Teachers Aligned

Dr. Dean Ornish is the author of is the author of seven books, all national bestsellers. UnDo It! (co-authored with Anne Ornish) was published by Random House as their lead nonfiction title in January 2019. His three main-stage TED.com talks have been viewed by almost six million people. The research that he and his colleagues conducted has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Circulation, The New England Journal of Medicine, the American Journal of Cardiology, The Lancet Oncology, and elsewhere. A one-hour documentary of their work was broadcast on NOVA, the PBS science series, and was featured on Bill Moyers' PBS series, Healing & The Mind. Their work has been featured in all major media, including cover stories in Newsweek, TIME, and U.S. News & World Report. He has written a monthly column for TIME, Newsweek and Reader's Digest magazines, is a LinkedIn Influencer, and was Medical Editor of The Huffington Post 2010-2016. He was appointed by President Clintonto the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy and by President Obama to the White House Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. He is also a member of The Lancet Oncology “Moonshot Commission.” He has been a member of the boards of directors of the San Francisco Food Bank and the J. Craig Venter Institute. Dr. Ornish and colleagues established a lifestyle medicine clinic at the St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Shelter in San Francisco where over 30,000 homeless people were treated. The “Ornish diet” has been rated “#1 for Heart Health” by a panel of experts at U.S. News & World Report for eight years from 2011-2019. He co-chaired the Google Health Advisory Council with Marissa Mayer 2007-9. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

This is a special edition of the Teachers Aligned Podcast featuring four amazing educators in South Carolina. Pete Stone is the Chester County Teacher of the Year. Chanda Jefferson is the 2020 SC Teacher of the Year from Fairfield. Jed Dearybury was a 2014 Honor Roll Teacher in SC and a national leader in professional development. Saani Niri is an SCforED Board Member and teacher from Rock Hill. In this episode, we talk about the reflections we've had since the pandemic started. We focus on the inequities that this pandemic has made even more obvious. We also talk about bringing an end to standardized testing. The conversation starts a few seconds in because I forgot to hit record. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Mag Dimond is the award-winning author of BOWING TO ELEPHANTS, Tales of a Travel Junkie (which hit #1 in 5 countries on the day it launched and just won Best Indie Biographies & Memoirs from Kirkus). Her book has been compared to EAT, PRAY, LOVE in professional reviews and has received accolades from many thought leaders in the mindfulness space, including Jack Kornfield. It’s full of stories of her travels around the world, self-discovery, healing, food, and so much more at magdimond.com. She has been a world traveler since age 11 — living with her mother in Italy for 3 years — and has traveled the globe. Once a 10 year hospice volunteer, she is a practicing Buddhist and dedicated member of Spirit Rock Meditation Center north of San Francisco. Mag’s essays are on Elephant Journal (being read by almost 2 million people). --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Meena Srinivasan, MA, National Board Certified Teacher, is a South Asian-American edupreneur with deep expertise in the fields of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mindfulness in Education. She is the Founding Executive Director of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), an empowering, racially and culturally diverse, compassion-centered, innovative program for educational leaders who are called to integrate mindfulness-based, social, emotional, academic and ethical learning into schools and school systems. Prior to this role she spent five and a half years working in partnership with the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) to implement SEL system-wide in the Oakland Unified School District. Meena has taught and led in a variety of school settings (public, private, urban, international) and holds a Clear Administrative Services Credential in the state of California. She is the creator of the SEL Every Day online courses, author of Teach, Breathe, Learn: Mindfulness In and Out of the Classroom and SEL Every Day: Integrating SEL with Instruction in Secondary Classrooms which was chosen as one of 2019’s Favorite Books for Educators by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. Meena’s article, “Social and Emotional Learning Starts with Adults” was one of ASCD’s 10 Best Express Articles of 2018. Meena's Resources Tree of contemplative practices TEL website My website Also note I'm offering a significant discount on both of my online courses through May 8th in response to COVID-19 (flyer attached) Free guided meditation to support during COVID-19 Article on Integrating Mindfulness into Virtual Spaces --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

