Dr. Dustin Springer will be the plenary speaker for our Brain-Based Behavior Track of the new Learning Brain Exchange. His sessions will be Monday, February 16, 2026.
The session is entitled: Wired for Resilience: Unlocking the Brilliance of the Nervous System
Our children are deeply affected by the contagion of today’s societal unrest. Yet within every child and adult lies a nervous system wired for resilience, designed through evolution to keep us safe and connected. As educators, we have the opportunity to unlock this brilliance by sharing grounding practices that carry a positive contagion—cultivating calm, safety, and authentic connection across our classrooms and schools.
The human nervous system evolved to prioritize survival, redirecting energy in moments of danger and scanning for threats. While this vigilance kept our ancestors alive, it continues to shape how students experience stress in today’s learning environments. Neuroscience shows that thousands of moments of co-regulation are needed to build the executive functions of emotional regulation. Trauma alters brain physiology, but connection has the power to restore and rewire, engaging the parts of the brain that make learning possible.
This session explores the neurobiology of stress through the hierarchy of nervous system states and integrates current research into practical classroom strategies. Grounded in Dr. Lori Desautels’ Body and Brain Brilliance, participants will discover how the body’s internal “pharmacy”—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, cortisol, and more—influences emotions, relationships, and regulation.
Attendees will gain insight into:
- How stress and trauma disrupt access to learning.
- Practical co-regulation strategies tailored to students’ unique needs.
- Ways to reduce burnout by embedding grounding practices.
- Tools to foster resilience by engaging the brain’s natural plasticity.
Participants will leave equipped with brain-based practices to create safe, engaging learning environments. By aligning daily routines with the science of connection, we can reveal that our nervous systems are not only built to survive adversity—they are wired for resilience.
Dr. Dustin Springer is the principal of Third Avenue/Quest, an alternative education program in Leavenworth, Kansas. With 28 years in education, he has served as a teacher, community school liaison, and administrator, dedicated to creating safe, supportive environments where every student can thrive. Dr. Springer is an international speaker and affiliate faculty member at Butler University, teaching in the Applied Educational Neuroscience certification program.. Passionate about restorative practices and student-centered leadership, he works to transform schools into communities of connection, equity, and hope.
