Need Support? Contact Conference@EducatingMindfully.org
Gratitude to COSEM's Conference Planning Team: Lindsey Frank, Carrie Meyers, Tracy Heilers, and Sharyn Hahn
All sessions are listed in CENTRAL TIME (Chicago)
The EMCON Zoom Passcode will be sent to your email.
FRIDAY SESSIONS & PRESENTERS
COSEM President & Conference Facilitator
Lindsey Frank, M.Ed.
Lindsey Frank, M.Ed. (She/Ella) is the President of the Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully (COSEM). She has been an educator for over 12 years working with students from early learning-8th grade, and has been a districtwide Climate & SEL Coach. She has dedicated her work to integrating wellness within education through mindfulness and social-emotional learning. Her master’s is in Educational Leadership, she is a Mindfulness-Based SEL children’s book author, a special educator, and developed her education well-being company (The Butterfly Within, LLC) to support schools on their resilience journeys. Lindsey is committed to being a changemaker within education.
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9:30-10:00 a.m. CT | Student-Led Mindfulness COSEM Group Practice
Gabby, Inner Explorer Youth Ambassador
Gabby will be leading our COSEM Community in a mindfulness-based SEL practice to begin our learning journey together. She will also be sharing her story on how mindfulness-based SEL and Inner Explorer have supported her and her life from a student's perspective. There will be space to ask her questions as well. She is one of Inner Explorer's Youth Ambassadors. She recently led the Board of Education of her school in a mindfulness practice. She continues to advocate for mindfulness for herself and her school.
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Gabriella Daise is a 7th-grade student at Tequesta Trace Middle School. At a young age, she recognized her passion to serve the community through Girl Scouts. Having earned the Bronze, Silver, and Gold president’s awards for community service hours, Gabriella is determined to expand her love for others and our earth by spreading the word about the need of creating a sustainable world. Being a competitive dancer and actor has placed Gabriella in a position where she found herself experiencing a range of emotions before a performance. It is through deep breathing that she developed a skill that allows her to focus, control her emotions, and be present.
10:20-11:00 a.m. CT | Mindfulness, Resilience, and Mental Health Across
the Curriculum
Linda Yaron Weston
This session will include strategies on how to integrate mindfulness, resilience, and mental health into the classroom. Drawing from her book, Teaching Resilience and Mental Health Across the Curriculum, we will explore techniques for teachers and students to thrive in school and life.
Linda Yaron Weston is a Lecturer at the University of Southern California. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development as well as in Literatures of the World from UC San Diego. She also has a Master's Degree from the Principal's Leadership Institute, UCLA, as well as a Master's Degree from UCLA's Teacher Education Program. Click here to learn more about Linda Yaron Weston.
10:20-11:00 a.m. CT | Mindfulness Ambassadors: A Student-led and Linguistically Diverse Mindfulness Program at the American Embassy School, New Delhi
Kalee Thompson
When students are empowered to build their own awareness and self-care toolboxes, magic happens. In this experiential session, you will learn from grade 2 Mindfulness Ambassadors at the American Embassy School New Delhi as they share their favorite mindfulness practices. Come to take a deep breath. Walk away feeling a bit more at ease as well as inspired to embed mindfulness practices into your own school day.
Kalee Thompson is a mother to two darling and spunky children, a yoga + meditation teacher, and a holistic educator + future school counselor at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India. Kalee is a Transformative Educational Leadership Fellow and a featured meditation teacher on the Insight Timer app. She recently gave a TEDx talk on “The Oh so Simple and Life-Changing Power of Gratitude”. For the last 12 years, it has been Kalee’s honor to teach mindfulness around the world in private + public schools, homeless shelters, studios, backyards, and festivals. Gratitude is her religion and being present is her life’s work. To nourish her soul, Kalee loves spending time in nature with her family, riding horses, and designing dresses made of beautiful Indian textiles.
10:20-11:00 a.m. CT | Trauma-Resilient Mindfulness-Based SEL for Mitigating Learning Loss and Enhancing Classroom Climate
Bidyut Bose, Ph.D.
