Empowering Youth for Positive Change
Join us for a powerful day of connection, learning, and inspiration at the RISE Conference 2025!
This one-day conference is dedicated to exploring the critical work of supporting at-risk and struggling youth. Designed with DAEP/JJAEP administrators, counselors, school-based therapists, teachers, support staff, juvenile probation officers, and school resource officers in mind, RISE is more than a conference—it’s a call to action.
Whether you're on the front lines of intervention or supporting systems of care, this conference is for you.
What to Expect
-
Engaging Keynote Speakers – Hear from leading voices in trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and youth advocacy.
Breakout Sessions – Choose from a variety of interactive sessions offering practical tools, real-world strategies, and research-backed approaches.
Networking Opportunities – Connect with professionals across the state who share your passion for helping youth succeed.
Why Attend?
At RISE, we’re diving deep into the heart of what it takes to serve youth in alternative and justice-involved settings. Our goal is for you to walk away with:
-
A deeper understanding of trauma and its impact on behavior and learning
-
Practical strategies to implement restorative practices in DAEP, JJAEP, and similar settings
-
Renewed energy and purpose to continue your critical work
At-a-glance Agenda
| 9:00 - 9:05 | Welcome
-Kimberly Coombs, LCSW, ESC Region 13 At-Risk Specialist |
| 9:05 - 10:00 | Comprehensive Restorative Practices at a DAEP
-Emily Delgado, Ed.D, DAEP Principal, Provan Opportunity Center |
10:05 - 11:00 | Support, Leadership & Learning: Best Practices & Procedures from DAEP Administrators
-Lori Lehmberg, Comal Discipline Center (CDC) Principal, Comal ISD
-Regina Barrett, Comal Discipline Center (CDC) Assistant Principal, Comal ISD |
| 11:05 - 12:00 | Meeting the Moment: Brief but Impactful Mental Health Support for Detained Youth
-Genesis Sanchez, District Student Support Specialist, Comal ISD, LCSW
-Vanessa De Leon, Private Practice Therapist, LCSW |
| 12:00 - 1:00 | Lunch |
1:05 - 2:00 | Supporting Special Education Populations In the DAEP Setting
- Albert Felts, Director of Student Support Services, ESC Region 13 |
2:05 - 3:00 | Transitions from a Juvenile Center to the Community: Challenges and Solutions
- Elizabeth Ferman, Mental Health Manager; LCSW-S, LSOTP |
| 3:05 - 4:00 | Vape Watch: What’s trending, What's New and How We Can Help
- Leticia Guerrero, Youth Initiatives Training Specialist, Texas School Safety Center, Texas State University |
Presenters
Emily Delgado
Emily began her career as an educational associate in special education over 25 years ago. I have served various communities as a Special Education Teacher, professional development leader, Assistant Principal, Academic Director for a turnaround campus, Associate Principal for a comprehensive high school, and Principal for a DAEP. My passion and focus have always been to serve at-risk students, and I have enjoyed the unique opportunities that I have found in the DAEP setting to be able to reach and support some of the most at-risk students across a district in a one-on-one setting that you can’t always access in a comprehensive campus. |
Lori Lehmberg
Lori is a Comal ISD DAEP and Comal Academy principal. 20 years of educational experience. 6 years at middle school, 2 years at DAEP, 5 years as HS AP and 7 years as DAEP principal. I am married to an educator who teaches ag. We have two wonderful kids and spend our time running them around to do their activities. |
Regina Barrett
Regina has been a Comal ISD DAEP administrator for 3 years, high school counselor for 8 and middle school counselor for 3, high school English teacher for 6 years with 20 years’ experience in education. I am the proud mom of a 17-year-old son and spend most of my time at the baseball fields. |
Genesis Sanchez
Genesis Sanchez, LCSW, is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over seven years of experience in the mental health field. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Texas State University. Currently, I provide therapeutic services to at-risk youth involved in the juvenile justice system and within a local school district, with experience in crisis intervention, community mental health, and school-based services. As a proud daughter of immigrants, I am committed to creating meaningful therapeutic connections that transcend barriers and empower underserved communities. |
Vanessa De Leon
Vanessa has been a therapist with over eight years of experience in the mental health field, currently providing services in private practice and juvenile services within detention and probation settings. For the past three years, I have closely worked with detained youth, addressing their mental health needs in secure environments. I am pursuing a Doctorate in Social Work at the University of Kentucky, having earned degrees from Texas Lutheran University and Our Lady of the Lake University. My clinical background includes work in crisis intervention, community mental health, school-based services, private practice, and the juvenile justice system. As a proud first-generation Latina, Spanish speaker, and daughter of immigrants, I bring a culturally responsive, strengths-based approach to supporting clients through meaningful therapeutic connections. |
Albert Felts
Albert Felts is the Director of Student Support Services at Region 13 Education Service Center in Austin, TX. With over 40 years of experience providing behavioral support to students in residential, hospital, school, and incarcerated settings, Albert brings deep expertise and compassion to his work. He is passionate about developing leadership in adults who serve students with disabilities, striving to create inclusive, supportive environments where all students can thrive. |
Elizabeth Ferman
Elizabeth Ferman, LCSW-S, LSOTP is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor with over a decade of experience in the field of mental health. She currently serves as the Mental Health Manager at the Hays County Juvenile Center, where she oversees the delivery of comprehensive mental health services for youth in the juvenile justice system. With both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work, Elizabeth is deeply committed to advocating for and supporting the mental health needs of young people. Her work focuses on creating impactful interventions, fostering resilience, and promoting positive outcomes for the youth she serves. |
Leticia Guerrero
Leticia Guerrero holds a bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Development and is passionate about supporting youth and families. She currently serves as the Youth Initiatives Training Specialist at the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University, where she focuses on youth substance use prevention. |
