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Through all the uncertainties of parenting in the digital age, one thing is for sure: Smartphones are here to stay. They've unlocked a wealth of knowledge, entertainment, and convenience. But for our children, smartphones have also introduced a bevy of complications for their development and well-being. 

Straight Talk '24: Navigating the Smartphone Era is a livestreamed event featuring top-notch panelists discussing how smartphones are impacting our children's minds, bodies, and classrooms. Councils (district-level PTAs) and local PTAs without councils are encouraged to host watch parties throughout Texas to enjoy this event together.

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Panelist Details


Tabitha Branum

Tabitha Branum, Richardson ISD's 20th superintendent, brings 25 years of educational leadership to Texas. With roles including assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent, she spearheaded curriculum, instruction, and a strategic plan. Formerly a teacher and school leader, she co-designed New Tech High School in Coppell.

Tabitha, a skilled presenter and grant writer, co-authored “Digital Learning: Meeting the Challenges and Embracing the Opportunities for Teachers.” Residing in RISD with her family, she holds degrees from the University of North Texas and is pursuing a doctorate at Dallas Baptist University. In 2022, she earned the National PTA Lifetime Achievement Award, reflecting her dedication to public education.


Titania Jordan

Titania Jordan, a mother and the chief marketing and chief parent officer of Bark Technologies, a digital safety company, is a leading voice on digital parenting. She's authored "Parenting in a Tech World" and contributed to publications like the Wall Street Journal and Forbes. Titania is a sought-after expert on national TV shows and was featured in the documentary Childhood 2.0.

In 2017, she founded a Facebook group for parents, now with over 300,000 members. Her passion for technology stems from fond memories of navigating the early internet with her dad in the '90s. Today, she continues to advocate for online safety and parenting in the ever-evolving digital landscape.


Marvin Ruiz-Martinez

Marvin Ruiz-Martinez is a senior at Robert Turner College and Career High School in Pearland ISD, just south of Houston. Marvin belongs to the unique generation of digital natives where Snapchat and smartphones are part of their coming-of-age story. He has experienced the ups and downs of technology that can both connect and isolate him from his peers; the support that posts can garner from acquaintances at school, and the dangers—in a post-Covid world—of high schoolers sourcing illicit drugs through direct messaging.

To that end, Marvin is active in his school’s Cats Care program, which works to help students care for their mental health. He is also active in National Honors Society, Academic Decathlon, Speech and Debate, and hopes to study computer science this fall at Duke University as a first-generation college student.


Jennifer Wagner

Jennifer Wagner is Round Rock ISD’s new director of behavioral health services. With more than 20 years of experience in mental health and human services, she is dedicated to student well-being and brings a wealth of mental health experience from outpatient, inpatient, and residential settings.

Jennifer has extensive patient experience dealing with substance use, addiction, mood disorders, trauma, grief, and behavioral issues. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s in Social Work from Fordham University.