Specialists Directory
Looking for support with integrating Mindfulness-Based Learning for your school or district?
Search our directory to find a match for consulting, coaching, keynotes, and more.
Consider their mentorship as you complete our Mindfulness-Based Learning Self-Guided Program.
Past Presidents
LINDSEY FRANK
President, 2022-2026, Board Chair, Operational Team Director
MBL Self-Guided Program Module Presenter
Educational Coach/Consultant, Former District Climate & SEL Coach and Special Educator
Illinois, USA
Lindsey Frank, M.Ed. is the President and Operational Team Director of Educating Mindfully, where she led the co-creation of Educating Mindfully's Mindfulness-Based Learning Framework and Mindfulness-Based Learning Micro-Credential Program. Lindsey 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.”
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Connect with Lindsey!
Instagram @LindseyFrank88
Facebook @TheButterflyWithin
TOVI C. SCRUGGS
Past President, 2019-2022
MBL Self-Guided Program Module Presenter
Educational Coach/Consultant, Former High School Principal
California, USA
Tovi C. Scruggs is a leader of leaders and award-winning urban educator with almost 30 years of leadership and transformation experience. She is internationally recognized for her signature approach of moving from Leadership Do-ing to Leadership BE-ing and Emotionally Intelligent Equity & Inclusion. Tovi has been recognized by Mindful Magazine as one of the Powerful Women Leaders of 2021 who are igniting the world with courage and wisdom. She walks her talk of courageous leadership being cultivated by meditation, resilience, and self-mastery, having had a daily meditation practice for almost 30 years, and also sitting four week-long silent retreats.
Tovi is on a mission to heal our leaders and organizations through SELf-Transformation for School & Systemic Transformation. She is the co-founder of ACSA’s Equity Leaders Academy, co-founding professor of Trauma-Responsive Leadership with an Equity Lens, and served as the national president for Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully. Tovi is a certified coach and has been personally trained by Brené Brown as a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator to train others in courageous leadership with a lens of inclusion and belonging. Yet, the very best leadership training she ever received has been the 17 years she spent as a high school principal. Tovi cultivates conscious, connected, and courageous leaders world-wide.
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Connect with Tovi!
DR. MATT DEWAR
Past President, 2018-2019
MBL Self-Guided Program Module Presenter
High School Well-Being Coordinator, Speaker, Author
Illinois, USA
Matthew Dewar, Ed.D., is a COSEM Past President, a professional educator, MBL specialist, high school well-being coordinator, speaker, and author researching and applying the science of mindfulness and emotion regulation. For fifteen years, he explored the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and emotion regulation protocols on learning, professional development, and leadership in schools. More recently, he has focused on the impact of breathing behavior analysis and heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback on emotion regulation and elite performance.
Dr. Dewar is also the founder of Matt Dewar, LLC, and the creator of the Stress Better™ Framework, which he has shared with collegiate and professional athletes, Fortune 500 executives, colleges and universities, first responders and military personnel. Dr. Dewar authored Education and Well-Being: An Ontological Inquiry and The Mindful Breathing Workbook for Teens: Simple Practices to Help You Manage Stress and Feel Better Nows and has been featured on TEDx, NPR, Thrive Global, the National Wellness Institute, and many podcasts.
Connect with Matt!
MBL Module Presenters & Past Operational Team
ATHEA DAVIS
Past Board Member, Co-Secretary, Operational Team
MBL Self-Guided Program Module Presenter
Director of Social Emotional Learning, Étoile Academy Charter School, Houston, Texas
Texas, USA
Athea Davis is the Director of Social Emotional Learning at Étoile Academy Charter School, a mindfulness educator, creator + host of the podcast, Mindful Living with Athea Davis, and author of Today’s Gonna Be Awesomesauce: Daily Meditations for Youth, Parents, and Families. Join her conversations about the intersections of philosophy, mindfulness, neuroscience, SEL, psychology, and education. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Policy and Leadership, is a Texas Certified Educator, an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500), and a Children’s Registered Yoga Teacher.
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Connect with Athea!
