Speaker Information

Jay Martin is the School Safety & Security, Director with the Nebraska Department of Education. He returned to his home state of Nebraska after spending 24 years in Colorado and retiring from his law enforcement career. He developed partnerships with National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), human trafficking task forces, movie producers, authors, doctors in psychology, and he has ghost written on digital best practices. Also, during his tenure he was a teacher in Omaha Public Schools and other districts in Nebraska & Colorado. He has spoken nationally on the topics of legalized marijuana and substance use awareness and digital citizenship awareness & wisdom. His career has been committed to educating school communities in developing a better culture and climate with youth.

A little bit about his session:  Legal or Illegal Substance Use Does Not Change Impact on Youth

Medical or not here it comes!  Just what is the impact of legalized medical marijuana on youth?  What is the difference in today's marijuana/cannabis/CBD/THC?  How are vapes altering the drug landscape?  Can youth really get access to Fentanyl that easy?  Are digital platforms changing youth substance abuse. There are lots of questions on youth mental health today- are drugs part of the equation , too?  Let's talk about the real outcomes from youth substance use and how it affects policies and procedures when it's legal versus illegal.

Development of the Take 5 Behavior Program https://www.take5program.com/  came out of a need Sheila was seeing while working in schools. The Take 5 tools are used by Boys Town, Cedars, Hope Spoke, schools, daycares, community outreach programs, and families. 

Lincoln Yoga Center opened in August of 2010, offering classes for all ages and abilities in addition to Yoga Teacher Certification for almost 200 students. Everyone can benefit from the stress-reducing effects of the practice. 

Wendy Wells, DrPH, MSN, BS, RN, has been a population health and leadership nursing instructor with the University of Nebraska College of Nursing on the West Nebraska Division Scottsbluff Campus (UNMC CON WND) since 2001. She coordinates the interprofessional education components, the Scottsbluff Student Nurses’ Association counselor, and the Sigma counselor, the international nursing honor society. She is the education coordinator with the Nebraska Panhandle Area Health Education Center (NP-AHEC), whose mission is to recruit, retain, and support health professionals in rural areas. She spends time promoting health careers to various student groups. She was part of a team that received a nearly 2M CDC grant to develop a “School Health Nurse Scholar” curriculum. She recently received her DrPH in Emergency Preparedness. Helping the community prepare for disasters and emergencies is one of her passions.

Haleigh Carlson is a partner attorney at the Perry Law Firm in Lincoln, Nebraska. With nearly a decade of experience advising school districts, Haleigh specializes in navigating complex legal issues related to students, particularly those with disabilities. She provides practical, effective guidance to school staff—including school nurses—who work closely with students and families to ensure compliance with legal requirements while fostering a supportive educational environment. Haleigh’s expertise helps school professionals confidently address legal challenges and protect the rights of both students and staff.

Megan Reese, PLMHP, has worked in behavioral health since 2009. She serves as the Human Trafficking Prevention Project Director at Nebraska Educational Service Unit 2, where she leads grant-funded prevention initiatives and has developed strong cross-sector community partnerships to address human trafficking. In addition to directing regional prevention efforts, Megan provides therapeutic support to students and works alongside school staff and caregivers to strengthen awareness, identification, and response. She is passionate about empowering youth and building coordinated systems of support within school communities.

A little bit about Megan's presentation:

Students experiencing exploitation or unsafe situations do not always ask directly for help. Instead, concerns may appear through repeated visits to the health office, anxiety, exhaustion, behavior changes, unhealthy relationships, or online safety concerns.

This session will help school health professionals recognize patterns of concern, respond in supportive and trauma-informed ways, and understand how to connect students with appropriate support and resources. Through realistic school-based examples and practical discussion, participants will explore the role of trusted adults and leave with tools that can be used immediately in school settings.

This presentation focuses on recognizing concerns, responding supportively, and helping students stay connected to safety and support.

Jessalyn Wilson is a Registered Dietitian who specializes in sports performance for college athletes, currently serving at a Performance Nutrition Fellow at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jessalyn personally attends to the nutrition needs of 46 tennis players, gymnasts, and rifle shooters. She strives to eliminate the nutrition-related barriers that exist for her athletes, allowing them to reach their full potential.

Jessalyn also has several years of experience working with athletes ages 4-17 as a dance instructor and dance camp counselor/director in Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Maryland. She understands and appreciates the unique nutrition needs for growing bodies and minds and believes in the power of evidence-based nutrition education for all ages. Her other work-related passions include women's health, eating disorder prevention and treatment, and REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) awareness.

An Illinois native, Jessalyn completed her bachelor and masters degrees at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin where she was a four-year member and captain of the competitive dance team. She currently resides in Lincoln with her cat, Fig.