Dr. Ben Springer to Present Optimistic Teaming at Barranca Mesa Jan. 29

Dr. Ben Springer presented practical, team-based strategies for addressing challenging student behaviors at Barranca Mesa Elementary on Jan. 26, bringing a focus on coordinated responses that matter to Los Alamos families and school staff. The event gathered educators, special education staff, and community members to hear approaches aimed at keeping teams solution-focused when situations feel overwhelming.

Springer is an award-winning, nationally certified school psychologist and co-author of Optimistic Teaming: Coordination Strategies for Tough Student Situations. He has served in schools as an autism specialist, school psychologist, behavior specialist, and Director of Special Education. In 2017, Springer and Dr. Ben Belnap founded Totem PD, a web-based professional development company for educators and mental health practitioners; Los Alamos Public Schools has subscribed to Totem PD since 2019. His earlier book, Happy Kids Don’t Punch You in the Face, addressed aggressive behaviors in schools, and Optimistic Teaming emphasizes a collaborative model for keeping interventions practical and focused.

Springer met with Los Alamos Public Schools Special Education and related services staff in morning and afternoon sessions, and he presented to the broader public in an evening program. Student Services Coordinator Karla Crane encouraged participation, saying, “We are looking forward to Dr. Springer’s presentation and encourage the community to attend. This is an exciting opportunity for our staff and the community to learn new strategies to support students.”

The presentation fits into a broader local need to strengthen school-based behavioral supports and to reduce reliance on exclusionary discipline. For parents of children with autism or behavioral health needs, practical coordination among teachers, behavior specialists, and families can mean fewer classroom disruptions, faster access to supports, and clearer plans for crisis moments. For school staff, the training reinforces sustained professional development rather than one-off fixes; the district’s ongoing subscription to Totem PD signals a commitment to that sustained approach.

Public health and equity considerations are central to the message: coordinated, team-driven responses can help ensure that students with disabilities and students of color do not disproportionately face disciplinary measures that push them out of school. Investing in training for school psychologists, special education teachers, and related service providers can also reduce stress on families who seek consistent, respectful interventions.

Los Alamos residents can expect to see this training reflected in classroom practices and special education coordination over time as staff apply Optimistic Teaming techniques. For families and community members, the presentation represents a step toward more predictable, team-based supports that aim to keep students engaged and learning.