Speakers
You may learn more about our distinguished speakers below.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander
Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander serves as the Chief of Schools for New Schools for New Orleans. Prior to joining NSNO, Jawan’s experiences as a school leader included her work as Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Lake Forest Charter School, Interim Director of K-8 Instructional Strategies for ACSA, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Recovery School District, and Assistant Head of School for Accountability and School Performance at Lafayette Charter School. Jawan also helped found Collab Lab, an organization committed to providing guidance and support to school leaders. She credits her passion for teaching as well as her master teacher and middle school teaching experiences as the catalysts for her work as a leader, mentor, and advisor. Dr. Alexander is a New Orleans native who graduated from Eleanor McMain Magnet School, went on to earn a B.A. in English Education from Southern University, a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Xavier University, and a Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from Xavier University as well.
Session Speakers
Dr. Bethel Cager
“Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:20
Dr. Bethel E. Cager holds the position of Professor of Practice for Educational Leadership within the Division of Education and Counseling at Xavier University of Louisiana. As a veteran clinician of educational leadership, she comes to this position with the knowledge and expertise required to teach, guide, and support graduate and doctoral students through the successful completion of the master’s degree and doctoral degree programs. Dr. Cager has Principal and Superintendent of Schools certifications in the states of Louisiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Her educational leadership experiences include coordinator of instruction, assistant principal, principal (elementary, middle, and high school levels), central office senior-level administrator (Executive Director/Associate Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent supervising principals at the elementary, middle, high, and alternative school levels), and Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Cager is a proud two-time alumna of Xavier University of Louisiana, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1987 and her Master of Arts in Education Administration in 1989. Dr. Cager graduated with her Doctor of Philosophy in Education Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1994.
Dr. Cager’s greatest joy in life is being a devoted mother to her beautiful daughter, who is a gifted creative writer and an incredible human being.
Session Details
Title: Teaching Students Through Their Learning Styles with a Culturally Responsive Twist
Description: The learning styles theory of Dunn and Dunn will be connected to culturally responsive instruction. This session will be engaging and thought-provoking as we address a different lens of differentiation and equity. By the end of this session, teachers will have a deeper understanding of learning styles and how they can be aligned to culturally responsive teaching.
Dr. Bethel E. Cager holds the position of Professor of Practice for Educational Leadership within the Division of Education and Counseling at Xavier University of Louisiana. As a veteran clinician of educational leadership, she comes to this position with the knowledge and expertise required to teach, guide, and support graduate and doctoral students through the successful completion of the master’s degree and doctoral degree programs. Dr. Cager has Principal and Superintendent of Schools certifications in the states of Louisiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Her educational leadership experiences include coordinator of instruction, assistant principal, principal (elementary, middle, and high school levels), central office senior-level administrator (Executive Director/Associate Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent supervising principals at the elementary, middle, high, and alternative school levels), and Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Cager is a proud two-time alumna of Xavier University of Louisiana, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1987 and her Master of Arts in Education Administration in 1989. Dr. Cager graduated with her Doctor of Philosophy in Education Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1994.
Dr. Cager’s greatest joy in life is being a devoted mother to her beautiful daughter, who is a gifted creative writer and an incredible human being.
Session Details
Title: Teaching Students Through Their Learning Styles with a Culturally Responsive Twist
Description: The learning styles theory of Dunn and Dunn will be connected to culturally responsive instruction. This session will be engaging and thought-provoking as we address a different lens of differentiation and equity. By the end of this session, teachers will have a deeper understanding of learning styles and how they can be aligned to culturally responsive teaching.
Danathan Burnett
Danathan Burnett has been an educator for more than 20 years, holding roles in a variety of capacities including teaching, support and administration. Mr. B is currently a 4th grade teacher at Martin Behrman Charter School, which is part of the Algiers Charter network. An educator at heart, Mr. B finds purpose in seeing children be motivated, educated, and soaring high in their accomplishments. His ultimate mission in life is to see all children healthy, wealthy, wise, and happy, while showing respect for themselves, their families, their school, and their community. Mr. B. is a graduate of Warren Easton Sr. High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern University and is currently pursuing his Master's Degree in leadership and management from Walden University.
