May 31-June 3, 2026
Hyatt Regency in Downtown Savannah
2 W Bay Street
Savannah, GA 31401
Conference Overview
The Southeast Conference on School Climate (SeCSC) is a two-and-a-half-day conference that provides research-based resources for improving school culture, climate, and safety. Administrators, counselors, teachers, and school-based mental health professionals participate in sessions packed with practical, evidence-based strategies aimed at creating learning environments to improve every studentās mental, behavioral, and academic performance. The SeCSC primary strands include Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, Mental Health, School Safety, Youth Resiliency, Restorative Practices, and Mindfulness and Wellbeing. In addition, each conference session supports topics related to strategies that can be used for School Improvement Plans (SIP).
Conference Strands
- Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports
- Mental Health
- School Safety
- Youth Resiliency
- Restorative Practices
- Mindfulness & Wellbeing
- School and District Leadership **New**
Keynote Speakers
Houston Kraft
Houston Kraft has spent the last two decades cultivating kindness in schools. In 2016, he cofounded CharacterStrong, which today serves over 12,000 schools across 50 states and 49 countries with evidence-based curriculum and training. He has spoken at more than 700 campuses and events, wrote Deep Kindness (2020) and Be Kind (2023), and you may recognize the lower half of his face from his appearance on Layās BBQ chip bags as someone who helps āspread smiles.ā His message through the years has remained simple: kindness is the foundational behavior of successful schools. He has been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, Hallmark, and more as an expert on developing a more empathetic, kind world. His biggest influence remains his mom, whose best life lesson is to āhug like you mean it.ā
David Edward Garcia
David is the only 5-language-speaking-motivational-comedian on the planet! David empathizes with diverse students who face challenges because he was once considered an āat-risk studentā himself before defying the odds and graduating with a bachelorās degree and then earning his Masterās Degree. He has motivated children and mature adults in some of the greatest metropolitan cities of the world: Los Angeles, New York, Sao Paulo, Paris, and London. His upbringing facilitated his multiculturalism/ multilingualism, which makes it easy to relate to diverse audiences. While his native languages are English and Spanish, David has also presented in French and Portuguese in his international tours. (He also speaks Italian, bringing his language total to fiveāfor now.)
The objective of the Southeast Conference on School Climate (SeCSC) is to provide school administrators, counselors, and teachers with research-based resources and practical strategies to enhance school culture, climate, and safety. The conference focuses on equipping educators with evidence-based approaches in areas like Positive Behavior Interventions, Mental Health, School Safety, and Youth Resiliency, aiming to support student mental, behavioral, and academic success and align with School Improvement Plans (SIP).
For more information, visit:Ā
SeCSC Planning Committee
Eric Landers, Ph.D.
Conference Chair
- Bailey Nafziger, Ed.D. ā ĒļæūŹÓʵ
- Caitlin Criss, Ph.D. ā ĒļæūŹÓʵ
- Gregory Benner, Ph.D. ā University of Alabama
- Meredith Rausch, Ph.D. ā Augusta University
- Lee Fletcher, MSW ā South Carolina Department of Mental Health
- Regina Siez, LCSW ā Temecula Valley Unified School District
- Rick Surrency ā District School Superintendent, Putnam County School District
SeCSC 2026 Registration Prices
| Early Bird Rate (Ends 2/19/26) | Regular Rate (Ends 5/3/26) | Late/On-Site Rate | |
| Participant | $425 | $450 | $495 |
| Presenter* | $300 | $300 | $300 |
| Students** | $225 | $225 | $225 |
The Southeast Conference on School Climate supports Special Education Scholarships.
*Presenter registration is only for presenters with āacceptedā proposals.
**All students are required to submit a copy of their current student ID or verification of their current student status.
Payment & Refund Policy
For more information on how to register, including supporting documentation for international attendees and payment policies, visit our frequently asked questions (FAQs) and terms and conditions links below.
Need registration help? Contact us atĀ ce-registrations@georgiasouthern.eduĀ or by phone at 912-478-5551.
For additional questions about the conference, please contact us atĀ secsc@georgiasouthern.edu.
FAQs
School administrators, counselors, and teachers should attend the Southeast Conference on School Climate (SeCSC) to gain practical, evidence-based strategies for improving school culture, climate, and safety. This conference is ideal for those involved in developing School Improvement Plans (SIP) and fostering supportive, resilient learning environments for students.
The dress code for the conference is business casual.
The SeCSC Conference will be held in the Hyatt Regency located at 2 W Bay Street, Savannah, GA, 31401.
Valet parking is available at the Hyatt for overnight guests only. Additional parking is available at the Whitaker Street Parking Garage. The SeCSC conference will not validate any parking for attendees.
- To book additional nights outside of the courtesy block or have questions about hotel reservations, please contact the hotel at (912) 238-1234.
- Group Code: G-SECS
The following CEUs are available:
- NASW
- NBCC
- General
Total hours will be awarded based on approval.
Conference Chair:
Eric Landers, Ph.D.
ericlanders@georgiasouthern.edu
For general conference information, contact:
secsc@georgiasouthern.edu
For registration information, contact:
ce-registrations@georgiasouthern.edu or give us a call at 912-478-5551.