Keynote Speakers
Quay Hannah
Keynote Address: "Bus America: Revolutions of a Redneck"

Quay Hanna is from the small town of Strasburg in rural Lancaster County, PA. He embraced a racist perspective of the world during his first 23 years of life, before embarking on a 9 week, 37 state, 12,000 mile journey around America by Greyhound bus. During the trip he found himself sitting next to people he thought he hated his whole life. These dramatic changes led him to continue traveling around the world. He's now been to all 50 states, 27 countries, and 5 continents.

For the past 15 years he's been working in schools that have been struggl ing with racial problems and bullying situations. His work is highly regarded by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the PA Center for Safe Schools and he has been a SAP caseworker for the past 7 years. He has won the National Conference of Community and Justice Human Relations Award, the YWCA Child Abuse Prevention Award,and the National Speakers Association Community Outreach Award. His work has also been featured on CNN, Comcast Tonight, and the Ed Norris show.

Bernie Hoffman
Keynote: "What Educators Need to Know to be Safe, Secure, and Successful in the Legalistic World of Today" 
Bernie Hoffman Handout
Workshops: 1C/4A - "The Rights and Responsibilities of Educational Professionals"
 
Bernard Hoffman was a staff member with the Neshaminy School District in Langhorne, Bucks County, PA since 1958. In his almost 40 years at Neshaminy, he served as classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, administrative assistant to the superintendent, assistant superintendent, supervisor of curriculum and instruction, deputy superintendent, superintendent as well as a commissioned office of the state since 1975. Mr. Hoffman worked with students, staff and administration and directed the daily operations of the district. He has also worked extensively with the community, agencies and media. Mr. Hoffman's experience also includes directing a mental health consultation service in the U.S. Army, a member and chairperson of the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, and a member of numerous state alcohol and drug committees.

Bernard G. Hoffman
Consultant for Educational Issues
14 Five Ponds Circle
Warminster, PA 18974
215-411-0779

Terry Kerr/Michael McGaughey
Keynote:  "A Systems-Based Approach for Implementing a School-Wide Student Assistance Program"

Terry Kerr has served as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Titusville Area School District since 2006. In his 33 years in education, he has held positions as a social studies teacher, guidance counselor, building principal and Director of Student Services prior to his current position, all with Titusville Schools. Terry has been actively involved in student assistance since 1986 and has been instrumental in the development of a high quality student assistance program in the district.  Terry is currently serving on the Titusville Housing Authority Board and the Board of the Health in Titusville, PA. He has also served on the PASAP Board of Directors since 2001 and is past-president and the currrent treasurer.

Mike McGaughey began his career in 1990 working in Maryland within a middle level Disruptive Youth Program.  He also worked with various non-traditional college students at Chesapeake College on the Eastern Shore.   In 1994, he returned to Pennsylvania and began working at the Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center.  At Sarah Reed, Mike was a residential therapist, teacher, school based mental health therapist, and eventually an administrator of various elementary through high school  Alternative Education and Campus School Programs.   Mike also worked as a therapeutic support staff, mobile therapist, and behavior specialist at Sarah Reed.  He returned to the public school at the Titusville Area School District and began teaching and coordinating their middle and high school alternative education programs.  Eventually he became an assistant principal at Titusville High School and the coordinator of the district’s Alternative Education Programs.    Six years ago Mike became the principal of Titusville Middle School and continues to coordinate the district’s Alternative Education Programs.  Over the past thirteen years Mike has served as the PDE Region 8 Coordinator for Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth.

Michelle Gwinn Nutter
Keynote Address: "Juvenile Participation in hate Groups and Hate Crimes"
Workshop 1E -"Beyond Bullying"

Michelle Gwinn Nutter is the Project Manager of the Center for Safe Schools and is a Pennsylvania-certified teacher. Prior to joining the Safe Schools Team, she was a Civil Rights Investigator with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. During her 10 years with that office, she conducted numerous presentations to schools, communities and law enforcement departments on the topics of: organized supremacist groups; hate crimes; school-based harassment; prejudice reduction; diversity; gangs; terrorism awareness; bullying prevention and 1st Amendment Issues. As a Safe Schools Coordinator, Michelle continues to provide technical assistance to schools and communities on these issues by speaking at various workshops, conferences and teacher-in-service trainings and student assemblies.

