Events

WRSD Office of Student Support Parent/Guardian Workshop Series

Events are open to all parents, guardians, and staff of the Wachusett Regional School District as well as neighboring community members.

2025-2026 Events

October 29, 2025, from 6:00-7:30

Identifying Anxiety and Supporting Effective Regulation,

With an increasing number of children experiencing elevated anxiety levels, this workshop aims to support parents in identifying red flags, symptoms, and indicators that their child(ren) may be struggling to regulate and manage big feelings. We will explore the difference between developmental expectations and challenges vs. signs of elevated anxiety, along with the role the brain plays in the experience of emotion, and ways to help support and co-regulate with our children when they are struggling. Finally, we will review ways to proactively communicate with our kids in order to promote healthy understanding and expression of all emotions.

Registration

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fHK9-l-EQVGFXn_ZpZc0Iw

About the speaker

Julie B. Cullen, LICSW, Ed.M., graduated from the University of Vermont in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, before enrolling in a graduate program at Boston University. She graduated in 2002 with a Master’s in Social Work and received a Master's in Special Education in 2003. Her professional career began in residential treatment, where she received intensive training in both Dialectical Behavior Therapy and the treatment of Developmental Trauma. After spending several years as a clinician and Clinical Director in this setting, Julie spent time in a therapeutic public school environment before opening her private practice in 2012. Working with children, adolescents, and families has always been at the heart of Julie’s professional life. She hopes to bring humor, knowledge, and empathy into each experience, to bring out clients’ resiliency, and to provide families with a sense of hope for the future.

December 10, 2025 from 6:00-7:30

Spotlight on Caregivers: Unlocking Potential by Fostering a Growth Mindset

Whether you're guiding a child through homework, navigating daily routines, or supporting emotional growth, the way we think about ourselves and our children matters. In this session, we'll explore the difference between growth and fixed mindsets and how small shifts in thinking can strengthen family relationships, support your child’s learning, and foster resilience at home. Learn practical strategies to model a growth mindset, encourage perseverance, and create a home environment where both kids and caregivers can thrive.

Registration

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dIxYH5bFT4OUR-Bwu8TEcQ

About the Speaker

Theresa Melito-Conners, Ph.D. (Dr. MC), is the founder of "Dr. MC's Self-Care Cabaret," where your health and well-being take center stage. It is the space to help you find your spotlight and learn all the different aspects of self-care. Additionally, Theresa is a Special Education Administrator in the Greater Boston area. Inspired by her doctoral research, Theresa loves to help others practice better self-care, and she is deeply passionate about this mission. Theresa is a recent graduate from Lesley University's Ph.D. in Educational Leadership program in Cambridge, MA. Theresa understands the challenges of balancing all of life's responsibilities and the importance of making time for yourself. With a B.A. in Theatre Studies from Emerson College and an M.Ed. in School Counseling from Salem State University, Theresa has a variety of unique experiences, from counseling adolescents with mental health needs to choreographing professional musicals. She also serves as a member of The Parent and Community Education and Involvement Advisory Council (PCEIAC) for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Massachusetts. Theresa has presented her expertise across the country, and she has additional publications in the works. Please visit her website www.drmcselfcare.com for more information, subscribe to her blog, and find links to her growing community @DrMCselfcare.

January 14, 2026, from 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Supporting Your Child Through School Avoidance

School avoidance can be overwhelming for both students and families. This workshop will explore practical, research-based strategies to help your child re-engage with school (and learn how to care for you while you do!). You’ll learn how you can work effectively with educators and outside support to help your child return to a positive school experience.

Registration

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QuX6FfViTH-oENGMe2IQWg

About the speaker

Sheilah Gauch, LICSW, holds a Master's in Educational Organizational Management and is licensed as a Principal, Special Education Administrator, and School Adjustment Counselor through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Sheilah has been working with children with significant mental health needs for over 20 years. She is currently the Principal and Clinical Director of Dearborn Academy, a Chapter 766 Private Therapeutic Day School. Dearborn Academy serves students with significant social/emotional and learning challenges. She has supported the school in the creation of a robust academic and clinical milieu to support students with the highest level of need. Sheilah began her career working with children, ages 5-18, in an outpatient treatment setting. Sheilah then moved to work as a clinician at a residential treatment program, where she stayed for close to ten years. From there, she moved to join a public school setting as a Special Education social worker. Here she supported students in sub-separate programming and went on to develop and oversee the district’s Tier 3 off-site transitional program. Sheilah served for 5 years as the Chair of her local Special Education Advisory Council (SEPAC) and has two children of her own who required special education services. Both of her children were ultimately diagnosed with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep (PANDAS). Sheilah is an active advocate for PANS/PANDAS awareness. She co-founded the Massachusetts Coalition for PANS/PANDAS legislation. This group led the grassroots advocacy effort in Massachusetts that supported the passage of S2984, a health care bill that included both the creation of a PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council and a mandate that insurance companies must provide coverage for the disease. Sheilah received the 2020 Commonwealth Heroine Award and Boston College School of Social Work’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2024. Sheilah also writes for Psychology at her blog: The Whole Child.

