Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1.  Analyze current research on educator wellbeing, burnout, and retention to identify and critically appraise leadership strategies that promote staff wellbeing in K–12 schools.
2.  Apply systems theory and compassionate leadership theory to develop a coherent, well-being-centered leadership framework that accounts for the interconnected influences of administrative practices, school climate, and psychological safety.
3. Design a practical, evidence-informed toolkit of interventions, reflection activities, and implementation tools that school administrators can use to enhance educator wellbeing, reduce turnover, and strengthen overall school effectiveness.

 

Presenter Bio

Molly Kate Davis, HBS, MSW, LCSW is a Doctoral Candidate in Social Work whose academic and professional focus centers on leadership and workforce development in human service organizations. She currently serves as Programs Administrator II at the Utah State Developmental Center, a division of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In this capacity, she oversees the implementation of mental health and behavioral health programs, provides administrative supervision, and supports interdisciplinary teams that deliver services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Her research interests focus on administrative interventions that enhance staff retention and organizational sustainability in healthcare and educational settings. As part of her doctoral capstone project, Davis is examining evidence-based strategies that K-12 school administrators can use to mitigate teacher burnout and increase staff well-being in school systems. Her work seeks to bridge the gap between clinical practice and administrative leadership by identifying systemic approaches that foster employee well-being, improve service delivery, and strengthen workforce stability.

Davis’s academic background in honors psychology and social work informs her holistic understanding of human behavior, organizational systems, and leadership ethics. She continues to advance her scholarship in social work administration while contributing to initiatives that promote positive workplace cultures and professional resilience in human service environments.

 

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/25-9/29/28. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.