February 7 – February 9, 2027
Hyatt Regency
2 W. Bay Street, Savannah, GA
Keynote Speakers
Nathan Maynard
Nathan Maynard is an internationally recognized educational leader, speaker, founder of alternative school models, and co-founder of Highfive who has spent his career helping schools with discipline, behavior, and human connection. Beginning in juvenile justice, residential treatment, and alternative education settings, Nathan worked directly with young people facing significant behavioral and emotional challenges before bringing those lessons into schools locally in his community for years and now worldwide.He has 18 years of experience that he now shows as he helps educators build systems supporting globally from Singapore to Cherokee County Georgia. He authored an accountability framework that teaches Replacement Skills + Logical Consequences Framework (RSLC).
Kim Bearen
Kim Bearden is the cofounder, executive director, and language arts teacher at the highly acclaimed Ron Clark Academy. More than 145,000 educators from around the world have visited Kim’s classroom and have attended her workshops to learn better ways to engage students, promote academic excellence, build relationships, foster creativity, and create a climate and culture for success.
Throughout her career, Kim has received numerous accolades, such as being honored at the White House for being inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. She was chosen from over 70,000 nominations to be honored as the Disney American Teacher Awards Outstanding Humanities Teacher, and the Milken Family Foundation selected her to receive the Award for Excellence in Education. She is the winner of the InfluencHer Award, the University of Georgia Outstanding Educator Award, and the Turknett Character Award for Servant Leadership. Mercedes-Benz recognized Kim in their Greatness Lives Here campaign, and Women Works Media Group named her one of Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Women.
Conference Overview
The Southeast Conference on School Climate (SeCSC) is a two-and-a-half-day conference that provides research-based resources for improving school culture, climate, and safety. Administrators, counselors, teachers, and school-based mental health professionals participate in sessions packed with practical, evidence-based strategies aimed at creating learning environments to improve every student’s mental, behavioral, and academic performance. The SeCSC primary strands include Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, Mental Health, School Safety, Youth Resiliency, Restorative Practices, and Mindfulness and Wellbeing. In addition, each conference session supports topics related to strategies that can be used for School Improvement Plans (SIP).
The objective of the Southeast Conference on School Climate (SeCSC) is to provide school administrators, counselors, and teachers with research-based resources and practical strategies to enhance school culture, climate, and safety. The conference focuses on equipping educators with evidence-based approaches in areas like Positive Behavior Interventions, Mental Health, School Safety, and Youth Resiliency, aiming to support student mental, behavioral, and academic success and align with School Improvement Plans (SIP).
Conference Strands
- Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports
- Mental Health
- School Safety
- Youth Resiliency
- Restorative Practices
- Mindfulness & Wellbeing
- School and District Leadership **New**
SeCSC Planning Committee
Eric Landers, Ph.D.
Conference Chair
- Bailey Nafziger, Ed.D. – Georgia Southern University
- Caitlin Criss, Ph.D. – Georgia Southern University
- Gregory Benner, Ph.D. – University of Alabama
- Meredith Rausch, Ph.D. – The University of Alabama
- Lee Fletcher, MSW – South Carolina Department of Mental Health
- Rick Surrency – School Superintendent, Putnam County School District
- Daniel Dickens – Tuscaloosa County Schools
- John Richardson-Lauve – St. Joseph’s Villa
FAQs
School administrators, counselors, and teachers should attend the Southeast Conference on School Climate (SeCSC) to gain practical, evidence-based strategies for improving school culture, climate, and safety. This conference is ideal for those involved in developing School Improvement Plans (SIP) and fostering supportive, resilient learning environments for students.
The dress code for the conference is business casual.
The SeCSC Conference will be held in the Hyatt Regency located at 2 W Bay Street, Savannah, GA, 31401.
Valet parking is available at the Hyatt for overnight guests only. Additional parking is available at the Whitaker Street Parking Garage. The SeCSC conference will not validate any parking for attendees.
- To book additional nights outside of the courtesy block or have questions about hotel reservations, please contact the hotel at (912) 238-1234.
- Group Code: G-SECS
The following CEUs are available:
- NASW
- NBCC
- General
Total hours will be awarded based on approval.
Conference Chair:
Eric Landers, Ph.D.
ericlanders@georgiasouthern.edu
For general conference information, contact:
secsc@georgiasouthern.edu
For registration information, contact:
ce-registrations@georgiasouthern.edu or give us a call at 912-478-5551.