Overview

In this specially designed Administrator Academy for district leaders, school leaders, and Wellness/SEL teams, participants will become clear on what mindfulness is and is not. They will learn the benefits of mindfulness, supporting research, and research-based practices. They will learn the most effective ways to integrate mindfulness in schools and classrooms, how mindfulness supports stress reduction, the prevention of negative impacts of primary and secondary trauma, interrupts implicit bias, and cultivates empathy.

 

These factors enhance the creation of a positive culture and climate in schools, improving academic and more equitable outcomes in our schools. Participants will also explore and strategize how to integrate mindfulness into their K-12 school community in a way that honors its unique environment, culture, and goals.

 

Presenter Bios:

Tovi C. Scruggs is a visionary educator, author, and award-winning urban high school principal with over 25 years of emotional intelligence and self-mastery experience.  She has served as California’s Regional Executive Director of Partners in School Innovation, founding co-director of the Association of CA School Administrators Equity Leaders Academy and Regional State Equity Representative, and co-founded a secondary school. Tovi is the founding co-teacher of the trauma-informed leadership course at Mills College.  Most recently, Tovi was personally trained with Brené Brown and is a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator and Courage Catalyst. Her other certifications are numerous and include Integral Coaching by New Ventures West,  Search Inside Yourself, and Niroga Institute.  

​

Dr. Matthew Dewar is a high school teacher, well-being coordinator, and learning facilitator at Lake Forest High School in Illinois who has designed and implemented teacher professional development and school wellness curricula, including mindfulness-based wellness for faculty and students. His work has been featured on TEDx, NPR, and the National Wellness Institute's podcast. He is author of The Mindful Breathing Workbook for Teens and Education and Well-Being: An Ontological Inquiry. Watch Matt's TEDx Talk.

​

Gene Olsen is Director of Student Services in Illinois and supports students, staff, and families in programming and planning for successful student outcomes for all children.  He has served as a teacher of students with disabilities, local and building IFT rep, member of the PARCC Educator Leadership Cadre, and has presented at multiple state conferences. His responsibilities include coordinating special education services and supervising staff. He also oversees the district's administration of services for IDEA, 504, McKinney Vento, Social Emotional Learning and DCFS. In his role, he has worked with federal and state initiatives, including PARCC, P20 Council, and CASEL. He is a member of the Illinois State Assessment Review Committee, and the Treasurer of the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (IAASE).  

​

Lauren Beversdorf teaches K-8 Spanish at Bannockburn School in Bannockburn, IL.  With 18+ years of experience working with all age groups, she also coordinates, designs and implements SEL and mindfulness curricula and multi-age lessons for students and fellow educators. She received her mindfulness instructor training through Teacher Advancement Courses, Gina Biegel’s MBSR-T program, the Mindful Schools curriculum and is an experienced certified yoga instructor. Her passion is teaching language and promoting stress-reduction, self-compassion, and self-awareness using mindful techniques to educators, students, and parents. Lauren has lead workshops, mindful groups, spoken at conferences, and presented a variety of mindfulness strategies in schools and workshops. She is also a certified ELL/Bilingual Educator.

​

Lindsey Frank, M.Ed. has served in learning communities across age ranges and roles as a learning behavior specialist, interventionist, classroom teacher, districtwide climate and social-emotional learning coach, and has her master’s in Educational Leadership. Lindsey was instrumental in her former district in developing the district SEL team, was one of the first SEL coaches in her state, and has mentored new SEL coaches on their journeys. Inspired by her years and passion in education to support well-being, Lindsey developed her company, The Butterfly Within®, empowering heart-centered changemakers of all ages, especially educators and leaders, to cultivate courageous, calm, and connected communities. She is an award-winning children’s book author and has received specialized certifications in transformational coaching, yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. Her life motto is, “Be generous with your time, go where others are afraid to go, give it all you’ve got, and love what you do.”