Protecting our Future: Building Resilient School Communities
Join us for an insightful and transformative two-day conference that merges the Mental Health Conference with the School Safety Summit, creating a powerful platform for exploring the intersection of mental health and school safety.
This event brings educators, school leaders, mental health professionals, and community partners together to engage with evidence-based practices, enhance their professional skills, and collaborate with experts from across the state.
Participants will gain valuable insights and practical strategies to promote safe, supportive learning environments while prioritizing mental health, ultimately empowering them to make a lasting impact on their schools and communities.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to creating safer, more inclusive educational spaces.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Celina Bley
Associate Director of Training and Education with the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University
Dr. Celina Bley is the Associate Director of Training and Education with the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University. She started at the Center in February 2019 and brings with her 18 years of district administrator experience in the Central Texas area. She began in the field as a communications Director and worked her way up to Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations which included school safety for a 6A District. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Education in the field of Adult, Professional and Community Education from Texas State University. Dr. Bley received her Master of Arts in Adult and Developmental Education and her Bachelor of Arts in German.
J. Paige Butler
FBI Intelligence Analyst
IA Butler serves as a Violent Extremism analyst for the Counterterrorism Branch of the San Antonio Field Office. Focusing on cross-programmatic threats between Domestic Terrorism, Civil Rights and Crimes Against Children. IA Butler has been with the Department of Justice for 15 years, previously serving as a Texas Peace Officer and in the US Navy.
Molly Hudgens
School Counselor and Congressional Medal of Honor Citizens Honor Recipient
On September 28, 2016, an eighth grader armed with a semi-automatic handgun and a plan to kill people on campus went to the counseling department at Sycamore Middle School in Pleasant View, Tennessee, to find his school counselor. After ninety minutes of de-escalation efforts, the counselor was able to successfully convince the young man to surrender the weapon without incident. For her efforts, she became a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor's Citizens Honor for a single act of heroism. In her twenty-fifth year in education, she remains the school counselor at Sycamore Middle School and will be joining us at the Safe and Supportive Schools Symposium to share her story of "The School Shooting that Never Happened."
Our Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Call for Presenters
Please complete this form to present a breakout session (45 MINUTES) at the ESC 13 Safe and Supportive Schools Symposium on March 5-6, 2025. Our Symposium theme is Protecting our Future: Building Resilient School Communities.
The session should be a district or campus-based initiative which has proven effective in continuing to improve school safety and/or support students and staff mental health. Please align your session content to The Safe and Supportive Schools Program (SSSP) that covers the following six responsibilities:
Promotes a positive school climate
Builds multi-tiered systems of support
Conducts behavioral threat assessments
Ensures staff is well-trained
Collects data to continuously improve
Supports emergency planning and implementation
Submit your proposal aligned to at least one of these six areas OR a mental health initiative that promotes safe and healthy students by using this form. ESC Region 13 Safe and Supportive Schools Symposium Committee will review the proposals and inform those who are selected to present by Friday, February 7, 2025.
***VENDORS INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF THE ESC REGION 13 SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS SYMPOSIUM WILL NEED TO COMPLETE A "SPONSORSHIP FORM". THIS FORM IS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF ONLY AND PLATINUM SPONSORS. ***
Hotel Information
A courtesy room block has been arranged for our attendees at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Central, conveniently located near ESC Region 13. Take advantage of the opportunity to secure your accommodations at a discounted rate.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Central 5901 North IH-35 Austin, Texas 78723 512-454-8004
Special discounted rate: $187 per night plus applicable taxes and fees for a standard room. The City of Austin recently implemented a mandatory 2% tourism fee that is automatically added to the room rate.
Deadline to book: the group rate is February 12, and valid for one night (March 5). Reservations received after the cut-off date will be based on availability at the hotel's prevailing rates.
Reservations: Guests can call Hilton Central Reservations at 1-800-HILTONS (445-8667). Refer to Group code "CES912" or the Group name "Safe and Supportive Symposium."
Cancellations or modifications: Existing reservations should be made directly with the hotel and are subject to their policies.
