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Parent University

PhotoOn Saturday, February 2, 2013 the Brentwood School Parents Association will host the first-ever Parent University, a conference on a wide range of parenting topics presented by a variety of guest speakers. This one day event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on our East Campus and will feature a series of guest lectures in breakout sessions. The goal of the day is to give our Brentwood School parents and invited guests a unique opportunity to learn from a variety of speakers, authors, and experts who each specialize in issues and topics that we all face in our daily parenting lives.

We are excited to announce that Dacher Keltner will be our Keynote Speaker. Dacher is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, and is the author of Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life.

See below for the Break-Out Sessions Descriptions:

Break-Out Session #1—10:00-10:45 a.m.

Children of Paradise—Successful Parenting for Prosperous Families

“Children of Paradise—Successful Parenting for Prosperous Families” » Dr. Lee Hausner
(Lower/Middle/Upper School)

Dr. Lee Hausner is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist and business consultant.  She has served as the senior psychologist for the Beverly Hills Unified School District for 17 years in addition to establishing a reputation as a highly regarded speaker and seminar leader. She is a frequent guest on national radio and television and is a quoted expert in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Time, Forbes, Fortune and Town and Country.  She is the author of Children of Paradise—Successful Parenting for Prosperous Families.

Drugs and Alcohol Use and Abuse

“Drugs and Alcohol Use and Abuse” » Panel
 moderated by Susie Spain

(Middle/Upper School)

A panel discussion of four adults will share their personal experiences with drugs and alcohol use, abuse, and treatment, moderated by Susie Spain, activist and Director of Angels At Risk.
-A young treatment counselor who graduated from a west side high school.
-A mom shares her story about her recovering child.
-A dad shares his story about his child dealing with addiction.

Angels At Risk is a non-profit organization that has been in existence for over fifteen years. The issue of drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers and families is a community epidemic. Angels At Risk is dedicated to helping teenagers and their families who are at risk for drug and alcohol use and abuse. Their mission is to raise awareness in a community through early education, prevention, intervention, and treatment.

Nutrition, Sleep Hygiene, and Body Image

“Nutrition, Sleep Hygiene, and Body Image” » Dr. Susanne Bennett

(Lower/Middle/Upper School)

Dr. Susanne Bennett is the creator and author of The 7 Day Allergy Makeover and founder of the Wellness for Life Center in Santa Monica. Dr. Bennett will provide specific, practical and easy to apply suggestions that can improve parents ability to assist and guide their children to reach their physical potential, tap into their inner strength and achieve their life goals by improving their nutrition and lifestyle. She will cover issues such as: what to feed your growing child for energy and mental clarity; why Sleep can be your child’s best medicine; how to address the three most common physical complaints; why time management is key to your child’s success in school and much more.


Saying No When Other Parents Are Saying Yes

“Saying No When Other Parents Are Saying Yes” and “When Parents Disagree” » Dr. Lee Herzog, Psy.D.

(Middle School)

Dr. Lee Herzog is Brentwood School’s own Middle School Psychologist/Learning Specialist and 7th Grade Human Development Instructor. Dr. Herzog is currently in Psychoanalytic Training at the Psychoanalytic Center of California. The interaction between parents is an ongoing learning process especially when your children enter Middle School. Dr. Herzog will begin an important dialogue about Saying No vs. Saying Yes. He will also discuss how to handle disagreement between parents within an individual family.

Break-Out Session #2—11:00-11:45 a.m.

High Performance: Handling Pressure On and Off the Field

“High Performance: Putting it all in Perspective” » Dr. Michael Gervais, Ph.D.

(Lower/Middle/Upper School)

Dr. Michael Gervais is a licensed psychologist and founding partner of Pinnacle Performance Center in Los Angeles. He focuses most of his time on people at the top of their game, from NBA players to Olympians. Dr. Gervais raises important issues that student athletes and their parents face today: winning and losing vs. performance and where the focus should be; characteristics of champions; raising real winners; thrive under pressure; does sport build character or does it build characters? and personality differences between coaches and athletes. At Pinnacle, Dr. Gervais conducts a program called FOCUS—a sport-based life skills program for students that utilizes sport psychology skills (Goal Setting, Self-Talk, Coping Strategies, and Energy Regulation) to improve a young athlete’s ability to effectively handle pressure and to better resolve life conflicts.

Empowering Girls

“Empowering Girls” » Dr. Jerry Weichman, Ph.D.

