Just One Counselor Can Completely Alter the Trajectory of a Child - So many children arriving to school every morning are coming from home and neighborhood environments that present challenges that are so overwhelming that the children simply cannot make the correlation between effort in school today and success in their lives later on. There is a desperate need then for positive relationships with key adults in the building that are so powerful that the student concludes that success will be his / her reality. In this keynote address, Principal Kafele will make the case to school counselors that they are amongst those individuals who can nurture powerful relationships with students that completely alter their trajectories toward attaining success.

The Psychology of Polarization: Strategies for Addressing Political Polarization through Social-Emotional Learning - Our nation is grappling with deep divisions. As school counselors, we have a unique role to play in fostering a more harmonious and inclusive society. One powerful tool in our toolkit is social emotional learning (SEL), which can bridge the divide and promote understanding and empathy among individuals with differing political ideologies. This keynote will begin by exploring the development of moral reasoning in children and adults, and how this development is shaped by factors such as our shared evolutionary heritage, cultural upbringing, and unique life experiences. By understanding the foundations of moral reasoning, we can better comprehend how individuals form their beliefs and values, and how these beliefs may differ based on their background and experiences.