Meet Our TED Talk Speakers!

Digital Screens and Your Child's Vision: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Room 188

Dr Tony Wahab, OD MBA, Clinical Lead - SEEN Vision Care, Michigan Dry Eye Spa, Metropolitan Vision Associates, Mobile Eye Care
This discussion will revolve around how digital screens and our increased dependence on them has changed the development patterns of children. Citing new research in the field, this session will delve into how parents can use digital media to enhance their child's lives without imposing many of the negative side effects that have been reported.

Navigating Parenthood in a Digital Era: Mindful Family Solutions for Raising Resilient Kids - Room 186

Bailee Kiel, LLMSW, Therapist - Reset Brain and Body
In today’s digitally-driven world, balancing work-life pressures while fostering a connected and harmonious family environment can feel overwhelming. This workshop, designed for caregivers navigating the challenges of modern parenting, introduces the Modern Mindful Parenting Model of PACS (Presence, Awareness, Connection, Support).

Stop The Tug Of War: How To Put Tech In Its Place - Room 185

Katey McPherson, Director of Community Partnerships - Bark Technologies, Inc.
American households have been "dancing" with devices for many years. Parents are nagging, kids are whining.  The relational side of tech is at times coming in between parent and child especially as students age into the tween and teen years. This session will cover youth developmental brain science, tactical ways to manage technology and devices, and creative ways to work in tandem with your children to build trust and craft a futuristic digital footprint that lasts. 

AI at Home: Empowering Families to Embrace the Future - Room 183

Aaron Baughman, AI Strategist - Michigan Virtual
In this interactive session, parents will learn practical and effective ways to use AI tools to support their children’s learning and simplify family life. From helping with homework to fostering creativity, this session will provide real-world examples of how AI can be seamlessly integrated into daily routines. Parents will leave with actionable strategies and resources to use AI at home, making technology a trusted partner in their family's success.

Building Positive Body Image: Managing the Influence of Social Media - Room 182

Elizabeth Snyder, PhD, LP, NCSP, Clinical Director/Psychologist - Galvin Growth Group
This program will focus on the ways social media shapes teens' development of their body image, and what parents can do to foster a healthy body image for their teen.

When and How to Unplug as a Family - Room 181

Jessica Gardiner, MA, Masters Limited - Flourish Psychology & Wellness | Rebecca Schaffer, MA - LLPC, CTRS - Flourish Psychology & Wellness
We will be identifying common warning signs and causes of "digital burnout," including defining terms, learning and practicing strategies to overcome  this"digital burnout," and  how to build habits that lead to effective technology use and create moments of intentional connection within the family. 

Mindfulness and Mental Wellness in the Age of Distraction - Room 180

Matthew Swartz, LMSW - Founder, Speaker, Psychotherapist - Evolving Lives, Inc
Techniques to cultivate Mindfulness and reduce anxiety in children, parents and families living in our constantly connected world. We will focus on: Fostering Focus, Building Connection, Growing Autonomy, and Emotional Resilience.

College 101 - Room 179 - Session 1 only

Elizabeth Peterson, Counselor - Northville Public Schools
Get a glimpse at the college exploration, planning, and application process. Whether your student is getting ready to apply in the fall or you simply want to know what to expect in the years ahead, this is for you.

The Transition to High School - Room 179 - Session 2 only

Emily Manoogian, Counselor - Northville Public Schools
Help prepare your student for a smooth transition to high school. This presentation covers the ins and outs and what to expect as your student transitions from middle to high school.

Building Reading Comprehension: Read aloud strategies for parents of young children - Room 177

Sarah Hanes, Literacy Coordinator - Northville Public Schools
Discover effective techniques to enhance comprehension skills, foster a love for reading, and create meaningful bonding moments through shared stories.

Parent Strategies for Facilitating Speech and Language - Room 156

Carly Larkin, Speech Language Pathologist - Northville Public Schools | Heather Tyler, Speech Language Pathologist - Northville Public Schools
Our presentation is about speech and language strategies parents can use at home. We have suggestions for all age groups preschool through high school, as well as ideas for materials. We are also going to include information about when to request an evaluation, and eligibility criteria in schools vs. outside providers.

Supporting The Unique Behavior Challenges Of Your Student With Special Needs In The Home Setting - Room 155

Lauren Gershman, Behavior Specialist - Northville Public Schools
An overview of the guiding principles of positive behavior supports that you can use at home that align with the strategies utilized in your child's classroom.

Transition Support Checklist - Room 154

Matt Ryan, Cooke School - Northville Public Schools
What to consider as your student approaches or is older than the age of majority (18).

Three Pathways: Tuition-Free Community College in Michigan - Room 153

Karen Wang, Northville Public Schools Parent, Disability and Children Advocate
Michigan now offers three programs for students to earn up to 60 college credits tuition-free. In addition, the statewide Michigan Transfer Agreement guarantees the transfer of those credits to four-year universities. In this workshop, you will learn how to apply to these programs, including specific program requirements. All students, including academically accelerated students and students with disabilities, may apply to these programs.

Raising an Inclusive Future: Tips for teaching your child about disabilities and the importance of instilling inclusive values - Room 152

Mary Curran, ASD Teacher - Northville Public Schools
This presentation will be about the importance of inclusion of all types of people, but focusing specifically on inclusion of those with disabilities. It will focus on tips for teaching your child about different types of disabilities and how to interact/communicate with all different types of people. The presentation will feature good films, books and resources for teaching your child about disabilities. As a special education teacher, I have seen the impact and power of peer mentorship/inclusion for both neurotypical and neurodivergent kids, and I am excited to teach and help shape future generations to grow up and be inclusive of people with all different ability levels.

Northville Public Schools Multilingual Learner (ML) Program - Room 151

Diana Messina | Nurit Foster | Megan Ewers, Multilingual Learner (ML) Teachers - Northville Public Schools
This informational session will outline the services and supports for our Multilingual Learners. It will also provide insight into WIDA testing, SIOP, and technology tools for MLs.