Session Details
Title: Classroom Management 101
Description: This session will give teachers guidance on classroom management and teaching in the midst of the pandemic.
Session Details
Title: Classroom Management 101
Description: This session will give teachers guidance on classroom management and teaching in the midst of the pandemic.
Dr. Dolores Cormier-Zenon, NBCT
Dr. Dolores Cormier-Zenon is a National Board Certified Teacher with over 25 years in education. In 2020-2021 she served as President of ASCD (Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development) and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Zenon is a founding member/vice-chair of the National Board Network of Accomplished Minority Educators (NAME). Additionally, she serves as President of the Louisiana National Board Certified Teacher Network while supporting underprivileged students to achieve post-secondary academic success.
In response to COVID, she founded the WISE OWL Scholar Academy to challenge and support students in a safe and healthy environment. Dr. Zenon provides students personalized academic to address the overwhelming limited access for the disadvantaged. She then founded the "Wisdom Inspired Scholar Education Foundation" in 2021, (aka W.I.S.E. Foundation) to provide scholarships to advance teachers, students, STEAM, and academic intervention for students.
Session Details
Title: What is National Board Certification?
Description: Learn more about accomplished teaching, requirements, and supports to become a National Board Certified Teacher.
In response to COVID, she founded the WISE OWL Scholar Academy to challenge and support students in a safe and healthy environment. Dr. Zenon provides students personalized academic to address the overwhelming limited access for the disadvantaged. She then founded the "Wisdom Inspired Scholar Education Foundation" in 2021, (aka W.I.S.E. Foundation) to provide scholarships to advance teachers, students, STEAM, and academic intervention for students.
Session Details
Title: What is National Board Certification?
Description: Learn more about accomplished teaching, requirements, and supports to become a National Board Certified Teacher.
Dr. Bobbie Ditcharo
Dr. Bobbie Ditcharo has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Our Lady of Holy Cross College and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from University of New Orleans. Dr. Ditcharo went on to earn +45 graduate hours from University of New Orleans where she took courses in reading and special education. She later earned a doctorate in Child and Youth Studies from Nova Southeastern University with a concentration in special services/exceptional education.
Dr. Ditcharo has taught both regular and special education at the elementary level and holds State certification in the following areas: Elementary Education, Principal, Learning Disability, Mild/Moderate Generic, Educational Diagnostician, Parish or City School Supervisor, Special School Principal, and English as a Second Language.
Dr. Ditcharo has taught numerous college courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Holy Cross in both the Masters in Educational Leadership and Doctorate in Executive Leadership Programs.
Session Details
Title: Instructional Strategies for Special Education Students in Regular Education Classrooms
Description: The presentation gives regular education teachers ideas and strategies to help meet the academic needs of their included special education students. It also explains the differences between accommodations and modifications and provides examples.
Dr. Ditcharo has taught both regular and special education at the elementary level and holds State certification in the following areas: Elementary Education, Principal, Learning Disability, Mild/Moderate Generic, Educational Diagnostician, Parish or City School Supervisor, Special School Principal, and English as a Second Language.
Dr. Ditcharo has taught numerous college courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Holy Cross in both the Masters in Educational Leadership and Doctorate in Executive Leadership Programs.
Session Details
Title: Instructional Strategies for Special Education Students in Regular Education Classrooms
Description: The presentation gives regular education teachers ideas and strategies to help meet the academic needs of their included special education students. It also explains the differences between accommodations and modifications and provides examples.
