Ellen Abramson has been supporting young children, with and without disabilities, and their families and adults who work with them for over 40 years at the local, state and national level in government, public and private schools, child care, hospitals, and community programs.

Ellen teaches at Johns Hopkins University, College of Southern Maryland and has provided training workshops nationwide to parents, educators and child-serving professionals on a variety of brain-based topics including understanding ADHD, Executive Function Skills and Bullying. She has been training and coaching staff on early literacy skills, assessment, inclusion, behavior management, and social/emotional development throughout Maryland. Ellen also worked as a consultant on behalf of the TranZed Institute on a Navajo Reservation in New Mexico with their Early Childhood Education Program.

Ellen earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Hampshire, and a  Master’s degree in early childhood special education from the George Washington University.

WORKSHOPS presented by ELLEN include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Jack’s Brain, Jill’s Brain: Gender Differences and Why They Matter
• Rethinking ADHD: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood

Bonnie Brown is one of the most enthusiastic trainers you will ever experience. Her passion and positive attitude are energizing. Bonnie has been educating children in alternative learning settings for the past ten years.

Bonnie is a Lecturer at Towson University in the Department of Educational Technology and Literacy and a certified trainer for the TranZed Institute. She has also worked as a teacher for children in grade levels pre-K through ten and with educators to integrate educational software and traditional teaching strategies into the classroom. Her background includes research in curriculum development, distance learning, and gender based learning styles.

Bonnie earned a BA in Sociology/Anthropology and MS in Instructional Technology from Towson University in Maryland. She holds a 90-Hour Certification in Early Childhood Development.

Bonnie and her two adult children all reside in Maryland. In her spare time, she teaches fitness classes at a local athletic club. She enjoys regular exercise including: swimming, biking and running. Bonnie’s interests include reading and research.

WORKSHOPS presented by BONNIE include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Responses to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide to Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Rethinking ADHD: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five

Author, educator, speaker, trainer, therapist, and non-profit executive, Betty is passionately devoted to creating a better world for children. She has contributed professionally to the issues of childhood hunger and poverty at the national level, to international health in West Africa, and to individual therapy for stress and trauma-related issues. Her presentations earn high marks for connecting with participants with warmth and humor.

In 1993 Betty founded Stressless Tests®, an innovative non-profit organization providing brain-based learning classes for parents, educators, and middle and high school students. Over 1,000 children have participated in the first nine years, with the program receiving high marks from parents, educators, and the local public school system. She is the author of What’s My Style? Test and Study Skills for Procrastinating Teens An Owners Manual for Your Brain, which has been embraced by organizations that include the Learning Disabilities Association of America, the National Association for Gifted Children, and local school systems. Betty graduated with a Master of Arts degree Summa Cum Laude from the University of Maryland School of Education. Her BA, also from the University of Maryland, College Park, was in Psychology and Social History.

WORKSHOPS presented by BETTY include:

• Battling the Bully: Brain-Inspired Responses to Bullying
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide to Brain-Based Learning

With an extensive background in the field of education, Nadia has excelled in driving legal, social and academic services to children in traditional and specialized settings for over 15 years. Along with her academic accomplishments, she adds to her credits, NAESP, NCATE and Middle States certification.

As a former teacher and school director, she has worked directly with students of all ages and has provided supervision to large staff groups entrusted with their care and education. She is the founder of an esteemed Public Charter School in District of Columbia. She has supervised related services providers for the DCPS Office of Special Education, mobilized advocacy campaigns for charter schools in several states and served as the Director of School Culture at The Children’s Guild in Baltimore, supporting the Monarch Charter Schools as well. Her wide body of experiences led her to opening her own consulting agency, Pyramid Consulting Group, which provides services and support to small business and nonprofits. A few of her distinguished achievements include successful grant writing on the state and national level, educational consultant to Maryland’s State Charter Advocacy Agency, and certified trainer for the TranZed Institute.

Nadia is a wife and mother of 2 boys. Her youngest is in elementary school and the other in middle school. She calls New York her childhood hometown; however, a portion of her childhood was spent living in the Caribbean. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., serves as a troop leader for the Boy Scouts and sits on the booster committee on her sons’ athletic teams.

Nadia’s desire to help her own children’s teacher quality was the catalyst that lead her to what she identifies as the most enjoyable professional experience of her life: contributing to the quality professional development of our educators.

