Rising levels of student stress, emotional dysregulation, and behavioural escalation in schools reflect underlying neurobiological processes that are frequently misinterpreted within traditional disciplinary systems. Grounded in affective neuroscience and developmental psychology, this breakout session examines how systemic school design can strengthen student self-regulation by aligning educational practices with right-brain mechanisms governing stress response, emotional processing, and relational safety. Emotional dysregulation is defined as sustained states of hyperarousal (e.g., anxiety, impulsivity, aggression) or hypoarousal (e.g., withdrawal, shutdown) that arise when perceived threat activates the autonomic nervous system, constraining executive functioning, empathy, and learning (Damasio, 1998; Schore, 2003).
The session draws on quantitative, schoolwide pre–post implementation data from multiple urban public secondary schools in Los Angeles. Office discipline referrals and suspension records were analyzed across one academic year prior to and one academic year following the implementation of a neurobiologically informed restorative framework. Outcome measures included total referrals, suspensions, and incidents involving violent or escalated behaviour.
Participants are introduced to the concept of a right-brain restorative alliance, emphasizing adult emotional attunement, co-regulation, and relational consistency as foundational conditions for student regulation and behavioural repair. Observed reductions in disciplinary referrals and suspensions are examined as indicators of decreased threat activation and increased systemic coherence among adults. Session translates neuroscience research into actionable, system-level design principles, offering educators, counselors, and school leaders practical strategies for cultivating emotionally safe, regulation-supportive learning environments.

Authors:
Carlos Alvarez, Los Angeles Institute For Right Brain Practices and Research, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Carlos Alvarez, Founder & CEO of the Los Angeles Institute for Right Brain Practices & Research (LAIRP), focuses on evidence-based, neuroscience-informed student interventions that build self-regulation and emotional stamina in schools.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-alvarez-770348130/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

Bookmark