Miss Pennsylvania - Juliann Sheldon
Keynote: "Mental Health Awareness and Preventing Suicide"

Juliann Sheldon is a 21 year old native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Prior to being crowned Miss Pennsylvania, Juliann was a senior Advertising/Public Relations student at Point Park University. She won the title of Miss Pennsylvania on Saturday June 18th in Cheswick, PA. Juliann not only took home the crown, but also a preliminary swimsuit award.

Throughout her year of service, Juliann is traveling the state speaking on her personal platform, “Mental Health Awareness”. She is serving as an advocate for mental illness, by partnering with such organizations as Mental Health America as well as speaking to many different audiences on the issue. Throughout her year, Juliann is also serving as an ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network. She has not only raised funds for the organization, but has had the opportunity to bond with the very children she is aiding.

In her free time, Juliann enjoys practicing yoga and blogging about her travels.

John D. Weaver
Keynote:  "American Red Cross Psychological First Aid"

John D. Weaver, LCSW, BCD, ACSW is a founding partner of EYE OF THE STORM, Inc., a private consultation and education group practice specializing in disaster mental health, crisis intervention, and risk management related training and support. Since 1992, Weaver has been an active volunteer with the American Red Cross (ARC). He has assisted at several local and national disasters including service during the Great Mississippi River/Midwest Floods of 1993, coordinating DMH activities with morgue volunteers following the 1994 airline crash in Pittsburgh, and service with the ARC team at the 1996 plane crash in the Everglades, near Miami. More recently, he served as Coordinator of the ARC AIR Team’s Family Assistance Center following the 9/11/01 terrorist incident that led to the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA and then served as an Assistant Officer helping manage the larger World Trade Center relief operation in NY City. He is also a volunteer instructor for ARC. In recognition of his service to the organization, ARC has presented him the Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership. Throughout his career, he has presented seminars and papers at state and national conferences in social work, psychology, counseling, and nursing. He has also written many articles, several chapters, and three books. Weaver is donating half of his royalties from one of his books - Disasters: Mental Health Interventions (1995, Sarasota, FL, Professional Resource Press; phone 1-800-443-3364) - to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund and his publisher, Larry Ritt of Professional Resource Press, is matching his donation.

Joel Weintraub
Keynote Address:  "How to Become Resilient, Reduce Stress. Snap Back from Adversity and Add Humor to Your Life"
Workshop 1B - "Understand the Brain So You Can Understand Behavior"

Joel Weintraub is a “humorous educator” who has managed to merge the formerly disparate worlds of comedy with medical and psychological information. By combining his professional comedy experience with his masters degree in Physiology and his bachelors in Health Education from Temple University, Joel has entertained and educated audiences as diverse as Physicians, Psychologists, Substance Abuse Professionals, Attorneys, HR Professionals, Alzheimer’s Associations, Accountants, Churches groups, Synagogues and even Burglar Alarm Installers. From the “World Bank” to Dangerfield’s Comedy Club to major radio stations, the local news and the Food Channel … they have all laughed and learned with “Humor for the Health of it”. To learn more about Joel you can visit his web site at www.healthhumor.com or www.joelweintraub.com.

 Workshop Speakers
Mary Anne Albaugh MD, Callie E. Arney, M.Ed. & Kristen McHenry
Workshops 1F:  "Adoptive Issues" and 2F: "Children's Mental health Needs and the Interface with the Educational Environment"

Mary Anne Albaugh MD is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist practicing in Erie County PA. Currently in practice over 20 years, she is Board Certified in General Psychiatry and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Albaugh graduated medical school from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia PA. She completed her General Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Fellowship at Hahnemann as well. She provides clinical psychiatric services and consultation to child and adolescent community mental health agencies, school teams, Early Intervention and residential treatment programs. She maintains a small private practice and is President of Presque Isle Psychiatric Associates, a group psychiatric/mental health practice providing staff to local community based mental health providers.  She is active in organized medicine and psychiatry, a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and Erie County Medical Society. She is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society.Her interests include treatment of children and families who have experienced trauma, loss and disruptions in their lives,Early Intervention and prevention efforts, systems of care issues and advocacy for children and families. She has provided psychiatric consultation to the Post Adoption Support Services group since its start over 10 years ago.