WORKSHOPS presented by NADIA include:

• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom

Jacqueline is a highly experienced educational consultant. She holds a BS in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Humanistic Education and a Curriculum and Supervisor certification from Seton Hall University.

Ms. Colaneri has extensive experience as a classroom teacher, supervisor of curriculum and instruction, and national presenter. She was employed as a classroom teacher and curriculum supervisor in New Jersey schools for 34 years. For the last seven years Jacqueline has worked nationally as a consultant collaborating with district administrators to identify needs, and to develop and deliver professional development to address areas of concern, including providing extensive classroom coaching. She assisted with the design, review, and delivery of over 50 different workshops via train-the-trainer formats and district-level presentations nationally. As a consultant, Ms. Colaneri has conducted professional development sessions to build administrator and teacher capacity in all areas of K-8 development.

Her experience includes analysis of student data to assist in guiding classroom instruction, modeling lessons, facilitating positive school climate committees, and supporting implementation of RTI. As a consultant and as a coach, Jacqueline is devoted to assisting teachers and instructional leaders address student needs, maximize learning, and foster a positive learning community.

WORKSHOPS presented by JACQUELINE include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD JACQUELINE’S BIO

Cortney is the Assistant Principal at the Chesapeake Bay Middle School Regional Program in Anne Arundel County. She has over 20 years of experience working with students with learning and emotional disabilities and has worked in various roles as an educator including teacher, behavior specialist and assistant principal. 

Cortney is passionate about her role as an administrator and enjoys working with her staff, students and families to provide engaging instruction, quality learning and a feeling of community. She is committed to educating the “whole child” and was recognized by the Maryland School Psychologist Association with the “Outstanding Educator Award” in 2011. This passion and commitment to providing the best educational services to meet the needs of all learners is what led her to the Transformation Education Institute where she is certified as a presenter.

Cortney earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from East Stroudsburg University and her Master’s Degree in Leadership Teaching with administration certification from Notre Dame of Maryland.

Cortney is an avid traveler and enjoys spending time outdoors. After college she attended the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming where she completed a semester in the Rockies. As a young teacher, she worked part-time for an airline to afford her “travel bug” and was fortunate to spend many summers backpacking through Central America and Europe. These days she stays close to home and is happy spending her summers swimming in the pool and taking short trips with her husband and two young girls but looks forward to their family’s first trip abroad sometime soon!

WORKSHOPS presented by CORTNEY include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Becoming a Mental Health Sleuth: The Sherlock Holmes Skills Every School Needs
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood

Shelly Eidsness has a deep knowledge of child and youth development honed over more than two decades of work with individual students, communities and child-serving systems. 

Shelly has spent 11 years as a professional development specialist in Alaska, offering a wide variety of seminars including youth leadership, youth empowerment, diversity, ethics and community organization in support of positive youth development. Shelly previously worked for the Association of Alaska School Boards as a Community Engagement Educator and Child & Youth Advocate and now lives in Seattle.

Shelly graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Education, Biology, and Youth Development. She will graduate with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology in 2018. In her free time, she plays hockey, loves to ice and mountain climb, practices yoga and dabbles in arts and crafts.

Shelly’s energy and passion is contagious and her fascination and comprehension of brain-based learning is evident in every presentation.

WORKSHOPS presented by SHELLY include:

• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide to Brain-Based Learning
• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom
• Rethinking ADHD: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SHELLY’S BIO

Debi is an Independent Parent Educator, Certified Presenter for the TranZed Institute and Professional Certified Coach. She practices a holistic “whole person” approach to parenting and coaching, trusting each brain is as unique as a fingerprint. A lifelong learner, Debi has achieved numerous certifications in national parenting and international coaching programs. She is a National Certified Trainer for Active Parenting Publishers.

Believing diversity, equity, and inclusion begins at home, Debi and her husband of 30+years, utilized a strengths-based, coach-approach style of parenting to successfully launch more than one extraordinary child into the real-world. She shares her practical application experiences through humor and storytelling. For almost a quarter of a century, she has actively engaged with the Autism Society of America at the local, regional, and national levels. In today’s uncertain and complex world, Debi’s passion includes maximizing the potential of each child by supporting families, educators, and professionals to Connect | Communicate | Collaborate.

