2023 School Struggles Summit - Beautifully Complex

School Struggles Summit

Top Insights & Strategies to Help Struggling Learners In and Out of the Classroom

Get 24 workshops on learning, education, ADHD, and autism from leading experts in one conference package. You'll learn the evidence-based knowledge, tools, and strategies that help struggling learners succeed and shine.

For parents of neurodivergent kids, and their teachers…

Imagine this…

You’re no longer stuck guessing what your struggling student needs — or overwhelmed by conflicting advice. You finally understand how their brain works and why traditional approaches haven’t worked.

In the classroom, your child is using tools that actually help them learn, communicate, and keep up. Parents and educators are working as a team to help your student succeed.

Homework time isn’t the battle it once was. You’ve got a plan, a calm approach, and realistic expectations that set your child up for success.

You’re not just reacting — you’re equipped. With evidence-based strategies and expert insights, you know how to support learning differences like ADHD, autism, and dyslexia in ways that build confidence, not shame.

The struggle doesn’t feel so heavy now. You’re seeing progress, possibility — and a child who’s finally starting to shine.

“The [sessions] reaffirmed my current practices and approach and gave me some great mantras. My favorite from Penny was "You can either co-escalate or co-regulate" Total game changer.”

“Many educators I work with have an old-school approach where the child needs to conform to the rules in the classroom. I am realizing more and more that when students don’t comply, it isn’t because they won’t, it’s because they can’t.”

“As I listened to the teachings, although the focus might have been different in each one, consistently hearing over and over again that kids need to feel safe, free from pressure, connected, and empowered, then they can move forward, was very impactful to me. It was also so validating to hear I am not alone struggling with my child and my ability to co-regulate (vs. co-escalate).”

“Very helpful and informative. I’ve already seen results in shifting my own mindset.”

"I have watched a lot of these types of summits recently and this has been the best. I am surprised by that and I want to sincerely thank you for that. You quietly and honestly asked the best questions and did so while sharing your own personal experiences in a very real and relatable way. You sought out a wide variety of speakers who answered questions I didn’t even know to ask.”

"These expert sessions really helped me to understand my kids on a level I didn't think possible.”

“I’m drinking from a fire hose following my daughter’s diagnosis last month and found your summit — your content and expertise is 100% top notch! This Summit has shaped the new normal of our parenting style and enabled us to have the tools, resources and experts to effectively raise up our kiddos, instead of just raise them.”

“The information is helpful in a real-world way. It's not just concepts that are covered, but how to apply those concepts in real-life ways to help make things a bit easier for us and our kids.”

“You only gain so much information from the doctor. The topics during the summit went into much more details and gave information not given by the doctor. It was a great benefit to have access to so many different professionals and experts in one place.”

"The 2020 Summit has been a great blessing to our family. I am walking away feeling inspired to try new things and prepared with knowledge and advice from leading experts in their fields. I could not recommend this more to parents whose child has been newly diagnosed or one who has been on this journey for years. I feel like everyone can glean something valuable from this Summit. Highly recommend!“

"I don't think I've spoken to anyone I know this week without singing the praises of the speakers! I love seeing Sarah and Penny there every time to relate the expert's knowledge to their own experiences with their children.”

School Struggles Summit

You'll learn practical and actionable strategies to:

Parent

Teacher

Reduce homework battles and disruptive behavior triggered by school and schoolwork

Help a kid re-engage who has shut down or given up on school

Help reduce the impact of reading, writing, and math challenges, like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia

Get the services and accommodations your child needs, deserves, and has a legal right to

Help your kid overcome executive functioning challenges to manage the processes required to get things done

Ensure that school struggles don’t negatively impact your child’s mental health and your relationship with them

Make changes for your entire classroom that help struggling learners but benefit all students, saving you time

Help students struggling with reading, writing, math, executive functioning, ADHD, and/or autism

Foster an inclusive and just classroom where all students have an opportunity to learn and succeed

Manage classroom behavior with science-backed strategies that are also compassionate and effective (more than PBS)

Shift from a compliance model to a humanistic model focused on connection, regulation, and collaboration

Prioritize the mental and emotional health of all students, and their educators

Understand the hurdles that block some kids' learning and school success and learn how to overcome them.