Callie E. Arney, M.Ed., is an Attachment Therapist at Affinity Family Support Services, in Erie. Callie is a graduate of Penn State University and currently enrolled in the MSW program at Edinboro University. Additionally, has been trained by Dr. Gregory Keck, Ph.D of the Attachment and Bonding Center of Cleveland.

Callie’s career includes an extensive work history in the field of Behavioral Health at UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa.

Callie is currently a Board member of NWPA Autism Society of America.

Kristen McHenry is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Affiinity Family Support Services. Kristen earned her B.A. in Psychology and a M.A. in clinical psychology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.Kristen provides specialized outpatient services to abused and neglected children and their families.



Louis J. Bevilacqua, Psy.D.
Workshops 2C/3C:  "Breaking Through the Matrix of Denial: The Family Recovery Process" and 4D: "Teens and Self-Injury"

Louis J. Bevilacqua, Psy.D.  is a Clinical Psychologist and VP of Life Counseling Services (LCS).  He is the Internship Training Director at LCS and Clinical Director of The Light Program, a Mental Health (IOP) serving adolescents & adults. The Light Program is offered throughout PA including two School Districts. Dr. Bevilacqua specializes in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy of mood disorders, family therapy, and treating self-injurious behaviors. He has authored or co-authored four professional books. His most recent publication is, “When You Can’t Snap Out of it: Finding Your Way Through Depression” available through Amazon.com

A. Michael Blanche
Workshops 2C/3C: "Breaking Through the Matrix of Denial: The Family Recovery Process"  and 4C: "The Impact of Technology on Adolescents and Addiction"

A .Michael Blanche is a licensed clinical social worker that has over fifteen  years experience providing direct clinical counseling for those who are dually diagnosed with addiction and other psychological disorders. He has comprehensive knowledge of the treatment options available to dually diagnosed adults and adolescents. Mike has worked in all levels of care in the treatment of addiction; currently on staff at West Chester University and Bryn Mawr College in their counseling departments and has facilitated a private practice in West Chester for past five years.

Joseph V. DeLucca, Jr.
Workshops 3F and 4F: "Kids in Crisis: Getting to the Heart of the Matter"

Joe DeLucca currently serves as the Director of Federal, state, and Nonpublic Programs at IU 18 in Kingston, PA. Joe is also the President of the Luzerne County Safe Schools Committee. His past experience includes teaching, counseling, and coaching several sports. A graduate of Bloomsburg University, Joe earned his Master’s degree in School Counseling and his School Leadership Certificate from Marywood University. He is a certified Crisis Response Team Trainer for NOVA, NIMS certified, and a trained facilitator for the Parent to Parent Program. Joe is an adjunct professor at Kings College and Marywood University where he teaches courses on Crisis Response/Intervention and School Safety. He has created and presented: Music with a Message: A Suicide Education and Prevention Program for Teens.”
Mandy Fauble, PhD, ICSW
Workshops 3B/4B - "Crisis Intervention Partnerships: SAFEline Youth Hotline & Outreach Efforts"

Mandy Fauble, PhD, lCSW, is Director of Crisis Services at Safe Harbor Behavioral Health in Erie, PA, and is the Director and Team Coordinator for the Erie County Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team. Mandy has been an adjunct faculty member at Mercyhurst College since 2005, where she teaches Crisis Intervention, Contemporary Social Problems, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, and Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations and Communities. She maintains a small private practice.
Danny Jones
Workshops: 1G/2G - "Homeless Does Not Mean Helpless"

Danny Jones: Having grown up in Erie in a family that continually emphasized education and personal integrity over money Danny Jones never knew that his family was considered low income. The fact that they lived in a home owned by his grandfather, who also owned his house, was just the way of the world. Danny just assumed that all people owned their own home. Over time he realized that his assumption was false and that many people rent. But still homelessness was something that was just a concept. Living in Erie homelessness was not something that was obvious. However, during his college years (in Pittsburgh) he came face to face with this very dilemma. Because of some bad decisions and bad luck he was forced to deal with the reality of not having a place or space to call his own. During this time there were many hard decisions that had to be dealt with. Pride and his “wants” became secondary to “life’s realities”. 

 

Through this experience Danny learned about the subtleties and coldness of being homeless. If it had not been for friends, life may have turned out differently for Danny.

