Chronic absenteeism is one of the most persistent challenges facing districts today—and anxiety, depression, and school avoidance are driving much of it. Traditional attendance interventions weren't designed to address these invisible barriers, leaving many district leaders searching for approaches that actually work.

Join district leaders from Peoria Public Schools (IL) and Salem Public Schools (MA) as they share how school-based mental health interventions delivered significant improvements in attendance and behavior:

• Peoria Public Schools: 62% reduction in student absences, 44% reduction in chronic absenteeism, 68% fewer suspensions
• Salem Public Schools: 45% reduction in number of chronically absent students, 50% reduction in unexcused absence rate

But results are only half the story. You'll also hear from a clinical and funding expert about what makes these programs effective and how to sustain them beyond initial grants.

What You'll Learn:

• The attendance and behavioral challenges districts faced—and why traditional approaches weren't working
• Real data on academic outcomes: fewer absences, fewer suspensions, more instructional time
• What makes school-based telebehavioral health programs deliver results—from clinical model to cultural responsiveness
• How addressing root causes and social determinants of health drives sustainable change
• Innovative funding partnerships that scale access 

Meet the Panelists

Dr. Myskeshia Mitchell Director of the Wraparound Center – Community Based Social Emotional Learning, Peoria Public Schools (IL)

Dr. Mitchell leads the Wraparound Center at Peoria Public Schools, a one-stop resource connecting students and families with therapeutic supports and community services. She is the recipient of the 2024 Illinois High School Counselor of the Year Award.

Ellen Wingard, M.Ed. Executive Director of Student and Family Support Services, Salem Public Schools

Ellen oversees student and family support systems across Salem Public Schools, including behavioral and mental health services, attendance, and trauma-informed practices. She has nearly 25 years of experience supporting high-risk youth across school and community settings.

Carla Gonçalves Director, Massachusetts School-Based Telebehavioral Health Pilot, The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health

Carla leads the Massachusetts School-Based Telebehavioral Health Pilot, a state-funded initiative that has supported more than 2,280 student referrals and nearly 19,000 telebehavioral health sessions across the Commonwealth. She brings a clinical perspective on what makes school-based mental health programs effective and how funding partnerships can help districts scale access.

Jillian Kelton, M.Ed. (Moderator) Director of District Engagement, Cartwheel

Jillian has devoted more than 22 years to creating educational environments where every student can thrive. Before joining Cartwheel, she served as Chief of Student Support at Boston Public Schools, leading district-wide efforts to strengthen student support systems.

About This Webinar

This webinar is hosted by Cartwheel and features districts partnering with Cartwheel, alongside implementation support from The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health. Our goal is to provide genuine educational value while showing what's possible when districts, clinical providers, and partners work together effectively.

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