Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle and High School Principals:

Ninth Annual Wellness Together Conference San Diego, California, September 29–October 1, 2025

In this time of growing complexity in education, it is more important than ever to unite around the well-being of our students and the educators who serve them. I invite you and your staff to attend the Ninth Annual Wellness Together Conference, hosted by Wellness Together in partnership with the California Department of Education, at the San Diego Convention Center.

Student mental health needs continue to grow in urgency and demand. Educators, counselors, and school leaders remain committed to providing exceptional education despite ongoing challenges. This conference is an opportunity to connect, inspire, and equip your teams with practical tools and strategies to address critical student needs effectively.

The 2025 Wellness Together Conference focuses on three essential areas:

• Building Strong Schools Amid Changing Dynamics: Helping leaders navigate today’s educational conversations and policies with care and commitment.
• Student Mental Health: Offering practical tools and best practices to support students experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and identity-based stressors.
• Mental Health for the Helpers: Providing educators, counselors, and leaders with strategies and dialogue to support their own mental well-being.

We are honored to welcome keynote speaker Dr. Vivek Murthy, the nineteenth and twenty-first Surgeon General of the United States under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Dr. Murthy is a leading advocate on youth mental health and addressing loneliness, isolation, and belonging in schools and communities.

Additional notable speakers include:

• Dr. John B. King, Jr., 10th U.S. Secretary of Education and Chancellor of the State University of New York
• Rainn Wilson, actor, author, and mental health advocate
• Michael Tubbs, founder of End Poverty in California (EPIC) and former mayor of Stockton
• Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs, author and equity advocate
• Anya Kamenetz, nationally recognized author and education journalist

These speakers will offer inspiration, actionable insights, and renewed purpose to the educators and leaders who support our students daily.

We warmly encourage your district, county, or school to consider attending this year’s conference to experience community, hope, and resilience together.

For more details and registration, please visit the Wellness Together Conference web page at https://www.wellnesstogether.org/conference.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction