More than 100 Pennridge community members and staff gathered at Pennridge High School for “Phones, Focus, and the Future: A Community Conversation,” an evening dedicated to discussing the growing research around smartphones, social media, adolescent mental health and student focus.
The event brought together families, educators, and community members to learn from Licensed Professional Counselor Lois Dodson, PA Unplugged parent advocate Kirstin McGowan and youth advocate Lee Rush. Presentations were followed by small-group discussions that encouraged participants to share perspectives and consider how schools and families can work together to support healthier technology habits for students, said a Pennridge School District press release.
More than 100 community members and staff gathered at Pennridge High School’s green gym for the event. (Courtesy of David Thomas)
The event featured presentations and small group discussions about the growing research on smartphones and youth mental health. (Courtesy of David Thomas)Pennridge Superintendent Dr. Angelo Berrios said the goal of the event was to create space for open dialogue about an issue schools are seeing every day.
“Our goal in hosting this event was to create space for a community conversation about the growing research on smartphones, social media, and adolescent well-being,” Berrios said. “Schools see the impact of these technologies on student focus, learning, and development every day. By bringing families, educators, and community members together, we hope to broaden understanding and work together to help students build healthier and more balanced relationships with technology.”
Youth advocate Lee Rush, one of the featured speakers, said the discussion is only the beginning of an ongoing conversation within the Pennridge community.
“[It] was the beginning of a community conversation between our school district and community members including many parents,” Rush said. “Regardless of whatever the legislators in Harrisburg ultimately decide to do with the current proposed ‘bell to bell, no cell’ bill, we need to continue our own local conversations about what’s best for our children.”
Pennridge School Board President Carolyn Sciarrino emphasized the value of the dialogue and community participation.
“The Phones, Focus, and the Future conversation was a great start for listening and talking about how cell phones are affecting our students’ way of thinking and learning,” Sciarrino said. “It was also nice to see so many of our staff and families engage in honest conversations about cell phone use.”
District leaders expressed appreciation for the strong turnout and thoughtful engagement from attendees, noting that the evening highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between schools and families as the community navigates the evolving role of technology in students’ lives, said the release.
Youth advocate Lee Rush speaks at the event. (Courtesy of David Thomas)