Twitter, IG, LinkedIn, and Facebook @atheadavis
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KHAYREE BEY
Past Board Member
MBL Self-Guided Program Module Presenter
Middle School Health Teacher
Delaware, USA
Khayree Bey, BBSc, M.Ed. 2021 Colonial School District Teacher of the Year, 2020 Lt. Governor’s Challenge Wellness Leadership Award, 2019 SHAPE Delaware’s Health Teacher of the Year and serves on Delaware’s Professional Standards Board. Khayree currently teaches a MBSR Health class to 6th, 7th 8th graders at McCullough Middle School. He implements an equity-based, trauma/poverty-informed, culturally responsive approach to educating students, community, and Delaware educators in the art of MBSEL, Kemetic yoga (200YTT), and other self-care practices. He also serves on numerous district and state Anti-Racism, DEI, and SEL committees.
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Connect with Khayree! khayree.bey@colonial.k12.de.us
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GINA HARRIS
MBL Self-Guided Program Module Presenter
VP Illinois Education Association, Former Culture and Climate Coach
Illinois, USA
After 15 years in corporate life, Gina Harris followed her passion and added a Masters of Teaching to her MBA. Currently she serves as the Vice President for the Illinois Education Association and co-chair of the rESPect Campaign. She worked as a Culture and Climate Coach, and taught content across both elementary and middle school. A certified yoga instructor, mindfulness, SEL and restorative justice facilitator and trainer, she currently supports educators across the country in implementation. She founded the Unity Dialogues, a circle process where students and adults learn from each other and grow from authentic, open dialogue about race and unity development. Gina also teaches educator preparation at Roosevelt and National Louis Universities.
As a leader in both the National and Illinois Education Associations, she has facilitated restorative practices, equity development and fiduciary processes. She recently completed her term on the school board for District 200, Oak Park and River Forest High School, where she was the chair of the board subcommittee Culture, Climate and Behavior.
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​Connect with Gina! ginagharris7@gmail.com
DINA EVANS
Past Board Member, Co-Secretary, Operational Team
Reading Specialist, Mindfulness Facilitator
Delaware, USA
Dina P. Evans is a Reading Specialist with over 14 years of experience who include mindfulness in her daily practices within the school setting. She has followed an opportunity that led her to be trained in mindfulness which has been richly explored, practiced and facilitated over the past eight years. As an integral part of a school community, she has continued to pursue this passion, sharing monthly mindfulness sessions not only with her past district but staff of other companies, small businesses and professional educators. With this, she has shared and presented on the unique connection between mindfulness and literacy which supports much needed executive function skills that many learners can feel challenged by.
Most recently, she has been involved with an incredible non-profit, Educating Mindfully, as an Operational Team Member and Executive Board Member. She has pursued her passion by seeking leadership opportunities within the Educating Mindfully organization. Wanting to promote and share a safe space for educators and others to gather in community the past two years has been a priority to her as educators are struggling. In facilitating a community of practice called Circles provided a monthly theme, lesson resources and connection to our missions framework.
Currently, she is serving a new community in the Laurel School District. She continues to obtain certifications in Mindfulness as she journeys forward while embracing the opportunities and motivation of supporting a new community. Her passion, embedding mindfulness practices into the daily lives of students, educators, and leadership, spreads the light and positivity she embodies.
​​Connect with Dina!
CARRIE ROHRBACH
Past Board Member, Operational Team
Doctoral Student, Professional Learning Facilitator
Former Middle & High School French Teacher
California, USA
Carrie Rohrbach, M.Ed., is a lifelong learner who is earning her EdD in Transformative Action in Education at the University of the Pacific. She spent thirteen years teaching French in middle and high school classrooms, and wore many hats throughout her career. Carrie currently works as a professional learning facilitator at a nonprofit that supports families in need access early childhood education. She is certified as a yoga teacher and social-emotional workshop facilitator through Breathe 4 Change, and has earned Educating Mindfully's Micro-Credential. Carrie is passionate about creating, encouraging, and facilitating spaces for authentic and expansive connection for healing and growth.
Connect with Carrie!