This is a short audio skit exploring a scenario where doctors were suddenly treated the way teachers are treated. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Dr. Rick Hanson is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His books have been published in 29 languages and include Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture – with 900,000 copies in English alone. His newest book is Neurodharma: Science, Wisdom, and Steps to the Highest Happiness will be released May 5, 2020. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, he’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. His work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, and NPR, and 150,000 subscribers receive his free Just One Thing newsletter every week. He has a variety of popular online programs in positive neuroplasticity – with scholarships available for those with financial need. Dr. Hanson has been a trustee of Saybrook University, served on the board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and was president of the board of FamilyWorks, a community agency. He began meditating in 1974, trained in several traditions, and leads a weekly meditation gathering. He and his wife live in northern California and have two adult children. He enjoys being in wilderness and taking a break from emails. Please welcome Dr. Rick Hanson. Rick's Resources Social Media https://www.facebook.com/rickhansonphd/ https://www.twitter.com/drrhanson/ https://www.instagram.com/rickhansonphd/ https://www.youtube.com/user/drrhanson Website https://rickhanson.net/ Being Well Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/being-well-podcast-with-dr-rick-hanson/id1120885936?mt=2 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

TRIGGER WARNING - This podcast contains information about suicide which may be upsetting to some people. Susan Crooks is an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience. She holds a M.Ed. from Clemson University and is a certified trainer and ambassador for The Foundation for Critical Thinking. Ms. Crooks and her son, Walt, worked at the same school for almost 10 years. They have presented their unique theory on the pairing of mindfulness and critical thinking at conferences across the United States. The loss of Walt due to anxiety and depression led Susan to establish Walt’s Waltz. A driven mother and educator, Susan strives to open conversations and change prevailing perspectives on Mental Health. Susan's Recommendations Suicide Life Line: 1-800-273-8255 waltswaltz.com PsychU Read This Till You Believe It — A book to offer encouragement and support. By M.H. Clark Walt's Waltz Song --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Shelly Fox is the Director of Blue Mountain School, a contemplative progressive school in Floyd, Virginia. Her background is in community-based and school-based counseling. Blue Mountain School’s model of Contemplative Progressive education is also grounded in values and practices that facilitate change and growth, and the model asks that everyone in their school community—parents, students, and teachers—support each other as they learn and grow from their experiences. Shelly states, "I am happy to be focusing my attention and energy to co-create (on a foundation that already has been established by those who came before) a small-scale educational system that fosters the development of loving human relationships, self-awareness, and self-efficacy—all of which are things that kids (and all of us!) need to be at peace in the world." Shelly's Recommendations Blue Mountain School Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators The Art of Coaching: Effective Strategies for School Transformation Responsive Classroom The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life The Choose Love Enrichment Program Set up a tour of Blue Mountain School at contact@bluemountainschool.net --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Katy Swift is a certified guidance counselor who spent the last three years working at a low Socioeconomic status, high trauma primary school in Texas. Prior to her time as a counselor, she was a dyslexia interventionist in an elementary school as well as an intervention consultant to several private schools. She received training to practice classroom yoga from Yoga In My School in 2018. Among the many different counseling interventions implemented, yoga was one of the favorites of both staff and students. Recently relocated to Friendswood with her family, she volunteers teaching yoga to pre-k students at the Melinda Webb School, a school for Oral Deaf Education that uses specialized instruction to accelerate students’ development of spoken language. Her spare time is spent with her husband, her dogs and her 10 year old son who will ONLY do yoga with her if it’s Star Wars themed! Katy's Recommendations: Books Yoga for Children - Lisa Flynn GoGo Yoga for Kids - Sara J. Weis Once Upon a Pose - Donna Freeman Websites kidsyogastories.com cosmickids.com yogainmyschool.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Taylor Walsh established the Project for Whole Health Learning in K-12 in 2017 as a result of his work as a consultant in integrative medicine and health. Attracted to the patient- and consumer-driven demand for therapies like mind-body medicine and acupuncture, he helped client organizations elevate awareness of the evidence and outcomes for policy makers, patient organizations, healthcare providers and the public. This work included creating and managing the grass-roots advocacy program CoverMyCare for the Integrative Health Policy Consortium (IHPC), which engaged state-based advocates around provisions of the Affordable Care Act intended to end insurer discrimination against licensed healthcare providers. He has written for the field’s publication of record, The Integrator Blog, written and edited symposium reports and policy guidebooks and is co-author of the e-book, “The Rise of Integrative Heath & Medicine, The Milestones: 1963 – Present,” which chronicles the notable milestones in the evolution of integrative medicine. The work in integrative health and wellness builds on Taylor’s experience with new and disruptive enterprises: in daily journalism, personal computing, online information services (pre-web: he was managing editor at The Source, the first national online services built for personal computer owners), the Internet and Web, in local digital information services, and since 2009 in developing the concept