Feb. 11, 2026 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Decisions, Decisions: Making Choices That Shape Your Future

In this interactive presentation, students will explore the importance of decision making and how everyday choices—big or small—can impact their future. Through real-life scenarios, group discussions, and problem-solving activities, participants will learn practical strategies to:

Identify options and consequences
Recognize the influence of peers, emotions, and media
Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Use a step-by-step decision-making model
Reflect on personal values and long-term goals

Whether it's choosing friends, handling peer pressure, or planning for college and careers, this session empowers students with tools to make thoughtful, responsible decisions in all areas of life.

About the Speaker

Cory Mashburn, M.Ed., has over 20 years expertise in the field of prevention services and more than 25 years’ experience working with youth and people with disabilities. He has overseen the planning and implementation of prevention programs within communities and schools in the New England Region, including substance use and abuse, bullying, cyber safety, and human rights. In addition, Cory has developed multiple health and wellness curricula in schools across the state of Massachusetts. He holds master’s degrees in educational leadership, project management and criminal justice, in addition to his bachelor’s degree in recreational management. As the father of two young children, he understands the importance of equipping youth, their parents, and their communities with the knowledge and skills to enable young people to become the best version of themselves.

Registration

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KZmtP5hMRzi7iRsS9Fz-cA

May 6, 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Bullying and Peer Conflict

More information coming at a later date.

PAST EVENTS

MARCH

IDENTIFYING ANXIETY AND SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE REGULATION (virtual presentation)

Wednesday, March 12, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

Register to receive the Zoom link: https://forms.gle/NEEJYFVmYLA86Ta8A

This event will NOT be recorded.

With an increasing number of children experiencing elevated anxiety levels, this workshop aims to support parents in identifying red flags, symptoms, and indicators that their child(ren) may be struggling to regulate and manage big feelings. We will explore the difference between developmental expectations and challenges vs. signs of elevated anxiety, along with the role the brain plays in the experience of emotion, and ways to help support and co-regulate with our children when they are struggling. Finally, we will review ways to proactively communicate with our kids in order to promote healthy understanding and expression of all emotions.

Parent Workshop Flyer Mar 12 2025.pdf

APRIL

THE BRAIN ON SOCIAL MEDIA (virtual presentation)

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. via Zoom

Register to receive the Zoom link: https://forms.gle/ki6owKRAQbHTSNgp8

This event will NOT be recorded.

Dive into the world of neuroscience and psychology as this workshop offers a deep dive into how the brain reacts to social media. Explore the relationship between the brain on social media and peer feedback, peer influence, human connection, sleep, and evolutionary psychology. Learn to identify certain signs of addiction in children and adolescents and analyze fMRI scans to see how the neurochemistry of the young and developing mind is changing because of digital overload. How can we replace the dopamine we receive from social media with other forms of dopamine? Is social media a drug? How does social media addiction compare to other forms of addiction such as alcohol and substance abuse?

Parent Workshop Flyer April 9, 2025.pdf

FEBRUARY 2025

THE DIGITAL WELL-BEING PLAYBOOK (virtual presentation)

February 11, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

This event will NOT be recorded.

Do your kids spend a lot of time on TikTok, YouTube, or playing Fortnite? Do you as parents struggle to understand everything that is going on in their online lives? You may also be wondering how your own relationship with technology might be healthier. You’re in the right place! Coming out of the pandemic, many of us have spent more time on screens than ever before, and the lines between home, work, and school are blurry, making it challenging to unplug from our devices. Join us as we discuss navigating this balance with tips and tools to:

Achieve sustainable, positive digital practices with family and at work.
Optimize your digital habits for better mental health and family connection.
Prevent and recover from sensory overload and digital overwhelm.
Positively shift your relationship with your devices so they fuel vs. fatigue your relationships.

JANUARY 2025

TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL MEDIA, GAMING, BULLYING AND MORE...