DENISE SCHIRA
Past Board Member, Operational Team
Former Assistant Superintendent, NYC Department of Education
Founder and Educator: Wellness and Wellbeing ... "from chaos to calm"
New York, USA
Denise Schira is a transformational educational leader and former NYC Department of Education assistant superintendent, central director, school administrator, and teacher that served over 1,000 schools in 30 districts for 30 years. As founder and educator of a wellness education company, she continues to support and impact schools and communities as a mindfulness, yoga, somatic movement, restorative practices, social emotional learning, and crisis de-escalation specialist, practitioner, master trainer, and public speaker. Denise has served as Board Director on city, state, and national organizations, including New York Academy of Public Education, Council of School Supervisors and
Administrators, and New York State Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents as co-founder. She has a BS in Human Development from Cornell University and an MS in Educational Leadership from Bank Street College of Education. Denise has been honored by multiple organizations for her excellence in educational leadership and outstanding service and she is a published author in the Latinx Radiance Trilogy, flamenco dancer, and actor.
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Connect with Denise!
IG/X: @deniseschira
GABRIELLE PLASTRIK
Past Board Member, Operational Team
Executive Functioning Coach at EdFront
Former K-12 English & Humanities Teacher
Washington, USA
Gabrielle Plastrik, NBCT, is an executive function coach for children, teens, and young adults with EdFront. Prior to working as a coach, Gabrielle taught English and humanities in K-12 schools for 19 years. Gabrielle grew up in Chicago, and she has lived and taught in many states: Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Washington. Gabrielle graduated from the selective poetry creative writing sub-concentration at the University of Michigan and has an MSEd degree from Northwestern University. She is passionate about mindfulness in education, interpretive discussion, and the ways brains learn. She started her mindfulness in education journey in 2009 and has thoughtfully recalibrated mindfulness interventions for different teaching contexts. Starting in 2019, she began leading mindfulness Professional Learning for districts looking to better support Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI). She has spoken at local and national conferences including COSEM, WAETAG, SENG, NWAIS, NCTE, and ResearchEd. She firmly believes that the most significant MBI is helping adults learn self-regulation tools: teachers are powerful models.
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Connect With Gabrielle!
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MELANNY SENA
Past Board Member, Co-Treasurer, Operational Team
District Leader, New York City Public Schools
New York, USA
With more than 13 years of experience in urban public education, I am Melanny Sena, a queer Latina educator, parent, and advocate. I currently serve in a district-level leadership role within NYC Public Schools, where I support inclusive practices, culturally responsive leadership, and social-emotional learning.
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My work is deeply rooted in DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging), and I’ve had the honor of leading professional learning for school leaders and educators on trauma-informed care, identity-affirming leadership, and systems change. I’ve presented at national and local conferences, including ASCD, ALAS, and NYCPS, and I design workshops that center resilience, intersectionality, and community healing.
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I’m also a proud doctoral student, pursuing my EdD with a focus on Latina leadership in education and the intersections of identity, wellness, and systemic transformation. I lead with compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to unlearning and relearning—both in my professional role and as a parent raising five children to be joyful, grounded, and free.
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Connect With Melanny!
Past Board Members
DAWN BROOKS DECOSTA
Past Board Member
Deputy Superintendent
Harlem Community School District 5
New York, USA
Dr. Dawn Brooks DeCosta is the Deputy Superintendent of Harlem Community School District 5, where she leads the Culturally Responsive and Affirming Social Emotional Leadership and Learning framework. Formerly the principal of Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School in Harlem, she focused on cultural responsiveness, social emotional learning, and academic achievement. With 28 years in education, Dawn served 16 years as a teacher in NYC Public Schools and 11 years as a principal. She also taught at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School in Queens. Her recognitions include Teacher of the Year 1998, Heroes of Education Award 2002, and Outstanding Educator 2002. Dawn is a 2015 Yale Institute Marvin Mauer Spotlight Award winner and a 2015 Cahn Fellow with Teachers College, Columbia University. Her published works address cultural and social emotional learning in education. She holds an EdD and M.S. in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
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Connect with Dawn!
Twitter/X & IG: @DeCostaDawn
darren (dee) dubose
Past Board Member
K-12 Educator, Researcher, and Community Organizer
Michigan, USA
darren (dee) dubose is past K-12 educator, a present community member, future doctoral candidate in the College of Education at Michigan State University. His current research interests connect to the application of lessons learned from graduates that attended separate but equal Black schools. Particularly, how these alternative knowledges influence educational policy decisions that Black school board members take part in a deficit education landscape in the 21st century. Outside of his scholarly research at MSU, dee is a current member of the 517 Wellness Committee in Lansing, Michigan; Vice President Board Member of Resilient Village; Leadership Fellow in The Graduate School at Michigan State
University.
