The 8th Annual Nevada Association for Positive Behavior Support (NV APBS) Conference took place from Feb. 3-5, 2025, at the University of Nevada, Reno. With 224 participants gathered at the Joe Crowley Student Union, the conference provided a platform for educators, administrators, community members, mental health professionals and behavioral specialists to engage in discussions centered on fostering positive climates in schools and community settings through evidence-based frameworks.

The conference was hosted by the board of The Nevada APBS Network along with board president Brooke Wagner, MSC-SC, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA. The Nevada APBS Network is housed in the Nevada Center of Excellence in Disabilities at the College of Education & Human Development.

Erika McDowell, Ed.D., delivered an inspiring keynote address, emphasizing the importance of love and support within educational settings. She spoke about the challenges of showing up authentically in schools and the necessity of kindness and honesty—both toward students and oneself. Her message resonated with attendees, setting a reflective and encouraging tone for the conference.

“Our Lovelock Elementary School and Pershing County High School team members enjoyed the keynote speaker and the many learning opportunities offered in the variety of sessions,” Sarah Hannonen, Pershing County School District (PCSD) MTSS director, said. “Our school board member that attended loved the keynote and digital safety workshop as she thought it provided her the opportunity to learn about a subject she is concerned about for our district.  Our PCSD superintendent was very impressed with the University campus and the awards luncheon.  Also, our students appreciated having the opportunity to participate.”

Over the three-day event, participants attended a variety of talks and workshops that covered pressing topics such as suicide prevention and intervention, academic Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), cybersecurity in schools, interconnected systems for school mental health, leveraging school psychologists within MTSS, addressing chronic absenteeism, inclusion and assistive technology, substance use prevention and intervention and the importance of the students’ voices in shaping educational practices.

One of the most impactful moments of the conference was the student voice panel, where five students from Lyon and Pershing Counties shared their perspectives on mental health and well-being. They discussed how technology, social media, news cycles and peer expectations affect their mental health and emphasized the crucial role of trusted adults in schools.

Director of the Nevada Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Technical Assistance Center, Ashley Greenwald, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, highlighted the significance of this panel, “Of all the outstanding conference presenters, listening to the student voice panel is always my favorite. It is so meaningful to create a platform to elevate the voices of our student leaders. Within the Nevada APBS Network and MTSS project, we emphasize the importance of identifying, responding to and meeting student needs and there is no way to better understand those needs than to hear it from the youth themselves.”

The Nevada APBS Network continues to foster new partnerships with school districts, community agencies and other stakeholders, working to build the capacity of families, schools and organizations to provide sustainable and meaningful behavior support. By expanding awareness of Positive Behavior Support in Nevada, their ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for Nevadans with disabilities and challenging behaviors through evidence-based instruction, consultation and systematic change.

Through initiatives like the NV APBS Conference, Nevada’s educators, community providers, mental health professionals and behavioral specialists are building supportive, inclusive and effective school environments that empower both students and staff to thrive.