Workshop: What the Most Resilient of Us Know and Do

Maria Sirois, Psy.D. has spent more than three decades in the board rooms of business, bedsides of the dying and everywhere in between to do one thing: offer data, stories, tools and perspectives that enable us to cultivate resilience, health, wisdom and a greater capacity to lead ourselves and others well, no matter the strain of the moment. She is the author of two books: A Short Course in Happiness After Loss and Every Day Counts. www.mariasirois.com

Workshop Series: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

Jacinta Williams, a social justice and racial equity practitioner with nearly 20 years of experience in education and nonprofits, began her career advocating for women of color's access to HIV/AIDS resources in Atlanta. Co-founder of the Metro Atlanta Women of Color Initiative (MAWOCI) in 2002, she pioneered HIV testing for women of color. Transitioning to education, she embedded diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching and school systems. Experienced in coaching and facilitation, Jacinta drives engagement for equitable outcomes in structures and practices. Formerly Head of Equity at Atlanta International School, she now collaborates globally to dismantle barriers hindering diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments. Jacinta was also the keynote speaker at the ISCA 2024 Annual Conference in Athens and founder of EdLiberate Consulting.

Workshop Series: Navigating SEL, Diversity, and Inclusion

Ruth E. VanReken grew up globally and has worked for 40 years with issues related to growing up among many cultural worlds for those doing it, their parents, educators and others working with them. She co-founded Families in Global Transition (FIGT.org) in 1998 and co-authored Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, 3rd ed. She received an honorary Litt.D in 2019 for her life's work in this field. www.crossculturalkid.org

Lindsay Kehl is an experienced international School Counselor, having worked in Panama, Zambia, India, Romania, and Japan. Now U.S.-based, she founded Lindsay Kehl Consulting and Collaborative. Through her company, Lindsay provides training to School Counselors and teachers on social-emotional topics vital to student development. She also collaborates with organizations in the college counseling field and offers personalized college counseling services. While not a tech expert, Lindsay is passionate about empowering international School Counselors to leverage innovative tools and strategies.

Workshop Series: Data Driven Decision Making to Drive Interventions

Irene Opuka, Psy.D., an Educational Psychologist specializing in PK3 – 12th grade, brings nearly twenty years of experience from diverse public-school settings in the District of Columbia and California (USA) and private-school setting internationally in Doha (Qatar). Passionate about inclusion and maximizing potential, Dr. Opuka spearheads efforts in implementing the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) to promote evidence-based practices in meeting unique needs of all students. She has served in the clinical setting offering individual and family therapy in a non-profit mental health agency, where she also acted as the lead family therapist. Dr. Opuka holds a Masters in School Psychology from Bowie State University (Maryland) a Doctorate in School Psychology obtained from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Pennsylvania).