WHAT I DO
As a Colorado PDIS certified trainer I offer numerous professional development opportunities throughout the year. There are upcoming opportunities, which you can view under “Upcoming PD“. I am also available to train in person or online for your school directly.
Summary
Hiring and Costs
I offer professional development both online and in person. While I serve primarily the Denver Metro and outside Denver Metro area, I am open to travel. As timing permits I am also available for hire in person in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. Please always reach out with requests. The cost of your professional development session varies based on the size of your group.
5 to 15 participants: $100 per hour
15 to 40 participants: $150 per hour
40 to 75 participants: $175 per hour
75 to 100 participants: $225 per hour
100+ participants: Contact us for pricing
All PDIS TAP Certified or MIRegistry certified professional development is available to sign up through PDIS or MiRegistry. If hired privately for your school, you and your staff can receive your professional development hours directly through PDIS or MiRegistry. No additional certificates or uploading is necessary to ensure your team receives credit for their time.
Opportunities
Building Community: How to Create the Culture You Want Among Your Staff
We hear so much about challenges in Early Learning Centers and how it can be so difficult to manage the humans. This space has been created to help directors create the culture they want for their centers. Every center is unique in what kind of culture they want. So let’s set some intentional time to plan for that culture and design ways to make your vision a reality.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 1.5 hour training is geared towards Owners, Directors, and Administrators in Early Childhood Education.
Building Relationships Through Music and Movement with Infants and Toddlers
Music and Movement time with infants and toddlers can and should be so much more than playing music on a phone. We can take the opportunity of music and use it as a moment of joy and connection. Music is an opportunity for learning not just cognitively, but physically and socially. This one hour training is focused on deepening relationships and learning for toddlers and infants through the use of music and movement. We will deepen our understanding of the importance of music and movement in our classrooms, as well as practice getting comfortable with engaging children in this way.
This 1 hour training is geared towards parents and teachers of infants and toddlers.
Challenging Our Children: An Examination of Risk Vs. Safety
We hear about the importance of safety for children all the time. Of course, it’s vital and a huge part of parenting, teaching, and caring for children. However, there is such thing a being too safe. This training offers the chance to balance safety against a child’s need to take risks and explore their environment. There is room for both and by giving children the chance to take risks we will see fewer behavioral issues in the classroom as well.
This training is focused on the effects of nutrition for children in the classroom. This space unpacks how nutrition affects behavior and explores alternative eating options.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 1 hour training is geared towards parents and teachers and administrators in Early Childhood Education.
The Classroom of Limitless Possibilities: Dramatic Play with Preschoolers
Dramatic Play offers children the opportunity to explore and experiment with their world. They work out different roles and experiment socially and emotionally. They can work through experiences and things they don’t understand. This 1 hour training is about deepening dramatic play and engaging children in learning, especially socially and emotionally, through this fun and engaging learning center.
This 1 hour training is geared towards parents and teachers of preschoolers.
Creating Culturally Sustainable Classrooms Through English Language Learning Teachers
Our classrooms need to reflect the children living in them, as well as the world we live in. One of the best ways to do this is to hire teachers who are learning English but speak various different first languages. Not only is this diversity important to see in our classrooms, but it can help fill significant staffing shortages that centers regularly face. Plus the research around how brains grow and change when an individual learns more than one language is significant and a natural selling point that every center should be able to offer their families. Hiring English Language Learners can come with real challenges though! Together we will discuss common challenges and brainstorm solutions. The instructor of this course works regularly with immigrant and refugee women who are learning Early Childhood while also learning English.
This training is designed for Administrators, Directors, Owners and anyone responsible for the hiring at your center.
Getting Organized: Time Management for Success
There simply is never enough time in the day for all of the things we want and need to do. Sometimes there is so much to do, in fact, that instead of doing anything we get stuck spinning, constantly only putting out the fires that are right in front of us, or doing the things that most recently got our attention, regardless of our other priorities. This 3 part series is designed to help you slow down, look at priorities, block out time, and leave with a schedule that makes the most sense for your ongoing success.
This training series is focused on supporting all who need time management skills and practice. It consists of three 1-hour sessions.