WORKSHOPS presented by DEBI include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Mind Management: Neuroscience, Self-Care and Life Success
• Rethinking ADHD: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom

Dr. Amy Fortney Parks describes herself as a life-long educator, a passionate psychologist and often stressed-out, but mostly happy, mom of four!  She is the Executive Director of WISE Mind Solutions, LLC, a Northern Virginia-based group psychotherapy practice focused on children, teens and families.  She is also the owner of The Wise Family – a comprehensive brand for kids and parents designed to inspire, educate and energize families!

Dr. Amy Fortney Parks brings with her over 25 years of experience working with children, adolescents and families as both an educator and psychologist. She is a passionate “BRAIN – trainer” and strives to help everyone she works with understand how their own unique brain works!

Dr. Amy holds a Doctorate in Educational Psychology, and specializes in individual counseling for kids, tweens and teens, parent coaching, and educational consulting. She also provides consulting services to families, parent groups, local independent schools and public systems. Dr. Amy has served as a speaker for conference groups including the Virginia Counseling Association, the Virginia Psychological Association, MARFY, She Rocks the World, The Center for Adoption Services and Education, and many, many more. More information and how to chat directly with her about your family are on her website www.thewisefamily.com or connect SOCIALLY @wisefamilies!

Amy has over 20 years of experience through her work in Northern Virginia schools, adoption agencies throughout the US and private practice with countless families. Her most valuable experience, however,    is the day-to-day parenting of her own four children, three dogs and husband.

WORKSHOPS presented by AMY include:

• Becoming a Mental Health Sleuth: The “Sherlock Holmes Skills” Every School Needs
• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Conquering Boredom, Apathy and Indifference in the Classroom: Strategies to Engage, Excite and Motivate Your Students
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind

Angela Fowler-Hurtado is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Washington DC where she works with adults, couples and families. Prior to her work in private practice, she worked with a teen parent program, a family counseling center, and a group home for adolescent males in Washington DC. 

In her clinical work Angela focuses on healing from trauma and on improving relationships. Angela obtained her BS from the University of Rhode Island and her MSW from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. She is passionate about helping to create positive change and believes that the best way to help young people is to build the knowledge and resources of the parents, teachers, social workers, mentors and coaches in their lives.

WORKSHOPS presented by ANGELA include:

• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Jack’s Brain, Jill’s Brain: Gender Differences and Why They Matter

Katie Gifford is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist currently working in Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS). She has spent the last five years working with students with Emotional Disabilities, ADHD, Autism, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Learning Disabilities in the public school system. She is passionate about early intervention services, and providing students and families with wrap around supports to facilitate academic and social-emotional success. 

Katie earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, and her M.A., A.G.S., and Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Maryland. Katie earned her National Certification in School Psychology from the National Association of School Psychologists in 2013. She is also working on earning her certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and studying for the national psychology licensure exam.

Katie is an adjunct professor in the University of Maryland School Psychology doctoral program. She has taught and supervised the graduate practicum course in counseling for School Psychology doctoral students. She recently had the opportunity to lead two DBT professional development sessions for the Office of Psychological Services and School Counselors in AACPS; two professional development sessions on working memory for the PBIS school leaders in AACPS; and a professional development presentation on the teenage brain for teachers within AACPS.

In her leisure time, Katie enjoys teaching and taking Pure Barre classes. She recently became a mom, and loves spending time with her husband and baby boy. Whenever given the chance, she also loves spending time at their family beach house in Bethany Beach, DE.

WORKSHOPS presented by KATIE include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Becoming a Mental Health Sleuth: The Sherlock Holmes Skills Every School Needs
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood

KaMyka Glenn is a passionate educator who is committed to helping educators and their leaders to shift their consciousness in order to cultivate a truly child-centered program.

KaMyka has more than 12 years of experience in education, having served as a teacher, Child Care Director, and Transition Specialist in both the public and nonpublic school sectors. She has served a wide-variety of student populations, including students with disabilities, incarcerated students, and students identified as “at-risk.” KaMyka is dedicated to meeting the needs of each student by being strategic in her approach to ensure they receive the appropriate tools to be successful in life.  She currently serves as the Transition Coordinator and an Administrator at The Children’s Guild Baltimore Campus where she helps students develop plans for life after school and assists with daily administration of the school.

KaMyka received her master’s degree in secondary special education and transition services, interdisciplinary transition services from the George Washington University, Graduate School of Education and Human Development. In addition to her work at The Children’s Guild, she also serves as an education consultant specializing in transition services and is an instructor for Montgomery College. KaMyka has co-written two educational publications: 2015-16 Planning Ahead: Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities (Sept 2015) and the Pathfinders Curriculum (2015).

