is the role of all education partners. Implementing standard best practices that reinforce safety into daily school routines is a key and fundamental component in keeping students and staff safe and in reducing trauma. Ultimately, by empowering students through familiarity with safety-related situations, they are better equipped to make crucial in-the-moment decisions that keep everyone safe. 

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Session resources

Session Speakers:

Jeff Caldwell is a senior lead in school safety in WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center. In this role, he works with state entities and school districts to provide technical assistance and resources related to school safety. He is the former associate director of school safety readiness at the Texas School Safety Center, where he was involved in the creation, implementation, and administration of statewide initiatives for school safety. Jeff has a diverse career in law enforcement, municipal government, and private industry, including roles as a school resource officer, chief of police, city marshal, city administrator, and director of various divisions, including emergency management, code enforcement, and the health department. His experience also includes facilitating professional development and personal growth training. When not working, Jeff enjoys his role as president of the board of directors of the Greater San Marcos Youth Council, as well as hiking, writing, and projects around the house. 

Shawna White is a senior lead in school safety in WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center. Dr. White brings a decade of experience leading research and technical assistance projects at local, state, and federal levels. She currently leads projects related to school emergency management and critical incident response, behavioral threat assessment implementation, and general school safety technical assistance. Prior to WestEd, Dr. White served as associate director of research and evaluation at the Texas School Safety Center, where she oversaw research related to behavioral threat assessment, school policing, and health and resilience in schools. She also led program evaluation of all center trainings and events, identifying key successes and opportunities for improvement to better serve school communities. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her two young children, as well as hiking, swimming, reading, and solving puzzles of all varieties. 

Session Moderator:

Antoinette Miller (she/her) serves as Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

Antoinette is also a Program Associate in WestEd’s Resilience and Healthy Schools and Communities area. In this capacity, she provides coaching, technical assistance, and professional learning to schools, districts, and county offices of education. Antoinette’s expertise is grounded in school climate and culture, mindfulness, healing-centered and restorative practices, social emotional learning and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Antoinette comes to WestEd with two decades of knowledge and experience in education, having previously worked as a general and special education teacher, districtwide intervention specialist, and a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) coordinator. Antoinette is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of all students and adults.

Guided Wellness Break

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In this recording, take some time to learn and practice ways to use breath, movement, and more to ground ourselves in the moment and be better able to connect positively with our colleagues, students, and family and community members.  

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Speaker:

Emily Hernandez, Ed.D., LMFT, brings over 25 years of experience working in public education and mental health. Dr. Hernandez is the director of the Employee Assistance Service for Education (EASE) in the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Her professional background includes working directly with schools, families, and communities including school counseling and child welfare and attendance, K-12 administration, clinical mental health, private practice, employee assistance services, and counselor preparation and education. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with areas of expertise in working with children, couples and families, educators, victims of violence, trauma, and crisis counseling. As a leader in the field, she has presented locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally and has authored a variety of scholarly work. She has served on multiple organizational leadership advisory and executive boards advocating for the need for mental health services in education in various capacities. She brings a unique lens to working with educators and school systems understanding the importance of bridging the gap towards more access to mental health in prevention and intervention in education. She enjoys spending her personal time with her family and friends doing some of her favorite things like walking her dog, gathering together, camping, hiking, yoga, dancing, painting and reading.

Talent Is Universal, Access Is Not: Why Partnerships Matter

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It’s more than just partnerships, it’s uniting power and purpose. Together, we can close the opportunity gap and remove the “red tape” to affording equitable and transformational access for all youth. Through partnerships, we can level the playing field by removing barriers and bringing new resources, opportunities, and experiences to communities, facilitating access and support for the whole child.  

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Session Speaker:

Jessica Ochoa, M.Ed., is an accomplished public education and civic sector trailblazer with nearly two decades of diversified experience with a commitment to leadership and service. She is currently the executive director of communications and community relations with the Inglewood Unified School District and serves on the board of directors for the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA). Her prior experience includes leading public education initiatives with the California Department of Education. As a leader in education, Jessica understands the importance of access, and has an unwavering commitment to social justice. She aims to deepen the impact of partnerships for the benefit of our deserving youth from all backgrounds. Jessica was recently recognized by CALSA as 2022 Region 5 (Los Angeles County) Classified Management of the Year. She enjoys playing golf in her free time. 

Session Moderator: 

Nakanya Magby (she/her) serves as a Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

Nakanya Magby (she/her) is a Senior Program Associate in WestEd’s Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities (RHSC) area. In this capacity, she provides coaching, training, and curriculum development in areas related to school climate and culture, trauma-informed practices, and equitable supports. Currently, she supports the California Center for School Climate and the Connecticut Department of Education. Most recently, she served as a school climate and culture specialist at the state level in Washington, DC, providing professional development, technical assistance, and coaching for a safe and supportive school climate to include multi-tiered systems of support and trauma-informed and equitable supports. Nakanya joins WestEd with over 20 years of experience in education and mental health, having previously worked as a special educator, school counselor, dean of students, and district- and state-level specialist. Nakanya believes that all students should have access to a quality educational experience both academically and emotionally.

Making Waves: Transforming School Culture through Student Mental Health Clubs

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Dive into this workshop on high school mental health clubs, uncovering lessons that prompt a fresh perspective on school mental health strategies. Learn seamless methods to integrate student-led mental health clubs into your school environment, fostering a culture of understanding, connection, and resilience. Explore innovative approaches to secure funding for sustained club support, equipping educators with tools to cultivate a more compassionate and supportive high school community. 

