Mental Health Symposium 

Officer Ford recently retired from the Colorado Springs Police Department after 30 years of service. During his first four years as a patrol officer, OfficerFord served in elementary schools as an instructor in the DARE program. Officer Ford served as a direct liaison forthe school district followingColumbine in 1999. Over the next 26 years of his career, Officer Ford served as a member of the SWAT team and K-9 unit. During his career, Officer Ford received a Purple Heart and Medal of Honor, as well as a Medal of Valor.

State of School Safety
1:00PM - 1:45PM

Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the President, US for Cardus. A public scholar and organizational strategist, she has two decades of executive leadership in non-profits and educational institutions. 

Lynn holds both a doctorate in organizational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a diploma in strategy and innovation from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. 

Lynn is the editor or lead author of several books including Future Ready: Innovative Missions and Models in Christian Education (ACSI & Cardus, 2022) and Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools (Eerdmans, 2021). Her work has been published in the International Journal of Educational Development, Eton Journal for Innovation and Research in Education, and Liberal Education, as well as featured in multiple book chapters and monographs.

Lynn also serves as a non-resident scholar at Baylor University’s Center for School Leadership, a Senior Fellow for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and a trustee or advisor for several non-profit boards.

Mental Health Policies & Procedures in Christian Schools
10:30AM - 11:15AM

Adam Wilson is an associate professor of counseling and has served as the chair of the School Counseling program at Denver Seminary. He is a licensed professional counselor and has worked in the field of child and adolescent and family counseling for 20 years. He directs the School Counseling Mental Health Initiative (SCMHI), a research initiative seeking to better understand effective mental health interventions in schools. Adam has published numerous articles and book chapters exploring  adult and youth mental health.

State of Youth Mental Health
8:30AM - 9:15AM

With nearly three decades of experience in education, Dr. Tyler Amidon has dedicated his career to developing strong, faith-centered learning communities. He is currently in his 14th year as the Middle School Principal at Denver Christian School, representing his 26th overall year at DCS. In addition, Dr. Amidon serves as an Assistant Adjunct of Graduate Education at Dordt University, teaching Collaborative Leadership.

His educational journey has included roles as a teacher, coach, professor, and administrator, enabling him to mentor educators, cultivate positive school culture, and implement innovative instructional strategies. Holding a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Dr. Amidon specializes in teacher development, leadership mentoring, and the integration of technology in education. His passion lies in equipping Christian school teachers and leaders with the tools and strategies needed to thrive, fostering academic excellence while remaining rooted in a Christ-centered mission.

Balancing School Safey with a Positive School Climate (breakout)
1:55PM - 2:40PM

Suzanne Eitzen, M.Ed., is the Director of the Falcon Discovery Center at Front Range Christian School in Littleton, Colorado, where she leads the Explore Program for gifted learners and serves as the elementary librarian. Suzanne is passionate about supporting the whole child — academically, socially, and emotionally, and is deeply committed to promoting mental wellness and resilience in students and staff alike. She has played a key role in introducing a wide range of mental health and social-emotional programs, groups, and trainings that support the well-being of the entire school community.

Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Mental Health Issues in Youth (breakout)
9:25AM - 10:10AM

Nancy Gillespie is an experienced school counselor with a demonstrated history of working collaboratively and professionally to create and implement a comprehensive school counseling program at Grove City Christian. She has been a licensed school counselor for over 15 years and has served as a supervisor to over 23 master's level students. Nancy is passionate about her role and is convinced she has the greatest job in the world as she invests in the lives of young people. In order to serve her students and families better, Nancy is in pursuit of her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from The Ohio State University. Her research interests include adolescent mental health, COVID disruptions, the effects of technology on teens, and developmental assets.  She was instrumental in bringing the Mental Health & Well-Being Network​ to ACSI and is an advocate of mental health and well-being for staff and students alike. She loves to write, speak and share God's amazing message of hope with those around her. 