(Middle/Upper School)

Dr. Jerry Weichman is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Adolescent Specialist. His private practice is based in the prestigious Hoag Neurosciences Institute in Newport Beach. "Dr. Jerry” is a teen motivational speaker and parent educator. He is the author of How To Deal which gives today’s parents and teenagers the low down on how to handle the unique challenges facing young adults today—especially for girls. Dr. Jerry’s philosophy is to be armed with a “tool belt” of coping mechanisms when helping girls deal with the every day issues of: friends and social drama, self-acceptance, jealousy, how emotions work, handling mistakes, stress, grades and homework; bullying, break-ups, hook-ups, and betrayals. Dr. Jerry will teach you how to access the tools you need to help your girls have a less turbulent adolescence and a confident transition into adulthood.

Drivers Ed for Parents

“Drivers Ed For Parents” and “Making Your Teen A Smart Driver”
» Westwood Driving School and a CHP Officer

(Upper School)

Teen drivers are ten times more likely to be involved in a crash during their first year of driving. Learning to drive is one of the most important challenges teenagers face today.  We have paired Westwood Driving School and the California Highway Patrol together in this session to provide a comprehensive look at what parents need to know before their child starts driving. This session will include topics such as learner’s permits; risks and responsibilities; what are the state laws? fundamental driving skills, driving in traffic and on freeways, and much more.

Learning Differences

“Learning Differences” and “What To Do When Your Child Hits A Bump In The Road”
» Dr. Dawn Cunnion and Dr. Robert Colegrove

(Lower/Middle/Upper School)

Together Dr. Dawn Cunnion, Associate Head of Brentwood School, and Dr. Robert Colegrove, a child psychologist who specializes in psychoeducational assessment and psychotherapy with children and teenagers, will discuss how to recognize and support a child who learns differently.  All children have strengths and challenges and it is important to recognize both. Dr. Cunnion and Dr. Colegrove will also talk about how families can work with the school to support children when they hit a bump in the road.

Break-Out Session #3—1:00-1:45 p.m.

Biology Basics for Parenting Today's Kids: Growing Up Isn't What It Used To Be

“Biology Basics for Parenting Today’s Kids: Growing Up Isn’t What It Used To Be”
» Dr. Cara Natterson

(Lower School)

Dr. Cara Natterson, a graduate of Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is a respected pediatrician and the author of several medical and parenting books. Her most recent, Worry Proof won the Wall Street Journal award for best health book of the year. She has two books coming out in February 2013: The Care and Keeping of You 1: A Body Book for YOUNGER Girls and The Care and Keeping of You 2: A Body Book for OLDER Girls, both published by American Girl. The world has changed in so many ways since we were young—everything from the air we breathe to the food we eat to the medicines we take. These changes have a direct impact on our bodies, especially on kids’ bodies. A discussion about why kids are growing up earlier and what we should be weighing as we parent them. Dr. Natterson combines her years of training and expertise as a pediatrician with her own experience as a mom—giving parents real-life tips and suggestions for raising happy and healthy kids.

Staying Connected to Your Teen

“How Not To Talk To Kids About College” and “Staying Connected to Your Teenager”
» Dr. Mike Riera and Robert Cooke M.Ed.

(Middle/Upper School)

Together Brentwood School's own Head of School, Dr. Mike Riera, will discuss his best-selling book, Staying Connected to Your Teenager: How to Keep Them Talking to You and How to Hear What They’re Really Saying, along with Bob Cooke, Brentwood School's own Upper School Director, will provide a much-needed perspective on how NOT to talk to kids about college. The teenage years and the college application process can potentially be a stressful and confusing time for high school students, especially when it’s all everyone seems to ask them about.

Parenting in the Digital Age

“Parenting In The Digital Age” » Yalda T. Uhls, M.A., M.B.A., Common Sense Media

(Lower School)


Yalda T. Uhls, M.A., M.B.A., is the Regional Director of Common Sense Media, the leading non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology. Yalda’s research on the effects of media on children with the Children’s Digital Media Center at UCLA, has been featured in the NY Times, CNN, Time, Huff Post, and many other news outlets. In her talk, Yalda brings her deep knowledge of the latest research about how children, ages 8 to 18, use media, as well as a realistic understanding of how parenting in the digital age can be done safely, creatively and wisely.

Planting the SEEDS of Change (Diversity)

“Diversity Panel” and “Planting the SEEDs of Change: Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity”
» Yapha Mason and Robert Jost

(Lower/Middle/Upper School)

Rob Jost, Middle Division Human Development Instructor, and Yapha Mason, West Campus Librarian, attended a week-long intensive training this past summer as part of the National SEED Project on Inclusive Curriculum and have been leading faculty SEED groups all year. SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) participants read, discuss, and explore the way their own experiences have shaped how they perceive the world. They then try to see how the school curriculum does or does not reflect these experiences. Join us to learn more about the SEED Project and participate in some SEED activities.

Photos from Parent U

Parent University

Schedule of the Day

8:30-9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00-9:45 Keynote Speaker
10:00-10:45 Break-out Session #1
11:00-11:45 Break-out Session #2
12:00-1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00-1:45 Break-out Session #3