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Session resources

Session Speakers: 

Kym Barber has worked in public education for over 25 years, having spent the last 11 years with the Stanislaus County Office of Education, supporting homeless and foster youth education, school safety, PBIS, and programs across the MTSS framework. In her current role as the youth programs coordinator, she has developed a unique collaboration with NAMI On Campus Clubs throughout Stanislaus County High Schools. Kym is a graduate of Chapman University, receiving her bachelor of arts degree in organizational leadership and completing two years of graduate work in education. She is passionate about helping students find their full potential, develop a sense of community, and celebrate their unique abilities. Kym also loves celebrating holidays and has a separate Pinterest board for each one!

Jennifer Baker, M.A., M.Ed., LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and trainer with over 30 years of experience specializing in family systems, early childhood mental health, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed practices. She has worked in settings from public mental health and private practice to K–12 education. Jennifer is dedicated to supporting student and educator mental health and wellness and applying trauma-informed approaches to education, operating through a framework in which public health, mental health, and education intersect. As a multi-tiered systems of support coordinator at the Stanislaus County Office of Education, she supervises the Project Cal-Well AWARE grant and the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program while also providing mental health consultation for other projects. She is a member of the California Department of Education Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup and the Statewide Suicide Prevention Partners. She is thrilled that the work she supports aligns with her mission of moving people toward mental well-being through education and the transformative power of a reflective lens. Jennifer loves the summertime, a good book, and cuddling up on the couch with her family and three spoiled cats while watching their favorite shows. 

Brittney Clark, Library/Media Clerk, is the sole Library staff at Orestimba High School in Newman, California. She is also one of three advisors for Orestimba’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) club, the NAMI Warriors. This club works hard to provide safe spaces for students to talk about mental health, decrease its stigma, and do regular community outreach. She also coordinates the NAMI Needs Shelf, which provides hygiene items and clothing to students in the district, the Apprentice/Career Expo that invites career representatives to the school to talk to students about post-graduation options that may not need a college track, and Red Cross blood drives. In her free time, she is president of her local labor union and spends time lobbying in Sacramento for public education. She is also a full-time student working on her Master’s degree in Counseling/Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy.

Session Moderator:

Kenwyn Derby (she/her) serves as a Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

As a Senior Research Associate at WestEd, Kenwyn partners with educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders at local and state levels to understand contextualized problems of practice, to prioritize needs, to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and to apply evidence to increase equity and improve the experience and outcomes of students and others in human service systems. She provides coaching and technical assistance in contexts ranging from schools to cross-sector collaboratives, with an emphasis on supporting those in traditionally underserved communities. Her expertise includes facilitating and managing projects to improve youth well-being and mental health, to ease transitions for students, to reduce chronic absence and school dropout, to increase student and family engagement, and to create and sustain culture change.

Balancing Acts: Nurturing Educator Wellness for Sustainable Impact

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This workshop was designed for educators seeking to prioritize their well-being while making lasting impacts in their school communities. Through examples from the field, interactive activities, and practical strategies, participants explored the importance of self-care, stress management, and resilience. In this recording, explore the significance of finding small moments for self-care amidst the daily hustle, and strategies to cultivate collective and systemic cultures of care. 

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Session Speakers:

Dr. Rachel Vatannia serves as the Coordinator of Education Services in the San Leandro Unified School District. With an unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments, Dr. Vatannia works in areas related to whole-child learning, multi-tiered systems of support, college and career readiness, student and family engagement, and the cultivation of student agency. Her work is grounded in pedagogical intricacies of child and adolescent development, with an emphasis on equity and inclusion. Her intentional focus underscores her dedication to ensuring that educational practices not only meet high standards of effectiveness, but are also inclusive and prioritize the diverse needs of every student. 

 Dr. Vatannia’s commitment to expertise and excellence reached new heights with the completion of a doctorate in educational leadership for social justice. This theoretical knowledge, combined with a wealth of hands-on experience, means that she is adept at navigating complexities and implementing strategic solutions. In additional to her doctorate, Dr. Vatannia holds a bachelor of arts in child and adolescent development and a master’s degree in education and curriculum design.  

Jenny Betz (she/they) serves as a Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

Jenny is also a Senior Program Associate in the Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities content area at WestEd providing coaching, training, and technical assistance to support client efforts to assess and improve school climate and wellness, with an emphasis on equity, trauma-informed practices, SEL, partner engagement, youth leadership, bias-based bullying, LGBTQ students, data use, and sustainability. With more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Jenny has worked with hundreds of SEAs, LEAs, government agencies, professional associations, community organizations, and corporations, focusing on creating and sustaining safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments for all students.

Antoinette Miller (she/her) serves as Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

Antoinette is also a Program Associate in WestEd’s Resilience and Healthy Schools and Communities area. In this capacity, she provides coaching, technical assistance, and professional learning to schools, districts, and county offices of education. Antoinette’s expertise is grounded in school climate and culture, mindfulness, healing-centered and restorative practices, social emotional learning and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Antoinette comes to WestEd with two decades of knowledge and experience in education, having previously worked as a general and special education teacher, districtwide intervention specialist, and a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) coordinator. Antoinette is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of all students and adults.

Session Moderator:

Arturo Chavez (he/him) serves as a Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

Arturo is also a Program Associate with Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities in which he supports local and state communities with mental and behavioral health initiatives. He provides support and guidance to child-, youth-, and family-serving agencies in areas of school-based mental health, licensing, credentialing, and community and family engagement. Arturo brings experience working within a K–12 context as an LCSW, PPSC-School Social Worker, Foster and Homeless Liaison, Family and Community Liaison, Clinical Supervisor, Social–Emotional Learning Coordinator, and Coordinator of School Climate and Conditions.