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Connect With dee!
CAMELIA (MIMI) FELTON
Past Board Member
Yoga Professional (Mimi’s Yoga Kids)
Georgia, USA
Camelia (Mimi) Felton is a BYTA (Black Yoga Teacher Alliance) and a Yoga Alliance RYT500, E-RYT200, YACEP, a KAY (Kidding Around Yoga) Certified Kids Yoga Teacher, a Certified Meditation Instructor, a YBB (Yoga Behind Bars) certified Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor & a Reiki ll Practitioner. She is also currently enrolled at Prema Yoga Institute to become a certified Yoga Therapist. Mimi started Mimi's Yoga Kids in 2018 after realizing the many benefits of doing yoga with her young grandson. She knew that this was something that kids and their families needed. She couldn't find what she wanted so she decided to create it! She currently has a community yoga/wellness space in Peoplestown, a community in Atlanta, Georgia. She offers free yoga/wellness practices to the community and surrounding areas. She is very excited to share all these wonderful practices with children and their families. She wants to share her knowledge with the world to cultivate awareness on how these wonderful practices can teach all of us, especially our children, MINDFULNESS, INNER PEACE, MEDITATION & IMAGINATION!
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Connect with Mimi!
IG: @MimisYogaKids
ERIN SHOOK
Past Board Member
AP Psychology High School Teacher
Illinois, USA
Erin Shook is an energetic high school teacher with a deep passion for creating a supportive and balanced environment where students can thrive academically and personally. With over 16 years of experience in the classroom, she has become known for her innovative teaching methods that engage students not only in their psychology-related coursework but also in building critical life skills, from time management to resilience. In addition to her role as an educator, Erin is a proud mom of four energetic boys, which has given her a unique perspective on balancing family, career, and personal well-being. Her experiences as a mom and teacher have driven her commitment to promoting both physical and mental well-being for other teachers in and outside of the classroom.
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Connect With Erin!
ASHLEY GIBSON
Past Board Member
K-12 Educator, Founder of Interior Learning
Texas, USA
Dr. Ashley Gibson is a veteran K-12 in-service educator in Houston, TX. Her areas of passion and expertise include building capacity for teacher critical consciousness and restorative practices. She earned her doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change at Baylor University where her research and writing centered on intersectional learning communities, restorative practice facilitation, and enacting culturally sustaining pedagogies. She has taught in a variety of K-12 classroom settings, including advanced placement rhetoric and composition, and social action. Dr. Gibson’s broader research and writing interests are included at the intersections of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). She also serves as a curriculum team member of Houston’s Project Curate, a faith-based social justice and activist collective, and enjoys reading, writing, teaching Zumba, and hanging out with her two cats James Baldwin and Mandy.
Connect with Ashley!
Facebook: Ashley Gibson / Interior Learning
IG: @Interior_Learning
THAMIR ALJOBORI
Past Board Member
Multilingual Educator, Author, Curriculum Designer
Illinois, USA
Thamir Aljobori is a multilingual educator and curriculum designer with over ten years of experience supporting multilingual learners across diverse school communities. He has worked as an instructional coach, academic consultant, and second-grade classroom teacher, partnering with educators and schools to strengthen language development and instructional practice.
Thamir centers equity and access in his work. He designs culturally responsive curricula, leads professional learning on language acquisition and assessment, and supports the integration of social-emotional learning and mindfulness into core instruction. His work emphasizes practical strategies that help educators build inclusive, language-rich environments where students succeed.
He holds a master’s degree in education and an MBA and remains active in cross-district collaboration and educator wellness initiatives.