KaMyka has traveled nationally for her own coaching and consulting company speaking on various topics surrounding youth and education. In addition to fulfilling her passion by empowering and guiding youth through their life’s experiences, she enjoys impacting the lives of others through life coaching.

WORKSHOPS presented by KaMyka include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide to Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind

Chris Grace is a certified school psychologist working in St. Mary’s County (MD) public schools. Chris has been a school psychologist for more than 25 years and enjoys working with students, teachers, and families to help children achieve success in school. Chris is energized by working with students who have autism spectrum disabilities as well as helping schools to adopt positive behavioral supports.

She obtained her BA in Psychology from Clemson University and her MA in School Psychology from the University of South Carolina. Chris was intrigued by brain physiology courses in school, so she is excited to work with the Transformation Education Institute to be able to share information about how the brain works and how adults can help students in school. Chris has two young adult children, so she especially likes the TranZed Institute’s Giving a Fish a Bath workshop!

WORKSHOPS presented by CHRIS include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Becoming a Mental Health Sleuth: The “Sherlock Holmes Skills” Every School Needs
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Conquering Boredom, Apathy, and Indifference in the Classroom: Strategies to Challenge, Excite and Motivate Your Students
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Rethinking ADHD: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD CHRIS’S BIO

Heather is a Certified Presenter for the Transformation Education Institute. She has been practicing Social Work for over 15 years in Baltimore, Maryland focusing her efforts on working with children and families.

Heather obtained her BA from Loyola University and her MSW from the University of MD, Baltimore. Heather began working for The TranZed Alliance in 2004 on their clinical leadership team–serving first as the Clinical Director of the special education school and then as the Director of the OMHC. She has been presenting for the Transformation Education Institute since 2008.

Heather began her career working with children and adults with developmental delays while she was in high school, and has continued to serve individuals in need ever since. Heather has worked with children and families in a multitude of settings including residential care, school, foster care, outpatient, and inpatient hospitals.

Currently, Heather is a Social Worker with Baltimore City Schools working at Monarch Academy, one of The TranZed Alliance’s Charter schools. She has presented hundreds of interactive workshops and keynote addresses nationwide to child-serving professionals and families. Heather provides energetic and engaging training in a variety of areas including Poverty and the Brain, Gender Differences in the Classroom, The Teen Brain, and ADHD. Born and raised in New York, Heather has been calling Baltimore, MD home for the past 2 decades.

WORKSHOPS presented by HEATHER include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Jack’s Brain, Jill’s Brain: Gender Differences and Why They Matter
• Rethinking ADHD: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood

Alison is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who holds a Master’s Degree of Social Work from the University of Maryland-Baltimore with dual concentrations in Management & Community Organizing and Clinical Therapy with Families and Children. She attained her Bachelors of Social Work from Salisbury University. Alison has more than a decade of broad social work experience including experience in work in youth residential care, addiction services, treatment foster care, special education, and behavioral health. Alison currently serves as Director of a domestic violence safe house in Harford County, Maryland.

Inspired by her family journey with her sister, Alison has become a recognized advocate for people with significant developmental delays, as well as a resource for those people who have dedicated their lives to providing care for them.  Alison recognized at an early age that her power was in advocating for those who were unable to advocate for themselves.  The proud mother of 2 little girls, Alison is a self-proclaimed millennial interpreter and the go-to cattle herder on her family’s farm.

WORKSHOPS presented by ALISON include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide to Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind

Deb Ingersoll brings with her over 25 years of experience as an educator and has a special fondness for adolescents – “Their brains are so INTERESTING!” Upbeat, fun and engaging, Deb generates excitement whenever she presents and always leaves her audience wanting more.

Deb is a certified trainer for the TranZed Institute. Deb has worked in a variety of schools from large inner city schools, to small rural schools. She has worked with Native America populations and on military bases. Deb is currently working with lower elementary students with cognitive delays and identified behavioral disorders in a self-contained multi-grade classroom. The program goals include teaching young children the self-regulation skills necessary to fully integrate into the general education classroom. Deb has worked in both elementary and secondary programs, in special education, regular education, and administration. She has also worked as an education consultant in special education, elementary education, and middle school programming. Deb brings some unique perspectives to the role of nutrition on brain development and functioning. She was a certified organic farmer for six years. She served on the organic advisor board in the state of New Mexico for two years, and was awarded the Outstanding Organic Educator Award at the New Mexico State Organic Conference in 2015 for her work in establishing the first organic certified school garden program in the state. Deb is also the mother of four ranging in age from 10-33. Her youngest two were adopted from a foster care program and have taught her more about brains and behavior then all her training and experience combined. Deb is a strong advocate for foster and adoption.

