Networking Event at the Calumet Club

Registration Opens & Breakfast with Exhibitors

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• Pender Makin, BA, MS Maine Department of Education
  

  Maine's Commissioner of Education, Pender Makin, has devoted herself to the mission of public education for nearly 30 years. She served as a middle school teacher before assuming the role as principal of The REAL School on Mackworth Island in Falmouth. At The REAL School – a regional, experiential learning school for students who have struggled in traditional school settings – Makin and her team supported high-risk students from 28 sending districts through innovative, project-based programming. Prior to accepting her appointment as Commissioner, Makin also served as the Assistant Superintendent of the Brunswick School Department.

  For several years, Makin served as a member of Maine's Juvenile Justice Advisory Group, and she co-founded Collaborative for Perpetual Innovation, a professional development, technical assistance, and consulting company for educators, school and district leaders, and counselors.

  She has provided educator trainings, workshops, and keynote addresses at multiple state and national conferences on topics such as restorative justice, cognitive neuroscience, dropout prevention, organizational culture, and leadership.

  Makin was named the 2013-2014 Maine Principal of the Year by the Maine Principal’s Association and was a recipient of the Milken Educator Award, a national distinction bestowed upon educators for exceptional educational talent, exemplary educational accomplishments,

  and an engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students. Makin and her students also won MTV's Local Heroes Award for their work on a violence-prevention public service video.

  Makin is charged with leading the state agency that administers both state education subsidy and state and federal grant programs; coordinates the authoring of the rules for Maine State education statutes passed by the Maine State Legislature; provides professional development, information, supports, and resources, as well as a system for educator credentialing; and leads many collaborative opportunities and partnerships in support of local schools and districts.

  Makin grew up in Saco, attended local schools, and graduated from Thornton Academy. She worked as a mate and deckhand on her father's deep-sea fishing charter boat every summer beginning at age eight. She earned her B.A. in English Literature and her M.S. in School Leadership from the University of Southern Maine.

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• Nirav Shah, MD, JD, MPH

Break & Exhibit Time

We Are All in This Together: Implementing the New AAP Bidirectional Consent Toolkit

• Alyssa Goodwin, MD Stellar Pediatrics
• Shawn Lambert
• Jennifer Bowdish, RN

Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances: The Real World and Risks for Youth

• Donald Hooton, Jr. Hooton Foundation
  

  Donald Hooton Jr. Speaker Profile Donald Hooton Jr. is one the most sought-after speakers in North America on the subject of Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances use by youth. Donald serves as President for the Taylor Hooton Foundation which he helped his parents found in 2004, the year following the loss of his younger brother Taylor. Taylor died after using anabolic steroids.

  Since joining the organization, he has traveled across America speaking directly to several hundred thousand people. During his multi-media presentations, he uses the story of his brother’s personal tragedy to focus attention on this serious topic. Don then puts a spotlight Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances by raising awareness about the widespread use of dietary supplements, energy drinks, anabolic steroids and HGH by our nation’s youth. He explores the scope of the problem as well as many of its root causes – athletics as well as social and body image reasons. He then examines the drugs that are being sold to our kids. Where do they come from and how easy is it for our kids to acquire them? And just how dangerous are these drugs? Finally, what can we do to stop this growing epidemic?

  Here is a sampling of the audiences that Donald has addressed:

  • He regularly speaks to tens of thousands of youth from all walks of life across America.
  • Students (athletes and non-athletes) in their school auditorium, gym or at sports camps Donald has delivered programs for kids in every Major League Ballpark in the US with the sponsorship of Major League Baseball
  • Doctors, Law Enforcement Officers, Parents, Coaches Trainings, and Educational Programs for our nations Athletic Trainers
  • Donald addresses “adult influencers” on a regular basis o Groups of superintendents and/or principals
  • State Athletic Associations
  • Parents Groups o Donald has appeared many national and international television and radio programs in addition to national print media.

  For example:

  • CBS 60 Minutes
  • ESPN (various programs)
  • Sports Illustrated
  • CBC – Canadian Television
  • Local Television Interviews Nationwide
  • CNN Business Week
• Michele LaBotz, MD

Lunch

It Won't Happen Here

• Marc Minkler, EMS-C Maine EMS for Children
  

  Marc Minkler is an EMS clinician and has been a paramedic for over 35 years. He is the current Maine State EMS for Children Program Manager and a Paramedic instructor. He is the immediate past chair of the United States Pediatric Emergency Care Council, is the co-lead for the Maine State Perinatal Quality Collaborative, and a member of the Maine Child Death & Serious Injury Review Panel, and the Maine Maternal, Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Panel. He has been the Training Officer and citywide EMS supervisor for Portland Fire Department, faculty at Southern Maine and Eastern Maine Community Colleges, Chief of EMS for a large private ambulance service, and a paramedic in the Metro Washington DC area. He presents frequently to state and national forums and conferences.

• Ashley Moody, MSN, FNP-C, EMT-P
  

  Ashley Moody has an extensive background in healthcare and public service. She is a licensed registered nurse, family nurse practitioner (FNP), and firefighter/paramedic. She received a degree in paramedicine from Southern Maine Community College, a Nursing degree from the University of Maine, and a Master's degree in Nursing from Walden University. She has spent many days, nights, weekends, and holidays, caring for Mainers as an emergency room nurse, school nurse, and a career firefighter/paramedic.

Climate Change and Kids: Health Impacts, Communication Strategies, and Getting Kids Outside

• Erin Flynn, MD
• Sarah Harlow, MA, PS-C
• Teddy Lyman

Break and Exhibit Viewing

Concussion Management in Schools

• Nicholas Oyler, BSN, RN, NCSN
  

  Nick Oyler is a School Nurse Regional Liaison with the Maine Department of Education, with over 12 years of experience in school health. A Nationally Certified School Nurse, he has served students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and previously served as Coordinator of Student Health Services for a large school division in Central Virginia. Nick is committed to empowering students and families to take an active role in their health, while equipping school nurses and staff with the training, tools, and resources needed to keep students safe, healthy, and ready to learn.

• Brittany Russell, BSN, RN, NCSN
  

  Brittany (Layman) Russell, RN, BSN, NCSN is the Director of Health, Wellness and Safety for Regional School Unit 22. She has been a nurse for 20 years and this is her 11th school year with RSU 22. Our children need a safe, caring and stable environment to grow and thrive. A child's needs are consistently met while they attend school where they receive education, nutrition and healthcare. School nurses are instrumental in providing the very best health services to students and staff!

  Brittany is certified in school nursing (NCSN), is a school safety specialist through the Maine Department of Education, holds a certification in infrastructure safety and security through FEMA, and has her post baccalaureate certificate in School Safety, Security and Emergency Management through Northern University.

  When she is not promoting wellbeing initiatives in RSU 22 she is the board chair of the Maine School Garden Network. In her free time she loves to coach track and field, hike really long distances and play competitive volleyball across New England. She lives in Hampden with her husband Matt and 2 children, Cami 18 and AJ 15.