- 2024 -
Leadership & Happiness Symposium
Exclusive Leadership Event for Superintendents
You’re invited to this exclusive leadership event focused specifically on the needs School District Superintendents and Administrators.
Why Happiness?
Happiness is an essential investment for leaders as a cornerstone of professional success and personal fulfillment.
Prioritizing happiness enhances resiliency, sharpens decision-making, and equips you to face the challenges of leadership with grace and effectiveness.
Happiness directly impacts productivity, creativity and loyalty–all of which contribute to a positive and dynamic workplace culture and builds a more connected community.
This One-Day Event Will Provide:
- Understanding of the neuroscience behind the most effective leadership skills
- Strategies to build a culture of happiness in your schools.
- Immediately impactful applications, resources, and best practices
Additional Highlights Include:
- Connecting and networking with Superintendent peers
- Discussing innovative solutions for employee retention and recruitment
- Learning crucial skills to cultivate thriving schools, contented staff, and successful students
Uplevel your leadership style to inspire, enlighten, and sustain.
Gillian Chapman
Superintendent,
TCSD #1
Teton County School District located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Superintendent, Dr. Gillian Chapman joined the district in 2015, and has worked on important issues including aligning curriculum with the Wyoming State standards, mindfulness for all students and staff, and the construction of Munger Mountain Elementary School- the first dual immersion school in the state. Jackson Hole,Wyoming is the most expensive county in the United States and has a small town feel even when more than 3 million tourists descend on the community. The main industry of tourism creates unique challenges to navigate with the help of the School Board.
During her tenure, the school district is consistently ranked #1 and is nationally ranked. Updating facilities for the rapid growth of students, stable and affordable housing for staff, and project based learning are the priorities for Dr. Chapman. She is involved at the state and national level serving as President of the Administrator Association in Wyoming, Governing Board for AASA and Superintendent of the Year in 2023.
Dr. Chapman earned a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Central Missouri, and a doctorate in administration and leadership from St. Louis University.
John Heim
Assistant Lecturer, University of Wyoming
Dr. John Heim is an experienced leader in public education with over 30 years in school administration and advocacy. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Kansas State University and has served in key roles, including Executive Director of the Kansas Association of School Boards and CEO of the National School Boards Association. His work has focused on improving student achievement, particularly in reading and math, and developing alternative education programs. Dr. Heim has successfully led multi-million-dollar bond initiatives and worked closely with lawmakers to shape education policy at both state and federal levels. His contributions have been recognized with honors such as Kansas Superintendent of the Year. In addition to his leadership roles, he has taught educational leadership at several universities and continues to provide consulting services to school districts. Dr. Heim remains dedicated to enhancing school governance and promoting equitable access to quality education.
Anne Brown
CEO/President
Cook Center for Human Connection
As the president and CEO of the Cook Center for Human Connection, Anne Brown has led groundbreaking initiatives in mental wellness, particularly within educational settings. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, she has been instrumental in delivering essential mental health services to thousands of schools and millions of families nationwide.
Anne’s vision led to the creation of the AASA Mental Health Cohort, which provides critical support to superintendents across the country, helping them enhance the mental well-being of their communities. Anne serves as a public commissioner on the SafeUT Commission, founded ParentGuidance.org, and co-created “My Life is Worth Living,” the first animated series focused on youth mental health and suicide prevention. As a sought-after keynote speaker, she has shared her expertise at state and federal events, emphasizing the importance of human connection, happiness and education.
Todd Stevenson
Chief Advocacy Officer
Cook Center for Human Connection
Prior to joining the Cook Center team, Todd spent six years at Waterford,org, where he led both inside and regional sales teams and was promoted in the fall of 2019 to Executive Vice President and General Manager – School Partnerships. Todd has been married for 30 years and has four children. His family’s hobbies include snow skiing, cycling, hiking, reading and traveling. He is fluent in German and holds a master’s degree in Modern European History.
Jenna Trowbridge
Director, School and Community Advocacy
Cook Center for Human Connection
Paul Richins
Director, K12 and Community Advocacy: Intermountain West/Hawaii and Alaska
Cook Center for Human Connection
As a passionate advocate of K12 Mental Health, wellness, and leadership, Paul has over 25 years of experience in the K12 field of education as a teacher/professor, content consultant, and leadership trainer – all specializing in empowering student achievement through technology, health and wellness, leadership, and science. After teaching at the college/university level, Paul made the transition to working for some of the biggest educational publishers in the world – Pearson, McDougal Littel, Scott Foresman, McGraw Hill etc – as a content consultant and in sales. He has presented and trained teachers across the country in some of the largest and smallest K12 school systems. He is an engaging presenter, trainer and leader sensitive to the dynamics of what impacts and affects students achievement and outcomes – and how to get students/teachers there..
