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 “Training“. 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.
I charge a flat fee of $150 per hour for group training, both online and in person.
All PDIS TAP Certified professional development is available to sign up through PDIS. If hired privately for your school, you and your staff can receive your professional development hours directly through PDIS. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 hour training is geared towards parents and teachers in the field of Early Childhood Education.
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.
Power in the Field of Early Childhood Education (for Admin)
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 2 hour training is geared towards parents and teachers in the field of Early Childhood Education.
Power in the Field of Early Childhood Education (for Teachers)
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