Mental Health Informed Practices to Maximize Academic Success (breakout)
11:25AM - 12:10PM

Jill Hart brings 24 years of experience in Christian education, with 19 years as a classroom teacher and the past 5 years as Elementary Principal at Front Range Christian School in Littleton, Colorado. Throughout her career, she has been committed to fostering environments where students thrive not only academically, but also in their faith and personal growth. With a heart for supporting both teachers and families, Jill is passionate about equipping educators to guide students in understanding their emotions, relationships, and identity in Christ.

Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Mental Health Issues in Youth (breakout)
9:25AM - 10:10AM

Carissa serves as the Assistant Director for Boulder Valley School District, covering 500 square miles, three counties, six different law enforcement agencies, and 24 different fire protection districts. Boulder Valley School District serves 30,000 students and 5,000 employees. Carissa also serves as a Threat Liaison Officer for the Colorado Information Analysis Center as part of the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Her career has been spent developing better processes and systems to safeguard students and people from everyday emergencies. Carissa served as the Public Safety Program Manager for the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department for approximately eight years, during which she secured $3.4 million in state capital gains funding. This funding was designated for university-wide safety measures, hardware, and implementation to better ensure the safety of building occupants during active assailant incidents. Carissa also successfully achieved the first live-fire training at CU Boulder's Folsom Field and multi-agency, multi-day active shooter training on the university campus to provide improved and enhanced training to first responders. Prior to moving to Colorado, Carissa served as a Peace Officer in the city of Redlands, California for approximately seven years. 

In her first year at the Boulder Valley School District, Carissa was awarded a total of $1,862,472 from the Colorado Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. This funding came from two grants: the SAFER Grant (School Access for Emergency Response) for improving disaster-response interoperability with law enforcement, and the SSD Grant (School Security Disbursement Program) for enhancing school safety infrastructure.

She believes in a world of constant change; those who are better trained today are better prepared for tomorrow's challenges. Carissa obtained her master’s degree in business management from the University of Redlands and bachelor's degrees in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of Notre Dame. GO IRISH! 

Crisis Management & School Emergency Preparedness (breakout)
1:55PM - 2:40PM

Dr. Mark Mayfield is a former pastor, award-winning author, speaker, certified master Christian coach, and licensed mental health counselor. He serves as Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Colorado Christian University and has extensive experience consulting with schools and faith-based organizations on emotional and mental wellness.

He is the founder of Mental Health Made Simple, a platform that strips away clinical jargon and trendy “hacks” to deliver research-backed, practical tools for emotional wellness. Through podcasts, blogs, trainings, and resources, it equips adults, students, parents, and leaders with clear strategies and real-world support for navigating mental health.

Clinically, Dr. Mayfield specializes in working with families impacted by trauma. He is also Director of National Advancement at Light Counseling Plus. He serves with the AACC as Director of Practice and Ministry Development, as well as Editor of Marriage & Family: A Christian Journal.

Dr. Mayfield is the author of five books, including:

• HELP! My Teen is Self-Injuring, drawn from his own suicide survival story
• The Path Out of Loneliness
• The Path to Wholeness
• Hope and Healing for Loneliness
• The Mental Health Handbook for Ministry 

His work has been featured by WORLD Magazine, The Christian Post, FOX News, Woman’s Day, NBC, Hello Giggles, Reader’s Digest, Byrdie, and more. In 2019, he was invited to the White House to speak on national mental health initiatives and continues to advise on related issues.

Dr. Mayfield lives in Texas with his wife of 18 years and their three children.

Understanding Burnout & Compassion Fatigue in School Staff (breakout)
11:25AM - 12:10PM

Cyberbullying & Online Harassment: Policies & Prevention (breakout)
1:55PM - 2:40PM

Jerry Nelson is the Chief Ministry Officer at ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). He oversees all spiritual formation-related initiatives focused on the elevation of God's Word, prayer, biblical worldview development, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission, as well as initiatives related to biblical unity, diversity, and social engagement for all ACSI's stakeholders.

