International Critical Issues Leadership Conference
School Safety and Student Wellness
The Department of Organization and School Leadership has hosted a Critical Issues Leadership Conference the last three years to address issues educational leaders consider to be of critical importance to their districts and schools. In March, the Leadership Advisory Committee comprised of Superintendents, principals, central office staff, board members and community business leaders identified school safety and student wellness as the priority issue for our Conference.
Since our March meeting, the Santa Fe High School shooting on May 18 has heightened concerns regarding school safety and actions schools may take to better address student wellness factors such as anxiety, depression, suicide, ADHD, substance abuse and personality disorders. In May, Governor Abbot unveiled a State Plan which includes a list of 40 recommendations to “keep our students safe”. Roundtable discussions followed with lawmakers, law enforcement officials, and policy experts to further generate recommendations aimed at enhancing school safety.
The primary goal of this conference is to assist districts in providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students and employees. Our focus is to provide participants – school district officials, including superintendents, principals, teachers, district police and security officers, members of the school/district safety team law enforcement officials – evidenced-based practices, processes and strategies to improve campus safety and to recognize and respond to behaviors that may interfere with productive teaching and learning.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and to engage with policymakers to share insights and recommendations for strengthening school safety and student wellness practices.
Agenda at a Glance
Tuesday, October 30, 2018: School Safety
7:30 am - 8:15 am |
Registration & Breakfast: |
8:15 am - 8:30 am |
General Session: Ballroom Welcome & Opening Remarks |
8:30 am - 10:00 am |
General Session One: School Safety: Standard Response Protocols |
10:00 am - 10:10 am |
(Break) |
10:10 am - 11:40 am |
School Safety: Standard Response Protocols (cont) |
11:40 am - 12:10 pm |
Update on TX School Safety Center Training: |
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm |
Lunch - General Session Room |
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm |
General Session Two: Update on the Work of the Texas Senate Select Committee to Address School Safety; Implications for the 86 th Legislative Session |
1:45 pm - 1:55 pm |
Break |
1:55 pm - 3:55 pm |
General Session: Ballroom School Safety: Reunification Methods |
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm |
General Session: Ballroom |
Wednesday, October 31, 2018: School Wellness
7:30 am - 8:15 am |
Registration & Breakfast: Ballroom |
8:15 am - 8:25 am |
General Session: Ballroom |
8:25 am - 9:10 am |
General Session: Ballroom Student Wellness: One Student at a Time |
9:15 am - 10:30 am |
Marrs Room: Session 1 Valencia Room: Session 2 Ruby Room: Session 3 Rio Room: Session 4 Dr. Noe Ramos, Assistant Professor |
10:30 am - 10:40 am |
Break |
10:40 am - 11:55 am |
Marrs Room: Session 5 Valencia Room: Session 6 Ruby Room: Session 7 Rio Room: Session 8 Dr. Noe Ramos, Assistant Professor |
12:05 pm - 12:40 pm |
Lunch |
12:40 pm - 1:25 pm |
General Session: School Safety and School Wellness: Implications for the 86th Legislative Session |
1:25 pm - 1:35 pm |
Break |
1:35 pm - 2:45 pm |
Marrs Room: Session 9 Valencia Room: Session 10 Ruby Room: Session 11 Rio Room: Session 12 |
2:50 pm - 4:00 pm |
Marrs Room: Session 13 Valencia Room: Session 14 Ruby Room: Session 15
Rio Room: Session 16 |
4:15 pm - 4:30 pm |
Reflections |
Thursday, November 1, 2018: Conclusion
7:30 am - 8:15 am |
Breakfast |
8: 15 am - 8:30 am |
General Session: Ballroom Opening Remarks & Introduction of Speaker |
8:30 am - 9:30 am |
Transforming Lives: Restoring Hope |
9:30 am - 9:45 am |
Break |
9:45 am - 11:45 am |
General Session: Ballroom Restorative Practices |
11:45 am - 12:30 pm |
Lunch |
12:30 pm - 1:15 pm |
General Session: Ballroom Processing of Juvenile Cases: Challenges and Opportunities |
1:15 pm - 1:25 pm |
Break |
1:25 pm - 3:00 pm |
District Reflection and Planning Time |
3:00 - 3:45 |
Session Facilitator & Closing Comments Sharing Time and Reflections |
Tuesday, October 30, 2018: School Safety
Senator Eddie Lucio Jr. Update on the Work of the Texas Senate Select Committee to Address School Safety; Implications for the 86 th Legislative Session |
John Keyes School Safety: Standard Response Protocols |
Joe Munoz School Safety: A School Board Members Perspective |
Dr. Alma Rodriguez
Welcome & Opening Remarks |