Joy Garrison-Hampton
As the Staffing and Recruitment Manager of InspireNOLA charter schools, Ms. Joy Garrison-Hampton assist principals with recruiting high-quality teachers who share in the philosophy of aligning the principles of learning with culturally relevant pedagogy and having a commitment to excellence in education. She holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from Dillard University. Mrs. Garrison-Hampton worked as a certified classroom teacher for 10 years in New Orleans Public/Charter schools. Prior to joining the InspireNOLA family she also served as a recruitment and staffing coordinator for Jefferson Parish Public School System.
Dr. Monique Handy
Dr. Monique Handy, a native New Orleanian, returned to the community in 2007 to start a teaching career. Throughout her career she has obtained a variety of experiences and expertise. She has served as a classroom teacher and an assistant principal at both the elementary and secondary levels. She has a strong background in special education, including experiences as a teacher, and Special Education Administrator, and Director of Student Support Services.
Dr. Monique Handy is the Owner and CEO of Aegis Access Network, which is a case management agency that provides supports and resources to persons with disabilities. She feels as though it is part of her societal and religious duty to provide services to the community that promote productive citizenship and viable options to help others attain their life goals. In her free time Monique enjoys reading, crafting, binge watching shows, being a mom of two girls, and a wife.
Session Details
Title: Resources and Protocols when Noticing Differences in Students
Description: This session will give teachers guidance when noticing students with differences (what to look for), the steps to referral, teacher RTI/MTSS obligations, and teacher roles during the special education evaluation process.
Dr. Monique Handy is the Owner and CEO of Aegis Access Network, which is a case management agency that provides supports and resources to persons with disabilities. She feels as though it is part of her societal and religious duty to provide services to the community that promote productive citizenship and viable options to help others attain their life goals. In her free time Monique enjoys reading, crafting, binge watching shows, being a mom of two girls, and a wife.
Session Details
Title: Resources and Protocols when Noticing Differences in Students
Description: This session will give teachers guidance when noticing students with differences (what to look for), the steps to referral, teacher RTI/MTSS obligations, and teacher roles during the special education evaluation process.
Samuel Kane
Mr. Samuel Kane is a high school English teacher who has taught in both Jefferson and Orleans Parish. He has been teaching high school and college composition for 7 years. Mr. Kane graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Orleans, and holds a Master’s degree from there as well. Mr. Kane is the Jefferson Parish 2019 Teacher of the Year, and currently is the English Curriculum Fellow for KIPP New Orleans Schools, and is the English Instructional Coach for Frederick Douglass High School. Kane loves taking students abroad, and has taken students to France, England, Spain, and Greece.
Session Details
Title: Exemplars and Lap Trackers
Description: The use of exemplars coupled with lap trackers has proven to show a dramatic increase in student engagement and student performance. Trackers provide an intuitive, easy method to acquire and interpret student data, and prove to be an invaluable resource when pushing student growth.
This session will provide quality techniques and resources to help both seasoned and novice teachers increase student performance and decrease classroom management issues.
Session Details
Title: Exemplars and Lap Trackers
Description: The use of exemplars coupled with lap trackers has proven to show a dramatic increase in student engagement and student performance. Trackers provide an intuitive, easy method to acquire and interpret student data, and prove to be an invaluable resource when pushing student growth.
This session will provide quality techniques and resources to help both seasoned and novice teachers increase student performance and decrease classroom management issues.
Dr. Benjamin-David Legrand, NBCT
Dr. Benjamin-David Legrand, NBCT is a National Board Certified early childhood educator, life-long learning advocate who currently serves as TAP Master Teacher at Martin Behrman Charter School with the Algiers Charter School Association in New Orleans. He developed a love for languages while studying French clowning/theatre in undergrad at Tulane and in France to more recently, collaborating with learning partners in Beijing to impact language and literacy development.
A graduate of Tulane College, he returned to Tulane for his initial teacher certification and later for his ESL endorsement. He earned his doctorate in educational leadership from Xavier and has been leveraging his instructional leadership on language and literacy development, collaboration, and positive school culture. In his first year as ESL coach in Jefferson Parish, his school ELPT assessment index grew 26.2 points (53%) - from 49(F)-75.2(B). He attributed the school’s growth to a dedicated team and hard-working students.