Now as the homeless Liaison for the School District City of Erie he strives to assist homeless students to stay in school and overcome the barriers that homelessness can put in a person’s life.
Melanie Lynch
Workshop 1A:  "Students As Our SAP Advocates"
Workshop 2D:  "Dying To Be Thin"

Melanie Lynch graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. She then earned her Master's degree at Penn State in Counselor Education with an emphasis on eating disorders and chemical dependency. Melanie is in her 16th year as a Health Education Specialist at State College Area High School. Melanie is also an adjunct professor at Penn State, teaching Kinesiology courses.       

               

In 2004, PSAHPERD named Melanie Pennsylvania's health educator of the year. Currently, Melanie is serving as Vice-President of Health Education for PSAHPERD.

 

Melanie has restructured her curriculum to include eating disorders and body image lessons for her students. In addition to her teaching duties, Melanie has served on her school's SAP (Student Assistance Program) team for the past thirteen years, implementing programs to educate every new teacher in her district on the dangers of eating disorders and how to identify students struggling with food and weight issues. Currently, Melanie is the SAP chair for the North building.


As a program coordinator for NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association), she frequently presents programs on eating disorders awareness and prevention at the local, state, and national levels. Melanie has set up informational booths in local malls and also has done radio talk promotion to educate the community on eating disorders. She has been published in a professional journal with one of her eating disorder articles. Also, Melanie organizes a Love your body week every year at State High to help students gain an appreciation of their body for what it is, not what the media tries to sell to them. In addition to her eating disorder work, she is a CDC teacher/trainer for HEAP (Health Education Assessment Project). She travels all over the state training other teachers how to make their health classes more enjoyable and alligned with the National Health Education Standards.


Melanie has also served as a faculty member for the Pennsylvania Governor's Institute for Health Education.
Amy Marenick
Workshop 3D: "Strengthening Your Stress Fractures"

Amy Marenick is currently the SAP Coordinator for the School District of Lancaster. Amy has been a Licensed Professional Counselor and/or a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor as well as a Licensed Counselor Supervisor in three states over the past twenty years. She has presented on many topics and has authored magazine articles on child development and family issues also. Amy believes: Example is not the main thing in influencing others.  It is the only thing.  ~Albert Schweitzer 
Tim McDowell
Workshop 3G:  "Adolescent Substance Abuse/Dependency - Realistic and Effective Strategies for Intervening with Teen Drug Use"

Tim McDowell is a licensed social worker for the North Hills School District and Director of North Hills Alternative Education Program.  He is a therapist for Commissioner’s Office of Major League Baseball (B.A.T.)  Tim has is the former therapist for Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Chicago Cubs. He is also a former adolescent therapist for Gateway Rehabilitation Center.
Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski
Workshop 1D:  "Navigating Stormy Seas: Supporting LGBTQA Youth in Rural/Conservative Environments"

Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski is President of the Academy for Adolescent Health, Inc. Teen Outreach. She began volunteering with pregnant teens in 1976 and has created numerous youth development and education programs using reality-based interactive educational techniques that are evidence-based and empower youth. Teen Outreach programs currently reach over 11,000 students through in-school sexuality education in all 14 Washington County school districts. Dr. Podgurski is an adjunct professor at Washington and Jefferson College and the recipient of the 2008 Washington County NAACP Human Rights Award. 
Deanna Richards
Workshop 4F: "Evidence Based Screening"

Deanna Richards has worked with youth in various capacities since 1999. She has been involved in teaching, curriculum writing, and youth development.  Deanna holds an MA in English and is currently pursuing an Ed.M in Counseling at Columbia University where she also serves as the Program Manager for the TeenScreen Schools and Communities Program.

She has presented at a variety of mental health and suicide prevention conferences and regularly presents information about the Schools and Communities Program.

Stephanie Roy 
Workshops 2A: "Video Gaming-The New Addiction? Exploring the World of Alternate Reality"

Stephanie Roy works with students K-12 presenting topics including cyber addiction, bullying, refusal skills, decision-making, substance abuse, accountability, media literacy, diversity and cultural awareness, anger and stress management. As part of her work for Compass Mark, Stephanie developed the SkillQuest program for students in grades 4-8. She develops curriculum to foster resiliency with secondary students through facilitated youth leadership activities, and facilitates the Student Skills for Life Program for youth detained for underage alcohol or marijuana consumption/possession. Stephanie has received extensive training in cyber addiction (video gaming, social networking, etc.), cyber bullying, relational aggression, media literacy, diversity awareness, and drug and alcohol concerns. Stephanie frequently speaks at local and state conferences, agencies, elementary and secondary schools, and universities across the Commonwealth. Mrs. Roy is a Commonwealth Approved Lead SAP (Student Assistance Program) Trainer, an adjunct college professor on Personal Resiliency and Diversity, an OLWEUS Bullying Prevention trainer, a trainer for adults and educators.  Stephanie serves as a board member and chair of the membership committee for PASAP (Pennsylvania Student Assistance Professionals).
Carl Robertson
Workshop 3A: "Youth Problem Gambling"