of what is now WholeHealthED. Taylor's E-mail: taylorwalshdc@gmail.com Taylor's Recommendations Children & Nature Network Project for Whole Health Learning in K-12 Project Green Schools National Farm to School Network --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Sophie Scholl is a fourth grade student in Horry County. She is a legendary basketball and soccer player. She began playing the violin in third grade. Sophie loves history, video games, Stranger Things, and Dr. Strange. She was named after a German student and anti-Nazi political activist, active within the White Rose non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany. She loves to camp, ride her bike, and beat her dad at H.O.R.S.E., which she does regularly. Sophie's Recommendations Stranger Things Fortnite Dr. Strange Antman Locke and Key Goosebumps Books --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

For more than three decades, Dr. Boutte's scholarship, teaching, and service have focused on equity pedagogies and teaching for social justice in Early Childhood Education. She has served as Chair in the Department of Instruction and Teacher Education and held a distinguished endowed chair for four years. She is the author of four books: Educating African American Students: And how are the children; Multicultural Education: Raising Consciousness; Resounding Voices: School Experiences of People From Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds; and African Diaspora Literacy: The Heart of Transformation in K–12 Schools and Teacher Education. She has received more than $1,700,000 in grants and has more than 95 publications. She has served as a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Scholar at several universities in the U.S. and abroad. Additionally, she has presented nationally and internationally on curriculum, instruction, and diversity issues. She is the founder of the statewide Center of Excellence for the Education and Equity of African American Students (CEEEAAS). She has presented her work internationally in Colombia, China, Sierra Leone, Ghana, London, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Australia, South America, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, and Canada. Dr. Boutte's Recommendations Educating African American Students: And how are the children Multicultural Education: Raising Consciousness Resounding Voices: School Experiences of People From Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds African Diaspora Literacy: The Heart of Transformation in K–12 Schools and Teacher Education Teaching Tolerance Pedagogy of the Oppressed - Freire A People's History of the United States The Lottery Rethinking Schools The Center for the Education and Equity of African American Students (CEEAAS) Learning Why - ETV --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Dr. Ann Marie Taylor began her college education studying Criminal Justice at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. She quickly realized that many of her young charges were struggling with special education needs which inspired her to become a special education teacher. She received her master’s degree in special education from Francis Marion University in South Carolina. Dr. Taylor began teaching in 2000 at McLaurin Elementary School in Florence and while she was working at Pine Tree Hill Elementary in Camden she earned the title of 2008 South Carolina Teacher of the Year – the first special educator to ever receive this honor. In 2008, she became National Board Certified and also received the Woman of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of America. In 2009, she was awarded the Educator Leadership Award from Francis Marion University. She also received the Service Award from Palmetto State Teacher's Association (PSTA). She has served as the Director of Exceptional Children in Edgefield County for six years. Taylor is currently the Executive Director at Horse Creek Academy. Ann Marie's Recommendations Education Rockstars Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Jill Guerra is the mindfulness prep teacher at an east Oakland elementary school where she is proud and grateful to serve 425 students per week. She was a classroom teacher for thirteen years prior and holds a master’s degree in Critical Environmental and Global Literacy. She is the author of, Long Hair Don’t Care, a poem picture book about boys with long hair and is working on her next children’s book, We Are Yoga. Visit her website, www.thelovecurriculum.com or email her at jillteaching@gmail.com IG: thelovecurriculum Jill's Recommendations Mindful Schools Rainbow Kids Yoga Niroga Institute Little Flower Yoga Breathe for Change Stop, Breathe, Think? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Leigh Brasington has been practicing meditation since 1985 and is the senior American student of the late Ven. Ayya Khayma. He began assisting Ven. Ayya Khemma in 1994, and began teaching retreats on his on in 1997. He is also authorized to teach by Jack Kornfield. He has taught the jhanas, along with multiple insight practices, at well over one hundred residential retreats throughout the United States and Europe. He is the author of the book Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas. He has appeared on Dan Harris’s 10% Happier Podcast. Find more about his teaching and schedule at http://leighb.com. Leigh's Recommendations Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree: The Buddha's Teachings on Voidness Being Nobody, Going Nowhere: Meditations on the Buddhist Path Who Is My Self?: A Guide to Buddhist Meditation Michael Taft: https://deconstructingyourself.com/events Scroll down to Ongoing Events for the Thursday evening group meditation streamed on his youtube channel. Also explore his website for interesting podcasts Loving Kindness resource page: http://leighb.com/metta.htm My reading list: http://leighb.com/readlist.htm Comment from the host, Todd Scholl: This episode contains material that some may not consider secular. As with all episodes, the content does not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Teachers Aligned. It is my belief that we should acknowledge the roots of mindfulness practice and be willing to explore those roots in a way that is respectful to people of all faith backgrounds. I heard Leigh on the 10% Happier Podcast with Dan Harris and was fascinated by his ideas. I reached out to him and was fortunate that he agreed to be a guest on the podcast. It was my honor to record this conversation with him. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

