For Schools & Districts

Keynotes, staff training, and parent nights from someone who's actually run a school.

I spent nearly three decades in schools: as a teacher, a guidance counselor, and an administrator. I've been the person in the office when it all goes wrong, and I've been the person who had to call the parents.

So when I stand in front of your staff, I'm not theorizing. And when I stand in front of your parents, they can tell.

Speaking topics

School Safety From The Inside Out: What Kids Want Trusted Adults to Know

School safety has many definitions. Administrators and staff who cultivate a strong sense of belonging, who are steeped in the research behind developing brains, who support and uphold the dignity of children, and who see discipline as guidance rather than punishment, have campuses that thrive. This session covers five "must haves" in positive school culture and why they are necessary to mitigate student distress and school violence.

Includes a trigger warning: briefly discusses youth suicide as it relates to school safety.

Childhood 2.0: How To Reach, Teach, and Support iGeneration Students

Childhood has drastically changed with the advent of smartphones. The stressors kids face are different from what we experienced, and their interactions are at times more aggressive because of it. Academic pressure, bullying on social and gaming platforms, and rising anxiety and depression must be met with prevention and resiliency training, while engaging parents in understanding what we are handing our children.

The Self-Driven Child: Helping Kids Thrive

Epic numbers of kids report distress, teachers are exhausted, and school refusal is at an all-time high. This session covers the brain science behind motivation and why moving from managing kids’ lives to consulting with them is the only way they can take flight.

Turning Distress Into Success: How To Mitigate The Runway Of Student Distress

What does the runway to student distress look like? How can we use a public health model to intervene, and what are the cryptic and often missed warning signs of an impending youth suicide attempt, especially in our boys?

Saving Our Sons: What Boys Need From Us Now

What does the data say about boys? The data points on failure to thrive are bleak. This session explores how to nurture the way they show up at school and harness the energy they bring as an intervention tool in violence prevention.

Formats

Keynote

Whole staff, conference, community. 45–90 min.

Staff PD

Teachers, counselors, admin. Half or full day.

Parent night

Families. 60–90 min.

Student assembly

By grade band. 45–60 min.

District consulting

Leadership, policy, prevention. Multi-day or ongoing.

Panel

Moderated discussion. Varies.

Available in person and virtually. In-person work concentrates in Arizona's East Valley and nationally by arrangement.

Schools and organizations

Valley Christian Schools · Sequoya Elementary · Rotary Club of Queen Creek · Mesa Mayor's Breakfast

Katey inspired my faculty to be more creative and innovative in their approach to students. Her wisdom and information for parents keeps them abreast of how they can support their child while also understanding their developing brain.

Veronica Leiper · Principal, Sequoya Elementary

On the legislation

Schools are being asked to implement law that changes faster than the training does. I write about it because administrators keep asking me what it actually means for them.