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KRISTI MORALE
Past Board Member
Founder, The Innocent Brown Girl Project
Texas, USA
Dr. Kristi Morale, a passionate educator, realized her dream of becoming a teacher early on in her childhood. After completing high school, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and embarked on a teaching career. After 14 years in the classroom and earning a Master’s Degree in Multiple-Subject Teaching, Kristi transitioned into leadership as a Social and Emotional Learning Specialist. Dr. Morale’s research focuses on the impact of social-emotional learning practices on the discipline rates of Black middle school girls. Inspired by her findings, she founded The Innocent Brown Girl Project, an educational consulting firm specializing in curriculum development and professional development for educators and advocates of Black and Brown Girls and gender-expansive youth. Kristi is a nationally recognized speaker and the host of The TeachHER Podcast, where she interviews experts in the field of girls' education and empowerment.
Connect with Dr. Kristi!
Facebook: The Innocent Brown Girl Project
IG: @theinnocentbrowngirlproject
Twitter/X: @theIBGP
REENA PANDYA
Past Board Member
SKY School Children's Yoga Teacher
Former Elementary Teacher
Illinois, USA
Former 1st, 4th, and 6th Grade Elementary School Teacher (2007-2015), Former Japanese Exchange Teaching Program Assistant Language Teacher (2002-2005 - Osaka, Japan), Current Children's Yoga Teacher (2015 - present), Current Masters of Education in Teaching Leadership (Northwestern) - thesis for this program looked at SKY School Breath research and data, Current SKY Schools Teacher (International's Association of Human Values), working with Global Executive Council of Chicago (GEC) as SKY School teacher and SKY Mindfulness Breath Work teacher, Current presenter for Teacher Professional Development on Mindfulness and Breathwork (Sky Schools) with GEC, CPS, and in future, NW Chicago school districts.
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Connect With Reena!
KALEE THOMPSON
Past Board Member
K-12 Educator, Counselor/International Counselor
Rabun-Gap Nacoochee School
Georgia, USA
Kalee Thompson is a mother to two darling and spunky children, a yoga + meditation teacher, a holistic educator, and has been an elementary school counselor at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India as well as at the Atlanta International School. Kalee is a Transformative Educational Leadership Fellow and a featured meditation teacher on the Insight Timer app. In 2022, she gave a TEDx talk on “The Oh so Simple and Life-Changing Power of Gratitude”. Kalee is passionate about whole-school wellness and has led countless workshops for faculty, students, staff, and parents on the topic. In the summer of 2025, Kalee will publish her first book called One Breath at a Time: A Sacred yet Practical Guide to Living with Presence and Purpose as an Educator. It has been Kalee’s honor to teach mindfulness practices around the world in private + public schools, homeless shelters, studios, backyards, and festivals. Gratitude is her religion and being present is her life’s work. To nourish her soul, Kalee loves spending time in nature with her family, riding horses, and designing dresses made of beautiful Indian textiles.
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Connect with Kalee!
IG: @kaleethompson
JAMIE B. WASSER-GOFORTH CMT-P
Past Board Member
ROE #45 Red Brick Safe School Lead Educator and MBSEL Facilitator
Founder, All About MMEE (Mindfulness, Meditation, Education, Exploration) LLC
Illinois, USA
Jamie has been an educator for 25 years. She has been fortunate to work in the public, private, and parochial systems. She focused her skills with at-risk preschoolers, low income / mission school elementary age students in East St. Louis, and two county safe school programs for grades 6-12. She has a BS double major in Speech Communication / English Language Arts and a minor in Psychology from SIUE. In 2018, she incorporated Mindfulness Based SEL in her classroom. She completed the 4 Foundation Classes through Mindful Schools. She studied with Fleet Maul and the Engaged Mindfulness Institute from 2023-2024. She graduated in June 2024 as a CMT-P (Certified Mindfulness Teacher Professional Level 300+ hours) and is a registered member with IMTA (International Mindfulness Teachers Association). She is the owner and sole operator of All About MMEE (Mindfulness, Meditation, Education, Exploration) LLC. She trains educators, first responders, medical professionals, and the general public on the importance of Mindfulness. Jamie is a graduate of Educating Mindfully's Micro-Credential Program and published author of 'The Mindful Toolbox: An Educator's Guide From A to Z'.
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Connect with Jamie! jamiebwasser72@gmail.com
Facebook: Jamie B. Wasser-Goforth / Mindfulness, Meditation, Education, Exploration
IG: @wasserjamie