Paul is a passionate outdoor athlete, has coached many high-level club and travel sports teams, has co-founded two non-profit organizations and is a proud dad and grandpa to his amazing family. He is an aspiring author with many books in outline format – in short, he loves what he does and he does what he loves.
Grace Brown
Sr. Manager of Impact & Curriculum,
Cook Center for Human Connection
Grace Brown, a dedicated advocate for nationwide mental health, joined the Cook Center for Human Connection with extensive expertise in implementing strategies for student achievement. As an Implementation and professional development expert, she’s coached educators in over 800 classrooms across the US.
Grace seamlessly combines deep expertise with a talent for simplifying and making complex concepts compelling. Grace crafted the curriculum for “My Life Is Worth Living” mental health web series and offers innovation that countless educators and administrators have implemented. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and a Graduate Certificate in Early Educational Leadership from Harvard.
Michelle Bartsch
Vice President of Education,
Cook Center for Human Connection
Michelle Bartsch, as Vice President of Education at Cook Center for Human Connection, has been a leading force in mental wellness and non-profit initiatives across communities, schools and organizations nationwide for over 15 years. Her visionary work in developing ParentGuidance.org — a no-cost mental health resource—has been crucial in providing essential support to thousands of schools and millions of families over the past 4 years. Michelle also played a key role in the creation and launch of My Life is Worth Living, the first animated web series focused on youth mental health and suicide prevention. Additionally, she pioneered the Leadership & Happiness Symposium, an initiative that equips essential executive school and community leaders with the tools to make systemic improvements to their communities’ mental health cultures.
A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Michelle focuses on youth mental health initiatives and critical mental health support for staff, families and communities. Her voice has driven change at both state and national levels, championing the importance of education, leadership and human connection. Michelle holds a master of Science in Education and Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Wesleyan University.
Carolyn Synan
Chief Student Services Officer
Park City School District
Dr. Carolyn Synan is an accomplished educator with over 20 years of experience committed to student success and educational equity. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and has leveraged her expertise to foster inclusive, student-centered learning environments. For the past four years, she has served as the Chief Student Services Officer for the Park City School District (PCSD), where her visionary leadership has driven impactful initiatives in student support services, equity, wellness, and academic achievement.
Dr. Synan joined PCSD eight years ago, bringing valuable experience from diverse roles in the Salt Lake City School District, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Her career has been marked by a dedication to advancing educational policy and implementing innovative programs tailored to the needs of diverse student populations. With a foundation in classroom teaching and school administration, she brings a well-rounded, practical perspective to her work, guided by hands-on experience and a steadfast commitment to creating equitable educational opportunities for all students.
Symposium Partners
Agenda
Thursday
November 7 - Leadership & Happiness Symposium
12:00 - 12:30 PM
12:30 - 1:30 PM
Lunch (provided by Cook Center for Human Connection)
1:30 - 2:00 PM
Symposium Overview: Jenna Trowbridge, Director of Advocacy, School and Community Impact
2:00 - 3:30 PM
The PANAS Quiz: Grace Brown, Sr. Manager of Impact & Curriculum, Cook Center for Human Connection
3:30 - 3:45 PM
Break
3:45 - 4:45 PM
Solving The Happiness Equation: Grace Brown
4:45 - 5:00 PM
Mission For Mental Wellness: Anne Brown, President/CEO, Cook Center for Human Connection
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
Friday
November 8 Leadership & Happiness
7:00 - 8:00 AM
Group Photo Op – Hike/Fun Run/Walk View the Tetons hosted by Dr. Gillian Chapman
9:00 - 9:30 AM
Continental Breakfast (provided by the Cook Center for Human Connection)
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Neuroscience’s 4 Secrets Revealed: Michelle Bartsch & Grace Brown
10:30 - 11:15 AM
- Gillian Chapman, Superintendent, Teton County School District, Jackson Hole, WY
- Carolyn Synan, Chief Student Services Officer, Park City School District, Park City, UT
- Anne Brown, President/CEO, Cook Center for Human Connection
- John Heim, Assistant Lecturer, University of Wyoming
11:15 - 11:30 AM
Closing Remarks: Gillian Chapman, Anne Brown, Paul Richins, and Jenna Trowbridge