Parent Education Series 2026
Behind the Behavior: Understanding Your Child at Every Developmental Stage and What You Might See at Home
Friday, October 2, 2026
9:00-10:00 a.m. / Marin Horizon School Library
When we think about the beginning of the school year, we think about new teachers, new friends, new expectations, and all of the logistics of parenting a school-aged child. And then comes the push for more independence, the nightly meltdown that didn’t happen last year, or the “please don’t talk to me in front of my friends.” We may find ourselves wondering what happened and how did we get here? It’s easy to feel lost when our children enter a new developmental stage. We may understand what to expect from a parenting book or article, but it can be much harder to recognize and respond to these changes when they show up at home. In this workshop, we’ll explore the developmental stages of the elementary and middle school years, what to expect as children grow and change, and practical ways to navigate these new phases while strengthening communication, connection, and understanding with your child.
Sarah Janoff-Brinn, LCSW
I am Marin Horizon’s school counselor, a licensed psychotherapist, a mom of two, and a Marin Horizon alum. I have nearly 20 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and families. My work has included supporting children and families in the New York City foster care system, providing individual and family therapy in a San Francisco mental health clinic, serving as a school therapist at a private independent high school, and working in private practice with children, teens, and parents.
Parenting is a journey of constant growth, for our children and for us as parents. Just when we feel like we have figured things out, our children enter a new developmental stage and we find ourselves wondering, “What happened, and what do I do now?” I am passionate about helping parents understand their children’s development, navigate these transitions with greater confidence, and find practical ways to respond to their children’s changing needs. My goal is to support parents in building strong, loving, and healthy relationships with each other and with their children.
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Supporting Executive Functioning Skills
Monday, October 5, 2026
6:00-7:30 p.m. / Marin Horizon School LibraryThis presentation will help parents better understand executive functioning and why skills like organization, time management, attention, flexibility, and emotional regulation can be challenging for children during the elementary through middle school years.We’ll explore what executive functioning looks like in everyday life, why some children struggle with these skills, and practical, age-appropriate strategies parents can use at home to support their child’s independence, confidence, and success. Most importantly, we’ll focus on how to provide support without taking over, so children gradually learn these skills on their own.
ASHLEIGH BRODY, STUDENT SUPPORT TEACHER
Some people climb mountains in their free time. Some bake extravagant desserts, play pickleball, or train for marathons. I read books about executive functioning and listen to parenting podcasts. Since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by how people learn. I tutored younger students as a middle schooler, studied psychology as an undergraduate, pursued education in graduate school, and earned my master’s degree in counseling psychology. But it’s my years of teaching children ages 6–14 that have given me the greatest insight into child development and the many ways children learn, grow, and navigate the world around them.
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All Feelings are Okay: Helping Our Children Build Resilience in the Face of Painful or Uncomfortable Emotion
Friday, November 6, 2026
9:00-10:00 a.m. / Marin Horizon School Library
Big feelings can be hard, for children and for parents! In this workshop, we’ll talk about how to help children understand that all feelings are okay, including the uncomfortable ones. We’ll explore simple ways to respond with empathy and connection while helping children build resilience, cope with frustration and disappointment, and become more comfortable with life’s difficult moments.
Sarah Janoff-Brinn, LCSW
I am Marin Horizon’s school counselor, a licensed psychotherapist, a mom of two, and a Marin Horizon alum. I have nearly 20 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and families. My work has included supporting children and families in the New York City foster care system, providing individual and family therapy in a San Francisco mental health clinic, serving as a school therapist at a private independent high school, and working in private practice with children, teens, and parents.
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How to be an Askable Parent
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
6:00-7:30 p.m. / Marin Horizon School Library
How do we talk with young people about healthy relationships and sexuality in a way that builds their capacity for meaningful connections grounded in mutual care, respect, consent, and dignity?
Shafia Zaloom will lead an open and honest conversation about how parents can create an environment where children feel comfortable asking questions, talking about relationships, and coming to us when they need guidance.
Join us for an important and practical conversation about raising young people who can build healthy, respectful, and meaningful relationships.
While this conversation is geared toward the teen years, the foundation for healthy relationships, boundaries, communication, and consent starts when children are young. All parents and caregivers are welcome, not just those with middle schoolers.
SHAFIA ZALOOM
Shafia Zaloom is a nationally recognized health educator, author, and consultant specializing in teen development, relationships, health, and sex education. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, NPR, KQED, and PBS.
A longtime Bay Area educator, Shafia spent more than 20 years at The Urban School of San Francisco, where she developed and taught its health program, and she created the health program at Marin Academy. She has worked with schools, students, parents, and educators throughout the Bay Area and across the country.
She is the author of Sex, Teens, and Everything in Between and Getting Real About Sex Ed: What Today’s Students Need.
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Real Talk: Puberty, Body Image and Self Esteem
Friday, December 11, 2026
9:00-10:00 a.m. / Marin Horizon School Library
Join us for a supportive workshop designed to help parents and caregivers navigate conversations about puberty, changing bodies, body image, and self-esteem with their adolescents. Rooted in evidence-informed practices, this workshop will equip parents and caregivers with practical tools and language to approach these topics in a way that feels natural, healthy, and developmentally-appropriate. Together, we'll explore how to build trust, normalize these conversations, and support children through this important stage of development.
MELANIE JENKINS
Melanie joined Marin Horizon this year as the Manager of Auxiliary Programs. Prior to this role, Melanie taught comprehensive health education to high school students at The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas. Melanie also taught comprehensive health education to middle school students at The School at Columbia in New York City. Trained in adolescent health education with a Master of Public Health, she is experienced in delivering developmentally-appropriate information to students. Ultimately, she aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills that they need to help them make healthy choices for themselves. Her work in health education is grounded in evidence and empathy, and she views parents/caregivers as the #1 health educator of their child. She enjoys working alongside families to instill confidence and inspire compassion among the students she teaches