Monday, June 15th

Erin Walsh is co-founder of Spark & Stitch Institute and author of It’s Their World: Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence (Free Spirit Publishing). She has worked with communities across the country who want to better understand child and adolescent development and cut through conflicting information about kids and technology. Her signature down-to-earth approach and sense of humor helps families and educators engage in complicated topics and leave feeling capable and motivated.

Erin has enjoyed bringing science and strategies to families and educators alongside her father Dr. David Walsh for nearly 20 years. They started together at the National Institute on Media and the Family before creating Spark & Stitch Institute in 2019. She co-authored the 10th Anniversary Edition of the national bestseller Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen. 

Before creating Spark & Stitch Institute, Erin taught undergraduate students for nine years with the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs and was a lead program facilitator for Youth Frontiers. Her work has been featured in local publications across the country as well as the Washington Post, Edutopia, Minnesota Public Radio,  Star Tribune, Parents.com. Erin has served several community organizations, including as a professional mentor for NextGen Connect at Fairplay, an intergenerational mentoring program for youth digital wellness leaders, and as board chair of YMCA Camp Widjiwagan, a wilderness-based youth development program. She has worked with schools, school districts, parent groups, and other youth-serving organizations throughout North America on issues related to digital media, children, and youth. She lives in Minneapolis, MN with her wife, two kids, and husky.

Tuesday, June 16th

Clay Cook, PhD is an implementation scientist, psychologist, and former paraprofessional and middle school math teacher. He is the Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong who has spent the past 15 years working in partnership with school systems across the country to support the implementation of effective practices that promote better and more equitable outcomes for students.

Dr. Clay Cook has been a professor and researcher at three universities (Louisiana State University, University of Washington and University of Minnesota) studying topics such as youth mental health, educator well-being and resilience, social-emotional learning, and implementation of evidence-based practices. He has obtained over 20 million dollars in grant funding for his research and published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles (link to articles). His research has influenced everyday policy and practice in schools.

He has delivered over 40 keynote presentations and numerous invited breakout sessions to educational leaders (superintendents, district leaders, and principals), teachers, and support staff. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Times Magazine, NPR, Edutopia, and other outlets. His messages about mental health promotion, adult well-being, and evidence-based practices connect with educational audiences across all levels.