Educator Session
Cultivating a Culture of Respect: In the Classroom and Beyond
With Dr. Leonard Sax & Dr. Sameera Ahmed, Director at The Family & Youth Institute

In today’s youth culture—where sarcasm, defiance, and boundary-pushing are often normalized—educators and youth leaders are on the front lines of restoring respect as a core value in learning spaces and beyond.

This powerful session features Dr. Leonard Sax, physician and bestselling author, and Dr. Sameera Ahmed, a leading expert in adolescent mental health and education. Drawing on neuroscience, developmental psychology, and cultural research, they’ll unpack the root causes of student disengagement, emotional dysregulation, and the breakdown of respect in classrooms and homes.

Attendees will gain practical tools to foster emotionally safe, accountable learning environments—where empathy, structure, and character are modeled and upheld. Whether you're a teacher, school administrator, or youth program leader, this session will equip you to guide students toward meaningful, respectful relationships—with themselves, their peers, and their communities.

Format: Presentation + Interactive Discussion/Q&A
Outcome: Equip educators to lead with empathy and structure, and to cultivate respectful, resilient learning environments that leave a lasting impact.