This is a special edition of the Teachers Aligned Podcast. Todd discusses details about the 2020 Teachers Aligned Mindfulness Retreat. Learn more about the retreat at http://mindfulnessretreat.weebly.com/. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Dr. Sibinga is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School and the Past-Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Integrative Medicine. Dr. Sibinga is a general academic pediatrician, keenly interested in improving the lives of children and families through the expansion of evidence-based complementary approaches. With funding from foundations and the United States’ National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, she has adapted and evaluated mindfulness instruction (including the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program) for urban children and youth in both clinic- and school-based settings. Dr. Sibinga’s randomized controlled trials have shown that mindfulness instruction for children and youth can reduce psychological symptoms (including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms); improve the stress response, coping, and quality of life; and enhance interpersonal and behavioral outcomes. For youth with HIV, MBSR leads to both psychological benefits and improvements in HIV medication adherence and viral suppression, important outcomes in HIV treatment. Dr. Sibinga’s current work also includes the development and evaluation of mindfulness programming for adults important to children and youth – mothers of infants in the NICU and classroom teachers. Dr. Sibinga's Recommendations Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life Sacred Hoops: SPIRITUAL LESSONS OF A HARDWOOD WARRIOR Whole Health Ed - Connecting the groundbreaking work of wellness programs across K-12 campuses with the nation's health objectives for children, their families and communities, so that students leave secondary school fully prepared to live their own healthiest lives. Video with Dr. Sibinga - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/faced-outsized-stresses-baltimore-students-learn-take-deep-breath Vox Article with Dr. Sibinga - https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/5/22/13768406/mindfulness-meditation-good-for-kids-evidence --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Heather Marshall is a teacher and writer. She has taught creative writing, arts integration, and English in classrooms K-16 for the past 22 years. Since she became an registered yoga teacher in 2013, she has a been teaching yoga in studios and schools. Most recently, she has begun teaching mindfulness as well. She currently teaches English, creative writing, yoga, and mindfulness at Greenville Technical Charter High School. Her fiction and creative nonfiction are published in a variety of periodicals. Her first novel, The Thorn Tree, released in 2014. Heather holds a BA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing. She is in the Mindful Schools teacher training program, class of 2020. Heather's Recommendations www.mindfulschools.org Jamie Elmer Online Yoga The Whole-Brain Child – Dan Siegel Jon Kabat-Zinn Books You can reach her at heather@heathergmarshall.com and find her on Instagram @heathergracem. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Chrissie Keillor is a yoga instructor and high school teacher in the Myrtle Beach area. She graduated with a degree in Kinesiology from Illinois State University and began her career as a certified athletic trainer at the high school level. Searching for a more creative outlet, she became a 200 Hour RYT in 2011 and shortly thereafter also acquired her Fitness Nutrition Specialization and Personal Training Certification through NASM. Chrissie started her own yoga business named Subala just a year ago to streamline her vision with athletics, yoga, mindfulness, healthy lifestyle and safer beauty and body products. She currently teaches yoga at New South Brewery, Quigleys Pint and Plate, Twelve 33 and Top Golf. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram using the handle @Subala843 Chrissie's Recommendations Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses: A Practical Workbook for Integrating Themes, Ideas, and Inspiration into Your Class Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect Your Practice Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual The Freedom of Being: At Ease with What Is The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have The Golden Present: Daily Inspirational Readings by Sri Swami Satchidananda Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Danna Thomas is a former Baltimore City Public School teacher turned founder of a global initiative to support the mental health and wellness of educators. Her organization, Happy Teacher Revolution, is on a mission to increase teacher happiness, retention, and professional sustainability by providing educators with the time and space to heal, deal, and be real about the social-emotional demands they face on the job. Danna served