Jerry has directed the creation and development of a department solely dedicated to these initiatives: ACSI's Ministry Team. He also contributed to the development of ACSI's key position statement on biblical sexuality and led the development of each of ACSI's publications on spiritual formation, biblical unity, biblical worldview truths for integration, and servant-leadership.

Jerry previously served at Northwest Christian Academy in Miami, FL, for 17 years, 11 of which he served as Head of School. He holds a B.A. in history and M.A. in educational leadership from St. Thomas University in Miami. Jerry has been married for 20 years to Christine, and they are the proud parents of Lydia (19), Jonah (17), and Jacob (15).

Theology of Ministry (breakout)
9:25AM - 10:10AM

Throughout his career, Brendan Sullivan has been a tireless advocate for student well-being and an innovator in school safety. His work reflects a deep commitment to building safe, inclusive, and resilient school communities through proactive planning, cross-sector collaboration, and trauma-informed practices. He is also a strong proponent of leveraging modern security technologies to enhance situational awareness and support rapid, coordinated responses to emerging threats.

Brendan proudly serves as an Executive Director for Boulder Valley School District. He is a passionate advocate for students’ well being and is driven by a deep commitment to ensuring their safety. In this role, he develops and executes a long-term safety and security strategy and oversees security operations that serve approximately 28,000 students and 4,500 staff on 62 campuses located across 500 square miles.

A distinguished public safety leader, Brendan brings over two decades of law enforcement experience, having held key leadership roles in patrol, investigations and special operations. His expertise in critical incident response is further reinforced by his service on a county-level Emergency Management Team, where he contributed to interagency coordination and response during major crises.

In addition to overseeing district wide safety and security initiatives, Brendan provides strategic direction for one of the largest student transportation operations in the region. Under his leadership, the Transportation Services Department prioritizes safety, efficiency, innovation, and sustainability, ensuring every student has reliable access to educational opportunities. His approach emphasizes professional driver training, operational readiness, and a culture of care.

Outside of work, he’s a full-time sports dad, part-time traveler, and forever Cubs fan. He and his wife love exploring new places, visiting MLB parks (Wrigley will always have his heart), and squeezing in a round of golf whenever he can.

Crisis Management & School Emergency Preparedness (breakout)
1:55PM - 2:40PM

Tracey Twinam, Ed.D., is an educator, leader, and advocate for diverse learners with over three decades of experience in special and gifted education. She began her career in special education, where she discovered her passion for supporting students who learn differently. After completing her master's in special education, she taught in the Colorado public school system before joining Denver Christian School. Recognizing the unique needs of gifted and twice-exceptional students, she earned certification in Gifted and Talented Education and later completed a doctorate in Organizational Leadership K–12. She is also completing a master's in clinical counseling and will become an LPCC in December 2025. In addition to her work in K–12 education, Dr. Twinam has also taught at the master’s level in higher education. She is dedicated to bridging academic excellence with social-emotional support to help every student thrive.

Addressing the Mental Health Realities of Exceptional Leaders (breakout)
9:25AM - 10:10AM

Jon Widmier is a mental health coordinator in the Social Emotional and Behavior Services team for Littleton Public Schools. Over the years, Jon has led teams of up to 200 counselors, social workers, and psychologists, helping them navigate things from everyday student struggles to full-scale crisis events. Despite the serious nature of his work, Jon is known for his ability to find light in dark places and humor in hard moments (sometimes even intentionally). As a teacher in the Denver Seminary School Counseling program, he enjoys helping future counselors discover both the heart and the grit it takes to serve students well — and reminding them that self-care is not optional. Before he became an educator, Jon worked as an archery store manager, ski lift operator, college football coach, accounting and finance recruiter, and paper salesman. Above all, Jon’s passion is to uplift and encourage people — whether they’re students, staff, or the weary professionals trying to keep everyone else standing. He believes deeply in the power of hope, connection, and a well-timed laugh to make a difference in even the hardest days.

Creating a Culture of Wellness Among Faculty & Staff (breakout)
11:25AM - 12:10PM