A Little About Me

I have 18 years (and counting) in the classroom as a public educator in the United States.

I have an M Ed (plus lots more credits) and teach graduate courses to teachers about mindfulness and teacher self-care.

I have a graduate certificate in Mindfulness for Experienced Educators where I learned how to integrate mindfulness as a pedagogical tool for the classroom.

I earned a Positive Psychology graduate certificate which influences my intense focus on strength-building instead of only improving weaknesses. Mindfulness and positive psychology are the lens through which I built the teacher wellness coaching framework.

I am a Certified Mindful Schools Instructor which allows me to specialize in the broad field of mindfulness to the classroom and has taught me how to teach these tools to students but even more importantly how teachers can develop their own practice.

In Spring 2021, I will be an ICF certified executive and leadership coach which will inform the way I lead both individuals and groups through my teacher wellness coaching program.

I am also Permaculture Design Certified, extensively studied Herbalism, Aromatherapy, and earned a yoga certification from Power Yoga Works. These trainings have helped to inform my approach to the interconnectedness of all parts of ourselves by using our natural body and observation of natural systems as guides for solution-finding and regenerative living.

I have been sober for 14 years (and counting) and that process of building myself back up from the bottom up through a framework and with community has informed my entire teacher wellness journey.

In addition, I am a self-coached long distance runner and former triathlete along with an intense student of whole foods and nutrition. The intersection of these focus areas informs the wellness lens I can bring to the “plate” of the wellness journey.

I am self-taught in the fields of minimalism, habit building, financial freedom, urban homesteading, and self-compassion which has allowed me to go through my own process of letting go of that which no longer serves me and building that which does in both my personal and professional life.

• Mrs. Nancy Sell, my high school creative writing teacher, who gave me the first copy of Long Quiet Highway and encouraged me to write through all my emotions, thoughts, feelings and instilled in me the power of writing and the importance of a teacher who sees their students.
• Deborah Mitchell for being a consistent person on my journey through work, life, and parenting. Her support as both a mentor and spiritual guide has been integral in finding my voice.
• Claire Stanley for guiding me on my personal mindfulness practitioner path.
• Natalie Goldberg for providing years of books on writing that I find inspiration in, give to others, lose myself in and come back to year after year. With her guidance I found the ability to keeping coming back to my seat.
• Linda Zogas for showing me the path of yoga and taking me under her wings throughout the years in all different ways.
• Melissa Miles for showing me the path of permaculture and how it can inform and provide regenerative solutions for so many of our world’s problems if we only pay attention.
• Charles Eisenstein for showing me a different way to view the world and its inherent potential. His writings, thoughts, and philosophies are ones I return to time again when I get distracted or overwhelmed. And he’s a native Pennsylvanian!
• Kelly Diels for showing me how to own my voice and let my voice and work lead.
• Heather Jo Flores for showing me the transformative power and purpose of the heroine’s journey and the importance of exploring the intersection of permaculture, education, self-care and writing.
• Sean Murphy for showing my 24 year old self how to write from the ground up and then 17 years later edit the first draft of my book.
• Megan Cowan, Chris McKenna, Pam Dunn, Vinny Ferraro, and Christina Costello from Mindful Schools and providing space to grow as an educator and a meditator.
• Noah Levine for showing me how recovery from addiction can be informed by Buddhist philosophies.
• Kristen Neff for showing me self-compassion, one of the key practices of my life.
• Patricia Jennings for being the voice I could finally hear in regard to mindfulness and education. Mindfulness for Teachers opened my eyes and heart to how I could apply mindfulness practice to the classroom.
• My parents who have always supported me through all of phases of growth (some a little more painful than others), encouraged me to blaze my own path, and instilled in me the importance of gaining knowledge because “no one can take that away from you, no matter what happens in life.”
• Kelli, Sharon, Sue, Tina and Alicia for being women I learned how to trust and love like sisters. You showed me how to be a woman with grace and dignity. Thank you for always knowing what I didn’t not know about myself and loving me until I was able to love myself.
• Steve Fecho for showing me the healing power of group therapy and how I am worthy of letting love in.
• Beverly Skinner for being so patient with my naïve young self. She let me trip over my words, make mistakes, and find my own way while being right by my side.
• Kim McCollum-Clark for instilling in me the spark of what an English teacher has the power to be to each of her students. This spark staying alive was what kept me showing up day after day and year after year in spite of the system not being what was promised.
• Jordan, my supportive, loving husband (who is also a beekeeper and a stay-at-home dad) who cares for our young son, our dog, and our little urban homestead. He is my champion in all things. His encouragement has enabled me to get up day-after-day and try to take all of these life experiences into something that can be of benefit to others.
• And the lone entity on this list… Local libraries! I would never have been able to get all this supplemental information and do so much independent learning had I not had access to free materials from my local library! Here are some of the top books that have informed this work that can be found at local libraries: Essentialism, Soul of Education, Last Child in the Woods, Onward, and Invisible Classroom.