ELM Educational Consulting LLC

08/27/2026

Join me and inspiring colleagues/volunteers at Nevada CASA Association’s Statewide Conference to collaborate on how to best support children experiencing foster care.
You also just may enjoy the feeling of being privileged to be among some of the most dedicated, selfless people you will ever meet and find opportunities to volunteer in way that significantly impacts our youth 🩷 www.nvcasa.org

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Leslie Strasser Congrove to the 2026 Nevada CASA Statewide Conference!

Dr. Strasser Congrove has dedicated her career to ensuring children and families have access to the education services. As Education Liaison for Clark County Family Services, she works daily to protect the education rights of children in foster care.

She holds a PhD and JD from UNLV, teaches education advocacy and law as an adjunct professor alongside her work with the Clark County Department of Juvenile Justice, Teach For America, and Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV.

Don’t miss the chance to hear her presentation on “ Join us August 28-29 in Las Vegas as advocates, volunteers, and leaders from across the state come together, Stronger Together, for Nevada’s children.

Seats are filling up. Register today at https://nvcasa.networkforgood.com/events/100557-2026-statewide-casa-conference

03/07/2026

Honored to present the welcome at the Nevada School Counselor Association Annual Conference. Our counselors are the heart in education. From their academic knowledge to helping our students engage and succeed in school to their smiles and kind words on schools campuses for all kids even the ones who challenge them, they matter. I loved being surrounded by their energy!

11/10/2025

We had the privilege of training 50+ Court Appointed Special Advocates statewide on how to support children experiencing foster care with special education needs. CASAs volunteer their time and efforts for our kids and they are the eyes, ears, and heart of our system. Thank you Rebecca Dirks Garcia and the Nevada CASA Foundation or the opportunity! Can’t wait to hear how I can help next!

09/25/2025

Today when working my UNLV students I shared with them one of the most powerful words in any language… WHY. It is only when we ask why someone believes/feels whay they do, ask questions to clarify, understand, and empathize, and then truly listen to the answer, do we gain the trust and come up with solutions that work. Ask WHY. Shortly behind WHY come my other favorite words/phrase … WHAT can I do and and HOW can I help? Don’t ask if you’re not willing to be a part of the solution.

On Friday, a teacher gave her 5th graders a simple activity. She asked them to finish the sentence: “I wish my teacher would know…”

What the children wrote broke her heart.

One child wrote, “I wish my teacher would know my dad is in jail, and I haven’t seen him in years.”

Another wrote, “I wish my teacher would know I don’t always eat dinner because my mom works and I don’t know how to use the stove.”

Another shared, “I wish my teacher would know my sister sleeps in the same bed as me, and sometimes she wets the bed. That’s why I smell funny.”

One child wrote, “I wish my teacher would know I don’t always have sneakers for gym class because my brothers and I share one pair.”

And another, “I wish my teacher would know I like coming to school because it’s quiet here, unlike my house with all the yelling.”

💔 These words are a reminder that so many carry silent battles we don’t see. Behind every smile, every classroom seat, every neighbor or coworker, there may be a story we can’t imagine.

We spend so much of life talking, judging, assuming we already know. Maybe what we really need is to slow down, ask questions, and truly listen.

Give more than you get. Choose compassion over judgment. Serve with kindness. Let’s leave this world just a little better than we found it. 💕

Credit: Elle Deal ✍️

08/13/2025

Wishing all families, children, teachers, school staff, and community support providers a smooth beginning of school year! Remember rough patches and roadblocks are inevitable as we are all trying to juggle new systems and routines in the new year. Everyone is trying their best with a lot on their plate. Patience will allow the time for the best and thoughtful solutions (unless it is a safety or hazardous situation for anyone). We at www.elmeducationalconsulting.com and www.wideningthedoors.com look forward to building collaborations and solutions that work for all and to help kids engage and see value in their education!

05/27/2025

Annual appreciation luncheon for our wonderful colleagues- our administrators, counselors, social workers, and support staff - who are out there tirelessly working to help our families and children. We appreciate you and are thankful for you!

Wishing everyone a great summer and time spent with loved ones! We too will be spending time with family and working hard to set up for an exciting school year ahead. Stay tuned for some exciting news so we can help more children, families, and schools in the coming months…

02/01/2025

Privileged to present along with my colleague Jennifer Erbes to the all Clark County School District Counselors at their regional trainings about what our children experiencing foster care go through and how to support them using empathy and trauma-based practices. Thank you CCSD Guidance and Counseling for the opportunity. We appreciate you school counselors! You make a difference!

02/17/2023

Title is a misnomer. Easy to understand article that identifies the struggles schools, school staff, families, and kids involved in special education deal with on so many levels and explains why these tragedies might occur. We need to all work together. It’s all hands on deck time. We are here to help and are working on a project to provide solutions for all. Stay tuned!

The same problems that led to a 6-year-old boy shooting his teacher in Virginia often play out across the nation, as schools fail to follow disability plans

08/10/2022

Wishing all our children, families, and teachers a good beginning of the school year! Here are a few important tips to consider:

The beginning of school is chaotic for everyone. If there is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately for the safety and well being of the child, address it. If I can wait a few weeks, you may get it handled or get it addressed with more attention and thought. Generally your child’s counselor in middle and high school and principal/assistant principal in elementary school are great go to’s for help.

Kids typically take at least 3 weeks to transition from new experiences or things. The first few weeks are a steep learning curve while dealing with new teachers, new class/school rules, not being with friends from last year, etc. If your child’s issue is not a dire one wait a few weeks for the dust to settle to see if the issue is still an issue at that time.

Reach out to your child’s teachers to say hi and find out how you can support them in teaching your child and in their teaching generally.

Attend open houses and make sure you are receiving regular communications from your child’s school. If you aren’t, contact the school office to make sure your contact information is correct.

We’ll be posting updates/tips between helping all our families and client organizations. Feel free to reach out for more tailored, individual help! We’re here for you!

05/07/2022

So thrilled to hear from our graduating children and families about their future plans! There is no one path to success/happiness and it is important to enjoy all the curves on the journey!