School District Leaders of Mental Health, Social and Emotional Learning Gather to Fuel Ideas, Solutions for Students and Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
 
Contact:  
James Minichello  
703-774-6953  
jminichello@aasa.org 

California’s San Ramon Valley Unified Schools to Serve as Host District

Alexandria, Va. – April 15, 2024 – As mental health remains a top concern for parents whose children are 18 or younger, superintendents and other school administrators from across the country are gathering in California, April 17-19, for AASA’s Mental Health and Social and Emotional Learning Summit.

“Social and emotional well-being, character development and interpersonal skills all play a pivotal role in shaping well-rounded, resilient and healthy individuals ready to excel not just academically, but in life.”

Hosted by The School Superintendents Association and the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, (SRVUSD) champions of these critical areas will explore the latest data, research and trends around mental health awareness and SEL in our schools.

“There’s nothing more important than protecting and developing the mental wellness of our nation’s youth. Social and emotional well-being, character development and interpersonal skills all play a pivotal role in shaping well-rounded, resilient and healthy individuals ready to excel not just academically, but in life,” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. “With a deepening mental health crisis affecting more and more of our youngest minds, there’s never been a better time to convene some of the sharpest and most influential leaders in education with some of the most effective voices for change. We’re thrilled to work with Superintendent John Malloy and his staff at San Ramon Valley Unified Schools to host this important summit.”

“We as superintendents have to engage widely and effectively to create the impact we’re looking for to ensure positive mental health for our students, staff, families and caregivers. Meeting our commitment has never been more important, which is why we're encouraged to bring in district leaders from across the country in this critical area,” said John Malloy, superintendent, SRVUSD. “We are honored to host the AASA Mental Health and SEL Summit to share key strategies in order to carry out the necessary work to develop thoughtful and effective solutions.”

“We as superintendents have to engage widely and effectively to create the impact we’re looking for to ensure positive mental health for our students, staff, families and caregivers.”

Key speakers include:

• Tracy Barrett, chief of staff, Riverside Insights, summit partner
• Laura Bratt, president, SRVUSD Board of Education
• Dan Bridges, AASA SEL Cohort co-lead, superintendent, Naperville Community (Ill.) Unit School District
• Dawn Bridges, AASA SEL Cohort co-lead
• Anne Brown, AASA Mental Health Cohort co-lead, president and CEO, Cook Center for Human Connection (Utah)
• Dawn Hosni, chief business development officer, AlphaBest Education, summit partner
• Paul Imhoff, AASA past president; AASA Mental Health Cohort co-lead; director, government relations, Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Ohio
• John Malloy, superintendent, SRVUSD
• Jennifer Reed, AASA Mental Health Cohort co-lead, senior director, district programs, The Jed Foundation (JED)
• Taryn Marie Stejskal, founder and chief resilience officer, Resilience Leadership Institute
• Steve Young, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and three-time Super Bowl champion
  

Among the critical discussions attendees will focus on throughout the three-day meeting will include:

• How has the district’s approach to social-emotional learning and mental health evolved over time, and what were the key factors driving these changes?
• What specific strategies and interventions are employed at each tier of a Multi-Tiered Support System for supporting students' social-emotional learning and mental health, and how are these tailored to meet diverse student needs?
• How does the district measure and evaluate the effectiveness of its social-emotional learning and mental health initiatives within the MTSS framework?
• What are the current challenges and future goals for the district in further enhancing social-emotional learning and mental health support for students?
  

SRVUSD is one of 15 school districts nationwide recently named to participate in the District Comprehensive Approach pilot, a transformational program administered by AASA and The Jed Foundation (JED) that guides districts in improving systems of support for pre-K-12 students’ emotional well-being. Inaugural district cohort members will be at the forefront of learning and leading powerful mental health and suicide prevention practices that will benefit both staff and students.

Visit the AASA website for additional information about the AASA Mental Health and Social and Emotional Learning Summit. Superintendents and other educators can also contact Mort Sherman, senior associate executive director, AASA Leadership Network, at msherman@aasa.org, or Debbie Magee, director, AASA Leadership Network, at dmagee@aasa.org.

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About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.