Parent Education Speakers

Compiled by Louise Singleton
(updated 11/03, 5/06)

Adolescent Counseling Services, 424-0852
ACS will provide speakers on a variety of topics.  They sent representatives to Paly’s panel discussions on drug and alcohol use and they were well-received.  Dr. Philippe Rey and Elizabeth Bowden-Smith, MA led an outstanding discussion at Jordan on “Helping Teenagers Find Their Way: How to Talk With Your Child”.

Dr. Seth Ammerman, Stanford University
Assistant Clinical Professor of the Department of Pediatrics of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Stanford. Dr. Ammerman speaks about adolescent issues.

Susan Stone Belton of Parenting Solutions, (408)-252-1089, SusanStoneBelton@yahoo.com
Susan Stone Belton provides outstanding interactive talks on a variety of topics including: Effective Discipline; Taming the Homework Monster; How to Talk With Your Child; Friends and Relationships; and Balancing Work and Family.

Melanie Blaskower, 324-2045
Melanie Blaskower has been a middle school counselor for 30 years and is currently in private practice in Palo Alto as an adolescent counselor and parenting consultant. She speaks on topics related to parenting a teenager, including adolescent development, setting limits, letting go, effective communication, homework, and social and academic stress.

The Body Positive, Berkeley, CA, (510)-548-0101,www.thebodypositive.org
This organization provides videotapes and trained facilitators to lead discussions about body image for middle school students. Their materials are of interest to parents, teachers and students.

Dr. Nancy Brown, Senior Research Associate, PAMF,  650-853-4773
Dr. Brown specializes in pre-teen and teen health issues including drugs & alcohol, emotions & life, sexual health. She is an astute speaker.

Can We Talk
A parent-child communication program for parents of elementary and middle-school-aged kids.  More information at canwetalk.org or call 1-202-822-7570. Can We Talk is a 4 session discussion format dealing with self-esteem, peer pressure, puberty and sexuality and mixed messages from the media. Parents attend meetings and are given activities to help them discuss these important topics with their child.  The organization can provide trained facilitators. Materials are available in English and Spanish.

Dr. Trish Calvert, (901)-755-6954, drtcalvert@yahoo.com
Dr. Calvert is a counselor and consulting psychologist from Memphis, Tennessee.  She speaks about “High Hopes…High Stress”. She spoke in Palo Alto recently. She is an excellent speaker.

Bea Cashmore, 949-7094
Bea Cashmore is at Foothill College & speaks on ADD/ADHD for educators and parents.

Dr. Bill Damon, Stanford University, 725-8080
Dr. Damon studies moral development in children and adolescents.  He is the author of “Greater Expectations-Overcoming the Culture of Indulgence in our Homes and Schools.”  I have not heard him speak because he was booked for all of last year.  Contact him by e-mail as early as possible. 

Marleen Didech, 688-3675
Parent Educator who speaks on raising children in an affluent culture and a variety of other topics.

Sue Dinwiddie, 325-3033
Sue Dinwiddie is a parent educator with expertise in preschool and elementary child development. She is associated with Parents Place, a family resource center in Palo Alto.

Sheila Dubin, 1-800-461-1095
Parent Educator who speaks on a variety of topics.  At Paly she spoke on “Teenagers and Stress”, “Conflicts, Boundaries and Limits” and “How to Stay Connected to your Teen”.  She also speaks on other topics and will speak at elementary and middle schools, too. She gave an excellent presentation at Jordan on “Middle School Friendships”.  She was an interesting speaker with a lot of practical suggestions and she encourages parent discussion.

Karen Friedland-Brown, 688-3032
Karen Friedland-Brown is a parent educator and coordinator of Parents Place, a family resource center in Palo Alto. Her areas of expertise are elementary peer relationships, parenting as a team, and discipline.

Goodparents, inc., 322-KIDS, Nina Burns and Joe Connolly, Founders
Nina Burns and Joe Connolly, through godparents, inc., provide workshops for parents of teens on a variety of topics including: Parents, Teens and Drinking; Life in the Fast Lane; Stress and Peer Pressure; Risky Business-Teens and Sex; Single Parenting and many other topics. They have been well-received at a lot of schools in the area. Check their website at www.goodparents.com for more information.

