This year, Gunn will be taking several measures to help its students deal with stress, including hosting a guest speaker—Denise Clark Pope.

Pope, a professor at Stanford University’s School of Education, has worked closely with many parents and students over the years and has written Doing School: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed-Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students.

Three years ago, Stressed-Out Students (SOS), a Stanford University conference, invited Gunn to participate as part of a private survey and ultimately become affiliated with future Stanford anti-stress programs. “Now, our focus is homework,” economics teacher and SOS member Dawna Linsdell said. “We’re examining its role and purpose and coming up with strategies to help kids with it.”

Pope will speak at two assemblies this year: Wednesday, Oct.. 25 (7 to 9 p.m.—$5 admission) for parents, and Tuesday, Nov. 14, for students.