as the national spokeswoman for the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Maryland and the “Music for Mental Health” campaign. She is the recipient of the 2019 Johns Hopkins Community Hero Award and the 2019 Winner of the Johns Hopkins Social Innovation Lab. Her favorite forms of self-care include playing backgammon, community hot yoga, and rocking out on the saxophone. Danna's Book/Resource Recommendations Happy Teacher Revolution Website Radical Wholeness: The Embodied Present and the Ordinary Grace of Being First Aid for Teacher Burnout: How You Can Find Peace and Success Teach Happy: Educating Wellness for Teacher and Student Success Happy Teachers Change the World: A Guide for Cultivating Mindfulness in Education The Beginning Teacher's Field Guide: Embarking on Your First Years (Self-Care and Teaching Tips for New Teachers) Unshakeable: 20 Ways to Enjoy Teaching Every Day...No Matter What If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Danna, you can e-mail her at general@happyteacherrevolution.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Senator Mike Fanning represents District 17 in South Carolina which includes Chester, Fairfield and York Counties. A military veteran and former high school social studies teacher, Senator Fanning has been a strong advocate for public education in South Carolina. In this episode, he discusses the importance of educators being involved in politics and provides valuable insights on current legislation that will impact the lives of teachers and their students. Mike's Recommendations SC Statehouse Website If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Senator Fanning, you can e-mail him at MikeFanning@scsenate.gov. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Mathew Portell has dedicated a decade and a half to education in his role as a teacher, instructional coach, teacher mentor, and school administrator. It is through the collaborative team approach and building positive relationships that Portell is leading his school into success. He is currently in his fifth year as principal of Fall-Hamilton Elementary, an internationally recognized innovative model school for trauma-informed practices in Metro Nashville Public Schools. The school’s work has been featured on National Public Radio, the local documentary Enough, PBS, and Edutopia, one of the world’s top educational practices website funded by the George Lucas Foundation which resulted in over 7,000,000 views. He is the founder of the Trauma-Informed Educators Schools Network Group on Facebook which has connected over 20,000 educators in over 100 different countries! In July 2019, he launched the first annual Trauma Informed Educators Network conference which was attended by 150 people from around the world! In September of 2019, he launched the Trauma Informed Educators Network Podcast. Through this podcast he is viewing educators and practitioners from around the globe in which they are sharing their own trauma-informed journeys. Mathew's Book/Resource Recommendations The Trauma-Informed Educators Network The Trauma-Informed Educators Network Podcast The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity by Nadine Burke, MD The Trauma-Informed School: A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide for Administrators and School Personnel by Jim Sporleder and Heather T. Forbes Fostering Resilient Learners: Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom by Kristin Souers and Pete Hall The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook--What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Mathew, you can e-mail him at mathew@paradigmshifteducation.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Lucy MacGregor leads adventure based programs that empower young women and offers mindfulness workshops, retreats, and communities of practice to educators, parents and families in North Carolina and beyond. She holds a degree in Sociology and is an accredited Montessori teacher. She is currently enrolled Antioch University's Masters in Education, Mindfulness for Educators program. She is trained in facilitation through the Genuine Contact Way, and is a Genuine Contact Professional. She is a certified Children’s Yoga instructor, certified Mindful Schools instructor, and is trained as a Relax Kids Coach. Lucy serves as Mindfulness Consultant for Rainbow Institute, promoting holistic education and is classroom teacher at Rainbow Community School in Asheville. ​Jelena (Yelena) Popovic is a Teaching Peace in Schools leadership council lead for The Peace Alliance (www.peacealliance.org), U.N certified cross-cultural facilitator, Mindful Schools Training Team Member (www.mindfulschools.org), brain science buff, school psychologist, Relax Kids trainer/coach (www.relaxkids.com) and mindfulness educator. She is also a trainer facilitating cross-cultural dialogue for Soliya (www.soliya.net) She holds a graduate degree in school psychology from Tufts University As a team, Lucy and Jelena work together to deliver customized, sustainable and embedded implementation of mindfulness practices within educational settings though their unique Communities Of Practice model. You can read more about their work at https://www.designtoconnect.net/. Lucy & Jelena's Book Recommendations The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength, and Thrive Kay Pranis Books Peace of Mind: Becoming Fully Present --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Erin Fox is originally from Murphy, North Carolina, and she received her BSED in Secondary English Education from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. She earned her master’s degree in Gifted and Talented Education several years later from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Fox was initially hired at Gaffney High School to be