2026 AAEA Summer Conference

The waters of young adolescence have grown increasingly turbulent. Between the "Great Rewiring" of childhood and the shifting social dynamics of the digital age, educators and leaders are often left wondering how to steady the ship. This session dives deep into the heart of the modern youth experience, using two of the most influential works of our time as our navigational stars. We will begin by exploring the "why" behind the current mental health crisis using Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation. Haidt's research illuminates how the shift from play-based childhood to phone-based childhood has created a "Great Rewiring," leaving many young adolescents adrift in an epidemic of anxiety and isolation. Understanding this landscape is the first step in helping our students find their way back to solid ground. However, diagnosing the problem is only half the battle. To provide a way forward, we turn to David Yeager's 10 to 25. Yeager offers a groundbreaking, science-backed approach to leadership that moves away from the "nagging" or "compliance" models of the past. Instead, we will learn how to tap into the natural neurobiological drives of the adolescent brain, specifically the need for status and respect, to foster resilience, motivation, and genuine connection.