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.

in the Wachusett Regional High School Auditorium

Elizabeth K. Englander, Ph.D.

Executive Director and Founder, Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University

Before the pandemic, screen use, anxiety, and social problems (like bullying and fighting) were top concerns for parents. The last few years have made some of these issues even more challenging. This talk will examine challenges in school, like bullying, friendship skills, and mental health, and how the ways kids use screens, gaming, and social media can impact these. Research will be summarized, and practical approaches to family life that can help children develop emotional resilience, healthy social skills and friendships, and sensible screen and social media habits will be discussed during this presentation. We will discuss how to move forward, how to partner with your child's school, and how to help parents be most productive in guiding their children towards optimal social and emotional health.

Dr. Elizabeth Englander is an award-winning author and the founder and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University, a Center which delivers programs, resources, and research for the state of Massachusetts and nationwide. She is also a Founding Member of the Social and Emotional Research Consortium (SERC). As a researcher and a professor of Psychology for almost 30 years, she is a nationally recognized expert in the area of bullying and cyberbullying, childhood causes of aggression and abuse, and children’s use of technology. She was named Most Valuable Educator by the Boston Red Sox and in 2018, was appointed to the Massachusetts Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. She is on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Institute of Child Development and Digital Media, and in 2023, her 9th book (You Got A Phone!) was awarded a National Parenting Product Award. Her 10th and most recent book, Bullying and Cyberbullying: A Guide for Educators and Parents, was published in December by Harvard Educational Press.

Dr. Englander has served as a Special Editor for the Cyberbullying issues of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry-CONNECT and the Journal of Social Sciences, and has authored more than a hundred articles in academic journals and books. She is also the author of nine books, including You Got A Phone!, the Insanely Awesome series for children, Understanding Violence (a standard academic text in the field of child development and violent criminal behavior), Bullying and Cyberbullying: A Guide for Educators, published by Harvard Education Press, and 25 Myths About Bullying and Cyberbullying (Wiley press). She has also written a variety of research-based curricula and educational handouts for communities and professionals. Reflecting her interest in educating laypeople, Dr. Englander has answered questions in a column for the New York Times (online edition), and she wrote the column Bullying Bulletin Board, which was syndicated by Gatehouse Media in hundreds of newspapers nationwide.

During the global Coronavirus Pandemic, Dr. Englander conducted research with children and educators that has helped to shape the nation’s pandemic response. Between 2020 and 2022, she authored and published five books, one for educators (When The Kids Come Back), two for children aged 8-11 years old (The Insanely Awesome Pandemic Playbook: A Humorous Mental Health Guide For Kids and The Insanely Awesome POST Pandemic Playbook), and two for younger children, all of which both feature supplemental guides and activities for teachers and parents.

MAY 2024

Establishing & Nurturing School-Home Partnerships

Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. via Zoom

This event will not be recorded.

We continue to find ourselves dealing with post-COVID children's developmental and learning gaps, decreased social engagement among both children and families, and interfering behaviors that occur at school, at home, and in the community. In this critical moment, we need to bridge the gap between school and home by focusing on relationship-building, collaboration, and skill-based programming across settings. This workshop will provide recommendations for how to establish partnerships that facilitate collaborative goal setting, problem-solving, and intervention development that align with both school and parent values. It is also integral that educational programming from preschool to high school teach students meaningful behaviors and skills that lead to improved academic productivity, social engagement, and self-advocacy in educational, familial, and community contexts. We will discuss evidence-based approaches for teaching socially significant skills in a way that builds on the school-home partnership while promoting generalization and maintenance of these skills and behaviors.

About the Speaker:

For over 20 years, Lisa Gurdin has been working with students, families, and school-based professionals with students from preschool to age 22 with a range of special needs and complex profiles. Ms. Gurdin supports educational professionals through consultation, student evaluations, and staff training. She works collaboratively with parents and school professionals to facilitate integrated support across settings thereby maximizing behavior change and skill development. Ms. Gurdin also provides parent coaching to help parents implement behavioral strategies to improve behavior, encourage independence, and build stronger family relationships. Ms. Gurdin is a Part-Time Lecturer and supervisor in the Master’s in ABA Program and College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University.

APRIL 2024

Social Media's Impact on Mental Health: Optimizing Connection

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

This event will not be recorded.

Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook foster a culture of peer comparison and entice users to stay online longer than they intend, which can foster discouraging or negative feelings. Snapchat locations and Instagram stories cause FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), contributing to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Teachers and parents will learn individual and group strategies to optimize students' use of social media.