He served as president of the Jefferson Reading Council. In 2020, he was selected as 2020 Teacher of the Year for Louisiana Reading Association. He presently serves as the secretary of the Louisiana NBCT Network. He is an avid presenter with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards promoting excellence in teaching.
Session Details
Title: What is National Board Certification?
Description: Learn more about accomplished teaching, requirements, and supports to become a National Board Certified Teacher.
A graduate of Tulane College, he returned to Tulane for his initial teacher certification and later for his ESL endorsement. He earned his doctorate in educational leadership from Xavier and has been leveraging his instructional leadership on language and literacy development, collaboration, and positive school culture. In his first year as ESL coach in Jefferson Parish, his school ELPT assessment index grew 26.2 points (53%) - from 49(F)-75.2(B). He attributed the school’s growth to a dedicated team and hard-working students.
He served as president of the Jefferson Reading Council. In 2020, he was selected as 2020 Teacher of the Year for Louisiana Reading Association. He presently serves as the secretary of the Louisiana NBCT Network. He is an avid presenter with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards promoting excellence in teaching.
Session Details
Title: What is National Board Certification?
Description: Learn more about accomplished teaching, requirements, and supports to become a National Board Certified Teacher.
Leigh Lenoir
After spending twenty years in public education, I have taken my knowledge of general education, special education, gifted education, and vocational education and am applying it to my current position as Director of Education for STEM NOLA in New Orleans, LA. As the education director I work with all members of our team to envision, plan, create, and execute outstanding STEM programs for communities around the world. My job allows me to interact with our customers and develop my corporate management skills while still enabling me to work one-on-one with students, teachers and families.
Session Details
Title: Hands-On Learning and STEM- Better Together!
Description: In this session, we will use STEM NOLA hands-on science kits to teach best practices for incorporating active learning in the science classroom. Children learn by doing, and we will show teachers that it is possible to create fun, educational, interactive lessons without losing control of your class.
Session Details
Title: Hands-On Learning and STEM- Better Together!
Description: In this session, we will use STEM NOLA hands-on science kits to teach best practices for incorporating active learning in the science classroom. Children learn by doing, and we will show teachers that it is possible to create fun, educational, interactive lessons without losing control of your class.
Lauren Lewis
Lauren D. Lewis (Dynamic-Defiant-Determined) is a licensed, professional cosmetologist, cosmetology educator, beauty school owner and entrepreneur enthusiast. Lauren loves all things education, because she considers herself a forever student. She enjoys sharing her bubbly, motivating personality with everyone she encounters. She has over 10 years of experience in the beauty education and business development. She strives daily to help the individuals that she impact to win their way to success. Because she knows that the life they desire to live is achievable.
Session Details
Title: Win Your Way to Wealth
Description: In this session participants will be introduced to insight that will spark their intellect to propel them to win. Wealth doesn't just reside in finances; it is in everything we do to be successful.
Session Details
Title: Win Your Way to Wealth
Description: In this session participants will be introduced to insight that will spark their intellect to propel them to win. Wealth doesn't just reside in finances; it is in everything we do to be successful.
Lakeysha London
Session Details
Title: Understanding your Leadership style to Impact Instruction
Description: Teachers will take a brief leadership assessment and learn ways their leadership style will increase student achievement. They will also learn ways to work with colleagues and school leaders to build school-wide capacity using their leadership style.
Title: Understanding your Leadership style to Impact Instruction
Description: Teachers will take a brief leadership assessment and learn ways their leadership style will increase student achievement. They will also learn ways to work with colleagues and school leaders to build school-wide capacity using their leadership style.
