Parent Speaker Series
A joint collaboration between CTC and Downingtown Area School District, Parent Speaker Series events feature speakers and presentations that support student health and wellness.
January 2026: Challenges and Strategies for Students with School Avoidance
Challenges and Strategies for Students with School Avoidance
School avoidance is a complex and challenging issue for students, parents, and school staff. This program brings together experts from our community who directly work with parents, students and DASD schools to understand the contributing issues of school avoidance and identify helpful strategies and resources to support parents and students.
December 2025: Neuroscience for High Risk Behavior: Protecting and Growing Executive Functioning Skills by Crystal Collier.
Neuroscience for High Risk Behavior:
Protecting and Growing Executive Functioning Skills explains how alcohol, drugs, technology overuse, and other high-risk behaviors disrupt the developing brain systems that support planning, self-control, and decision-making in children and teens. The presentation gives parents a brain-based framework for “neurowhereabouts” (stages of neurodevelopment) and shows how targeted, developmentally appropriate strategies can strengthen executive skills instead of letting risky behaviors wire in. Attendees leave with practical prevention and intervention tools, such as brain-savvy parenting scripts, daily routines, and skill-building activities, that they can immediately use to reduce risk and support healthier, more resilient youth.
October 2025: Vaping Prevention Resources and Education for Parents by Selena Morresi, Caron Educational Alliance
In our first Parent Speaker Series event of the 2025-26 school year, in partnership with Downingtown Area School District, Selena Morresi from Caron Educational Alliance explores vaping among youth. She shares an updated look at the vaping landscape including nicotine pouches and explains the four main reasons teens vape: curiosity, stress, boredom and peer pressure.
Using science and practical strategies, Selena connects each reason back to adolescent brain development and provides resources parents/guardians can use to guide conversations and support their teens.