In Partnership with Appalachian Children Coalition; Hosted by Dublin City Schools
Leadership & Happiness Symposium
Exclusive Leadership Event for Superintendents
Hosted by Dublin City Schools.
Wednesday, December 3,
9:00am to 2:30pm
Join Us for an Exclusive Leadership Experience Tailored for Superintendents
Step into a powerful opportunity to elevate your leadership, expand your professional network, and gain practical strategies that support your district’s continued success.
Uplevel Your Leadership Style to Inspire, Enlighten, and Sustain
- Understand the neuroscience behind the most effective leadership skills
- Acquire practical strategies to foster a culture of happiness and purpose in your district
- Discover insights to support your well-being and leadership journey
- Take away immediately impactful applications, resources, and best practices
Networking with Superintendent Peers:
- Connect, collaborate and exchanging ideas
- Discuss innovative solutions for employee retention and recruitment
- Gain crucial skills to cultivate thriving schools, contented staff, and successful students
Happiness is:
- an essential investment for leaders
- a leadership advantage that sets you apart
- the cornerstone of professional success
- the fuel for personal fulfillment
- the foundation of resilience
- the key to clear, confident decision-making
This event is built for superintendents who are committed to personal growth, peer connection, and making a lasting impact across your school community.
Gain the leadership advantage.
Reconnect with your purpose.
Strengthen your network.
Here’s what attendees are saying about Leadership & Happiness…
“This session was very informative and came at a time where we are facing low morale in
our building. I am excited to take this information back to my staff and start
shifting mindsets and climate.”
“The experience really helped connect some dots. Always helpful to hear from colleagues about their priorities and challenges.”
“Being challenged to reevaluate what I am pouring myself into that may not be contributing to happiness was very meaningful to me. ‘What you live in is what you live out’.”
Sarah Walsh
Director, School & Community Advocacy,
Cook Center for Human Connection
Sarah Walsh serves as the Director of School and Community Advocacy at the Cook Center for Human Connection, an organization focused on strengthening human connections and providing mental health support to prevent suicide. In this role, Sarah collaborates with schools and community organizations to promote mental health awareness and implement programs that foster supportive and inclusive environments.
Sarah brings a wealth of experience to her work at the Cook Center. With a strong background in education and program development, she has held leadership positions in both nonprofit organizations and educational settings. Her expertise spans areas such as curriculum development, teacher training, and the creation of initiatives to support student well-being.
Her career reflects a steadfast commitment to enhancing inclusive practices, addressing mental health challenges, and empowering educators and community leaders to support student success.
Grace Brown
Sr. Manager of Curriculum & Program Development, 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.
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