an English II teacher. During her seventeen years at Gaffney High she has taught Advanced Drama, Drama I, Introduction to Drama, Theatrical Movement, Academic Assistance, English I, English II, and English III. She loves the teaching opportunities that exploring literature and English Language Arts provides for her students and herself. As she works to challenge them, they challenge her as well, and she loves to infuse their work with kinesthetic/tactile lessons and artistic endeavors. Fox wants to provide students with personal ways to interact with the literature so that it speaks to their individual hearts in very real ways. She loves working with students in a variety of ways but most especially through the Fit2gether committee, the Miss Cherokeean Pageant, and the Homecoming Committee. Fox serves as the CCSD Employee Wellness Coordinator and creates and leads twice weekly workouts with faculty and staff members and their families across the district. She is married to her best friend, Danny Fox, and they have two children: a twelve-year old son, Jack, and an eight-year old daughter, Scout. Erin's Book Recommendations Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be The Badass Life: 30 Amazing Days to a Lifetime of Great Habits - Body, Mind, and Spirit If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Erin, you can e-mail her at erin.fox@cherokee1.org --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Techa Smalls-Brown is an artist in every sense of the word. Using her gifts to add beauty wherever she goes, Techa has been an educator for 20+ years with the Charleston County School District. As a teacher she has taught exceptional children, African-American studies at the secondary level, and Elementary Montessori. She is also endorsed as a Gifted and Talented Teacher and has recently completed the Omega Institute’s Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL) program under the direction of Meena Srinivasan, Daniel Rechtschaffen and Linda Lantieri. As a result of this work, she is equipped to integrate mindfulness-based social-emotional techniques in academics as well as focusing on equity and ethical learning in schools and school systems. Techa is a true visionary. Currently she is working on an M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Trauma and Resilience in educational settings through Concordia University, Portland. With this degree, Techa seeks to transform the lives of students and educators across the state teaching them about trauma, resilience, self-care as well as how to support students social, emotional, and academic development in education. Techa is married to her soul mate, Michael J. Brown who has been a part of her life for over 23 years. Techa's Book/Resource Recommendations Dr. Gabor Mate Talk Vicarious Trauma - Edutopia Article Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL) Program Mindful Magazine Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out The Soul of Education: Helping Students Find Connection, Compassion, and Character at School Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness: Practices for Safe and Transformative Healing Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation Sounds True If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Techa, you can e-mail her at techa529@gmail.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Dr. Amy Saltzman is a holistic physician, mindfulness coach, long-time athlete, devoted student of transformation, wife, mother and occasional poet. Her passion is supporting people of all ages in achieving peak performance and finding flow. She is recognized by her peers as a visionary and pioneer in the field of mindfulness for athletes, coaches, and other high performers, as well as for kids, teens, and parents. She offers individual holistic medical care, and both individual and team mindfulness coaching, in person and online, to athletes, coaches, children, adolescents, parents, teachers, therapists, allied professionals, and high tech executives and employees. She is the author of A Still Quiet Place: A Mindfulness Program for Teaching Children and Adolescents to Ease Stress and Difficult Emotions, A Still Quiet Place for Athletes: Mindfulness Skills for Achieving Peak Performance and Finding Flow in Sports and in Life, A Still Quiet Place for Teens: A Mindfulness Workbook to Ease Stress and Difficult Emotions, and Teaching Mindfulness Skills to Kids and Teens. You can read more about her work at http://www.stillquietplace.com/. If you would like to sign up for her online training, go to http://www.stillquietplace.com/sqp-10-week-online-training/. Ask for CERRA or Teachers Aligned 10% off. Amy's Book/Resource Recommendations Mindful Games A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Working with High-Risk Adolescents Teaching Mindfulness to Empower Adolescents Association for Mindfulness in Education Mindfulness in Education Network If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Dr. Saltzman, you can e-mail her at dramy@stillquietplace.