COE Sponsored Events
National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference serves 1,300 professionals
Georgia Southern University’s College of Education had near record-breaking attendance at the 34th annual National Youth Advocacy and Resilience (NYAR) Conference. The conference was at capacity with over 1,300 participants from across the U.S. attending sessions as presenters or audience members. The event was held March 5-8 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Savannah.
Conference co-chair, Alisa Leckie, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of Partnerships and Outreach, remarked, “As in past years, we had to create a waiting list given the continued demand for the conference and for information on how to best build resilience among our community’s youth. Although we wish we could have accommodated everyone who wanted to attend, we are heartened at how many people want to learn how to better support children and families.”
One of the University’s longest-running and largest conferences, the NYAR Conference provides professional development and evidence-based techniques to educators, social workers, counselors, school resource officers, administrators, psychologists, and others who work with and advocate for minors. This year’s four-day event featured more than 100 sessions that focused on the five domains of youth advocacy: Head (academics), Heart (social/emotional), Health (physical), Hand (safety), and Home (families).
New to this year’s conference were student presenters who talked about their advocacy work. Conference co-chair Taylor Norman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Middle and Secondary Grades, says, “Ideally, we can continue to engage those who most benefit from the work, the students/children themselves, to show advocacy professionals what an impact they make.”
For more information, the NYAR Conference program is available online at https://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ce/conferences/nyar/
Leckie and Norman encourage those interested in attending future NYAR Conferences to register early. Registration for the 2024 conference opens in October.
Student Art Showcased Across Three Georgia Southern Campuses
More than sixty students in grades K-12 and their families were invited to Georgia Southern University for the opening of a year-long exhibition of their artwork. The students were part of the College of Education’s 17th Annual Art Extravaganza and attended either the Statesboro Campus event on February 26 or the Armstrong Campus event on March 5. Daria Collins, art teacher at the Tybee Island Maritime Academy, spoke at the Armstrong event, and Crystal Holman, artist and retired art teacher, spoke at the Statesboro event.
The student artwork can be seen in the Statesboro College of Education Building, the Armstrong University Hall and the Liberty Campus Building. Alisa Leckie, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Partnerships and Outreach at the College of Education, helped organize the event and says, “The artwork on display makes our faculty and students smile. It really enhances the campus.”
Each year, the College of Education invites every school in the region to submit up to three pieces of student work to be part of the Art Extravaganza. This year, the artwork is from 25 schools across eight counties in the region.
COE to host Educator Wellness Day
On Saturday, September 24 at noon, current mentors working with Georgia Southern University College of Education (COE) students are invited to participate in a day of appreciation.
“All across the state we have dedicated professionals who work with our students preparing to become teachers, educational leaders, counselors, and school psychologists,” said Alisa Leckie, Ph.D., assistant dean for partnerships and outreach. “This year, as the Georgia Southern football team celebrates homecoming and teacher appreciation for their Sept. 24 home game, we decided to add in a special day of wellness, relaxation and fun for those individuals who are supporting our students.”
Current mentors will receive an email invitation to RSVP for a two-hour event full of massage techniques, chair yoga, puppy play time, art projects, refreshments and more–all completely free!
“There is no ‘thank you’ large enough for these individuals as they dedicate their expertise time and time again to help grow and advance our students,” said Leckie. “We hope that this will just be a reminder of how much we appreciate our mentors.”
The Educator Wellness event will take place at the College of Education on the Statesboro Campus from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 prior to the football game at 6 p.m.
For more information, contact Leckie at aleckie@georgiasouthern.edu
Road to Resilience Conference to be hosted in Savannah in Sept.
On September 10, more than 2,000 Savannah-Chatham educators, counselors, social workers and criminal justice professionals, among others, are anticipated to attend the first-ever Road to Resilience Conference on Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus
Previously three separate events — Brake the Stigma: Mental Health Awareness Car Show; Mental Health Symposium; and the Trauma Informed Education Symposium (TIES) — are coming together to form one day of professional education, training and awareness to address the behavioral and mental health needs of Chatham County.
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit presentation proposals for a 45-minute session (30 minutes of content and 15 minutes for Q&A) that addresses one of the four strands of the conference theme HEAL:
- Heal: Examples include practices related to self-care, mindfulness, self-compassion; trauma-sensitive yoga, coping skills;
- Equity: Examples include justice, equity and inclusion practices, implicit biases, trauma-informed practices, respecting protective factors;
- Advocacy: Examples include parental tips to advocate for a child, self-advocacy, understanding mental health and trauma to become a better advocate;
- Learning: Examples include learning about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), suicide awareness, trauma-informed educational practices, mental health symptoms, local resources, evidence-based practices, and supporting teachings and students in schools.
Proposals should include a title and a 50-word abstract of the presentation as well as how the presentation relates to one (or more) of the conference strands. Email proposals to Regina Rahimi, Ed.D., professor of middle grades education, at rrahimi@georgiasouthern.edu no later than August 1.
The conference is co-hosted by Georgia Southern’s College of Education, Chatham County Strategic Planning, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Gateway of Savannah and Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition.
Sponsorships for the event are also available. For questions about sponsorship or the event contact Regina Rahimi, Ed.D., at rrahimi@georgiasouthern.edu.
Southeast Conference on School Climate
The 2022 Southeast Conference on School Climate was a success, and planning is already underway for the 2023 event. Take a look at the conference recap below.
