About

A one-day conference to equip families with tools for teen success

Parenting U is a one-day conference designed to provide parents with tools, insights, and practical strategies to support their tweens’ and teens’ growth (academically, socially, emotionally) as they move from adolescence to adulthood.

We’ll have a keynote by a renowned clinical psychologist and HBO presenter Michael Tompkins, PhD, published author of five books for teens and parents on stress and anxiety.

The day will include seven breakout sessions on topics such as:

Best practices for supporting teens academically

Coping skills to deal with anxiety
Readying students for key transitions in their lives
Social media self-management skills
Executive functioning
Motivation
Effective and empathic parent/teen communication
Parent-School Collaboration

Parents will come away equipped with the knowledge, tools and resources to better support their teens.

Our Speakers

Michael Tompkins, PhD

Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, ABPP is a licensed psychologist and board certified in behavioral and cognitive psychology.
His keynote address examines performance anxiety through the lens of self-efficacy beliefs and describes simple strategies parents can use to decrease their teen’s performance anxiety by strengthening their teen’s self-efficacy beliefs.

Gretchen Wegner

Gretchen Wegner, M.Ed., is an academic coach and educator trainer with 20+ years’ experience helping teachers and tutors motivate even the most reluctant learners.
In this practical (and yes, anti-boring!) session, you’ll learn about the science of overload, how to recognize the signs, and strategies that bring brains — neurodivergent and neurotypical alike — back to calm and confidence.

Rona Renner, RN

Rona Renner has been a Registered Nurse for 60 years and a Parent Educator for 38 years. Her book, Is That Me Yelling? A Parent's Guide To Getting Your Children to Cooperate Without Losing Your Cool, has been translated into five languages.
Rona’s breakout session will help you understand how a child's temperament can influence their ability to respond to your parenting style. She will offer ways for you to pause and reflect on what is needed for more harmony at home.

Samantha Okazaki & Nancy Rowland

Samantha Okazaki, SOS4Students, is a Special Education Advocate and parent of two neurodiverse teens. A COPAA member and SEAT-trained professional, she brings expertise in special education law and advocacy. Samantha serves as a local PTSA board member and Exceptional Education Committee (EEC) chair, participates in district and county special education committees, and sits on the planning committee for SEED High School, supporting families and students with diverse learning needs. She is passionate about fostering community, promoting parent education, and encouraging thoughtful collaboration and inclusion.
Nancy Rowland, MA, Head of School at Orinda Academy, brings over thirty years of experience in special education with expertise in language-based learning differences and ADHD. Her journey began at The Lab School of Washington, where she developed a deep understanding of how to create engaging learning environments for students with diverse needs.

Kathryn Stewart, PhD

Dr. Stewart is a clinical psychologist, specializing in child, adolescent and family therapy. She has a background in Special Education, as both a teacher and administrator and brings that experience to her clinical work.
With a strong focus on strengths, self-advocacy, and real-world readiness, this session explores the five critical areas that shape adult success: ongoing education, employment, independent living, relationships, and health management. Parents will learn how to plan realistically (not aspirationally), support risk-taking and growth, and help students build the skills and resilience they’ll need long after school supports end.
The session concludes with practical guiding principles and a clear, actionable checklist for parents to use right away.

Beth Samuelson is the Founder & Director of SOS4Students. Beth’s work educating and supporting teens, young adults, and parents spans more than 30 years, including the development of a unique model of one-on-one executive function coaching as well as student workshops, advocacy, teacher training, parent workshops, and on-site school programs.
This session will dive into Executive Functioning and why it matters. You’ll gain strategies to identify barriers holding your teen back, create systems and routines for independence, and build collaboration to reduce daily friction.

Beth Samuelson

David Heckenlively, MFT

David Heckenlively, MA, LMFT is a licensed therapist, mentor, and founder of Legend Counseling, where he guides young men and families through life’s transitions—loss, uncertainty, and the search for purpose.
In this workshop, David Heckenlively, MFT, draws from lived and clinical experience navigating the modern world to offer practical, actionable guidance for both parents and young people.

Rachel Holowicki, LEP

Rachel Holowicki is the founder of Brain Waves Educational Psychology. She specializes in helping children facing challenges such as ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and anxiety.
This presentation will give a brief overview of ADHD, current best practices, and what the most up to date research tells us about ADHD and the brain. We will discuss how ADHD presents differently in boys and girls, and how to distinguish typical teenage behaviors from true ADHD symptoms. This presentation will also provide parents and educators with concrete strategies for working with students diagnosed with ADHD.

This event is brought to you by

Founded in 1994, SOS4Students is the premier provider of academic coaching and workshops for tweens, teens, parents, and teachers in the Bay Area, as well as online resources.