Distraction, Disruption, Motivation & Grit Virtual Seminar
How Educators Can Use Brain Research & Current Best Practices to Promote Positive Relationships & Prevent Bullying, Cyberbullying & Relational Aggression.
Do You Know Students Who Have...
- Resistance or refusal to participate in normal school activities?
- Persistent moodiness
- Chosen social isolation?
- Sudden declines in school performance?
- Constant worries or anxieties?
- Extreme involvement with social media and/or digital games?
- Depression, sadness or irritability?
- Self-destructive behaviors
- Symptoms of substance abuse?
- Indifference to others’ feelings?
Seminar Overview
Why are some students so easily distracted? Why is it so hard to get certain kids motivated? What about their personal trauma history or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) inhibits their academic success? Can resilience and drive be instilled?
Examine the biology of the pre-adolescent and adolescent brains in this virtual seminar – including neuroplasticity of the brain and the connection between brain development and learning – and leave with tools to keep students focused and motivated. Do a deep dive into the latest research on ACEs and the trauma-impacted learner to avoid marginalizing students. Understand that the teenage world is an ACE itself.
During this seminar, you’ll develop a path forward for building resilience in students while instilling the classroom/campus culture, systems and leadership necessary to provide a safety net for student success. Utilizing high-yield strategies to help bridge differences in the community, participants will be empowered to shift the status quo, to help students develop grit and to eradicate marginalization in our classrooms.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain a greater understanding of brain biology as it relates to learning, motivation and grit
- Examine the disruption of marginalization and whether “all” really means all
- Understand the impact of social media and social contagion on our communities
- Discover the three key components of a restorative response
- Explore how to build classroom and school-wide systems of support to generate positive social capital – creating bonds and bridging differences
- Develop the “Better Together” mindset
Earn Continuing Education Credit Hours

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Upcoming Seminars
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FAQ
– Classroom Teachers
– Principals
– Special Education Personnel
– School Counselors & Psychologists
– Other Administrators
– Social Workers (all levels)
– Law Enforcement/SRO
– Counselors & Therapists in Agencies & Private Practice
– Media Specialists
9:15 am ET/8:15 am CT Attendee Login
9:30 am ET/8:30 am CT Our Brains on Adolescence
- Neuroplasticity of the brain from birth through adolescence
- Brain development and learning
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- The teenage world as an ACE itself
- Motivation and grit—the “it” factor
11:15 am ET/10:15 am CT Becoming Trauma-Informed and Resilience-Focused
- Trauma and our biology
- Who decides our truth?
- The key to resilience
- The disruption of marginalization
- Social media and social contagion
- Does “all” really mean all?
- The value gap
12:30 pm ET/11:30 am CT Lunch
1:30 pm ET/12:30 pm CT When All Means All
- The building blocks of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS)
- Building the culture, systems, and leadership for success for all
- The value gap rides again
- Social capital as the “it” factor
- Generating high social capital in students and staff
3:15 pm ET/2:15 pm CT The Communion of Learning: Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Focused and Restorative Practices
- Our kids as part of our PLCs
- Love the kid, drive the rigor
- Learning = love
- Three key components of a restorative response
- Creating trauma-sensitive classrooms/schools
- The Better Together Mindset
4:30 pm ET/3:30 pm CT Question & Answer Session (Optional Attendance)
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If you cannot attend the event on the scheduled date, or if the event is postponed for any reason, you may send a substitute, transfer to a different event or request a Voucher for a future event. Substitutions should be made in writing (please email pd@accutrain.com) and are welcome until the day of the event. Vouchers are valid for up to three years for future AccuTrain events and may be transferred to a colleague.
Certificates of Completion for this seminar, which indicate 6 contact hours of Continuing Education, will be available at the end of the seminar upon completion of a course evaluation. In many cases, depending on your Profession and Jurisdiction, this Certificate of Completion is sufficient for tracking your Continuing Education and Professional Development efforts. We suggest that you contact your local Board or Governing Agency to see exactly what steps are necessary for approval in your particular discipline. Please note that Developmental Resources is also an approved Provider for the following National and Regional Accrediting Agencies.
Developmental Resources has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5602. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.
Seminar Information
Click On Each City for Event Time, Location & Registration Information
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8:00-8:30 | Registration |
8:30-10:00 | How Nature and Nurture Influence Girl Drama, Relational Aggression & Bullying
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10:00-10:15 | Break |
10:15-11:00 | The Impact of Social Networking & Technology on RA
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11:00-12:00 | Prevention Strategies for Schools
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12:00-1:00 | Lunch (On Your Own) |
1:00-2:30 | RA and Mental Health
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2:30-2:45 | Break |
2:45-3:45 | Individual & Group Strategies to Address RA
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3:45-4:15 | Networking Group Discussion (Optional Attendance) |
– Classroom Teachers
– Principals
– Special Education Personnel
– School Counselors & Psychologists
– Other Administrators
– Social Workers (all levels)
– Law Enforcement/SRO
– Counselors & Therapists in Agencies & Private Practice
– Media Specialists
|
Certificates of Completion for this seminar, which indicate 6 contact hours of Continuing Education, will be available at the end of the seminar upon completion of a course evaluation. In many cases, depending on your Profession and Jurisdiction, this Certificate of Completion is sufficient for tracking your Continuing Education and Professional Development efforts. We suggest that you contact your local Board or Governing Agency to see exactly what steps are necessary for approval in your particular discipline. Please note that Developmental Resources is also an approved Provider for the following National and Regional Accrediting Agencies.
Developmental Resources has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5602. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.
Seminar Presenter
Tracie Berry-McGhee, M.Ed., NCC, LPC

Tracie Berry-McGhee founded the SistaKeeper Empowerment Center in St. Louis 12 years ago with the mission of inspiring and developing the mind, body and spirit of young women. SistaKeeper has since spread to other locations within the United States and several other countries. Tracie also continues to serve the community via her private counseling practice, which specializes in women and teen girl issues. She is often called upon to speak on topics such as conflict resolution, delaying with low self-esteem and bullying. Tracie is the author of SistaKeeper Poetry for the Soul, I’m a Keeper and OWN your NOW.
Tom Maglisceau, Ph.D.

*In case of an emergency, another qualified presenter will substitute
Tom Maglisceau is the proud Superintendent of the Celina Independent School District in the Dallas Metroplex. He served previously as a teacher, coach, principal and assistant superintendent in the Highland Park, Dallas and Rockwall districts in Texas. He earned his doctorate in Public Policy and Public Affairs after completing his research on social capital as it relates to family structure and childhood outcomes. Dr. Maglisceau continues his research in the areas of neuroplasticity of the adolescent brain, adverse childhood experiences and adolescence in the age of abundance for presentations in schools and conferences throughout Texas and across the nation. In addition to his work in public education, he serves as a Key Implementer and national professional developer for AVID. Dr. Maglisceau co-founded Together Texas, an organization dedicated to championing the “Better Together Mindset” in schools and communities.
Questions? Let us know!
Special Accommodations
If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please fax or email our office at least two weeks prior to event. Also, please note your request on your registration form.