Tuck Geerds, 592-7570
Tuck Geerds is the head of Community Relations at Charles Armstrong School, a school for dyslexics in Belmont.  She speaks on Learning Disabilities.

Karen Grites, 697-5244
Karen Grites is at Children’s Health Council.  She speaks about Learning Problems, Assessment, Modifications in the classroom, etc.

Dr. Peter Haiman, (510)-527-6436
Dr. Haiman is a Child Rearing Consultant and Professor of Education at St. Mary’s College. His topics include: What is Education: How do we go about it? (weaving in values, ownership, emotional lives); How Best to Parent Children: A Diagnostic Approach to Childrearing; and Anger Management.

Marsha Howard, 366-6389
Marsh Howard is an outstanding speaker whose topics include: Parenting Styles, Discipline vs. Punishment; Promoting Sibling Harmony; Helping Children Make Decisions; Violence in the Lives of Children and Parents, Promoting Cultural Awareness in Children, Parenting the Aggressive Child; and Coping With the Stress of Parenting.

Dr. Shashank Joshi, 724-6520
Dr. Joshi is a psychiatrist working with students in a clinic at Stanford. Dr. Shashank works with the district and speaks about Attention Deficit Disorder, behavior, etc.

Dr. Brian Kleis, Children’s Health Council, 324-1310
Dr. Kleis is the Director of Psychiatric Services at Children’s Health Council and he is on the board of Supporting Our Sons.  The group’s goal is to promote a broader understanding of boyhood and give adults the knowledge and tools they need to encourage boys to reach their full potential. Dr. Kleis gives an outstanding talk on the unique challenges facing boys in our society. He spoke at Jordan recently.

Dr. Robert Land, Psychologist, 408-395-3577
Dr. Land works with children and teens helping to resolve difficult issues. He spoke in PAUSD in October, 2006.

Dr. Iris Litt, Stanford University
Dr. Litt talks to parent groups about Eating Disorders.

Dr. Fred Luskin, 218-4181, www.learningtoforgive.com
Dr. Luskin is the author of “Forgive For Good”.  He is an excellent speaker.

Edmundo Norte, (510)-834-9455,ext. 221
Edmundo Norte speaks on diversity and racism. He is an excellent and dynamic speaker, and works well with parent groups.

Parents Place, 688-3037
Parents Place is a family resource center in Palo Alto. For information on speakers, call 688-3037. Speakers are available on a variety of topics for preschool, elementary and middle school parents.

Denise Clark Pope, Education Department at Stanford, 723-2109
She wrote, “Doing School” How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students.  She did a district-wide talk for SHARE last year and she led a panel discussion at Gunn called “The Culture of Competition.” She is an excellent speaker.

Barbara Porro, 365-2028
She is a parent educator who gives an excellent talk on conflict resolution for elementary parents.  She is an outstanding speaker and she was well-received at Duveneck.

Yemima Rabin, 424-0852
Yemima Rabin is the Program Director of Adolescent Counseling Services. She speaks on a number of mental health-related issues. 

Dr. Don Roberts, 723-0780
Dr. Roberts is a Professor of Communication at Stanford. He speaks about the Effects of Media on Children.

Patti and Steve Saso,  Saso Seminars. See website sasoseminars.com for more details.  Phone (408)-262-6837.  They offer a variety of talks on parent-teen relationships.  They have been well received at PAUSD schools.

Lisa Shultz, 497-8599              
Lisa Shultz is a pediatric dietician at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital.  She speaks about nutrition.

Dr. Louise Singleton, 493-0245
Dr. Louise Singleton is an Educational Psychologist. She leads workshops on “Children’s Friendships: How Parents Can Help”  for parents of preschool and elementary age children.

Jim Thompson, Positive Coaching Alliance, Stanford University, 725-2976

***This list is updated throughout the school year and maintained by Louise Singleton, a member of the SHARE committee.  Please contact me at louisecs@aol.com or 493-0245 if you have any questions.  Please e-mail information about speakers that you think should be added to the list, or comments about the speakers on the list.