Some Moments Are Meant to Be Experienced: Reflections from the Virginia MTSS Conference

It's been a little over a week since the Virginia MTSS for Student Success Conference, and I'm still reflecting on the experience.

I don't have a single picture from the conference. Not one. I was so immersed in the conversations, the connections, and the moments unfolding around me that I never thought to take out my phone. Perhaps that's exactly how it was supposed to be.

From the moment I arrived, there was a sense of warmth and community. The welcoming planning committee, thoughtfully prepared conference materials, comfortable accommodations, and delicious food all contributed to an environment where people could settle in, connect, and focus on learning.

The Wellness Haven was another thoughtful addition. It created opportunities to pause, connect, and remember that our own well-being matters, too.

Throughout the conference, I was surrounded by educators and leaders who shared a genuine passion for supporting students and one another. The keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and conversations were filled with practical ideas, shared experiences, and moments of vulnerability.

I also had the privilege of sharing the Back to Zero Framework. What stays with me most from that experience is the participants' openness, the stories shared, and the willingness to reflect together.

One of my favorite experiences was a panel discussion that left me with several reminders:

• Find something that brings you joy every day.

• Small steps matter.

• Make support simple enough to survive your absence.

• Start every meeting with name tags.

• Change doesn't happen overnight.

• Human connection matters.

Simple reminders, yet each one speaks to how we create environments where people feel valued, supported, and connected.

What I appreciated most about this conference was how the experience itself reflected so many of the ideas being discussed. Care wasn't just something we talked about. It showed up in the planning, the hospitality, the conversations, and the opportunities to connect.

As I close out this week, I'm grateful for the people I met, the stories I heard, and the opportunity to be part of a community committed to learning and growing together.

I may not have photographs to capture the experience, but I have plenty of moments worth remembering.

A Question to Carry Into the Weekend

When people leave a space you've helped create, how do you hope they feel?

That's where the practice begins.

Love, Dr. Joy