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RFP #2026-059 awarded through June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027

Your educators are carrying a lot. We're here to help carry it with them.

Aspen Counseling and Wellness is an NISD-awarded vendor for keynote speaking, professional development, and staff wellness programming. Available for direct booking by any Northside ISD department or campus.

Licensed Mental Health Practice    |    In-Person and Virtual    |   NISD Contract #2026-059

ABOUT ASPEN

Where clinical expertise meets

educator well-being.

Aspen Counseling and Wellness is a licensed mental health practice — not a general training firm. Every program we deliver is grounded in evidence-based clinical frameworks, designed specifically for the realities of school culture, and facilitated by credentialed professionals who understand the weight educators carry.

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  • Led by Bernadette P. Smith, Ed.D., LPC-S

  • Evidence-based frameworks: CBT, mindfulness, solution-focused practice, Positive Psychology, Self-Determination Theory

  • Team of licensed and credentialed associate presenters

  • Serving K-12 educational communities across Texas

  • NISD-awarded vendor under RFP #2026-059 — no additional procurement required for NISD departments

We listen to the organization first. That's how we show up in a way that's genuinely useful, not just impressive.

MEET THE LEADS

Who's in the room with your team.

 

Every Aspen engagement is led or directly overseen by one of our two clinical leads. Depending on your session format and scheduling, Dr. Smith or Dr. Shelby will present or personally match you with the right associate presenter for your campus. 

Dr. Bernadette Smith, LPC-S

Founder & Lead Presenter

Sets the strategic direction for every engagement. Leads keynotes, major staff development events, and district-wide sessions. Brings doctoral-level clinical expertise to every room she enters.

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Dr. Bernadette Smith
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Dr. Donetta Shelby,

LPC

Clinical Training Director

Oversees the clinical integrity of every program Aspen delivers. Ensures every presenter meets our standards before stepping in front of your staff. Leads keynotes, staff development, and workshop engagements.

Dr. Donetta Shelby
Read More

Every associate presenter at Aspen is licensed or license-eligible and has been trained directly under Dr. Smith's or Dr. Shelby's oversight. Your campus will always know in advance who is presenting and what they bring.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Alfred, Director of Education & Outreach

The training was thoughtfully customized to our programs and exceeded what we anticipated in
both quality and impact.

Charissa, Clinical Training Coordinator

Share the amazing things customers are saying about your business. Double click, or click Edit Text to make it yours.

Milton, Senior Psychotherpist

Aspen's presentation was clinically
informed, engaging, and tailored to the specific professional context of our audience.

NISD- AWARDED TOPIC AREAS

Three areas. One integrated clinical lens.

Topic C

Social-Emotional Learning

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Evidence-based SEL programming that moves beyond surface-level activities into sustainable practices for student well-being, classroom culture, and campus climate.

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  • Self-awareness and self-regulation frameworks

  • Empathy, resilience, and peer relationship skills

  • Alignment with district SEL goals and MTSS structures

  • CBT and mindfulness-based strategies for educators

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Topic I

Educator Well-Being & Professional Sustainability

Clinically informed programming that addresses burnout prevention, stress management, and the long-term sustainability of your most valuable asset, your people.

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  • Burnout recognition and clinical-level prevention strategies

  • Stress management grounded in evidence-based practice

  • Building organizational cultures that support retention

  • Motivational keynotes on resilience and professional identity

Topic J

Staff & Student Engagement and Motivation

Engagement is not a pep talk, it is a system. Aspen delivers programming rooted in Self-Determination Theory and Positive Psychology to build lasting intrinsic motivation.

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  • Evidence-based strategies for staff morale and motivation

  • Student engagement through strengths-based approaches

  • Learning environments that foster academic persistence

  • Professional development that actually transfers to practice

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DELIVERY FORMATS

Built around your schedule.

Every engagement is customized to your campus or department context. All formats are available in-person or virtually.

Keynote

High-impact, motivational presentations for large audiences, staff development days, back-to-school, or district-wide events.

Half-Day

Deeper skill-building in a focused, interactive format, ideal for campus teams or department professional development.

Multi-Session

Sustained professional learning over multiple touchpoints, the format that produces lasting behavior change.

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Virtual & In-Person

Full-quality programming delivered online, same content and engagement, built for distributed teams and flexible access.

PRICING

All-inclusive rates.

No surprises.

Pricing is all-inclusive per the NISD contract terms, no separate travel, materials, or incidental charges. Contact us for a rate sheet tailored to your specific session type and audience size.

GET IN TOUCH

Form

Ready to bring

Aspen to your campus?

We'd love to learn about your campus/department's needs. Fill out the form and we will be in touch

What Can We Help You With?
Topic Area of Interest
Preferred Format

Aspen Counseling & Wellness

A licensed mental health practice providing evidence-based professional development, keynote speaking, and staff wellness programming for K–12 educators and school district teams across Texas.

NISD Contract · RFP #2026-059 · Active through May 2027Services

Professional Development Services — Northside ISD

By Topic

  • Social-emotional learning professional development NISD

  • Educator burnout prevention keynote San Antonio

  • Staff wellness programming Northside ISD

  • SEL training for teachers NISD

  • Educator well-being workshops San Antonio TX

  • Staff engagement professional development

  • Student motivation keynote speaker NISD

  • Mental health professional development K–12

  • Evidence-based SEL keynote speaker Texas

  • Clinically grounded teacher professional development

By Format

  • NISD keynote speaker contract vendor

  • Motivational speaker Northside ISD RFP 2026-059

  • Half-day workshop NISD campuses

  • Virtual professional development NISD

  • Multi-session PD series Northside ISD

  • Staff development day speaker San Antonio

  • CTPA contract speaker Texas school districts

  • Interlocal agreement professional development Texas

  • NISD awarded vendor speaker services

  • Licensed mental health professional keynote Texas

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Serving All Northside ISD Campuses

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Aspen Counseling & Wellness is a licensed mental health practice and NISD-awarded vendor (RFP #2026-059) for keynote speaking, motivational presentations, social-emotional learning, educator well-being, and staff engagement professional development. Available for direct booking by all Northside Independent School District campuses and departments in San Antonio, Texas. Serving K–12 educators across Texas including districts through the Central Texas Purchasing Alliance (CTPA).

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By Role

  • Professional development for NISD principals

  • Staff development for school counselors NISD

  • Keynote speaker for NISD teachers

  • Administrator wellness workshop Northside ISD

  • PD for NISD department heads

  • Professional learning for NISD instructional coaches

  • Staff retreat speaker San Antonio school district

  • Back-to-school keynote NISD campuses

  • New teacher wellness programming NISD

  • Campus culture keynote Northside ISD

About Aspen

  • Dr. Bernadette Smith Ed.D. LPC-S keynote speaker

  • Aspen Counseling Wellness professional development

  • Licensed counselor professional development Texas

  • Black woman keynote speaker San Antonio Texas

  • LPC-S educator keynote speaker K–12

  • Evidence-based staff wellness Texas ISD

  • Pearland Texas keynote speaker school districts

  • CBT mindfulness educator professional development

  • Positive psychology keynote Texas educator

  • Self-determination theory staff training Texas

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