Watauga County Schools and the Watauga Education Foundation co-hosting “Our Kids, Our Community: Navigating Technology and Mental Health in Our Schools”

Watauga County Schools and the Watauga Education Foundation will be co-hosting an important and informative community event on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

The event, titled: “Our Kids, Our Community: Navigating Technology and Mental Health in Our Schools” will be held at Watauga High School and Innovation Academy located at 300 Go Pioneers Drive in Boone.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the formal presentation starting at 5:30 in Ross Auditorium.

Keynote speaker will be Scott St. Clair, MD, FAAP. 

St. Clair is a well-known local pediatrician who has practiced in Boone since 2002 and currently serves patients at Blue Ridge Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. He will present current research on the mental health effects of screen time and social media use on both youth and adults. His discussion will be informed in part by the 2024 book “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt. St. Clair will highlight what he’s seen in his work with adolescents and offer recommendations for healthier approaches to technology. 

Following St. Clair’s keynote, Superintendent Dr. Leslie Alexander will provide an overview of recent state legislation concerning cell phone use in schools and insight on WCS’ plans for the upcoming school year. Her remarks will offer families and community members insight into the growing statewide movement toward phone-free learning environments and what WCS’ approach will be. 

Everyone in the Watauga community is invited and encouraged to attend.