In today’s educational landscape, educators are often the first line of emotional support for students while simultaneously managing academic demands, parental expectations, and safeguarding responsibilities. Over time, this emotional labor can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and blurred professional boundaries.

This interactive workshop explores how educators can continue to support student wellbeing without compromising their own. Grounded in practical strategies and reflective practice, the session will examine the emotional demands placed on educators and introduce sustainable tools for self-regulation, boundary-setting, and professional resilience.

Through live engagement activities, case discussions, guided reflection, and experiential regulation practices, participants will gain both insight and immediately applicable techniques.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify early signs of burnout and compassion fatigue in educational settings.
• Recognize the difference between healthy empathy and emotional over-involvement.
• Understand the importance of professional and emotional boundaries.
• Apply practical strategies to manage stress during challenging interactions.
• Develop sustainable approaches to support personal wellbeing and resilience.

Sandra Sobhy

• Head of Counseling and MYP Counsellor at GISC with over 6 years of experience supporting students, educators, and families.
• Holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology with expertise in social-emotional learning, safeguarding, and early mental health intervention.
• Founder of I Can with San, focusing on resilience, emotional awareness, and wellbeing.

This workshop provides an introduction to positive handling, focusing on understanding the purpose behind our approaches and strengthening communication with students. It aims to encourage positive relationships across the school and equips staff with essential behaviour management tools, including effective de-escalation strategies and safe disengagement techniques.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Why we are doing what we are doing.
• Enhancing communication with students.
• Encourage positive relationships in the school environment.
• Comprehensive Behavior and de-escalation strategies and disengagements.

Engy Hammam

• School Improvement Partner and Safeguarding Lead at Egypt Education Platform (EEP), overseeing safeguarding practices across all EEP schools.
• Psychology graduate from the American University in Cairo with over 13 years of experience in education.
• Certified Positive Handling Trainer supporting schools in strengthening student wellbeing and safe learning environments.

Today’s children are the first generation in history to grow up with constant access to smartphones, social media, and algorithm-driven digital content. At the same time, educators and parents are reporting rising levels of anxiety, reduced attention spans, and increasing emotional dysregulation among young people—leading researchers to describe today’s youth as “The Anxious Generation” (Haidt, 2024).

Central to this discussion is the cultural shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood, where children’s developmental experiences are increasingly mediated through screens.

This workshop explores the hidden psychological and developmental costs of short-form digital environments, including platforms such as TikTok and YouTube Shorts. These platforms are designed to deliver rapid, highly stimulating bursts of content that reward constant novelty and fast shifts in attention. Drawing on research from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and educational practice, the session will examine how these digital patterns can influence attention, working memory, emotional regulation, and language development.

The session will also connect these findings to trends increasingly observed in classrooms, including distractibility, reduced sustained attention, and difficulties managing emotions during learning tasks. By linking current research with real classroom observations, the workshop will provide participants with a clearer understanding of how digital habits are shaping student wellbeing.

Participants will leave with practical strategies to help children rebuild attention stamina, develop healthier relationships with technology, and protect emotional wellbeing in an increasingly digital world.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand the concept of “The Anxious Generation” and the shift from play-based to screen-based childhood.
• Recognize the impact of short-form digital content on attention, memory, and emotional regulation.
• Identify the effects of excessive screen exposure on children’s wellbeing and development.
• Understand how algorithm-driven platforms are designed to capture and sustain attention.
• Recognize the classroom challenges linked to increased digital exposure.
• Explore practical strategies to support healthier digital habits and rebuild attention stamina.

Hoda Said

• 16+ years of experience in education.
• Head of Inclusion and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead at The British School Al-Rehab.
• Specializes in inclusive education and cognitive psychology, supporting students with diverse learning and emotional needs.
• Leads initiatives on safeguarding and wellbeing, focusing on the impact of digital media on children’s attention and emotional development.

Resilience isn’t just about “toughing it out”; it’s about the emotional architecture that allows a student to thrive under pressure. This session moves beyond discipline to focus on the holistic wellbeing of students during their most transformative developmental windows in middle school.

We will explore how educators can foster internal protective factors – like self-regulation, social connection, and a sense of purpose – to help students navigate the “internal storms” of growth with confidence and balance.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand resilience beyond “grit” and its role in supporting student wellbeing.
• Recognize key developmental stages in middle school and their impact on students.
• Identify the emotional and psychological challenges students face during these years.
• Explore strategies to build self-regulation, connection, and a sense of belonging.
• Apply approaches that help students manage stress and thrive.

Yasmine Samir

• Middle School Counselor at Hayah International Academy, leading social-emotional learning, safeguarding initiatives, and parent workshops.
• Integrative psychotherapist specializing in trauma, emotional regulation, anxiety, and eating disorders.
• Over 10 years of experience contributing to Hayah’s Character Education program, including designing curricula and mentoring frameworks for students.