Building Resilience: How Families Can Prepare for the Uncertain School Year Ahead 2025

Joanna Sexter, MD, is a partner at Spring Valley Pediatrics and has been recognized as one of The Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doctors in Pediatrics for over 20 years. She earned her B.A. in Child Study from Tufts University and her medical degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine, followed by a pediatric residency at Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Sexter is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She holds academic appointments at both Georgetown University and GW Hospital. Deeply committed to community health and education, Dr. Sexter has served in advisory roles with St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, National Presbyterian School, and the Bender JCC Summer Camp. She was also a member of the Sanofi Autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes National Advisory Board and is a proud new board member of Resilience Across Borders.

Jelena Kecmanovic, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and adjunct professor at Georgetown University. After earning her doctorate from Temple University, she worked as a professor, psychotherapy practice founder and director, and therapist. An expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), she brings over 30 years of experience addressing anxiety, resilience, existential concerns, and technology and mental health. Dr. Kecmanovic is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and other national publications. She serves on the boards of organizations focused on mental health care, wellness, and education for all, including The Women’s Center and Resilience Across Borders.

Maria Zimmitti, PhD, is the Founder and Clinical Director of Georgetown Psychology with offices in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Dr. Zimmitti is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience evaluating and treating children, adolescents, and young adults with a focus on anxiety, ADHD, autism, and learning disorders. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Zimmitti mentors and supervises early career psychologists and has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology in the Ph.D. Program at George Washington University. She has served on numerous boards and committees to support education and mental health care, including the State Advisory Panel on Special Education for the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Psychological Association, the DC Rape Crisis Center, and Resilience Across Borders.

Dr. Shasha Anderson is an educator whose experience spans over twenty years. She has taught and served as a teacher leader in both Prince George’s and Montgomery County, Maryland. Her last role in K-12 education was an administrator in a middle school setting. Dr. Anderson is currently a Senior Professorial Lecturer at American University in partnership with City Teaching Alliance. In her current role she works to support educators in delivering equitable instruction. As a consultant she has participated in teacher professional development, curriculum creation, and conducted equity audits.