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Beyond Crisis Mode: Building Resilient School Communities in the Age of Student Anxiety

Tuesday, August 26, 2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EDT)

Zoom

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Event Details

Student anxiety has reached unprecedented levels, with 70% of teens reporting anxiety as a major problem among their peers. As independent school leaders, you're witnessing this crisis firsthand—but you don't have to navigate it alone.

Join four experienced independent school counselors for an interactive 60-minute webinar with practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Participants will leave with:
•Concrete recognition tools to identify anxiety before it becomes a crisis
•Proven intervention strategies that work in school settings
•Systemic approaches to create anxiety-informed school cultures
•Ready-to-use resources for staff, students, and families
•Connection with peers facing similar challenges at their schools

Who Should Attend:
Heads of school, division directors, deans, counselors, and academic leaders who want to move beyond reactive responses and build proactive, supportive environments for all students.

Susan Perry
Associate Head of School for Wellness & Belonging, Forsyth Country Day School 

Susan is the Associate Head of School for Wellness and Belonging at Forsyth Country Day School and is a senior consultant for EXPLO Elevate, a global innovative schools cooperative. She holds an earned doctorate in educational administration. She completed Harvard Univ. Principals’ Center program on Race, Equity, and Leadership in Schools. As Assistant Head of School at Ravenscroft, she was an early adopter for co-creating a unique partnership with CCL as the research incubator for creating a culture of leadership development and co-designed, lead, delivered and assessed the effectiveness of an innovative model for integrated student support, faculty professional growth & development, and served as lead executive for DEI. Her clinical training includes certification in RCT model of Psychological Development w/the Stone Center at Wellesley College' clinical internships at Duke CAPS, Duke NICU; she also served as the Director of the University’s Women’s Center in the Fall 2019. Replace this text with the accordion content.

Jena Snyder
Director of Guidance Counseling, Legacy Christian Academy 

Jena Snyder currently serves as the Director of Guidance Counseling and Guidance Counselor for the Upper School campus, grades 9-12. Her background includes a Masters Degree in School Counseling from Dallas Baptist University, a Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University (SIC ‘EM BEARS!), and over 20 years of experience in education. Having taught all grades from 6th-12th, as well as college-level students, she is no stranger to the academic environment and the challenges it can sometimes present. She is a Licensed School Counselor, Board Certified Christian Counselor and an LPC-associate.

Drew Shaner 
Lower School Counselor, Lake Highland Preparatory School 

Drew Shaner has his Master of Education in Elementary & Secondary School Counseling. For more than ten years, he has been a Lower School Counselor at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, FL. 

Amy Poag
Director of Counseling, St. Mary's Episcopal School

Amy Poag has served as director of counseling at St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis, TN since 2022. She is a former lower school counselor at Memphis University School and previously worked as a child and adolescent therapist. Replace this text with the accordion content.