The Classical Academies Partnering With Parents

How can understanding the brain transform the way we parent and teach? Lindsay Morris is the author of Teach the Brain, Change the World, founder of Generation Wellness, and keynote speaker for this year’s JumpStart Parent Education Conference. She shares how brain-based strategies can strengthen emotional regulation, deepen relationships, and support learning at home and at school. She explains the brain's three tiers and why children need to feel safe, seen, and connected before they can access logical thinking and problem-solving.Website: generationwellness.comTeach the Brain, Change the World BookJumpStart Sign Up and Information

Teens face many pressures today, from demanding schedules and social media stress to uncertainty about life after graduation. Two Classical Academy High School seniors share how balancing academics, activities, and relationships can lead to anxiety and burnout, often in ways parents don’t fully see. They reflect on how open communication, healthy boundaries, and unconditional support help parent-child relationships evolve from a focus on authority to one on trust and guidance. The conversation invites parents to rethink assumptions about teen motivation, recognize the mental and emotional load students carry, and approach expectations around independence with greater understanding.

Middle school marks a pivotal time as students transition from one primary teacher to several, face increasing academic expectations, and start seeking greater independence. It’s also a season when parents shift from manager to coach, learning to balance autonomy with meaningful guidance. Dawn Sullivan, a Classical Academy middle school teacher, shares insights on how families can nurture executive functioning skills during this critical period. She offers practical approaches such as modeling organization, establishing routines, weekly schedule reviews, and encouraging students to communicate directly with teachers. As students transition to high school, Dawn outlines how parents can gradually assume a mentor role, equipping teens to handle increasingly complex responsibilities with confidence. For slides to this presentation, visit here.

The Classical Academies’ Transition Partnership Program (TPP) helps students with special needs transition from high school to adulthood by supporting them as they explore employment, continuing education, and independent living. TPP Specialist Melissa Hilbig and Instructor Deb Kissner share how students can identify their strengths, connect with opportunities, and gain the skills, strategies, and resources needed for success. The program focuses on normalizing disabilities to promote independence, empowerment, and inclusion. While designed for students with IEPs or 504 plans, TPP builds valuable skills such as self-advocacy, collaboration, and confidence that benefit all learners.