In September, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States hosted its third annual Thriving Schools Summit at the Center for Total Health in Washington, D.C. Educators, school leaders, and community partners from across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia came together to strengthen the partnerships that support student success and collaborate on key school health issues. The Thriving Schools Summit has become a much-anticipated annual event in the Mid-Atlantic region, where leaders in school health and wellness can come together across districts and hundreds of miles to connect and learn from each other.
This year’s summit welcomed school professionals and community partners from 14 districts for expert-led discussions on some of today’s most pressing school health topics. Attendees included physicians, school health providers, educators, administrators, and community leaders from across the region. Leaders from Fairfax County and Alexandria City in Virginia and Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, and Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland were among the districts that shared strategies for improving student health, well-being, and academic success through discussions on Attendance as a Vital Sign, school-community partnerships, and the well-being of students and school staff.
The engaging panelists shared practical examples of how schools, health systems, and community organizations can work together to remove barriers to learning and create healthier, more supportive environments for students, educators, and families. These examples highlighted innovative approaches to addressing chronic absenteeism, expanding access to school-based health resources, and fostering collaboration between health care and education leaders.
The common thread through all this year’s panel discussions were 3 priority areas:
- School Partnerships
The first panel explored the successes and challenges of building community partnerships that support students, teachers, and staff. Panelists discussed the most pressing needs facing schools and districts today and how community partners can engage with them to achieve better health and academic outcomes. Dr. Rachel Marquez, regional medical director of external affairs for Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (MAPMG) moderated the discussion. The panel featured Traci Chappelear-Thomas and Dr. Christine Paul of Charles County Public Schools’ Department of Community Engagement and Equity. Joining them were Dr. Lynette Henry, executive director of Educate Fairfax, the educational foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools; Dr. Ingrid Williams-Horton, director of community schools for Prince George’s County Public Schools; and Dr. Heather Wooldrige, executive director of The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools.
[Watch a recording of the session]
- Student and Staff Well-Being
The second panel explored how student health and staff wellness intersect and which resources can help both populations stay healthy and thrive. Dr. Asha Patton-Smith, chair of psychiatry for MAPMG moderated the discussion. Panelists included Mary Kay Connerton, wellness coordinator for Anne Arundel County Public Schools; Dr. Michele Arthurs, physician director of Lifestyle Medicine for MAPMG. The panel also featured Carey Dwyer, RN, nurse manager for Montgomery County Public Schools; Tresa Wiggins, MSN, RN, CPNP, nurse practitioner at the Rales School-Based Health Center at KIPP Baltimore; and Krist Vitter, MPH, BSSN, RN, senior manager of school health services for Fairfax County Public Schools.
[Watch a recording of the session]
- Attendance as a Vital Sign
The final panel focused on why attendance is critical to academic success, how health affects attendance and how districts are expanding and evolving their efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism. Mariah Lafleur, a national program lead for Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools, moderated the discussion. Panelists included Dr. Tanya Crawford-Williams, coordinator of the Office of Student Conduct and Attendance for Baltimore City Public Schools and Hope Murphy, MSW, attendance specialist for Alexandria City Public Schools. They were joined by Patricia Mustipher, LCSW-C, director of student support services for Baltimore County Public Schools, and Laura Thieman, LCSW, MPH, senior manager of student attendance and engagement for Fairfax County Public Schools.
[Watch a recording of the session]
The Summit wrapped with an educational theatre performance of Ghosted, designed for middle and high school audiences and the adults who support them, Ghosted uses storytelling to explore mental health, connection and the challenges young people face. Kaiser Permanente Educational Theater is presented by Imagination Stage and is available to schools and districts within Kaiser Permanente service areas. To bring Ghosted to your school, complete the 2026-2027 Booking Request.
This year’s conversations reinforced a common message: students and school staff are better positioned to succeed when health and education work together. Strengthening community partnerships, supporting staff well-being, and tackling chronic absenteeism all reflected that connection. Kaiser Permanente looks forward to building on this momentum with school and community partners across the region and to continuing the dialogue at next year’s summit.
