Ben Fernandez is a Safe & Sound Schools speaker booked by Kirkland Productions.

About

Benjamin S. Fernandez, MS. Ed, completed his graduate studies in School Psychology at Bucknell University and has worked as a school psychologist in Pennsylvania and Virginia with 23 years of experience as a practitioner. Currently, he serves as a lead school psychologist for a school system in Northern Virginia providing leadership to school psychologists and a broad array of psychological and school-based mental health services including assessment, consultation, prevention and intervention.

Mr. Fernandez also manages the coordination of crisis teams and the implementation of crisis intervention services.   In addition to these duties, he is a PREPaRE WS1 and WS2 master trainer and is responsible for training school psychologists, school psychologist interns, school social workers, and school counselors for his division.  Additionally, he has contributed to presentations, articles, books, and webinars related to youth suicide, PREPaRE, and school safety and crisis intervention.

​Mr. Fernandez conducts workshops on PREPaRE and trainings on school safety and crisis response on the local, state, and national levels. He has testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Federal Commission on School Safety, and was a member of Governor of Virginia’s Children’s Cabinet on Student Safety.  In 2010, he was named School Psychologist of the Year by the Virginia Academy of School Psychologists and in 2012, he was named School Psychologist of the Year by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). In 2015 and 2018, Mr. Fernandez received the NASP Presidential Award.  He also is a member and currently is the professional development lead for NASP’s School Safety and Crisis Response Committee.  
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popular programs

PREPARE WORKSHOP #1 -  COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SAFETY PLANNING: PREVENTION THROUGH RECOVERY (3RD EDITION)
8-Hour Full-Day Workshop

In this newly updated workshop, participants will learn how to establish and sustain comprehensive school safety and crisis prevention and preparedness efforts. With updated research and strategies, this workshop makes a clearer connection between ongoing school safety and crisis preparedness. It also emphasizes the unique needs and functions of school teams and the steps involved in developing these teams, including a model that integrates school personnel and community provider roles. The PREPaRE model builds on existing personnel, resources and programs, and can be adapted to individual school needs and size. Finally, the workshop explores how to prepare for school crises by developing, exercising, and evaluating safety and crisis plans. This workshop is an excellent course for mental health and educational professionals working at all grade levels in your district that help establish a safe school
climate and respond to crises.

NOTE: The maximum number of participants is 100. There are additional fees of $45 per participant for materials that will be ordered directly from NASP. All materials are electronic, so there are no shipping fees.

PREPARE WORKSHOP #2 - MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS INTERVENTIONS: RESPONDING TO AN ACUTE TRAUMATIC STRESSOR IN SCHOOLS (3RD EDITION)
13 Hour (2 Full Day) Workshop

​This two-day workshop provides school-based mental health professionals and other school crisis intervention team members with the knowledge necessary to meet the mental health needs of students and staff following a school-associated crisis event. With updated research and crisis intervention strategies, this workshop teaches participants how to prevent and prepare for psychological trauma, reaffirm both the physical health of members of the school community and students’ perceptions that they are safe and secure, evaluate the degree of psychological trauma, respond to the psychological needs of members of the school community, and examine the effectiveness of school crisis intervention and recovery efforts. This workshop is an excellent course for all mental health professionals in your district who provide mental health crisis intervention services.

This educator is also available to present the PREPaRE ToT (Training of Trainers) Workshops that correspond to the PREPaRE workshops described above.

NOTE: The maximum number of participants is 45. There are additional fees of $55 per participant for materials that will be ordered directly from NASP. All materials are electronic, so there are no shipping fees.
​Student Mental Health and Safe Schools
In order for students to thrive, schools not only must educate students but also must be ready to address their mental health needs as well.  This presentation discusses the connection between student mental health and the connection between a safe and supportive school. Participants will learn about ways schools can support student mental wellness and address mental health concerns.
​Youth Suicide Prevention 
Students experience a roller coaster of emotions as they progress through school.  While most cope successfully with these challenges, many will have emotional pain so great that they have thoughts of suicide.  By the age of 14, approximately 50% of lifetime mental concerns begin and 90% of deaths by suicide had an underlying mental illness.  As mental and behavioral health concerns increase, school psychologists must be ready to advocate and support the needs of their school and district.   This presentation will focus on the key elements of a model school suicide prevention program – prevention, intervention, and postvention.

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We were very fortunate to have Ben come to our district to present on school crisis and safety planning using the PREPaRE model. He really connected with the audience and got them to engage in the activities and discussions, which is no easy feat in a room full of administrators. The training stimulated a lot of discussion in my district and we are implementing changes this year as a result. We are very appreciative of the time he took with us.

Amber Boykin
School Psychologist
Lincoln Parrish Public Schools
Louisiana State Delegate National Association of School Psychologists

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Benjamin Fernandez has been an asset to the Virginia Department of Education. He has presented for the past several years at two of our annual conferences for 300+ school personal, which are attended by school psychologists, school counselors, school social workers, school nurses, and school administrators. He tailors his presentations to meet the needs of the audience and his sessions are always well attended and well received. Participants come away with practical strategies that they can immediately implement when they return to their schools and/or policies that they can advocate for in their school divisions. Ben is engaging in his presentations, has a wealth of knowledge to share, and is pleasant to work with. He has been a partner with the VDOE to promote comprehensive suicide prevention. He is a member of the Governor’s Children’s Safety Cabinet and was a contributor to our recently adopted Suicide Prevention Guidelines for Virginia Public Schools. I would wholeheartedly recommend Ben Fernandez as a presenter.
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Martha Montgomery, Ed.S.
School Psychology Specialist
Virginia Department of Education

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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