Getting to Know Your Teaching Approach: An Introduction to Curriculum
No matter where you work, curriculum is going to be one of the most important aspects in your classroom. We use curriculum to deepen play into learning and supporting children in their zone of proximal development. In this 2 hour training you will be introduced to different types of curriculum, some of the keys to creating a responsive curriculum, and the many different aspects of curriculum. You will walk away with more than a few lesson plan ideas and real practice designing a curriculum that works for the children in your classroom.
This 2 hour training is focused on supporting teachers and is an introduction to curriculum.
Giving and Receiving Feedback: Skill Building Around Hard Conversations for Administrators
Difficult conversations are just that: difficult. This training focuses on supporting directors and coaches in building a culture of feedback in their centers so that these types of conversations can be just a little bit easier. There is an in depth introduction and a significant amount of practice.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 2 hour training is geared towards administrators and coaches in the field of Early Childhood Education. This invaluable practice can be utilized by administrators and managers in other fields, we just ask you let us know in advance so we can be sure to include your unique experiences.
Growing Their Brain, Body, and Heart: Learning and Playing With Your Infant
Some of the most significant learning in a child’s life happens in the first year. But as parents and caregivers, sometimes we aren’t really sure what to do with a little infant. We want to give them an amazing start, but we aren’t always sure how. Drawing on experience, research, and infant care best practices, we will spend an hour together exploring different ways you can engage with the infants in your care. You will leave with stronger understanding of development in the first year, as well as a whole host of fun activities you can do with children under 1 year.
This 1 hour training is focused on supporting parents and teachers of infants.
It’s Not About the Ice Cream: Self Care for Adults
Our culture has turned the term “self-care” into a farce about eating junk food, going shopping, and watching TV. But self-care isn’t really about junk food. This training rewrites our understanding of self care to include the idea that it’s not considered self care if there are short or long term adverse effects. With collective brainstorming and real conversations, participants will walk away with a plan for themselves to practice self care regularly. You cannot show up for others if you do not first show up for yourself.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 1 hour training is focused on supporting parents and teachers in creating real self care activities.
Managing Challenging Behaviors Through a Power Lens
What if we change the way we look at challenging behaviors from children? All behavior is communication, so in this training we will discuss what it is that children are trying to communicate with us and how we can support their needs. This is an introduction to power and how it is part of every relationship that we have. After getting these foundational concepts in place we look at challenging behaviors from children through a lens of power. Children are constantly expressing their needs through their behavior and one need children have is to feel a sense of autonomy and to claim their personal power.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 2 hour training is geared towards parents and teachers in the field of Early Childhood Education.
Mindfulness for Adults as a Means to Support Children: An Introduction
When you are in a classroom with children you cannot pause the day for 5 minutes in order to meditate and reenter yourself. In this short time we will explore some building blocks of meditation for you to take home and expand on, while also finding real (and realistic) ways to tap into mindfulness in a moment full of classroom chaos. The key to supporting children in the classroom is creating space for yourself outside the classroom.
This 1.5 hour training is geared towards parents and teachers in the field of Early Childhood Education.
Navigating Personal and Role Power to Find Work/Life Balance
Buzzwords like “Work/Life Balance” and “Burnout” have become a dime a dozen in our field. We talk about Self Care and taking care of ourselves and setting boundaries, but we have been doing it in a very loose and non-committal way. This 1.5 hour opportunity teaches about personal and role power and how to step more fully into each of these important aspects of ourselves in order to be better able to set boundaries and find a real work life balance. Designed for both teachers and administrators we will learn about power, practice setting boundaries, and make real plans with real follow through. Come prepared to reflect and meditate as we won’t just be talking, but practicing and making real change.
This 1.5 hour training is focused on supporting teachers, admin, and directors and offers an introduction to personal power and healthy boundary setting.
Power in the Field of Early Childhood Education: A Series
The field of Early Childhood Education comes with a commitment and responsibility to children. This 8 session series unpacks numerous concepts around Power and Early Childhood for teachers, administrators, coaches, and even parents. By obtaining a foundational knowledge of power, participants will gain an understanding of the role of power in their interactions with children, coworkers, and parents.
This training series is focused on diving deep into the concepts of power with directors, administrators, and coaches. It consists of eight 1-hour sessions.
This is a Michigan MIRegistry Certified training.