COVID-related learning loss is real; additionally, educators are reporting that classroom climate is more challenging than ever, as students transition from online to in-person learning. This presentation will show how trauma-resilient Mindfulness-Based SEL (MBSEL) practices can enhance classroom climate and mitigate learning loss. If you are an educator dealing with emotion regulation challenges in your students, or facing stress and burnout given the new normal, you will not want to miss this presentation. You will also experience the power and potential of brief movement-based mindfulness practices that you can do anytime anywhere, for enhancing stress resilience and emotion regulation in yourself and your students in moments.
Bidyut Bose, Ph.D., is the Founder and Executive Director of Niroga Institute, an 18-year-old non-profit that has brought trauma-informed Dynamic Mindfulness (DMind) programs to 800,000 students in hundreds of K-12 schools and trained over 30,000 educators. Bidyut is the lead author of a comprehensive Dynamic Mindfulness CASEL-approved curriculum published by WW Norton. He conducts DMind trainings nationally and internationally and is a consultant for multiple School Districts and University Colleges of Education. Bidyut is committed to developing and disseminating system architectures for transforming lives and learning, schools and communities.
11:20-12:00 p.m. CT | Gratitude, Love, and Kindness Practice Session
Angelo Monsalve Restrepo and David Flores
Angelo will be guiding our COSEM Community through a movement and gratitude practice. Gratitude is an attitude that we try to promote on a daily basis. His colleague, David Flores, will be leading a guided practice focusing on Heartfulness/Kindness and a Body Scan. Research shows that consistent mindfulness practice benefits you in the following ways: improves sleep quality, improves emotional regulation, increases feelings of happiness and positive mood, fosters hope for the future, reduces stress, burnout, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and increases resilience.
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Angelo Monsalve Restrepo is the Director of Partnerships for the Mindful Life Project. He came to Mindful Life Project because it is one of the largest direct service mindfulness providers in education. Mindfulness has helped Angelo raise his awareness about who he is and how he shows up and moves in this world for others and for himself. He is passionate about his job because he grew up in similar communities that many of their partner schools reside in. He wants to show up for kids and the future, and disrupt an education system that is riddled with inequities and disparities. He is passionate about sharing the transformational tools of Mindfulness with youth and empower them to make better choices as they navigate the messiness of life and inspire them to show up in this world as their authentic, perfectly imperfect selves; unabashedly.
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David Flores is one of the lead trainers for Mindful Life Project. He is passionate about this work personally because it has given him the skills to access the present moment when thoughts and emotions feel overwhelming. He thinks all students, teachers, and parents deserve to have access to these life changing skills as well.
1:00-1:40 p.m. CT | Changing the Channel: Teaching Metacognition through Mindfulness in Elementary School
Linda Ryden and Syreetta McArthur, M.Ed.
Have you ever wanted to help a child cope with worry? Fall asleep? Pause to understand why they are reacting in a certain way? In this interactive, fun and practical workshop, participants will learn how teaching metacognition skills can help meet a variety of needs for our students including focusing attention, getting to sleep, coping with worries and anxiety, noticing stereotypes and overcoming implicit bias. Together we’ll try out a variety of mindfulness practices that help us to notice our thoughts and develop a little more control over what our minds are doing. Learning the skill of metacognition to cope with these kinds of challenges is important to the well-being of our children and also to creating a peaceful school community. We hope you'll join us!
Linda Ryden is the creator of the Peace of Mind Program and author of the Peace of Mind Curriculum Series, a cutting-edge combination of mindfulness-based social-emotional learning, conflict resolution and social justice for Early Childhood through Middle School. Linda has served as the full-time Peace Teacher at Lafayette Elementary School, Washington DC’s largest public elementary, since 2003 and continues to teach Peace of Mind classes to more than 700 students every week. Linda is also actively engaged in supporting her school’s efforts to sustain an inclusive and equitable school climate.
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Syreetta McArthur has served communities in Washington, D.C. for fourteen years in several capacities. As an elementary and social justice educator, she recognizes the need to practice mindfulness as she centers equity in her teaching practice. Syreetta witnesses the positive impact Peace of Mind has on her students every day and recognizes the need for it in every level of education, in every school. Syreetta holds a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction for Social Justice from Loyola University Maryland. Syreetta is a lifelong learner who enjoys annotating articles and research papers. She is a proud plant mom and lover of a good writing pen.