Carl Robertson is the Program Manager for the Smart Choices program provided by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, Inc..  He has conducted classroom trainings and community presentations on youth problem gambling prevention.  Additionally, Carl is the Training Specialist for the Customer Assistance Program training (responsible gambling) for all casino employees in Pennsylvania.

Carl has over 15 years experience in the Training and Development field.  He has presented at the National Conference for the National Council on Problem Gambling.    Carl has a Masters degree in Religious Education (MRE) and a Masters degree in Theology (MDiv).

D. Elaine Surma
Workshop: 2E & 3E "Current Drug Trends"

D. Elaine Surma began her law enforcement career thirty-three (33) years ago as a Special Agent for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation in the Pennsylvania Department of Justice.  She worked in Western Pennsylvania and transferred to the Erie office in 1987.  In 1998, she served as the Regional Director for the Bureau of Narcotic Investigation and Drug Control in Erie, and then in March 2001 transferred to the Drug Demand Reduction Unit in the capacity of a Senior Supervisory Narcotic Agent.  She is currently the Senior Supervisory Special Agent in the Education and Outreach Unit.

Agent Surma graduated from Thiel College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Economics.  She earned a Master of Arts degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Administration of Justice and an additional Master of Arts degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in Communications.

Agent Surma has been involved in the process of conducting leadership workshops for women and has conducted workshops in senior crime, Identification, Theft, Sexual Assault; Bullying and various other topics over her career.  In 1991, the Business and Professional Women’s Association of Pennsylvania selected Agent Surma as their statewide Young Careerist.  Agent Surma has also received numerous commendations including the Erie County District Attorney’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Service to law enforcement, and the Fraternal Order of Police’s Award of Excellence in Law Enforcement. 

Agent Surma is very deeply involved with community and civic service associations.  Agent Surma is a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Business and Professional Women, Meadville Chapter, The ECGIA, Erie County Council on Policy and Planning.;  Safe Communities Erie; The Drug Alliance, Erie Women’s Round Table; the Brig Niagara League; the Erie Humane Society; the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 92; and  Our Lady of the Lake  Parish. 

Agent Surma remains active as a polygraphist, maintaining memberships in the American Association of Police Polygraphist and the Academy of Certified Polygraphists.  She has been recognized for her polygraph work, and earning the title of “Expert Polygraphist.”

Agent Surma is currently active with several organizations within Erie County that are involved with the prevention of sexual abuse and building self-esteem of children.  She is a contributing author to the textbook “The Sexual Trafficking of Children” and has published a study with Edinboro University of Pennsylvania on Pedophilia.  Surma is on the staff of the Criminology Department of Gannon University of Erie and has also served on staff of the Mercyhurst College as an Act 120 instructor at the Mercyhurst College Police Academy.

Susan L. Tarasevich, Ed.D, Margie Modro
Workshops 2B:  "Putting the "T" back in ATOD: Using New Adolescent Brain Research to Provide a Sustainable Prevention Model"

Susan L. Tarasevich, Ed.D is currently employed by the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is a Clinical Trainer in Prevention within the Addiction Medicine Service line.  Susan is also a member of the Regional Expert Team, the Northeast Center for Applied Prevention Technologies (NE-CAPT). Currently, Susan works with personnel in schools and agencies, at local, state and federal levels to design, implement, and evaluate student-centered prevention programs and affiliated infrastructures. 

Margie Modro, M.S., C.P.S., is a Clinical Educator and Certified Prevention Specialist, at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center within Addiction Medicine Prevention Department. Margie regularly consults with local and state educational institutions, parent groups, insurers and other agencies regarding prevention and intervention for Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drug use and abuse. At present, Margie is focusing on the brain and the susceptibility of an individual to at-risk behaviors because of exposure to a variety of circumstances that enhance or detract from positive growth.
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