Power in the Field of Early Childhood Education (for Admin)
Directors and admin are responsible for holding space and supporting teachers and staff in their centers. This role comes with a lot of responsibility. In this session they be introduced to the concept of role power and offer guidance on creating a culture of feedback and using power wisely and well. Participants will meet in small and large groups and will leave with a concrete goal to move forward.
This is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This is a Michigan MIRegistry Certified training.
This 2 hour training is geared towards directors, administrators, and coaches in the field of Early Childhood Education.
Power in the Field of Early Childhood Education (for Teachers)
Teachers are in a unique position of power in classrooms and using that power wisely and well supports positive behavior in the classroom. This session introduces the concept of role power and focuses on boundary setting to help teachers create classroom environments that are safe, organized, and equitable.
This is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 2 hour training is geared towards parents and teachers in the field of Early Childhood Education.
Product vs. Process: Making Art that Matters
Not all art is created equally, and yet we can still walk into schools and see copy paste art on the walls. This process based art experience reminds us why we do art in the first place and how to move away from “Pinterest” art and back to learning art.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 1 hour training is focused on supporting parents and teachers in guiding process based art and generating ideas that can be both beautiful and creative.
This training is only offered in person at this time.
Put the App Down: Investing in Parent Relationships
Between Covid and the overwhelming take over of Apps, teachers have stopped truly connecting with parents. This training takes time to examine our relationship with technology and bring our focus back to real relationships. Participants walk away with concrete ideas for improving the teacher-family relationship in order to all around better support children.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 1 hour training is focused on supporting parents and teachers.
Repairing the Harm: A New Approach to Conflict Resolution for Children
Conflict is a part of life, and everyone, both children and adults, make mistakes all the time, Yet “I’m sorry” doesn’t really fix anything, and fear of getting in trouble stops honesty or taking responsibility for actions. This workshop gives alternatives for resolving conflict that involves shifting the culture in an entire classroom or home. Together the goal is to focus on change and relationships.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 2 hour training is geared towards parents and teachers in the field of Early Childhood Education.
Screens, Kids, and Alternatives: How Technology Affects Behavior
Technology has unique impacts on the human brain, even more so for young developing brains. This training takes a close look at technology in the classroom and home and how it is used. And not just by children! With apps and cell phones, adults are on technology too much as well. There is room for tech and this workshop unpacks when to use it and when to put it aside.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 1 hour training is focused on reevaluating how we use technology in our classrooms and our daily lives.
Showing Up Authentically in Play with Children
We often see cartoon characters from children’s programming showing up and fully immersing in imaginative play. Fully immersed imaginative play is not necessarily for everyone. So how do we find the balance between following the child’s lead and still bringing joy to the situation. This fun, interactive training helps loosen up adults, get them into a space of play, and helps them tap into their inner child, all while acknowledging that not every adult has to play the way that cartoon characters do.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 1.5 hour training is for teachers and parents of young children.
Stop Serving Juice: The Role of Nutrition in the Classroom
Behavior and nutrition are closely linked. We cannot expect our children to take in sugar or heavy dyes and then behave well in the classroom. Yet this is exactly what we do all the time. We have juice instead of fruit, and we reward children with candy and sugar. This works directly against us. There are 5 different Colorado Competencies that focus on nutrition, yet it takes a back seat in our classrooms. This training takes a dive into nutrition and how it affects behavior. We examine our current practices and will proactively implement more successful practices.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 1 hour training is focused on the effects of nutrition for children in the classroom. This space unpacks how nutrition affects behavior and explores alternative eating options.
Tapping into Your Personal Power to Set Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries are hard. Many of us have been socialized to avoid setting firm boundaries and always going above and beyond for everyone but ourselves. Unfortunately, this leads to burnout, resentment, and exhaustion. It leads to teachers who are just in the classroom, but not in love with their jobs. It leads to directors who have no balance and thus suffer from illness and mental health struggles. With an introduction to power, this opportunity is designed to help individuals not just understand their Personal Power, but how to root into it and use it to set long lasting, healthy boundaries.
This 1.5 hour training is focused on boundary setting for professionals and parents.
Two Way Parent Communication: Creating Reciprocal Relationships
We all know that parents and caregivers are the most important individuals in a child’s life. They are the first teachers and while we are experts on child development, a child’s main adults are the expert in their child. This means the caregiver-teacher relationship is vital for a child’s success. We need to put time, effort, and energy into creating a reciprocal relationship of communication, transparency, and working together for the best of the child.