What You'll Learn

Join us on a journey of discovery where you'll grow to understand the hurdles that block some kids' learning and school success and how to overcome them. My goal is to empower you by providing the evidence-based information, support, strategies, and community you need to help struggling learners thrive.

Specific Learning Disabilities & Academics

Learn how to spot a kid who may be struggling with specific learning disabilities — like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscaculia — and how to help those who are struggling with reading, writing, and math, as well as ADHD, autism, and/or executive functioning.

The Impact of Social Emotional Wellbeing on Learning & Behavior

If kids are flooded with emotions, struggling with peers, or just not feeling safe at school, their thinking brains are offline and they aren't available to learn. You'll learn how to ensure that kids feel safe at school and at home so their thinking brains are online and they're available to learn.

Creating Opportunities for ND Kids to Achieve Success

When a child or teen learns differently than the educational system teaches, they have little if any opportunity to succeed. That negatively impacts their self-esteem, confidence, and sense of competence (and, eventually, their mental health). Learn how to create opportunities for neurodivergent kids to succeed.

At the end you'll know...

How to read the signals and support the needs of students who are acting out, freaking out, or zoning out.

The essential role of connection, regulation, emotional wellbeing for physiological availability to learn.

Interventions and accommodations that can provide equal opportunity for learning for struggling students.

How to navigate school meetings, IEPs, and 504 Plans for successful outcomes for the student.

How to foster the parent-child, teacher-student, and teacher-parent relationships to benefit everyone.

Join thousands of parents and educators improving life for their neurodivergent kids — as well as for themselves and their families.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this summit. It has been SO eye opening. I am seriously in tears because it is the perfect message at the perfect time. I've passed the link on to all of my fellow Autism mom friends. All of your efforts in organizing this are appreciated.

“I'm so grateful to Penny and Sarah for pulling all these autism parenting experts together in one place. NOW I know where to go to research my questions. The speakers are passionate about what they know and they love to share it. Well worth the investment to be able to listen to their presentations on my own time. Thank you both!”

“I just wanted to reach out to thank you so much for putting together this summit and allowing me to participate as a parent free of charge. I have been finding the sessions so incredibly helpful and encouraging. It's eye opening and educational to understand the world of autism beyond my everyday experiences with my son, but to hear beyond from experts I wouldn't ordinarily hear from, helps me help my son. Thank you.”

“I have a renewed sense of hope for the future and a ton of new tricks in my bag! I could never have found all of these resources on my own in a lifetime, and you gave them to me in a week.”

“The Summit is a gold mine of information. Every parent of a special needs child needs to listen to it. Amazing!"

“Not only do I feel empowered with knowledge, but also understanding that my son is who he is supposed to be. I'm grateful and proud, more than anything, I'm at peace."

I don't usually purchase summits, but I did with this one. Every talk was relevant, had lightbulb moments and full of practical advice.

School Struggles 2023

This is the turning point you've been waiting for.

Specific Learning Disabilities & Academics

Helping Kids with ADHD Cope with Frustration and Anger

Sharon Saline, Psy.D.

Clinical Psychologist and Author of "What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew"

20 Activities to Teach Emotional Regulation in Less Than 10 Minutes a Day

Penny Williams

Parent Coach and Educator, Host of Beautifully Complex Podcast

ADHD & Dysregulation: Using Science to Improve Behavior

Sarah Wayland, Ph.D.

Relationship-based Dynamic Intelligence (RDI) Consultant & Co-Author of "Is this Autism?"

Rethinking Resistance: How Honoring Autonomy Supports Kids with ADHD

Casey Ehrlich, Ph.D.

Parent Coach & Educator, Founder of At Peace Parents, Host of At Peace Parents Podcast

Breaking the Shame Cycle: How to Respond When Kids Make Mistakes

Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist & Assistant Professor at Athabasca University

Redefining Listening: Embracing Neurodiversity & Regulation Over Compliance

Elizabeth Sautter, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist, Trainer, Author of "Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick!"

