About the Course
This session explores how educators can create learning environments rooted in connection, safety, and trust. Participants will examine how stress, trauma, and neurodivergence shape student behavior and relationships, and learn practical, research-informed strategies for co-regulation, repair, and relational responsiveness. The course emphasizes communication and classroom practices—such as routines and caregiver collaboration—that build lasting trust with students and their families, helping all learners feel seen, supported, and ready to grow.
Objectives
Participants will describe how stress, trauma, and neurodivergence impact behavior and relationships.
Participants will list practical strategies for building and maintaining trust through coregulation and relational repair.
Participants will integrate classroom strategies including routines and communication practices that prioritize connections with both students and families.
About your Instructors
Kathryn Benson, MPA
Kathryn “Katie” Benson has a Bachelors degree from Florida State University, and a Masters degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Management from the University of Texas Arlington. She spent 14 years total in the public education setting as a special education teacher. Ms. Benson’s other work experiences include volunteer coordinating for San Antonio events, directing and over-seeing productions at a local theatre, and managing community programs at another local non-profit. She is excited to be part of the ACN team, where she can use all of her myriad experiences in one place. In her spare time, Katie enjoys trivia and board games with her family, as well as spoiling her three fur babies.
Speaker Disclosure: Ms. Benson receives a salary from Autism Community Network.
Nicole Santiago, MEd
Nicole Santiago, M.Ed., is a learning specialist and founder of Family ADDventures Advocacy, where she helps families support neurodivergent children across all learning environments. A former classroom teacher with over a decade of experience, Nicole draws on both her professional background and personal journey as a parent to guide others through the special education process. She is trained through A Day in Our Shoes Advocacy Academy, a member of COPAA and TOPAA, and has completed 40+ post-master’s credits in educational therapy. Nicole’s mission is to build confidence and connection by advocating for the rights and needs of children with big, beautiful brains and nervous systems.
Speaker Disclosure: Ms. Santiago has no pertinent relationships to disclose.