This training unpacks ways to build healthy two-way relationships between caregivers and teachers. We will practice important skills such as conferences, pickup and drop off conversations, and inviting parents to share what is happening in their lives. More than a lecture, this 1.5 hour training is designed to give you real practice opportunities, as well as to share challenges you may be currently facing and exploring solutions in a safe, group context.
This 1.5 hour training is focused on relationships with parents for teachers of any age.
Unpacking Power, Punishment, and Consequences
Punishment and consequences are two different approaches to managing children. One is rooted in fear and shame. One is rooted in guidance and learning. This workshop shines a light on the beliefs behind each and how there is an ingrained relationship with power in each. Beyond exploring those differences, we also dive into consequences and how they really can be neutral. Because there are also different consequences for different behaviors.
This training is a Colorado PDIS TAP Certified training.
This 1 hour training is focused on guidance and discipline for parents and teachers.
Coming Soon
These are the titles of trainings I am in the process of developing currently. You are able to hire for any of these trainings before they are finalized if you see one you are interested in.
- What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up: Creating Real Change Through Goal Setting.
- Relationship is Key: Guidance and Discipline with a Relational Approach
- Using Observations to Assess and Support Learning
- Growing Their Brain, Body, and Heart: Learning and Playing With Your Infant
- Growing, Learning, and Playing in the Block Area with Infants and Toddlers
- Growing, Learning, and Playing in the Block Area with Preschoolers
- Before We Even Hold A Pen: Introducing Reading and Writing to Infants and Toddlers
- It’s “Buh”, Not “B”: Introducing Reading and Writing to Preschoolers
- Self Care and Mindfulness: Real Skills for Real Burnout
- Nutrition, Behavior, and Health Both In and Out of the Classroom
- An Introduction to Time Management
- Building Relationships Through Music and Movement with Infants and Toddler
- Taking Music and Movement to the Next Level with Preschoolers
- Building Social Skills Through Dramatic Play with Toddlers
- No More Flash Cards: Engaging Circle Times for Preschoolers
- Tear Free Circle Time for Infants and Toddlers
- Everyone is an Artist: Introduction to Art for Infants and Toddlers
- Beyond 2D Art: Getting Creative with Preschoolers
- What’s This?: Exploring Sensory Play with Infants and Toddlers
- The World Through Our Senses: Sensory Play with Preschoolers
- Building Science Into Your Infant and Toddler Curriculum
- It’s Only Science If You Write It Down: Deepening Science Play with Preschoolers
- Introducing Math Concepts to Infants and Toddlers
- Let’s Not Wait Until Elementary School: Teaching Math Through Play with Preschoolers
- More Than Stroller Walks: Warm Weather Outdoor Play for Infants and Toddlers
- Leading and Following Preschoolers in Outdoor Play
- Montessori, Waldorf, Steiner and More: Curriculum Models and Approaches
- More Than Paint: The Arts in Your Curriculum
- The Importance of Language, Literacy, and Literature In Your Curriculum
- Individual Growth: Setting Learning Objectives for Children
- Math, Science, and Social Studies in the Curriculum
- Just for Directors: Day to Day Skills for Directors
- New to Teaching: A Crash Course
- Getting Your Staff Started: Onboarding 101
- Using Environment and Routine to Set Your Classroom Up for Sucess
- Teaching Young Children About Their Power
- Supporting Children’s Individual Needs: A 4 Session Series
- Observation and Documentation In the Classroom
- We Need More Than Dolls: Inclusion in the Classroom
- Meals as an Opportunity for Learning
- Director Success Camp – A 10 Session Series
- Just Starting: A 5 Session Series to Get You Started in Your New Classroom
Qualifications
I received my degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Traditional Eastern Arts (think meditation and tai chi) in 2013. I have been working with children since 2005 including in early learning centers, after school programs, babysitting, and as a consultant.
I have traveled to other countries to build schools and teach teachers, as well as children.
I am employed with Empowering Communities Globally where I help teach and coach teachers in the Early Childhood Field.
I am a certified Birth and Postpartum Doula through the International Doula Institute.