Dr. Brooke Muntean
Dr. Muntean began her teaching career working in international schools in Japan, Bali, and Mexico City. She additionally has taught elementary and middle school in both San Francisco and New Orleans public charter schools, followed by working as an instructional coach and a classroom teacher in the Recovery School District. She has served in the New Orleans area in various capacities in teacher education, including her work as a TeachNOLA fellow advisor; a TESOL teacher trainer; an evaluator for Match teacher coaching; and as an adjunct instructor at UNO.
Dr. Muntean serves as an Associate Professor of Education. Additionally, she is the Coordinator of Masters in Teaching and Learning. She teaches a variety of courses in graduate programs including ESL, Mentorship, Educational Leadership.
Session Details
Title: Introduction to Mentor Teaching
Description: This session will allow for the exploration of current issues in the field mentor teaching, providing attendees with the knowledge and skills required to effectively support classroom teachers. The session will focus on how to build strong relationships with new and developing teachers while also developing the skills to identify and meet these teachers’ needs. The session will also address how to coach new and developing teachers, tracking their progress and facilitating their self-reflection and improvement.
Note: As of September 2020, Mentor Teacher certification is required for all teachers who are serving in a mentor teacher capacity. The University of Holy Cross Education Department is committed to helping in the development of effective mentor teachers, so that all new and developing teachers will have an opportunity to learn alongside a more experienced colleague.
Dr. Muntean serves as an Associate Professor of Education. Additionally, she is the Coordinator of Masters in Teaching and Learning. She teaches a variety of courses in graduate programs including ESL, Mentorship, Educational Leadership.
Session Details
Title: Introduction to Mentor Teaching
Description: This session will allow for the exploration of current issues in the field mentor teaching, providing attendees with the knowledge and skills required to effectively support classroom teachers. The session will focus on how to build strong relationships with new and developing teachers while also developing the skills to identify and meet these teachers’ needs. The session will also address how to coach new and developing teachers, tracking their progress and facilitating their self-reflection and improvement.
Note: As of September 2020, Mentor Teacher certification is required for all teachers who are serving in a mentor teacher capacity. The University of Holy Cross Education Department is committed to helping in the development of effective mentor teachers, so that all new and developing teachers will have an opportunity to learn alongside a more experienced colleague.
Lauren Nero
Lauren was born and reared in Crowley, Louisiana. After attending Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business and Louisiana State University, she entered the Paul M. Hebert School of Law at LSU. Mrs. Nero graduated and passed the Louisiana State Bar in 2010. She is a practicing lawyer in her firm Nero
Firm, LLC, and has been A+PEL’s full-time staff General Counsel since 2014. She’s passionate about protecting educators’ rights!
She currently lives in Baton Rouge with her husband and three children.
Session Details
Title: Recognizing Developmental Delays in Young Children
Description: This presentation will provide an overview on effective ways to recognize developmental delays in young children and variations of their developmental levels. Examples of developmental screenings and classroom strategies will also be shared with early childhood educators.
Firm, LLC, and has been A+PEL’s full-time staff General Counsel since 2014. She’s passionate about protecting educators’ rights!
She currently lives in Baton Rouge with her husband and three children.
Session Details
Title: Recognizing Developmental Delays in Young Children
Description: This presentation will provide an overview on effective ways to recognize developmental delays in young children and variations of their developmental levels. Examples of developmental screenings and classroom strategies will also be shared with early childhood educators.
Mary Beth Newchurch
Mary Beth is an elementary school teacher. Best known for her work with students in the primary grades, she often shares her expertise with educators on a professional level.
She recently retired from Louisiana Public schools with thirty-nine years of experience. Mary Beth currently is a third-grade English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies teacher at St. Andrew the Apostle School.
Throughout her career, the National Board-Certified Teacher, served on numerous curriculum committees on both parish and state levels. She was awarded the distinction of Teacher of Year by Eisenhower, Gretna #2, and Belle Chasse Elementary Schools. She received recognition as both the Plaquemines Parish Teacher of the Year and Louisiana Teacher of the Year Semifinalist in 2003.