WORKSHOPS presented by DEB include:

• Becoming a Mental Health Sleuth: The “Sherlock Holmes Skills” Every School Needs
• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Responses to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Feeding Your Brain: Effective Nutrition for Growing Brains
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five to Age Five

Leslie has a committed passion for teaching and learning about the brain beginning with her youngest students at school, to adults in her community. As a musician, music teacher, and certified teacher in the Metropolitan Opera Company’s Creating Original Opera, her knowledge of brain-based learning through the arts has supported her students’ critical thinking and creative processes.

Having taught in impoverished public school buildings for the past seventeen years of her 26 years as a music educator, her understanding of the environmental challenges that her students live in has driven her desire to help those families and children that she serves. Leslie is a co-creator of a nonprofit organization called The WiNS Project, Inc. which provides weekend nutrition to the children in need in her community. She also serves as a board member to a human services non-profit organization that helps families in difficult situations in her community. Her master’s emphasis in Educational Leadership has inspired her to become a leader in her professional community working on data teams, leading professionally driven book studies, exploring and implementing better school environments, directing new teacher induction trainings and becoming active with visiting artist in the schools. She has presented to the Partners in Education organization at Allegheny College and recently sat on a Poverty Panel at Gannon University for training of AmeriCorps/Vista Workers in northwest Pennsylvania. She also trained her entire elementary school district staff on Brain 101.

Leslie received her B.M.E. at Iowa Wesleyan College in southeast Iowa and her M.Ed. from Edinboro University in Edinboro, PA. She and her husband have three wonderful adult children. She helped create and coach an elementary cross country program and is a runner that enjoys doing half marathons. She can occasionally be found on an inner tube being pulled behind the family boat in the summer on local lakes.

WORKSHOPS presented by LESLIE include:

• Becoming a Mental Health Sleuth: The “Sherlock Holmes Skills” Every School Needs
• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind to Age Five
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five

Tracy Kessler, LCSW-C, has been a presenter for the Transformation Education Institute for the past 9 years and currently works as a clinician for Baltimore City Public Schools. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from McDaniel College majoring in Social Work with a minor in both Sociology and Cross Cultural Studies. Tracy obtained her Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work majoring in Clinical Social Work and specializing in work with children and families.

She has been practicing in the field of social work for the past fifteen years working with various populations. Her experiences include working with children and adolescences in the school setting, therapeutic foster care and residential treatment centers. She has served children with special needs, and worked with the elderly. Outside of her work, Tracy’s real passion is for traveling and volunteering, and spending time with her family. Tracy and her son reside in Maryland.

WORKSHOPS presented by TRACY include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Jack’s Brain, Jill’s Brain: Gender Differences and Why They Matter
• Rethinking ADHD: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood
• Trouble Letting Go: Addiction and the Developing Brain

Shauna King, Ed.S. is an educational consultant who also serves as adjunct faculty for LaSalle University, a school climate coach with The University of Maryland Positive School Center and a certified presenter for the TranZed Institute. She is a former principal, classroom teacher and PBIS district coordinator with over 20 years of experience in public and non-public school settings.

Shauna has a talent and passion for connecting with adults who have chosen to serve children. This passion led to the formation of King Professional Development Services, an organization designed to engage and empower the adults who serve children.

Shauna is the author of School Smart: It’s more than Just Reading and Writing, and her articles on teacher language and positive behavior have been featured in the AMLE (Association for Middle Level Education) magazine and NAREN (National At-Risk Education Network) journal.

As a member of the TranZed Institute’s team of certified presenters, Shauna has traveled nationally and internationally presenting on brain-based topics including executive function, poverty and the brain, and building student engagement. She also served as a keynote and featured presenter at numerous local, national and international conferences, including the annual NAREN-TranZed conference.

