On March 18, together with United Parent Teacher Council, SHAI convened its annual education forum. SHAI and UPTC have partnered for over a decade regarding subjects important to families with students of all ages and in all school settings. This year’s event took place at the Great Neck Main Library and drew parents, adolescents, and children from public and private schools who attended to learn about what students are asking their school health educators, and how to address these tough topics. The forum discussed how to calmly and confidently respond to children’s tough questions, start meaningful and regular conversations with children so they return for more, allocate and use resources to stay current on youth topics like sexuality and social media, and infuse family values into conversations so children stay well-informed, healthy and safe.

The event featured speaker Amanda Perez Leder, MPH. The panelists included Superintendent of Great Neck Schools Dr. Teresa Prendergast, and Health Department Chairs of Great Neck North and South Middle and High School, Michelle Sicurella, Jennifer Dipalo, Kathleen Mueller-Carpenter, and Jane Callaghan, respectively. A question and answer session followed the presentation.