Mary Beth loves her profession deeply and loves talking shop with other educators!
Session Details
Title: Fostering Critical Thinking Through Text Dependent Questions
Description: During the session, discover the WHAT, WHEN, WHY, and the HOW of implementing text dependent questioning in your classroom. Practical strategies will be shared on how to get your students asking and answering these crucial comprehension questions.
She recently retired from Louisiana Public schools with thirty-nine years of experience. Mary Beth currently is a third-grade English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies teacher at St. Andrew the Apostle School.
Throughout her career, the National Board-Certified Teacher, served on numerous curriculum committees on both parish and state levels. She was awarded the distinction of Teacher of Year by Eisenhower, Gretna #2, and Belle Chasse Elementary Schools. She received recognition as both the Plaquemines Parish Teacher of the Year and Louisiana Teacher of the Year Semifinalist in 2003.
Mary Beth loves her profession deeply and loves talking shop with other educators!
Session Details
Title: Fostering Critical Thinking Through Text Dependent Questions
Description: During the session, discover the WHAT, WHEN, WHY, and the HOW of implementing text dependent questioning in your classroom. Practical strategies will be shared on how to get your students asking and answering these crucial comprehension questions.
Dr. Dionne D. Nichols
Dr. Dionne Nichols is the founder and CEO of Nichols’ Educational Testing & Evaluation Services, LLC. She is also employed with Northwestern State University as University Supervisor of their Alternative Certification and Teaching Grades K-12 educational programs. She is a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Nichols is a life-long resident of Marrero, LA. She is an educator with over 20 years of experience. She also serves as an educational consultant, coach, mentor, teacher leader and guest speaker. Most recently, Dr. Nichols has written several children’s books that depicts minority characters that all children can relate to. She is committed to the idea of life-long learning and believes that education is the key to success in life for both children and adults. Dr. Nichols is dedicated to leading change in our schools and educational organizations.
Session Details
Title: Recognizing Developmental Delays in Young Children
Description: This presentation will provide an overview on effective ways to recognize developmental delays in young children and variations of their developmental levels. Examples of developmental screenings and classroom strategies will also be shared with early childhood educators.
Dr. Nichols is a life-long resident of Marrero, LA. She is an educator with over 20 years of experience. She also serves as an educational consultant, coach, mentor, teacher leader and guest speaker. Most recently, Dr. Nichols has written several children’s books that depicts minority characters that all children can relate to. She is committed to the idea of life-long learning and believes that education is the key to success in life for both children and adults. Dr. Nichols is dedicated to leading change in our schools and educational organizations.
Session Details
Title: Recognizing Developmental Delays in Young Children
Description: This presentation will provide an overview on effective ways to recognize developmental delays in young children and variations of their developmental levels. Examples of developmental screenings and classroom strategies will also be shared with early childhood educators.
Catherine Randall
Catherine Randall is a graduate of UHC where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degree. Mrs. Randall has been teaching for 19 years in St. Bernard Parish and has spent time in grades 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th; she even worked for a short time as a Title I facilitator. She has also worked as an adjunct instructor at both the University of Holy Cross and Nunez Community College. Mrs. Randall was named St. Bernard Parish's Elementary Teacher of the year in 2012 and in 2016, she was awarded the highest honor of her career earning the National Milken Educator Award. Mrs. Randall's loves opening her classroom door to future educators and hosts residents and PLEP students as often as possible. Mrs. Randall's goal is to instill a love of learning in her students of all ages!
Session Details
Title: Comprehension Strategies for Grades 1-5
Description: Participants will learn strategies for teaching reading comprehension in Grades 1-5.
Session Details
Title: Comprehension Strategies for Grades 1-5
Description: Participants will learn strategies for teaching reading comprehension in Grades 1-5.