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Vikas P. Srivastava holds an MA in Education from Harvard (HGSE) in Education and a BA from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in Sociology. Vikas specializes in integrating mindfulness, nonviolence, creative confidence and an entrepreneurial mindset in educational design. Vikas is currently serving as a full time Director of Mindfulness at Legacy Early College k-12 Charter School since 2018. His impact includes every grade level from kindergarten through high school, every department from teachers to counselors to HR to transportation, as well as parent workshops. Vikas has worked as a professional educator since 1997. His roles have included counselor, teacher, administrator, consultant and public speaker. He has worked with the extremes of affluent and poor communities, as well as high and low achieving students (including special education). His experience ranges from outdoor classrooms, preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school and college. School sites include district, charter and private schools. Vikas first presented Mindfulness based school design in 1999. However, it was a retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh in 2004 that served as the inspiration to commit to the practice and path of Mindfulness. As a full time classroom teacher from 2005 to 2013, he integrated Mindfulness into the culture of his classes. In 2013, he accepted a position as a school administrator and began integrating mindfulness schoolwide including administration, culture and curriculum. A breakthrough experience in 2016 at a Vippassana retreat in the spirit of S.N. Goenka significantly impacted his practice and framework in addition to the continued influence of Thich Nhat Hanh. ​ Vikas's Book Recommendations Books by Thich Nhat Hanh Books by S.N. Goenka If you are interested in a Being Mindful Workshop, hosted by Vikas, go to https://lagracecenter.com/being-mindful-workshops/. If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Vikas, you can e-mail him at Vikas@post.harvard.edu. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Jed Dearybury began his education career in 2001. During his 13 year early childhood classroom tenure, he received numerous awards. He was featured in GQ Magazine as Male Leader of the Year, met President Obama as the SC winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and was named as a top 5 finalist for South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Since 2015, he has become an educational leader by providing quality, hands-on, engaging learning experiences for students and teachers across the country. Learn more about Jed's work at https://www.mrdearybury.com/. Connect with Jed on FB, Tw, & Instagram @mrdearybury. Jed's Book Recommendations Queer America: A People's GLBT History of the United States (New Press People's History) 12 Years a Slave The Nickel Boys Border Child There, There Salvaged Pages: Young Writers' Diaries of the Holocaust --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Patricia (Tish) Jennings is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning and mindfulness in education. She became a meditation practitioner at 17 and has taught mindful awareness practices to children and adults for over 40 years. Her research places a specific emphasis on teacher stress and how it impacts the social and emotional context of the classroom, as articulated in her highly cited theoretical article "The Prosocial Classroom." Jennings recently led the team that developed CARE, a mindfulness-based professional development program shown to significantly improve teacher well-being, classroom interactions and student engagement in the largest randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based intervention designed specifically to address teacher occupational stress. Currently, she is leading the development of the Compassionate Schools Project curriculum, an integrated health and physical education program designed to align with state and national health and physical education standards, and is co-Investigator on a large randomized controlled trial being conducted in Louisville, KY, to evaluate the curriculum’s efficacy. A member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Fostering Healthy Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Development among Children and Youth, she was awarded the Cathy Kerr Award for Courageous and Compassionate Science by the Mind & Life Institute in 2018 and recently recognized by Mindful Magazine as one of "Ten Mindfulness Researchers You Should Know." Earlier in her career, Jennings spent more than 22 years as a teacher, school director and teacher educator. She is the author numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters and several books: Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom, The Trauma-Sensitive School: Building Resilience with Compassionate Teaching, and Mindfulness in the Pre-K-5 Classroom: Helping Students Stress Less and Learn More, part of Social and Emotional Learning Solutions, a book series by WW Norton of which she is editor. Watch her presentation entitled Education for Peace: Transforming our Schools with Mindfulness and Compassion You can contact Dr. Jennings via e-mail at TishJennings@virginia.edu --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Dr. Frank Morgan retired in 2018 after 43 years working in public education in Virginia and South Carolina. He holds degrees from The College of Wooster in Ohio, Virginia Commonwealth University, and The College of William and Mary. During his career, Dr. Morgan served as a teacher, coach, department chair, Director of Instruction, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent. His last position was Superintendent of the Kershaw County School District here in South Carolina from 2007-2018. Dr. Morgan’s wife, Jean, is a retired teacher an his son, Mike, is a special education teacher in Lancaster County. Dr. Morgan’s strongest belief about education is that all students can learn at a high level given adequate time and resources. You can contact Dr. Morgan via e-mail at drfrankemorgan@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Dr. Bhagat received his doctorate in Educational Leadership from VCU, where he specialized in a regional approach to school diversity. His post-doctoral work is in the areas of Restorative Justice in Education, Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience, Social Emotional Learning, and Culturally Responsive Mindfulness practices. He fulfilled the requirements for his MEd