On March 11, 2025, more than 100 educators, counselors and mental health professionals gathered at Russell Sage College for “Building Resilience in Every Student: Strategies for Success in K-12 Education.” Sponsored by Capital Region BOCES, CASDA and the Greater Capital Region Teachers Center, the conference focused on building resiliency and promoting mental well-being in schools.
The event featured a keynote address by Brooklyn Raney, author of “One Trusted Adult,” which emphasized the profound impact of a single supportive adult on a student’s life. Raney highlighted the importance of fostering strong, trusting relationships between educators and students, particularly for those facing challenges outside of school. She explained how small acts of care and attention can significantly improve a child’s academic and emotional well-being. Raney encouraged educators to be that “one trusted adult,” who offers guidance, stability and a sense of belonging, to encourage student success and resilience.
Following the keynote, conference attendees had their choice of breakout sessions, including “Becoming That ‘One Trusted Adult,’ where participants learned practical strategies for building strong, supportive relationships with students. The topics of other sessions ranged from a program that provides essential suicide prevention resources to area schools to developing a sustainable infrastructure for school-based mental health programs to strengthening student-teacher connections to the significance of mindfulness and trauma-responsive care in building resilience.
The conference brought educators together to explore strategies for strengthening and adapting our education systems and provided participants with practical strategies to support their students. Those who attended left with a collective sense of purpose, inspiration and empowerment to implement actionable plans to create compassionate, resilient school environments.