1:00-1:40 p.m. CT | The Chill Spot: Creating a Safe Space in a Philadelphia High School through a Mindfulness Drop-in Room
Alyson Showell LaPorta, M.S., and Amelia Mraz
This presentation will focus on the creation of a pilot peace room in a Philadelphia-area High School. Facilitated by ISE’s Strength & Stability department, The ‘Chill Spot,’ is an innovative endeavor to provide a safe physical, emotional, and mental space for students seeking refuge from everyday challenges. Some difficulties students face include lockdowns, gun violence, environmental trauma, peer violence, and navigating identity. Attendees will learn about: making sense of mindfulness to teens, how to bridge the gap between mindfulness practices and self-exploration, facilitating peer discussion and mindful listening surrounding topics such as awareness, decision making, violence, and how the Chill Spot is utilized to connect students to resources and support. We will also be sharing student feedback about their experiences, and lead attendees in a short mindfulness practice that reflects skills incorporated into the ‘Chill Spot.’
Alyson Showell LaPorta brings two decades of experience working in adult education, refugee resettlement, workforce development, program development/management, grant management, and non-profit staffing. She is responsible for all grant writing, media outreach, and public communications for Inner Strength. She received a Mayor’s Commendation for her work on the Philadelphia Adult Literacy Project. She is an avid practitioner of meditation and mindfulness and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Temple University and a Master of Science degree in Forensic Psychology from Walden University.
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Amelia Mraz is completing her Masters Degree in Public Health this year, satisfying her fieldwork placement as a member of the Inner Strength Strength & Stability team, supporting youth most impacted by gun violence. She brings experience working with youth as well as innovative mental health supports. Amelia Mraz is the founder of Half Mad Honey, a mental wellness apiary in Philadelphia's Navy Yard.
1:00-1:40 p.m. CT | Exploring the Impact of Regular Practice of Research-Based Mindfulness Techniques on Students
Matt Bragman, M.Ed.
During this session, we will explore how mindfulness techniques used during the school day can help to restore focus and promote emotional well-being in the classroom and in your school community. We will share data and nearly a decade of scholarly research on the benefits of mindfulness in academic settings. We will demonstrate and share methods to lead mindfulness in a way that is safe, invitational and welcoming to all students. Attendees will be provided with the opportunity to explore research and practice mindfulness activities as a group.
Matt Bragman is the Director of Education Partnerships for Calm Classroom. In his role as Director of Education Partnerships, Matt works with schools and districts to explore ways in which they can bring mindfulness into the daily lives of their students, staff, and community. Matt works with school and district leaders to create implementation plans and to create sustainable ways to bring mindfulness into schools. Matt received his Master of Arts in Education from Loyola Marymount University, as well as a B.A. in History and Religious Studies from Southern Methodist University. In his free time, Matt loves to enjoy the outdoors at the beach or in the mountains with his wife Melissa, daughter Molly, and their dog Teddy.
2:00-3:00 p.m. CT | Keynote: Let Our SEL Light Shine, Boldly!
Craig Martin, Executive Director, Bridge Boston Charter School
This fireside chat keynote will illuminate small ripple moments which are impactful in creating welcoming and inclusive spaces for the youth and educators we serve through meaningful social-emotional learning and well-being. Participants will walk away with meaningful SEL Insights and strategies they can infuse into their classrooms and school communities tomorrow.
Craig Martin (he/him/his) is an award-winning gay Black Male Educator with over 20+ years of service and leadership centered on building culturally rich and inclusive scholar-centered learning ecosystems. Craig serves as an Executive Director & Superintendent of Bridge Boston Charter School where he has implemented a competitive teacher compensation model; adopted SEL & restorative practices to champion student voice and reduce punitive disciplinary measures; as well as led diversity, equity, and inclusion work in his K-8 school community through twin pandemics launching Race Equity & LGBTQ+ committees to foster a safe, welcoming, and inclusive school environment for students and staff.
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Website: https://craigcmartinleads.com
Connect with Craig: https://linktr.ee/craigcmartin
Need Support? Contact Conference@EducatingMindfully.org
Gratitude to COSEM's Conference Planning Team: Lindsey Frank, Carrie Meyers, Tracy Heilers, and Sharyn Hahn
All sessions are listed in CENTRAL TIME (Chicago)
The EMCON Zoom Passcode will be sent to your email.