Our COVID-era kindergarteners are now entering sixth grade, and the question is, are we ready? By middle school, many children have already decided whether graduating high school will be part of their future. The pandemic has compounded these challenges, slowing academic growth, disrupting learning and development, and increasing chronic absenteeism.

School has always been a critical life system, moving families and communities out of poverty. But it has not been equally accessible for all children. Now is the time to build strong, connected systems that equip students with the tools to thrive, even amid systemic inequities.

Drawing on lessons from my life and my work as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director of Head Start for the Biden Administration, my early career at a Youth Emergency Shelter, and experiences with schools and students nationwide, this keynote shares research, field-based examples, and strategies to build mental fitness and connect students to resources and relationships. Attendees will leave inspired, ready for action, and equipped to help every child reach their fullest potential of impact.