Dr. Velma D. Menchaca Welcome & Opening Remarks |
Wednesday, October 31, 2018: School Wellness
Senator Chuy Hinojosa School Safety and School Wellness: Implications for the 86th Legislative Session |
Dr. Victor Alvarado
Student Wellness: One Student at a Time |
Dr. Nancy Razo
Depression: Warning Signs and Interventions |
Dr. Eugenia Curet Recognizing and Responding to Substance Abuse |
Dr. Noe Ramos
Recognizing and Responding to Needs of Students with ADHD |
Dr. Federico Guerra
Recognizing and Responding to Needs of Students with ADHD |
Jessica Ortega Working with High Risk Students and Their Families |
Mr. Eduardo J. Moreno
Assessing and Responding to Social Media Threats |
Dr. Rosalinda Hernandez
Physical Wellness and Mental Health |
Dr. Maricela C. Valdez
Physical Wellness and Mental Health |
John Montemayor
Caring for Student Wellbeing Before and After a Crisis |
Dr. Roberto Zamora Student Wellness: Relationships Matter |
Thursday, November 1, 2018: Conclusion
Mario Bracamontes Transforming Lives: Restoring Hope |
Dr. Armando O'ca ña Restorative Practices |
Renee Betancourt
Processing of Juvenile Cases: Challenges and Opportunities |
Dr. Roberto Zamora Opening Remarks & Introduction of Speaker Session Facilitator & Closing Comments |
Main Speakers & Bios
DR. PATRICIA M. ALVAREZ MCHATTON earned a Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in special education and urban education. She is currently the EVP of the Academic Affairs, Student Success, and P-16 Integration at the University of Texas RGV. Dr. Alvarez McHatton has served in multiple capacities throughout her tenure in higher education including program coordinator at the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University of South Florida, chair of the inclusive education department at Kennesaw State University, and associate dean for teacher education at the University of Missouri Kansas City. Her research interests include diversity in education, teacher preparation with an emphasis on preparing culturally competent educators, collaboration, and school experiences of diverse youth and families. Dr. Alvarez McHatton’s work centers on school-university-community partnerships. A major emphasis of her work is engaging disenfranchised youth in participatory action research for social change and arts-based research as a method for making research findings accessible to the communities in which it is undertaken. She has served in leadership roles, both nationally and internationally, including as President for both the Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL) and the Teacher Education Division (TED) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) |
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DR. VELMA D. MENCHACA earned a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in curriculum & Instruction with a minor in educational administration in 1991. She is currently a professor and department chair for the Department of Organization and School Leadership at the University of Texas RGV. She has previously taught at the University of Texas Pan American, Texas State University and Tarleton State University and had been a university professor 25 years and was in public education 11 years. Her research focuses the areas of culturally responsiveness, English Learners, mentoring leaders and rural education. Dr. Menchaca’s teaches in the areas of sociocultural issues, school and community engagement and special populations and teaches in the master’s and doctoral programs. She has made state, national and international presentations. She has also served on national and state committees in addition to providing service to her community. She has recently received the Mentor Award presently by the College of Education. |
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Dr. Zamora currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Organization and School Leadership. Dr. Zamora holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master’s degree in Secondary Education/Supervision and a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Biology and Minor in Chemistry from The University of Texas, Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. As professor, Dr. Zamora capitalizes on his vast public school experiences to relate theory and research to practice. He teaches courses that focus on organizational leadership, instructional and change. His students learning experiences are enhanced by engaging with exemplary schools leaders who share their experiences and add relevance to the course work. His research areas of interest include the impact of organizational health on student achievement and the relationship between leadership on change and student achievement. |