Specific Learning Disabilities & Academics

Identifying Specific Learning Disabilities

Natasha C. Gray, M.Ed. —Learning Disabilities Specialist & Founder of Spark Learning

Helping Students Who Struggle with Reading

Emily Fogg — Teacher & Founder of Wise Owl Tuition

Impact Formula: How to Help Students Struggling in Math and Writing

Cheri Dotterer, MS, OTR/L — Occupational Therapist, Dysgraphia Expert & Author of Handwriting Brain-Body DisConnect & Jonily Zupancic —Mathematics Assessment, Instruction and Intervention Expert & Author of “Making Mathineers”

Helping Kids with Dysgraphia and Writing Struggles

Jennifer C. King, Ph.D. —President and Founder of Dysgraphia Life, Expert Speaker & Research Scientist

A Roadmap for Effective Studying

Leslie Josel —ADHD-Academic and Parenting Coach, Founder of Order Out of Chaos

Supporting Students with ADHD or Autism at School

Sarah Wayland, Ph.D. —Special Needs Navigator and RDI Consultant

Differentiating Instruction for All Learners

Brendan Mahan, M.Ed., MS — Producer and Host of the ADHD Essentials Podcast, Internationally Recognized ADHD/Executive Function Expert

Understanding Your Student's Asynchronous Brain

Seth Perler, M.Ed. — Renegade Teacher Turned Executive Function, ADHD & 2e Coach

The Impact of Social Emotional Wellbeing on Learning & Behavior

Connection Over Correction

Chazz Lewis, aka, Mr. Chazz —Consultant, Parent Coach, Conscious Discipline Practitioner & Podcaster

What to Do When Mistakes Overwhelm Neurodivergent Kids

Emily King, Ph.D. — Licensed Psychologist and Heath Service Provider

How to Help Neurodivergent Learners Feel Confident and Competent

Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC — Mental Health Counselor & Host of The Neurodiversity Podcast

Nurturing Emotional Health and Happiness

Brittany Cephas, LCPC, NCC —Licensed Pediatric Psychotherapist

What Really Motivates Kids (Hint: It Isn’t Always Rewards)

Katie Plunkett, M.A.T. — Teacher & Founder of The Calm Classroom

Integrating Play in Learning

Greg Santucci, OTR/L, — Pediatric OT, Founding Director of Power Play Pediatric & Creator of the Model of Child Engagement

Regulation is the Foundation of Learning

Elizabeth Sautter, MA, CCC-SLP —Licensed Speech Language Pathologist & Author of “Make Social & Emotional Learning Stick”

School Avoidance & Refusal

Dayna Abraham — Founder of the Calm the Chaos® Framework, Author of “The Superkids Activity Guide to Conquering Every Day”

Creating Opportunities for ND Kids to Achieve Success

How to Apply a Low-Demand Approach to School (A High-Demand System)

Amanda Diekman — Parent Coach & Author of “Low Demand Parenting”

What to Do When Smart Kids Struggle in School

Penny Williams with Luke Williams — Parenting Coach for Neurodiverse Families, Co-Creator of The Behavior Revolution Program, Author & Host of Beautifully Complex Podcast

Structuring Homework Time for Success

Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed, BCET & Rachel Kapp, M.A., BCET — Board Certified Educations Therapists & Hosts of the Learn Smarter Podcast

Flexible Structure for Getting Schoolwork Done

Diane Dempster, CPC, PCC, MHSA & Elaine Taylor-Klaus, CPCC, MCC — Parent Coaches and Founders of ImpactParents

Systems, Tools & Strategies to Help Students Manage Getting Things Done

Franki Bagdade, M.Ed, LLMSW — Clinical Social Worker & School and Camp Consultant Specializing in Neurodivergence

Securing Services & Accommodations for Neurodivergent Kids

Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed —Founder of the Master IEP Coach® Mentorship and Network, Creator of the IEP Development Assessment Wheel™ & Host of the Special Education Inner Circle Podcast

Crafting a Vision: Supporting Long-Term Goals and Inclusion in Education

Beth Liesenfeld, MOT, OTR/L — Occupational Therapist & Founder of the IEP Lab

How to Talk to Kids so They Feel Seen, Heard and Respected

Debbie Reber, M.A. — Founder of TiLT Parenting, Podcast Host, Speaker & Author of “Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World”

Action Package

Masterclass When Smart Kids Aren't Doing Well in School
All Sessions Immediately Available
Forever Access To All 24 Video Sessions (Closed-Captioned) in a SEARCHABLE Library (15 hours of expert sessions)
Advocacy Bonus Pack
Forever Access to Entire Summit as a Podcast (Listen On-The-Go)
The Empowerment Workbook (Take Action From What You Learned)
All 24 Speaker Bonuses
Transcripts of Every Session
Group Coaching Call with Penny in October
Certificate of Completion

$137 USD $499

GET A MULTI-USE LICENSE

This Summit was made for you if...

