Stay ConnectedThe CharacterStrong Podcast: Weekly conversations for anyone in education.
CharacterStrong provides an evidence-based, multi-tiered solution to support whole child success. Curricula and trainings that improve behavior, increase safety, and support mental health.
For more information visit our website: characterstrong.com
Dr. Smith is the Director of Research at CharacterStrong. He has extensive experience providing mental health services to children and youth and has worked in schools as a school counselor, school social worker, and substance abuse counselor. Since receiving his PhD from the University of Washington he has spent over a decade translating research into effective Social Emotional Learning programs. Brian is an expert on all aspects of SEL, including program development, implementation support, assessment, and evaluation. Brian has provided presentations, trainings and keynotes to educators, researchers, and corporate audiences, co-authored book chapters and articles for both scientists and teachers and is an expert on applying science to promote social and emotional competence.
Kris has been teaching for 39 years, all in Early Childhood. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with a dual major in Elementary and Early Childhood Education (a pilot program at the time) and a minor in music education. Kris has taught in the states of Nebraska, California, Missouri, and most recently, Kansas. Kris received her MaEd from Baker University. Kris currently teaches full-day PreK in a small south-central Kansas community. In addition to Kris' teaching responsibilities, she is an active member of her PEO chapter, a philanthropic, educational organization for women, and serves as the chairperson of the Community Giving Committee. Kris is also a trainer for Resilience Reno County. Resilience Reno County is an initiative that will work to break the cycle of poverty by raising awareness and educating of ACES, and equipping the community with resources on healing from adverse childhood Experiences. Kris and her husband have been married for 31 years, have three grown children and one granddaughter.
Born and raised in Spokane, WA, Chelsea Gallagher has known since the third grade that education was her calling, except for that short stint where she wanted to be a professional ghostbuster. She graduated from Eastern Washington University with her bachelor's degree, is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in English Language Arts, and holds two Master's degrees from Grand Canyon University. Over the course of her career, she has worn many hats including mom (to Brooklynn and Nolan), Wife, English teacher, Cambridge Coordinator, Dean of Students, Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, and now the Director of Professional Development for CharacterStrong.
Molly A. Gosline, EdM, MA is the Coordinator of Social Emotional Learning at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Illinois where she works with academic divisions and teacher teams to develop instructional practices that integrate social emotional learning into their classrooms to support students' SEL growth. Ms. Gosline collaborates with SEL and school climate colleagues throughout the country, has presented at dozens of school climate & learning conferences and workshops and is the executive director of SEL4IL. Molly holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the Lesley Graduate School of Arts & Sciences as well as an Ed.M. in Risk and Prevention within the Human Development & Psychology division from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Molly is currently a doctoral candidate in the Mid-Career Educational Leadership Program at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education where her research focuses on social emotional learning integration practices.
Alex Clark is a young, passionate and committed leader who has served most of his adult life making a strong impact on student-athletes across the northeast region. Alex has worked with students of all ages from K-12, to D1 athletes, to pros. Alex has expertise coaching many sports since he was a teenager that he wanted to work and inspire young people to be their best, and his philosophy teaches you how to. How to always be PRIME. Graduating from East Hartford High School in Connecticut, Alex was a standout athlete both on the football field and basketball court that led him to a short stint as a division 1 athlete where he graduated with a degree in kinesiology from Central Connecticut State University. Like most young athletes, Alex dreamt of playing professionally, however, when that dream was no longer possible, he aimed his force to helping others reach theirs.
Inspired by the many teachers, coaches and leaders around him, Alex wanted to create a sports program that infused sports training with character development skills so that young athletes can both train at an elite level for their prospective sport, as well as enhance the way they think, make decisions and plan for their lives. The program is called PRIME ABILITY.
Alex is now a teacher at Dunbar High School located in Washington D.C, where he serves as a Health & PE teacher as well as the varsity boys basketball and girls soccer head coach. In just his second year as head coach for the soccer team, he was named 2017 DCIAA coach of the year. He most recently has started the #STAYPRIME movement in DC where he impacts students with quality fitness opportunities, the most popular being his newly launched #STAYPRIME biking program that aims to run again from March 2021-November 2021
Houston & John celebrate #SELday! They talk about how our current times have shown us why SEL is crucial, the importance of student voice in SEL, and how research, reality, & relevance come together in teaching and supporting SEL.
We talk with Lindsay about the 2021 Whole Child Virtual Summit happening March 22-26th, and she shares a few powerful highlights from some of this years speakers.
Kelly has been in education for the last 15 years. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Portland, majoring in Political Science and got her Masters in Teaching through Concordia University. Kelly began her career teaching pre-school in Ireland and when she moved back to the states, she began teaching Kindergarten. Kelly spent the last two years before becoming a principal working as a Student Success Specialist, coaching teachers and students on creating systems of support for students with challenging behaviors in the general education environment. Kelly is currently in her first year as an administrator, serving as the Principal at Lincoln Elementary in the Grants Pass School District where she has had the opportunity to lead an incredible staff through these challenging times.
Bryan Slater is an experienced classroom teacher and has spent the last 15 years teaching high school Social Studies in Tacoma, WA, Lagos, Nigeria, and Sumner, WA. He currently teaches at Sumner High School.
Michele Borba, Ed.D. is an internationally-recognized educator who has spoken to over one million parents and educators. She is recognized for her solution-based strategies on raising resilient kids, and has appeared over 150 times on the TODAY show and featured in New York Times, Washington Post, Time, and Dateline. Her 24 books are translated in 20 languages and her latest (March 2021) is Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine. Web: micheleborba.com. Twitter @micheleborba. Instagram @drmicheleborba.
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