MAAP Conference 2027

Belong. Connect. Thrive.: Creating Communities Where Every Person Matters

The opening keynote explores how belonging serves as the foundation upon which connection and thriving are built. Through personal stories, professional experiences, and practical examples from alternative education settings, Paris demonstrates how meaningful relationships become catalysts for transformation, and sets the stage for the conference's mental health-centered conversations with a fundamental truth: people thrive when they know they matter.

Paris Timmons, Ed.S., is the founder of Pages to Purpose LLC and serves in district-level leadership in Minnesota, overseeing innovative learning opportunities, extended learning programs, community partnerships, and mentorship initiatives. Her work has included serving as Executive Director of Freedom School, leading restorative practices, and facilitating mentorship programs for educators of color.

Protecting the Bandwidth of Alternative Education Leaders

Drawing on the theme of "Creating a Hardy Environment for Perennial Educators," this keynote uses the analogy of cultivating resilient plants to explore how school leaders can grow hardy educators who withstand the waves of change inherent in alternative education. Leaders will leave with strategies for protecting personal bandwidth, building psychological safety and connection within their staff, and implementing ongoing resilience habits drawn from Elena Aguilar's Onward framework.

Dr. Kelly Wilson is Director of Special Education and Jill Krautkremer is Special Education Coordinator for Forest Lake Area Schools. With over 40 collective years of experience in special education and school psychology, they co-developed an Educator Resilience course and have led educator resilience cohorts for MASA/MASE and Minnesota districts, with documented growth in educator well-being.

Sustaining the Heart of Teaching: Support and Strategies for Compassion Fatigue, Resilience, and Renewed Purpose

An engaging, trauma-informed keynote that helps educators understand compassion fatigue through the lens of neuroscience, emotional regulation, and practical resilience. Rather than offering superficial self-care tips, Emily provides evidence-based strategies participants can apply immediately to protect their well-being while continuing to serve students with compassion.

Emily KC Wood, LPCC, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, school counselor, and educator specializing in trauma-informed care, educator wellness, compassion fatigue, and resilience.