Shauna earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Morgan State University, a Masters of Education from Bowie State University and an Education Specialist degree in Adult Learning from Walden University. Shauna is a proud wife and mother of two children, who are the joy of her life. She is also an active member of her church where she serves on the Leadership Team and as Chairperson of the Drama Ministry.

WORKSHOPS presented by SHAUNA include:

• Becoming a Mental Health Sleuth: The “Sherlock Holmes Skills” Every School Needs
• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Conquering Boredom, Apathy and Indifference in the Classroom: Strategies to Engage, Excite and Motivate Your Students
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Jack’s Brain, Jill’s Brain: Gender Differences and Why They Matter
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SHAUNA’S BIO

LaRon Martin is a seasoned, enthusiastic, and passionate educator that is dedicated to improving student growth by increasing teacher capacity. LaRon brings over 14 years of experience in education with a background as a school leader in public, charter, and private school settings serving grades PK3-12, with a specialty for supporting students with emotional and behavioral disabilities.

LaRon currently serves as the Principal of The Children’s Guild Baltimore Campus, where he is responsible for the academic and social-emotional growth for students with severe emotional disabilities. His career includes experience as a classroom teacher, child find specialist, an instructional coach, assistant principal, school turnaround special education coordinator, as well as district office administrator.

LaRon is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a Master of Science in Special Education and as well as in School Administration and Supervision with a focus on Instructional Technology. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Bowling Green State University.

LaRon is an avid reader (especially Harry Potter) and movie watcher.

WORKSHOPS presented by LARON include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide to Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood

For nearly 20 years, Teresa has dedicated her professional and personal efforts to the development and implementation of programs spanning childhood’s developmental stages. Through this work, she seeks to encourage the healthy, positive development of children and assist families and communities in supporting, protecting and educating youth.

As a Certified Trainer for the Transformation Education Insitute in Baltimore. Teresa delivers unique brain-based learning opportunities on a variety of topics to parents and professionals. She has extensive experience presenting professional development workshops to child-serving organizations including school districts, universities, early childhood agencies and child welfare agencies.

Teresa is also the Program Manager for Healthy Family Partnership, provider of the nationally-recognized Nurse-Family Partnership program in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. She is also the Program Manager of Communities that Care of Wyoming County. Teresa was recently inducted into the International Honor Society in Psychology.

Teresa just celebrated 29 years of marriage. She has two married sons and a beautiful grandson.

WORKSHOPS presented by TERESA include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Conquering Boredom, Apathy, and Indifference in the Classroom: Strategies to Challenge, Excite and Motivate Your Students
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood

Emily is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a background in multiple practice areas. She has extensive experience in working with adult survivors of trauma, specifically women dually diagnosed with substance abuse and mental illness. She has trained locally and nationally on trauma interventions and trauma informed care.

Emily is currently working as a Title I Family Liaison for Talbot County Public Schools on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and as a therapist in private practice.

In her free time, Emily enjoys singing in her church’s contemporary choir, encouraging her teenage daughter to appreciate her own brain, and watching Jeopardy!

WORKSHOPS presented by EMILY include:

• Becoming a Mental Health Sleuth: The “Sherlock Holmes Skills” Every School Needs
• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood

Dan has almost 15 years of experience working at the middle school level. He currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Aberdeen Middle School in Harford County Maryland. Dan’s work with middle school students has driven him to learn more about the human brain to answer the age old question, “Why do they act that way?”

Dan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia. He also obtained his Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from Towson University.

If you looking for an engaging presenter with a lot of public speaking experience, then Dan is your man! Dan is originally from Buffalo, New York but currently lives in Harford County, Maryland. He has been married to his wife Nicole for 13 years and they have two children ages 8 and 5.

WORKSHOPS presented by DAN include:

• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD DAN’S BIO

Gloria is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Educational Consultant, Parent Educator and Coach. She has extensive experience working with parents, students, educators and a wide variety of other professionals.  Her work history includes working in all areas of child welfare for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In 2012, she retired as a middle school counselor and is now on her Encore Career. Her passion for learning continues as she seeks new information to enhance the lives of others, keeping her “toolbox” of skills up to date and provide meaningful information to those in her audiences.

Gloria has presented at several local, state, national and international trainings over the last 15 years. Her areas of interest are brain based learning, impact of trauma on childhood development, and helping adults understand what’s driving the behavior of children. Gloria has been teaching parenting classes for more than 15 years in her community. She is a certified presenter with the TranZed Institute. She loves the neuroscience offered in these presentations as it helps caring adults understand the brain development and provide strategies to help children be successful in life.

