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Professional Development

A commitment to life-long learning helps educators model the value of education to their students. I work with educators at all levels: individually and in small and large groups, and in various settings (one-time workshops, a series of workshops, etc.) to provide professional development tailored to their needs. I provide some of these workshops on my own, and some in collaboration with colleagues.

The following workshops can be customized for time (2 hour, 4 hour, multi-session, etc.), participant (Administrative Team, Board of Trustees, faculty, parents), and location. In addition, I can develop sessions that meet the specific learning needs of an organization. In all types of professional development workshops, participants actively engage in discussion and activities, and with materials that deepen their understanding and provide concrete tools for applying new knowledge.

• Mental Health Issues for School Decision Makers and Responders

What are the mental health issues in students and faculty that school decision makers need to address? What are examples of positive, supportive responses to mental health issues? How can schools develop comprehensive, legal, and supportive policies and procedures regarding the mental health of community members?

• Hiring Procedures as part of the Marketing Plan

From the moment a job opening is posted, throughout the search, interview, and offer process, hiring practices present a powerful, but often un-examined venue for schools to reflect their reputation. How do school personnel can manage the hiring process to positively impact job-seekers -regardless if they are hired?

• Meaningful Conversations When the Topic Challenges Adults

How do educators provide safe and meaningful conversations with children when the topic makes them uncomfortable? Conversations regarding the recent race riots, contentious elections, etc. all come up in schools. How do we respond to comments and questions without shutting down or turning off our students’ inquiry and desire for meaning?

• Inclusion/Exclusion and How to Improve Students’ Social Intelligence

With buzzwords like “bullying” “trigger words” and “micro-aggressions” being used with abandon, how do educators meaningfully, fairly, and comprehensively address the inclusion of all in schools? How do we model, teach, and practice language and behaviors that establish and maintain an inclusive environment?

• Current Understandings of Adolescent Brain Development

We have learned so much over the past 20 years about the unique growth that occurs in the brain during the pre-adolescent and adolescent years. How can we use the research to help us to better understand the sometimes mystifying behaviors of our students and children?  How do we best support them through their transitions?

• The Cyber Lives of Kids

Understanding the connections between all things technological, our brains, and our behavior is the next new frontier. Our societal norms are changing at an unprecedented rate. We are living in what has been called “the largest longitudinal social experiment ever.” How do we best parent, educate, and provide boundaries for our “technology-native” children? How do we demonstrate role model behaviors ourselves regarding technology use?

• Bullying Prevention and Response

Although bullying is a hot topic in the news, and it is being addressed in various ways across the country, it continues to occur regularly in our schools. The CDC calls bullying a significant public health issue. What research-based strategies can be implemented in schools to prevent the occurrence of bullying and to prevent or minimize the negative effects of bullying? How can school personnel best respond to bullying- whether verbal, physical, social, or cyber? How can school personnel educate parents regarding how they can best prevent and respond to bullying?

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"There are few people in education who so thoroughly grasp the academic, social, emotional and development needs of students. I am proud to be in the field with such an inspiring educational leader and learn from her regularly!" Jen Cort, Educational Consultant and former Middle School Division Head

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"I am so grateful to Brooke for this workshop. We need many more sessions like this. I usually feel like I'm taking shots in the dark and this gives me useful, specific steps."  Pedagogy Workshop Participant

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