LOW MOOR, Va. (VR) — Dr. Jason Conaway, director of special education for Alleghany Highlands Public Schools, was one of the keynote speakers at this year’s Virginia Department of Education Mental Health in Schools Conference.
The annual conference was held on Aug. 1-2, 2022, at the Marriott at City Center in Newport News. Conaway spoke on Aug. 2. He shared strategies for working with students with behavioral needs.
He has worked for Alleghany County Public Schools and Alleghany Highlands Public Schools since July 2021. Alleghany Highlands Public Schools was created when Alleghany County Public Schools and Covington City Public Schools merged on July 1, 2022.
In his remarks at the Mental Health in Schools Conference, Conaway said educators must be proactive and develop support measures and strategies to prevent and manage disruptive behaviors in students.
“Behavior is a form of communication, and unfortunately some students learn that problem behavior is the best way for them to get their needs met,” Conaway said.
He said educators must identify the reason behind a behavior and help students learn what to do.
“If we do not teach students what to do instead of what they are doing, they will continue to do what they do — and get better at it,” Conaway said.
Discussing the division’s work with students, Conaway emphasized that it is important to teach students how to behave even when school staff is providing the necessary correction.
He said educators must strive to build positive relationships with students, which helps create a positive, learner friendly environment even as school divisions and individual schools uphold appropriate standards for behavior.
“This helps establish a place where students feel safe so they develop a feeling of belonging,” he said. “It improves student performance and achievement, and it decreases inappropriate behaviors among students,” Conaway said.
A more proactive approach to addressing negative behavior can include interventions with students, classroom management, conflict resolution, and de-escalation approaches, he noted.
Before joining Alleghany County Public Schools in 2021, Conaway was a West Virginia Department of Education coordinator in the Office of Federal Programs. His duties included statewide oversight for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) indicators, mental health services, behavior modification, and programs serving students with autism.
In his 20 years in education, Conaway has taught special education, served as a middle school administrator, worked as a school psychologist, and was also an interim special education director.
The annual Virginia Department of Education Mental Health in Schools Conference is held to focus on bettering mental health services in schools to maximize student outcomes. Conaway’s remarks were heard by school counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and other professionals and administrators who provide support to students in Virginia.
“Events such as these help our staff contribute to the professional growth of others even as they learn from conference events. At this conference, Dr. Conaway was able to grow his professional network, including some connections in nearby Bath County that have already been useful to us in Alleghany Highlands Public Schools,” said Superintendent Kim Halterman.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.