Gloria has a B. A. degree from Michigan State University in Social Science Education, a M.A. degree from Eastern Michigan University in Guidance and Counseling. Additionally, she has an M.Ed. Degree in Educational Administration from Saginaw Valley State University. Gloria has her own business, Parenting and Teaching with G.L.O., (Great Learning Opportunities) LLC. Her passion is to help teachers and parents, therefore children are provided opportunities to find their own strengths and create their own miracles.

Gloria is a parent of three grown children. She is blessed several grandchildren and enjoys using her skills with her grandchildren. This hands on experience keeps her current on what it takes to raise children who are empathetic, curious, resilient and able to handle the challenges of this ever changing world.

WORKSHOPS presented by GLORIA include:

• Becoming a Mental Health Sleuth: The “Sherlock Holmes Skills” Every School Needs
• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Conquering Boredom, Apathy and Indifference in the Classroom: Strategies to Engage, Excite and Motivate Your Students
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind
• Jack’s Brain, Jill’s Brain: Gender Differences and Why They Matter
• Mind Management: Neuroscience, Self-Care and Life Success
• Rethinking ADHD: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why
• Right From the Start: Building Great Brains From Birth to Age Five
• Trauma and the Brain: The Developmental Impact of Trauma in Childhood
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom

Twyla has over 35 years providing administration, direct care services, training and technical assistance to a variety of groups including, male and female prisoners, criminal justice workers, corporate managers, faith-based organizations, juvenile delinquents, college students, civic groups and organizations, and staff on Native American reservations.

Currently, Twyla serves as the Director of the Craig County Detention Center in Vinita Oklahoma and Level E Group Home in Welch, Oklahoma.

Previously, she worked for the University of Oklahoma providing training and technical assistance to Bureau of Indian Affairs schools in eight states. She has worked for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Corrections Corporation of America, and the Office of Juvenile Affairs where she served as Administrator, Warden, Case Manager, and a variety of other positions.

Twyla holds a Masters Degree in Urban Studies from Tulsa University, a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Oklahoma State University, and an Associates Degree in Public Affairs from Northeastern A. & M College in Miami. She has served as a criminal justice/corrections instructor at Oklahoma State University and Langston University.

Twyla is a certified presenter for the TranZed Institute which specializes in helping adults, help kids. She also is a certified Master Trainer in True Colors, which is dynamic communications model that accounts for individual personalities and differences.

WORKSHOPS presented by TWYLA include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Mind

Laura Webb currently is Recovery Support Director at Walden Sierra in Southern Maryland.

She has a Master’s Degree in Adult and Community Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Language from University of North Carolina- Wilmington. An Army veteran, Laura is also a poet and owner/creator of the Living Poetry Lab project. She is an experienced presenter and trainer on the topics of mental health and addiction awareness, education and recovery, focusing on non-clinical audiences. Enjoying family relationships, including those with her dogs and closest friends, travel and admiring the night sky are some of her favorite ways to spend time.

WORKSHOPS presented by LAURA include:

• Beyond Poverty: Brain-Inspired Ways to Understand and Respond to Poverty
• Brain Matters: The Essential Guide To Brain-Based Learning
• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth
• The New IQ?: Understanding and Teaching Executive Functions Skills In and Out of the Classroom

Alisha is the Director of FamilyWorks Together, the counseling, training and special projects branch of Adoptions Together. Alisha has advocated for children through front-line work, research, and best practice training.

Alisha received her Bachelor’s Degree from Skidmore College and her Masters’ degrees in both Social Work and Maternal and Child Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in the school of social work, Alisha’s graduate work focused on transracial adoption, adoption from foster care, and family reunification. While in the School of Public Health, her work focused on maternal mental health, attachment, and the effects of prenatal substance use.

Alisha has worked in fair housing advocacy, early childhood education, adoption from foster care work, and maternal and infant health programs. In her current role as Director of FamilyWorks Together, Alisha writes and delivers trainings for parents and professionals on subjects such as trauma, attachment, brain development, prenatal exposure, and understanding complicated children.

Alisha loves training and facilitation, and is passionate about bringing best practice information to parents and professionals who care deeply about children.

WORKSHOPS presented by ALISHA include:

• Change Your Language, Change Their Lives: What Adults Can Say Differently Today to Transform the Tomorrows of Our Youth