About the Speaker:
Susan Reynolds, M.Ed., has over 20 years of experience in academic technology and digital wellbeing. In 2007 Susan founded ABC Legacy: Atoms to Bits Children's Legacy which generated the Look Up Foundation, committed to empowering teens and college students to join together to change their relationship to technology. As a teacher whose passion has always been to inspire her students to become change agents, she hopes to empower the next generation to find and implement these solutions.

MARCH 2024

MARIJUANA: WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE ARE

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 5:30-7:00 pm via Zoom

This event will NOT be recorded.

This workshop details the truth about the alarming effects of marijuana on the developing adolescent brain and how marijuana use may negatively impact concentration, attention, motivation, and mood. In addition, this workshop highlights the legalities of marijuana and the role of school policies.

About the Speaker:

Cory Mashburn, M.Ed., has over 20 years expertise in the field of prevention services and more than 25 years’ experience working with youth and people with disabilities. He has overseen the planning and implementation of prevention programs within communities and schools in the New England Region, including substance use and abuse, bullying, cyber safety, and human rights. In addition, Cory has developed multiple health and wellness curricula in schools across the state of Massachusetts. He holds master’s degrees in educational leadership, project management and criminal justice, in addition to his bachelor’s degree in recreational management. As the father of two young children, he understands the importance of equipping youth, their parents, and their communities with the knowledge and skills to enable young people to become the best version of themselves.

JANUARY 2024

NARCOTICS: THE DRUGS, HEALTH RISKS, EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND EMERGENT CARE (virtual presentation)

January 17, 2024 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. via Zoom

This event will NOT be recorded.

The opioid crisis has affected countless people and continues to put young people at risk. This presentation examines the basics of opioids- what this classification of drugs is, why opioid addiction is unique, the history of our present epidemic, the importance of education and emergent care in an overdose situation.

About the speaker

Greg West, M.Ed., is a retired Health Education teacher of 30+ years. He has designed and implemented middle and high school Comprehensive Health Education programs as well as courses in emergency medicine. He now presents topics of adolescent health and wellness to high school students as well as offering programs for parents and school personnel.

OCTOBER 2024

iGEN's BATTLE TO BE MENTALLY HEALTHY IN A DIGITAL ERA (virtual presentation)

October 23, 2024 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. via Zoom

Explore digital wellness from a student perspective as a young scholar and psychology researcher at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will bring to life the story, science, and voice of Generation Z in a digital era. This workshop involves an interactive, collaborative style of learning that involves elements of Keegan's personal advocacy journey, an in-depth summary of how the brain reacts to social media, and how the social media algorithm is wired to engage attention. Keegan will highlight the importance of human connection in a growing digital era, and how parents and educators can promote a healthy tech/life balance.

About the speaker

Keegan Lee is a second-year honors student and the James R. Copland & Lillian G. Copland Scholar at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Psychology (B.S.) and English (B.A.) with a concentration in medicine, science, and literature. An aspiring clinical psychologist and professor, she is the author of “60 Days of Disconnect” with Dr. Bilal Ghandour, Ph.D., and award-winning mental health activist. Keegan is the instructor and creator of a digital wellness program for parents and educators, and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship at The Leysin American School in Switzerland. She is currently serving on the youth boards at Mental Health America and The American Academy of Pediatrics. She has received grant funding and mentorship from Netflix’s “The Social Dilemma” and Tik-Toks's department of data security and safety by design to travel the world teaching the youth about how to build a more humane digital world. She has been featured in News Outlets such as National Public Radio and Discovery Education.

Keegan hopes to eventually receive a Ph.D. In Clinical Psychology and plans to focus her career on teaching, psychological medicine, and advancing scientific knowledge through research.

NOVEMBER 2024

CONSIDERING SAFETY - IN THE CLOUD AND ON THE GROUND (virtual presentation)

Wednesday, November 20, 2024 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. via Zoom

Adolescents are commonly targets of attacks, be those attacks through social media, physical violence or emotional manipulation, coercion and blackmail. Prevention is not always possible, but this presentation identifies ways that we can make ourselves, and our children, less vulnerable with consideration of methods of maximizing security and safety.

About the speaker

Greg West, M.Ed., is a retired Health Education teacher of 30+ years. He has designed and implemented middle and high school Comprehensive Health Education programs as well as courses in emergency medicine. He now presents topics of adolescent health and wellness to high school students as well as offering programs for parents and school personnel.