Your a Parent of a Struggling Learner

You have a child who struggles in school or with their schoolwork at home.

Your a teacher

You have students in your classroom or school who are struggling with learning, behavior, or emotional regulation.

You Work with Neurodivergent Kids

You work with students, educators, or parents dealing with school struggles or learning difficulties.

If any of these sound like you, you're exactly where you need to be.

I'm IN! Take me to registration

Hello!

I'm Penny.

I'm a parenting coach and educator for families of complex kids. I teach stuck and struggling parents how to dial down the big emotions and big behaviors and create a neuro-affirming ecosystem to maximize your neurodivergent kid’s success and joy.

Through my podcast, award-winning books, parent training programs, parent coaching, and neurodiversity summits, I’ve helped thousands of parents raising kids with ADHD, autism, and/or anxiety improve their lives.

I'd be honored to help you, too.

Reduce homework battles and disruptive behavior triggered by school and schoolwork

Help a kid re-engage who has shut down or given up on school

Help reduce the impact of reading, writing, and math challenges, like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia

Get the services and accommodations your child needs, deserves, and has a legal right to

Help your kid overcome executive functioning challenges to manage the processes required to get things done

Ensure that school struggles don’t negatively impact your child’s mental health and your relationship with them

Make changes for your entire classroom that help struggling learners but benefit all students, saving you time

Help students struggling with reading, writing, math, executive functioning, ADHD, and/or autism

Foster an inclusive and just classroom where all students have an opportunity to learn and succeed

Manage classroom behavior with science-backed strategies that are also compassionate and effective (more than PBS)

Shift from a compliance model to a humanistic model focused on connection, regulation, and collaboration

Prioritize the mental and emotional health of all students, and their educators

Specific Learning Disabilities & Academics

The Impact of Social Emotional Wellbeing on Learning & Behavior

Creating Opportunities for ND Kids to Achieve Success

At the end you'll know...

How to read the signals and support the needs of students who are acting out, freaking out, or zoning out.

The essential role of connection, regulation, emotional wellbeing for physiological availability to learn.

Interventions and accommodations that can provide equal opportunity for learning for struggling students.

How to navigate school meetings, IEPs, and 504 Plans for successful outcomes for the student.

How to foster the parent-child, teacher-student, and teacher-parent relationships to benefit everyone.

Specific Learning Disabilities & Academics

Identifying Specific Learning Disabilities

Natasha C. Gray, M.Ed.

Practical Coping Skills for Big Emotions

Janine Halloran, MA, LMHC

De-Escalation Techniques for Big Emotions & Big Behaviors

Emily Hamblin, MA

Helping Kids with ADHD Cope with Frustration and Anger

Sharon Saline, Psy.D.

20 Activities to Teach Emotional Regulation in Less Than 10 Minutes a Day

Penny Williams

ADHD & Dysregulation: Using Science to Improve Behavior

Sarah Wayland, Ph.D.

Rethinking Resistance: How Honoring Autonomy Supports Kids with ADHD

Casey Ehrlich, Ph.D.

Breaking the Shame Cycle: How to Respond When Kids Make Mistakes

Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D.

Redefining Listening: Embracing Neurodiversity & Regulation Over Compliance

Elizabeth Sautter, MA, CCC-SLP

Specific Learning Disabilities & Academics

The Impact of Social Emotional Wellbeing on Learning & Behavior

Creating Opportunities for ND Kids to Achieve Success

Action Package

$137 USD $499

This Summit was made for you if...

Your a Parent of a Struggling Learner

Your a teacher

You Work with Neurodivergent Kids

Hello!

I'm Penny.

Get some Clarity.