in School and Community Counseling from Virginia State University, where he concentrated in group counseling, with a keen focus on African American males affected by gun violence. Ram received Bachelor of Science degrees in Microbiology from Virginia State University and Science Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Bhagat is currently serving as Manager of School Climate and Culture Strategy for Richmond Public Schools. His primary role is to envision, design, and connect trauma informed practices and restorative practices to schools and communities throughout the district. He intends to help lead RPS and its partners in the creation of a sustainable and transformative paradigm of equitable and just learning environments for all students. Dr. Bhagat is an adjunct faculty member at Eastern Mennonite University’s Graduate Teacher Education program and certified trainer of Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) for the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Dr. Bhagat’s unique approach to Trauma Sensitive Restorative Practices, called Massive Resilience, is rooted in the science of yoga and de-colonized mindfulness practices. Dr. Bhagat is actively involved in healing the effects of racial trauma within communities of color, as a leader of Emotional Emancipation Circles in Virginia. In the early 1990s, Ram co-founded Drums No Guns (DNG) world percussion ensemble to engage youth in “healing community with rhythm.” More than two decades later, the Drums No Guns, Foundation continues to work around the country with youth traumatized by gun violence, using drumming, dance, drama, and culturally responsive contemplative practices. You can contact Dr. Bhagat at rambhagatEdD@gmail.com Read more about Dr. Bhagat's work. Read about his work in Richmond Public Schools. His TED Talk can be viewed at https://youtu.be/FoIzx3G9gPo Ram's Book Recommendations Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain The Little Book of Restorative Justice The Trauma-Informed School Urban Trauma: A Legacy of Racism Hope and Healing in Urban Education --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Dr. Emily Whitecotton is a fifth grade teacher at the Center for Inquiry in Richland School District Two. Emily has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, a Masters in Language and Literacy, and a PhD in Language and Literacy from the University of South Carolina. She has implemented a mindfulness program in her classroom and regularly advocates for mindfulness in public schools. You can contact Dr. Whitecotton via e-mail at ejwhitecotton1@gmail.com. You can learn more about the Center for Inquiry at https://www.richland2.org/CFI/. You can learn more about Upstream SC at https://upstreamsc.com/ Download a copy of Finding Our Anchor, a book on mindfulness produced by Dr. Whitecotton's students. Emily's Book Recommendations Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn Altered Traits by Daniel Goleman & Richard Davidson --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

On this episode of Teachers Aligned, we examine how to start a mindfulness practice. Jon Kabat-Zinn - Your Thoughts are Bubbles Jon Kabat-Zinn - Defining Mindfulness Jon Kabat-Zinn Books --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Lisa Ellis is the founder of SC for Ed, a teacher advocacy group whose goal is to place an extraordinary teacher in every classroom in South Carolina. Born and raised in South Carolina, Lisa Ellis’ path follows the quote “Not all who wander are lost.” Lisa earned a bachelor’s degree in English from College of Charleston, a master’s in Forest Resources Management from Clemson University, and another master’s in Organizational Leadership from Columbia College. During her educational career, she has taught English, Leadership, been a Director of Student Activities, and an Instructional Coach in 4 schools and 3 school districts. She will enter her 19th year of teaching as a journalism teacher at Blythewood High School. Lisa created the SC for Ed Facebook closed group as a community for SC educators to create a collective voice. For more information on SC for Ed visit, https://www.scfored.org/. You can also connect with them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/scfored/. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

Kara Foster-Lee is a veteran early childhood educator who currently serves as the Program Director for Compassionate Schools at USC-Upstate in Spartanburg, SC. Kara has incorporated mindfulness in her classroom for several years and completed the certification program offered through Mindful Schools. She has facilitated a number of trainings across the state related to trauma-informed and mindfulness practices. She enjoys reading, yoga, eating, and spending time with her dog Weezy. She looks forward to the day that heart smarts are as treasured as brain smarts. If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Kara, you can e-mail her at karaf@uscupstate.edu. Kara's Book Recommendations The Whole-Brained Child by Dr. Dan Siegel Mindfulness for Teachers by Dr. Patricia Jennings The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom by Dr. Patricia Jennings Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness by Dr. Dan Treleaven --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support

TJ Rumler is a social worker and trauma-informed specialist for Greenville County Schools. His TED Talk, "What Are We Doing About School Suspensions" has been viewed over 5,000 times. In this episode, TJ shares his thoughts on trauma-informed practices and restorative justice. If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Kara, you can e-mail him at tjrumler@gmail.com. TJ's Book Recommendations The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/todd-scholl0/support