Todd Savage is a speaker working with Kirkland Productions through Safe & Sound Schools.

About

Todd A. Savage, Ph.D., NCSP is a professor of school psychology, Department of Counseling and School Psychology, College of Education & Professional Studies, University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF). A first-generation college student, Todd earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota and went on to earn master, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees in school psychology from the University of Kentucky, after having completed a pre-doctoral internship in the Omaha (NE) Public Schools. Todd taught at the University of Kentucky for two years before securing his first faculty position in school psychology at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico; he has been in his current position at UWRF since 2008. Todd has held several leadership positions in the National Association of Schools Psychologists (NASP), a 25,000-member strong professional organization, eventually serving as its 47th president during 2015-2016. Throughout his career, Todd has engaged in scholarly and service activities in the areas of culturally-responsive practice; school safety and crisis prevention, preparedness, and intervention; and LGBTQ+ matters they pertain to education. In fact, throughout the past five years, he has focused his energies on providing professional development for teachers, administrators, school-based mental health professionals, and other school personnel on understanding and supporting transgender and gender diverse students in schools.

popular programs

Understanding and Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students in Schools
Standard 3-4 hour workshop
Minimum 1 ½ hour session
Up to an 8-hour workshop

The purpose of this session is to provide the participant with increased awareness and knowledge about gender diversity and schools; family matters about raising a transgender child and navigating the education system in this regard will also be presented. Finally, specific strategies participants can employ to support transgender and gender diverse students will be highlighted. Learning will be supported through direct instruction, large- and small-group work, and resources that can be employed to facilitate these processes.

Session Objectives:
  • To enhance participants’ awareness of gender identity and gender diversity matters in schools from multiple perspectives;
  • To introduce tools participants can use not only to assess a system’s readiness to accommodate transgender and gender diverse students but to determine the support and transition needs of individual gender diverse youth;
 
To highlight strategies participants can employ to support transgender and gender diverse students and to improve school climates as they pertain to gender diversity.

Can be co-presented with Leslie Lagerstrom, the mother of a transgender son and fellow speaker.
PREPaRE Workshop #1: Prevention and Preparedness: Comprehensive School Safety Planning (2nd Edition)
8-Hour Full-Day Workshop

In this 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.
PREPaRE Workshop #2: Crisis Intervention and Recovery: The Roles of School-Based Mental Health Professionals (2nd Edition)
Two Full-Day Workshops of Eight Hours Each

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.

Note: Dr. Savage is also available to present the PREPaRE ToT (Training of Trainers) Workshops that correspond to the PREPaRE workshops described above.

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Dr. Todd Savage has dedicated his professional life to the needs of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly gender diverse youth.
​ His thoughtful and caring approach through is workshops on supporting transgender and gender diverse youth has raised awareness and contributed directly to improved lives, schools, and communities.

Scott Woitaszewski, Ph.D., NCSP, Professor,
UW-River Falls
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MORE REVIEWS

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Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty

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Want to talk with us about Todd Savage?