Root to Rise: FREE
Conference for Educators
ONLINE | On-Demand
The Conference Has Passed But You Can Still Catch the Recordings!
Reclaiming Well-Being, Strength, & Community
Educators! Join us for a free, 3-day online conference designed to help you reconnect with your “why,” reclaim your resilience, and rise with renewed strength. Through powerful workshops, practical strategies, and meaningful conversations, you’ll gain tools to stay grounded and find calm, cultivate inner strength, understand the impact of stress and trauma, and foster classrooms rooted in safety, engagement, and belonging – for both you and your students.
Root Down to Rise Up:
The Complete Schedule
Powerful sessions designed to deepen your roots, expand your reach, and help you thrive.
RENEW
Unshakeable: Cultivating Resilience and Purpose in Teaching
Day 1 | Register to Watch the On-Demand Recording!
Teaching is more than a profession – it’s a calling. But the demands of the classroom, shifting expectations, and personal challenges can shake even the most passionate educators.
In this empowering keynote, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith unveils the hidden forces that erode self-esteem and resilience, offering science-backed strategies and real-world insights to help teachers stand strong.
Through engaging stories and practical tools, she will help educators silence self-doubt, rise above burnout, and reignite their sense of purpose. Walk away inspired, equipped, and unshakable – ready to lead and teach with confidence.
(Note: PD certificates are issued to people who attend live.)
HEAL
The Science of Stress and Trauma: Supporting Students to Feel Safe, Supported, and Valued
Day 2 | Register to Watch the On-Demand Recording!
Before we can grow, we must feel safe and supported in the soil we grow from. This session digs deep into the science of stress and trauma, offering insight into how these forces impact both you and your students. You’ll gain practical tools to cultivate emotional safety, tend to your own well-being, and nurture a classroom environment where healing and growth can take root.
In this session, you’ll gain:
+ Trauma-Informed Tools: Practical strategies to support students with care and consistency.
+ Brain Science: Understand how stress shapes behavior, learning, and connection.
+ Connection Strategies: Foster strong roots of trust between students and educators.
+ Nervous System Support: Grounding practices that help regulate and restore.
+ Healing Practices: Daily rituals that help you and your students find strength in the face of adversity.
You’ll emerge with the confidence to recognize symptoms of stress and trauma as well as strategies to ensure your students feel safe, seen, and supported.
(Note: PD certificates are issued to people who attend live.)
THRIVE
From Isolation to Inspiration: How to Build Community, Engagement, and Belonging in Your Classroom
Day 3 | Register to Watch the On-Demand Recording!
When students feel like they belong, everything blossoms. In this interactive workshop, you’ll explore how connection is not just a nice-to-have—it’s the root of everything from classroom management to academic success. Join Dr. Ilana Nankin, Breathe For Change Founder & CEO, and Sam Levine, Associate Professor, as they share the latest research, tools, and mindsets to transform your classroom into a thriving community where every learner feels seen, safe, and inspired to grow.
In this workshop, you will:
+ Explore new research on how belonging fuels behavior, engagement, and achievement
+ Learn practical, SEL-infused strategies to cultivate community and trust
+ Create classroom routines that support emotional safety and meaningful engagement
+ Gain evidence-based techniques to create an inclusive, collaborative classroom culture
+ Engage directly with experts and get your real questions answered in real time
This session is your invitation to go from isolation to inspiration – to root your classroom in connection and rise into a more joyful and impactful way of teaching.
(Note: PD certificates are issued to people who attend live.)
Rooting for You
Get ready to learn with inspiring speakers here to help you reclaim your well-being, strength, and sense of belonging.
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, Guest Expert
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a Board-Certified internal medicine physician and work-life integration researcher whose work has been featured on TED, MSNBC, Forbes, and other national outlets. She is the founder of Restorasis, a professional development agency dedicated to restoring wellbeing in the workplace through its proprietary 7 Types of Rest Framework™.
Dr. Ilana Nankin, Founder
Dr. Ilana Nankin—the Founder & CEO of Breathe For Change—is an award-winning entrepreneur, teacher educator, and former public school teacher committed to using wellness as a vehicle for healing and social change. Ilana earned degrees in both psychology and education at UC Berkeley, and received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at University of Wisconsin.
Sam Levine, Associate Professor
Sam Levine began his career as an educator, teaching ESL in the Middle East and middle school science in D.C. A seasoned entrepreneur in education, he’s held leadership roles at Amplify, Coursera, and Hone. Sam is also a certified coach, yoga teacher, and facilitator in transformational leadership. He earned a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University, focusing on mind-body practices.
Rise With Us Today!
Get your Root to Rise conference pass for an unforgettable experience! It’s your time to nourish your purpose, strengthen your resilience, and reconnect you with what matters most. Completely free, entirely virtual.