Supporting Cast: Fostering Effective Relationships Through the Lens of Trauma-Sensitive, Growth Mindset, Equity & Self-Care Practices (Series Begins Oct. 16, 2024) (Registration Closed) – The Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.

For this webinar series, participants will automatically be enrolled in all 5 sessions.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Speaker

Theresa Melito-Conners, Ph.D., (Dr. MC), CEO/Founder of Dr. MC’s Self-Care Cabaret, Special Education Administrator, Melrose Public Schools

Description

Fostering effective relationships in a school community is crucial to its success. Whether it is with families, students, colleagues, community members, or consultants, these partnerships set the tone for the school’s overall climate. How to build such relationships is something that educators can cultivate by utilizing Trauma-Sensitive, Growth Mindset, Equity, and Self-Care Practices.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must attend all 5 sessions and successfully pass a quiz following Session 5. Following the live webinar, registrants will be emailed a link to view the recorded webinar. The recording will be made available for 7 days after each session.

This session will focus on relationship-building from a trauma-sensitive perspective. How we welcome families into the school, communication policies, and our mindset around family engagement are essential factors to consider. Understanding trauma and its profound impact on students and families can help educators to understand how to meet the needs of the students. Participants will be able to reflect, brainstorm, and practice skills to help strengthen the school-family connection.

This session will focus on relationship-building from a growth mindset perspective. It is essential to create a shared mindset about what a strong, inclusive school-family partnership looks like and how we can nurture it inside and outside our classrooms. Participants will learn how their mindset impacts not only their well-being but the relationships they strive to build.

This session will focus on relationship-building from an equity perspective. Understanding how equity plays a key factor in developing a sense of belonging and building strong relationships is vital. Every day people of marginalized groups experience unintended harm in their daily interactions. We will examine our implicit bias, everyday microaggressions, and their impact.

This final session will focus on relationship-building from a self-care perspective. As an educator, you have to prioritize your needs through foundational self-care practices across 10 domains, including the relationship domain. You can only effectively build relationships and partnerships with students, families, colleagues, etc., with a strong relationship with yourself first. Participants will create their action plan for building effective relationships in their school community and attending to their needs in the process.

About the Speaker

Theresa Melito-Conners, Ph.D. (Dr. MC) (she/her) is the founder of Dr. MC’s Self-Care Cabaret, a suite of theater-inspired self-care and professional development services for helping professionals. The Self-Care Cabaret encompasses workshops, a podcast, and educational curricula — focused on accessible, realistic strategies that equip and empower.

Dr. MC first recognized the need for such strategies as a special education administrator. She realized individuals in people-first, service-oriented roles often struggle with prioritizing self-care and work-life balance and lack resources. Curious, Dr. MC pursued her Ph.D. in educational leadership from Lesley University, honing in on self-care and renewal for helping professionals. In addition to her doctorate and published research, she is a licensed K-12 counselor with a master’s of education in school counseling from Salem State University and a B.A. in theatre studies from Emerson College. Her true joy is bringing her scholarship, experience, and zest to audiences of all kinds nationwide.

Dr. MC is a regular guest on high-profile podcasts and publications. She has a growing social community @DrMCselfcare on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn and lives in Massachusetts.

evaluation

Membership Information

Most MPY webinars are available ONLY to current staff from member districts and organizations. Public school memberships include police and fire personnel. Former and retired employees and members of committees, including but not limited to, PTO/PTA, PAC, School Improvement Councils, Health Councils, Drug/Alcohol Councils, and school volunteers, are not considered MPY members.

PDPs and CEUs

MPY is an approved Professional Development Provider through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (Provider No. F20180079). Professional Development Points (PDPs) are offered for most MPY professional development webinars. PDPs are issued in 10 hour increments, per DESE requirements.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for clinical staff through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. (MaMHCA). The NASW and the MaMHCA approve each event individually. CEUs may be given in hourly increments.

Event Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend a MPY webinar you must cancel, through Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org, one business day before the webinar.

For MPY hybrid conferences, the date in-person registration closes will be posted on MPY’s website. Virtual conference registration will close one business day before the hybrid conference. You cannot cancel or switch your registration from in-person to virtual after in-person registration closes. Please email Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org with any questions regarding registration.

Enrollment in this course closed on 10/16/2024.

All sessions are 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.