Moments for Myself

Sometimes, kids have hours or days to make a decision. But other times they only have a few moments. And for some kids, those moments can be life changing. So, how can educators and parents help ensure that kids are well equipped to make responsible decisions whether they have lots of time or only seconds? We’re speaking with two people who work in Marietta City Schools in Georgia. Britney Wilson is the executive director of innovative practices and Farhat Ahmad is the Alternative education coordinator and director of a program called MAPs. In this MAPS program, they work every day with students who are in dire situations and need to make more responsible decisions to turn their lives around. What Farhat and Brittney have learned about how to help kids develop better decision-making skills is something any educator or parent can learn from. More about Brittney WilsonBrittney is the Executive Director of Innovative Practices, Marietta City Schools, GA.  Throughout her educational leadership career, Brittney has served as an Executive Director, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Executive Officer, and Career and Technical Education Director. She has worked closely with educational organizations to pilot innovative programs and practices that meet the needs of local school systems and better utilize resources to meet the needs of all students. Contact: brittneywilson@marietta-city.k12.ga.usMore about Farhat AhmadFarhat is the Alternative Education Program Coordinator, Marietta City Schools, GA. He was a sheriff’s deputy in Madison, Wisconsin until 2006, when he moved to Atlanta to pursue a career in education. He is currently the director of MAPs (Marietta Alternative Placement and Services) for the Marietta City Schools district in Georgia. In 2015, he won the Georgia Governor’s Award for Innovative Teaching, which includes a grant funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2017, he earned another grant from the governor’s office for his work in individualized and blended learning and was chosen as a Top Teacher by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Contact: fahmad@marietta-city.k12.ga.us

Relationship skills have been put to the test during the pandemic. And technology has transformed how people communicate with each other. We speak with a former teacher and current SEL nonprofit leader Maya Dorsey about improving relationship skills with a combination of new technology and some good old fashioned storytelling.   More about Maya Dorsey Maya is the Director of Equity and Collaborative Impact at Learn to Earn Dayton. She is the program manager for Equity Fellows, an initiative aimed at addressing systemic racism and unconscious bias in local school districts, and she is also the convenor of the Summer and Afterschool Collaborative. She is also on the leadership team at SEL for Ohio. Previously, Maya was an elementary school dean, assistant middle school principal, reading specialist and classroom teacher. Maya is a graduate of Wright State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership with a minor in women’s studies. She has a master’s degree from Grand Canyon University in elementary education and a second master’s from Antioch Midwest University in educational leadership. Additionally, Maya completed a reading endorsement program from Wright State University. She holds teaching and principal licensures and a 2020 certification from eCornell in Diversity and Inclusion. Contact Maya: maya.dorsey@learntoearndayton.org 

We look at social awareness through the lens of kindness by speaking with Jill McManigal, co-founder of Kids for Peace, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which is also the home of the Great Kindness Challenge.  We talk about approaching kindness as a skill, like athletics, that needs to be practiced to reap its benefits. We also talk about red flags for parents to watch out for and how simple acts of kindness can lead to much greater results in the overall ability of kids to have high social awareness. More about the Great Kindness ChallengeThe challenge begins on January 24th-28th 2022. Visit the site to learn more. More about Jill McManigalJill is the co-founder and executive director of Kids for Peace, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which is home of The Great Kindness Challenge.  She has her Masters in Education, with an emphasis in Service Learning, a BA in Communications from the University of Southern California, Nonprofit Management Certificate from Chapman University, and a Certificate of Leadership from the Fieldstone Foundation. She is a former elementary school teacher who has written and directed numerous children’s musicals and inspirational rallies. Jill is the recipient of several leadership awards including Bank of America’s Local Hero Award; Congresswoman Susan Davis’s Empowering Youth in Service Award; ABC Channel 10’s Leadership Award; CISV Founders Award; Carlsbad Educational Foundation’s Award of Excellence; the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition; and President Obama’s Call to Service Award. When she is not loving up her children, Hana and Bodhi, or running Kids for Peace, Jill loves to travel and participate in sprint triathlons where she gets to enjoy the outdoors swimming, biking and walking. Jill’s true passion is working closely with children and making the world kinder and more compassionate for all. Contact Jill:  jill@kidsforpeaceglobal.orgYou can also catch replays of a series of SEL webinars McGraw Hill did with Jill:SEL Speaker Series | Practical Tips and AdviceSEL Speaker Series | Strengthen Students' Social and Emotional Well-beingSEL Speaker Series | SEL For Remote Learning and Home 

Self awareness involves identifying and understanding one’s emotions. But how do you really get kids to do that? Or even adults? In this episode, we speak with Colleen Perry, a guidance counselor at Mary O. Pottenger Elementary School in Springfield Massachusetts. She talks about using informal chats and the power of observation with students—and maybe some chocolate and caffeine with the staff-- to draw people out and help them see things within themselves. More about Colleen PerryColleen has been a City Connects Coordinator for Mary O. Pottenger Elementary School in Springfield, Massachusetts since 2017. City Connects is a whole child approach, where the coordinator creates a tailored support plan for every student. She earned both her Masters and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Psychology from American International College. Colleen had an eclectic journey to becoming a school counselor. She attended Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) and Belmont University (Nashville, TN) for her undergraduate degree in Violin Performance and Music Business. Colleen is a champion fiddler, accomplished orchestra player and fiddle teacher. She chose to take a different career path after she found her passion in working with students. She loves working with all students but specifically students that are at the elementary school level. Colleen believes in helping all students and each child holds a special place in her heart. Colleen is known in her school for her utmost compassion for students. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband, travelling, and new adventures with their dogs, Trigger and Brady. 

How can educators and parents work together to help students develop self management? How can educators and parents work on their own self management skills and model them for kids? And how can teachers turn something like a rainy day into a lesson on self-management? Find answers to questions like these and more as we speak about self management with Wendy Turner. She teaches second grade at Mount Pleasant Elementary in Wilmington, Delaware and was Delaware Teacher of the Year in 2017. More about Wendy Turner:Wendy is passionate about connecting learning in the classroom to the real world. Deeply committed to social-emotional learning, she guides her students to embody respect, empathy, resilience, citizenship, and growth mindset through dynamic classroom experiences. In 2017, Wendy was named the Delaware Teacher of the Year. Additional awards and leadership include being named a Delaware Compassion Champion Awardee, an NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow culminating with field work in South Africa, and a Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Teaching Science . Currently she is an SEL expert, advocate, and trainer and is serving on the Delaware State Board of Education. Find a collection of her work here: https://wakelet.com/wake/7cc3e89b-78eb-486a-84a3-5873d417e503   Connect with Wendy: email wendymturner@gmail.com twitter @mrswendymturnerbFacebook @2017DETOYLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-turner-1200905/