PEP Talks - A Parent Education Program

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! ACS PEP Talks returns for Season 3 with a fresh conversation about navigating the year with intention. This season, a new voice also joins the conversation, Arlington Community Schools Social and Transition Specialist Rae Ann Ballesteros.  In this episode, the team talks about practical ways families can stay connected and reduce stress at home....

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Caleb’s story isn’t polished, and that’s exactly why it matters. As a high school freshman, he started vaping to fit in. What began as a way to feel cool quickly spiraled into substance abuse he couldn’t control. But this episode isn’t about rock bottom - it’s about what happens when a student finds the courage to say, “I don’t want to do this a...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Gentle parenting has taken over social media — and the opinions are loud . Is it the downfall of discipline, or a modern, thoughtful way to raise emotionally healthy kids? In this episode, we unpack the real why behind the trend with licensed social worker Camielle Howard. From toddlers to teens, we explore the difference between boundaries and...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Grief is a journey no one wants to take, yet it’s one we will all face. In this Go First episode, middle school teacher and coach Jennifer Beasley shares her deeply personal story of loss, resilience and healing. From the sudden passing of a close friend to the heartbreaking loss of her twin sister, Jennifer opens up about how grief reshaped her...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Parenting is one of the most rewarding yet challenging roles we take on, sometimes leaving us overwhelmed and stressed. In this episode of Pep Talks , we dive into the reality of parenting stress, recently declared an urgent public health issue by the U.S. Surgeon General. Special guest De'Asia Thompson, founder and clinical director of Ris...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! In this episode of PEP Talks, we sit down with Steven Richardson, an Arlington parent of a 2024 graduate, to explore the challenges and rewards of guiding a teenager through high school. From balancing academics and extracurriculars to fostering independence and preparing for post-secondary choices, Steven offers practical advice for parents fac...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! In this episode of PEP Talks, Erin & Ja'Neair are joined by special guest, parent and PTA guru Katy Bennett to discuss one of the biggest transitions in a child’s life: middle school. From navigating new academic challenges to managing the onset of puberty and the ever-changing social dynamics, middle school is packed with pivotal momen...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! PEP Talks returns for Season 2! In our first episode this school year, hosts Ja’Neair Johnson and Erin Williams sit down with Dayle Sutphin, an Arlington parent of both a kindergartner and a fifth-grader, to discuss the challenges and joys of managing big transitions for young students. Dayle shares her personal journey, offering insight into ho...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Join Erin and Ja'Neair for the season finale of PEP Talks as they journey through some of the most memorable moments of our first season. They revisit some of the most impactful and deeply resonant conversations that truly highlight the essence of PEP Talks: spreading awareness of mental health issues impacting school-aged children today. ...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Join us for an enlightening conversation on PEP Talks, where Ms. Tabetha Banks, a soon-to-be-retired administrator and educator with 31 years of invaluable experience, shares her wealth of knowledge and compassionate approach towards supporting faculty, staff and students' mental health. Ms. Banks discusses the importance of recognizing whe...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Warning: This episode discusses child abuse and child sexual assault.  In a shocking statistic, Shelby County, Tennessee doubles the national average in child abuse reports, with nearly two out of 10 children becoming a victim of child sexual abuse before they reach the age of 18. Conversations about child abuse can be challenging for families....

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, is the ability to monitor our own and other’s feelings and emotions and use that information to guide our thinking and action. EQ helps us express our emotions, develop and maintain relationships, cope with challenges, and make effective decisions. Growing up, we're all made aware of the importance of having a...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! This week on PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair speak with a local mother and community advocate for connectedness, Liz Brock. Liz shares about her desire through her faith convictions to connect with other women in the community and how it led her to create “Craving Far More,” a weekly coffee shop meet-up for women to connect and discuss life togethe...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! This week on the PEP Talks Podcast, our Go First series returns with our very own Ja'Neair Johnson, who shares her personal journey with adoption. Ja’Neair discusses  her childhood experience, when she found out she was adopted, navigating the experience through adulthood and finally when she finally found her biological father. She talks a...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! This week on PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair meet with a licensed professional counselor to gain insights on trends within mental health. Misty Smith, NCC, LPC-MHSP, has been counseling families since 2007, using an integrated, holistic approach specific to the unique needs and goals of her clients.   Throughout the conversation, Misty discusses me...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! On this episode of the PEP Talks Podcast, Ja’Neair and Erin welcome Dr. Carren Marvin and her lovable puppet, Merv, to talk all things Self-Control. Parents with elementary students may want to turn this episode on with their kiddos as Merv struggles with his self-control throughout the episode.  In this conversation, Erin and Ja’Neair explore s...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Welcome back PEP Talkers! Erin and Ja’Neair ring in the new year with a conversation with Erica Peyton about setting boundaries.  Erica Peyton, Arlington High School Counselor and advisor for the Arlington High Collegiate Academy, chats about how to set boundaries for our children in a way that allows thems to develop self-management skills and...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Making tough choices is hard. Sometimes parents are unsure about where to start in helping their student with tough choices. You aren't alone, parent! In this episode of PEP Talks, Ja’Neair and Erin discuss where to begin with supporting students with difficult decisions by exploring six simple skill building strategies.  The strategies ref...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! PEP Talks brings you a new series where guests "Go First" in talking about their own experiences with an adversity or mental health challenge. In our inaugural Go First episode, PEP Talks co-host Erin Williams describes  her experience with lifelong anxiety. What began in childhood has continued throughout her life, as a professional,...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Erin and Ja’Neair speak with an expert on Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Temetric Reeves, owner of Accent ADHD Services, LLC, discusses all things ADHD and gives insight and wisdom from her personal experience as a mother and from her expertise in her work as an occupational therapist, licensed social worker, and ADHD Coach.  Thr...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! In this conversation, Dana Viox, RN,BSN, Coordinated School Health & Nursing Supervisor with Arlington Community Schools, discusses how physical activity plays a role in child health. Erin and Ja’Neair talk with Dana about unstructured play and breaks and the many benefits of movement related to physical health and beyond, including increase...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! In today's episode, Ja'Neair is joined by co-host Tyler Hill, ACS Director of Communications, as they continue exploring The Social Media Brain Drain. What is it, and how should we think about social media use in today's digital world? This week, they speak to Jason Winkler, an Instructional Technology Supervisor who specializes i...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! In today's episode, Ja'Neair is joined by co-host Tyler Hill, ACS Director of Communications, who is filling in for Erin. The Social Media Brain Drain: What is it? What's the impact of social media on our teens, and what can we do about it to ensure the experience is positive? In part one of this two-part series, Ja'Neair and...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! Today on PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair chat about an important tool for managing big feeling moments; coping skills. They discuss how each coping skill needs to fit the situation and the child. As they discuss their favorite coping skills to teach, they remind families coping skills do not fix a problem long-term but rather assist them in getting...

Let us know how we're doing, or send us an idea! In this PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair interview Kayla White, MA, CCLS II, about grief and loss. As a Certified Child Life Specialist with Methodist Lebonheur Hospital, Kayla describes loss from a unique perspective as she supports children and families with death and dying. She provides practical tools for parents and expands on community resourc...