Understanding Behavior, Building Unity
Presented by Keynote Speaker, Connie Persike, M.S., CCC/SLP
Saturday, April 25th, 2026
Though we all share the same nervous system, our behaviors may look different — in kids, in parents, in educators, and in community members. This keynote reframes behavior as a universal stress response rather than something to fix. By understanding the Window of Tolerance and how protective pathways like fight, flight, and freeze are activated when stress takes us outside it, we gain compassion not only for children, but for ourselves and one another. Behaviors are always communicating something to us about a person’s internal state. When we respond with connection and support, we help bring one another back into the window where learning, problem-solving, and relationships can thrive. Unity grows when every role — family, school, and community — works from this shared understanding.