Dr. Candance Russell
Dr. Candance A. Russell, has been an educator for over 27 years, teaching both at the secondary and post-secondary levels, including serving as an Assistant Professor of Education at Dillard University where she taught mathematics methods courses for both elementary and secondary pre-service teachers and served as the coordinator of student teachers. Currently, she is the Principal of Baker High School in Baker, LA and an adjunct professor of mathematics at Southern University A &M College in Baton Rouge, LA. She received a B.S. in Mathematics Education for Southern University at New Orleans, a M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of New Orleans, a M.S. in Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Science/Math Education from Southern University A&M College.
Session Details
Title: Empowering Teachers by Building Leadership Capacity
Description: In this session, participants will be informed of ways that teachers as leaders can significantly impact student achievement and help to sustain school improvement.
Session Details
Title: Empowering Teachers by Building Leadership Capacity
Description: In this session, participants will be informed of ways that teachers as leaders can significantly impact student achievement and help to sustain school improvement.
Kathleen M. Whalen
Kathleen Whalen, LCSW-BACS, MEd is a 30 year veteran of New Orleans Public Schools, beginning her teaching career in 1976. During her 30 year tenure she held many roles, including elementary school teacher, school social worker, lead team member in a day treatment center, and school representative in juvenile court.
Currently Kathleen is Adjunct Professor at the Tulane School of Social Work. She is a founding member of the Trauma-Informed Schools Learning Collaborative and was Project Director for Safe Schools NOLA, a National Institute of Justice funded study of the use of trauma-informed approaches in schools. She is the principal/owner of Strategies for Youth Development, LLC, which provides consulting to youth-serving organizations and professionals who work with youth.
Immediately after the devastating flooding following Hurricane Katrina, Kathleen was the Psychosocial Program Director with Save the Children in New Orleans, through which she supervised a staff of school-based social workers working to build resilience and coping skills while addressing the stress and trauma associated with the disaster. Kathleen was the Director of Professional/Program Development of Partnership for Youth Development. She was a founding board member of Youth Empowerment Project and a founding board member of 826 New Orleans. She has served on the board of lowernine.org and NOLA Grannies. She is currently on the board of Make Music NOLA and OPPRC.
Session Details
Title: Cultural Humility and Trauma Stewardship: Its Not About You, Its All About You
Description: Our goal is to create a shared understand of the most common experiences our students face, how those experiences are part of collective trauma in Black and Brown communities often driven by systemic racism, and to expand our awareness to include the stress and trauma faced by teachers in this current moment in time. We’ll talk about the implications of these experiences for student behavior and learning and teacher instruction, with an eye toward resilience and specific approaches teachers can use to boost resilience.
Currently Kathleen is Adjunct Professor at the Tulane School of Social Work. She is a founding member of the Trauma-Informed Schools Learning Collaborative and was Project Director for Safe Schools NOLA, a National Institute of Justice funded study of the use of trauma-informed approaches in schools. She is the principal/owner of Strategies for Youth Development, LLC, which provides consulting to youth-serving organizations and professionals who work with youth.
Immediately after the devastating flooding following Hurricane Katrina, Kathleen was the Psychosocial Program Director with Save the Children in New Orleans, through which she supervised a staff of school-based social workers working to build resilience and coping skills while addressing the stress and trauma associated with the disaster. Kathleen was the Director of Professional/Program Development of Partnership for Youth Development. She was a founding board member of Youth Empowerment Project and a founding board member of 826 New Orleans. She has served on the board of lowernine.org and NOLA Grannies. She is currently on the board of Make Music NOLA and OPPRC.
Session Details
Title: Cultural Humility and Trauma Stewardship: Its Not About You, Its All About You
Description: Our goal is to create a shared understand of the most common experiences our students face, how those experiences are part of collective trauma in Black and Brown communities often driven by systemic racism, and to expand our awareness to include the stress and trauma faced by teachers in this current moment in time. We’ll talk about the implications of these experiences for student behavior and learning and teacher instruction, with an eye toward resilience and specific approaches teachers can use to boost resilience.