Navigating Your Child's Device Use (...and Course-Correcting When Needed)

Join us for a practical and insightful session designed to help parents guide their children through responsible device use. We’ll explore how to set healthy boundaries, what to do when things go off track, and how to build trust and communication at home. Drawing on expert research—including Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair’s work on digital parenting—you’ll leave with tools, strategies, and resources to support your child in today’s tech-driven world.

Presented by: Randi Burns: ASB Middle School Counselor, Jennine Ballew: BFIS Middle School Counselor, and Rachael Gerbic BFIS High School Counselor

About the speakers:

Randi Burns
Randi Burns holds a Master's degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts. Originally from Oklahoma, Randi has lived abroad for 15 years across three countries: South Korea, England, and now Spain. Barcelona has been home for the past four years. With experience as both an Elementary and Middle School counselor, Randi has specialized in Middle School for the past 10 years—a time when many children receive their first digital device. As cultural norms and expert recommendations around technology continue to evolve, Randi is committed to staying current on how to help parents set healthy digital boundaries and keep students safe. Outside of work, Randi enjoys playing ultimate frisbee on Castelldefels beach.

Jennine Ballew
Jennine Ballew holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and brings over 20 years of experience in education, both as a classroom teacher and school counselor. She has worked with K–12 students across diverse international settings, including the United States (Arizona), Hanoi, Singapore, and Barcelona. As a counselor and a mother of three, Jennine brings both professional insight and personal experience to the complex challenges families face around student technology use. She is particularly passionate about helping parents and educators navigate the impacts of digital life on learning, relationships, and well-being—at school and at home.

Rachael Gerbic
Dr. Rachael Gerbic is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Ph.D. in Psychology and over 30 years of experience in both U.S. and international schools. She is trauma-trained and has dedicated her career to supporting the emotional well-being of students and families. As a school counselor and mother of an eighth-grade daughter, Rachael brings both professional expertise and personal insight to the challenges of parenting in a digital world. She also leads mindfulness and peer mediation programs, empowering students to build emotional resilience, strong relationships, and healthy habits around technology use.