Announcing Our 2025 Local Empowerers Honorees!
We are thrilled to announce the Local Empowerers Honorees who will be recognized at Keys to Empowerment – A Dueling Pianos Charity Night on May 31, 2025, in Stamford, CT. This year, we are celebrating two remarkable educators who have made a profound impact on their students and the mental health landscape in their communities.
At Ready to Empower (RTE), we recognize the essential role educators play in shaping not just the minds but also the well-being of their students. This year’s honorees have gone above and beyond—not only excelling in education but also serving as champions of mental health.
Lisa Saba-Price
Principal, Westover Magnet School
Lisa Saba-Price has fostered a culture of caring, connection, and compassion within her school and beyond. This year, she was named a Connecticut Choose Love Ambassador, further exemplifying her commitment to empowering students through education and emotional well-being.
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I was born and raised in Stamford, where I met my husband, Joe Price. We are both Stamford Public Schools graduates, as are our children. We have two young adult sons, stepdaughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After college in Washington, DC, I came back to Stamford to teach in the community that I grew up in. I have been in education for 37 years! Currently, I am the principal of Westover Magnet School. I am thrilled to be honored at the Keys to Empowerment Charity night in support of educators through mental wellness.
Social-emotional learning permeates the culture at Westover Magnet. Choose Love, an online, free, social-emotional curriculum that was created by Scarlett Lewis after her son Jesse was murdered in Sandy Hook, can be felt in every aspect of the school. The program teaches students how to deal with conflict, how to take a pause before reacting, and how to forgive. There is also a major emphasis on giving back to the community.
As an educator, I have mentored countless women, helping them achieve their career goals. I am proud of all of the women administrators in Stamford Public Schools who have worked under my leadership.
James Geisler
Executive Director of Wellness Services,
Sacred Heart University
A dedicated advocate for student mental health, James Geisler is the author of Thrive Year One: The Essential Mental Health Workbook for First-Year College Students. His leadership at Sacred Heart University has provided students with the resources they need to navigate mental health challenges and thrive in their academic and personal lives.
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James Geisler, PhD, NCC, LPC, is the author of Thrive Year One: The Essential Mental Health Workbook for First-Year College Students, a pivotal resource offering practical solutions to the ongoing mental health challenges faced by college students. A recognized leader in suicide prevention, James has garnered national attention for his innovative mental health strategies that are transforming the culture of well-being in higher education. He currently serves as the executive director of wellness services at Sacred Heart University, where he continues to drive change and inspire innovation.
James Geisler is widely recognized for his steadfast dedication to suicide prevention and his advocacy for families navigating student mental health during the transition to college. James’ published book last year was driven by a commitment to create lasting change, as he continues to seek innovative, systems-level approaches to mental health support that are both sustainable and impactful.
This year’s theme holds special significance as RTE launched Ready EmpowerEd, a transformative program designed to provide educators, faculty, administrators, and corporate employees with essential mental health tools and strategies. By equipping those who shape our communities with the support they need, we can create lasting, sustainable change.
We look forward to celebrating these incredible honorees and their unwavering dedication to empowerment, education, and mental health at this unforgettable evening of music, impact, and inspiration.
Join us on May 31, 2025, as we honor these extraordinary individuals!
