Darren "dee" Dubose is a K-12 educator, researcher and community organizer. Born in the rural Black Belt of Alabama, his journey was impacted by federalism that limited his opportunity to the American dream. A graduate of Alabama State University and Texas A&M University, he started his educational career at The Calhoun High School as a physical education teacher before relocating to KIPP Texas Public Schools as a middle school reading teacher. As an antiracist teacher leader, he witnessed many marginalized students' dreams deferred by similar inequities of his educational experience. With that at the center of his work, he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education Policy at Michigan State University, where his research interests are interconnected with the race and space of Black populations. In particular, he's interested in the functionalities of social emotional learning, SEL, as space of torture for Black boys. To that end, he hopes to use his scholarly research and experiences to understand schooling for Black boys while developing an inclusive SEL framework and curriculum to support Black male students across the United States of America. 

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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mimisyogakids.com

Follow Mimi on Instagram: @MimisYogaKids

Kailyn Fullerton is an educational consultant passionate about supporting teachers, schools and families with the integration of mindfulness-based SEL into their systems of practice. Coming from a background in teaching young children in international schools, Kailyn values play, curiosity, and presence in teaching and learning. On her journey to develop her own mindfulness-based SEL competencies, she completed multiple courses from Mindful Schools and a graduate certificate in Positive Education. Kailyn holds a Master's in Mindfulness for Educators and is currently completing her EdD with a specialization in SEL from Antioch University, where her research focuses on the influence of MBSEL practices for educators. She is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher, and also holds SEL facilitator certifications from the organizations SEE Learning and 6 Seconds. She recently published a book chapter called Integrating SEL into Online Learning for Lower Elementary Learners in an International Context in the book “Exploring SEL in Diverse Academic Settings” and has also written for Edutopia. Born in Canada, Kailyn currently lives as an expatriate in Jakarta, Indonesia with her partner and four bonus children.

Follow Kailyn on Twitter or LinkedIn @kaifull

Anne Kasa has been a 2nd, 5th, and 6th grade classroom teacher, PK-5 reading specialist/literacy coach, and a PK-4 instructional coach. She is currently a PK-8 instructional technology coach in southern Cook County with The Learning Technology Center in Illinois. Anne creates trauma sensitive professional development opportunities that embed mindfulness based SEL experiences for adults and children alike. She was fortunate to be introduced to SEL while teaching fifth grade in a Tribes school where she was provided the Basic and Artistry Tribes TLC Training. Anne is a facilitator for the Character Education Certification program with North Central College and brings mindfulness based social and emotional learning insight to the program. She is a certified SEL educator through Mindful Practices, a certified SEL facilitator through Breathe for Change, and Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher. 

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Follow Anne on Twitter/X @kasaan05

Craig Martin, Founder & CEO of CCM Education Group, is an award-winning teacher & school leader with 20+ years of experience in urban education serving as a mentor, instructional coach, teacher developer, and professional learning facilitator. Martin also works with groups, individuals, and organizations to create bold and joyful solutions that amplify equity and belonging. Craig is also the co-host of SELinEDU, The Podcast. Craig is also a part of the Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL) Fellowship.

To learn more about Craig, visit: craigcmartinleads.com

Sarah Said is an educator who has served in various roles: teacher, assistant principal, dean, curriculum coordinator and multilingual coordinator. Sarah is an advocate for the students she serves and is a strong voice in education. She currently works in Elgin School District U-46 as an ELL English teacher at the district's Alternative High School- Dream Academy. Sarah started her mindfulness journey years ago when we served as a district administrator- she saw she needed to work on herself and began practicing yoga. During the pandemic, Sarah wanted to support students and families in their mindfulness journey and became a 200 Hour Certified Yoga Instructor through Breathe for Change. She is currently working on her 500 Hour Certification. Sarah runs Yoga, Tea and Justice, an organization she has just begun to support women, particularly Muslim Women in their Mindfulness and Yoga practice. She has been published in various publications such as Edutopia, Learning for Justice, EdWeek, Teaching Channel, and Confianza.

Follow Sarah on Twitter/X @MrsSaid17.

Denise Schira is a former New York City Department of Education Assistant Superintendent that served over 1,000 schools and thousands of staff, students, and families in over 30 districts across four boroughs for over 30 years as teacher, school administrator, central director, and master trainer. She is an Executive Board Director for the New York Academy of Public Education and continues to support and impact communities and promote mental and physical wellbeing and positive culture and climate as a mindfulness, yoga, somatic movement, restorative practices, social emotional learning, and crisis de-escalation specialist, practitioner, and master trainer offering culturally responsive trauma informed professional and personal learning opportunities and wellness sessions to schools, districts, institutions, teams, and communities. Ms. Schira has served as Board Director and Chair on multiple renowned city, state, and national Executive Boards- including the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators and the New York State Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents which she co-founded and served as the lone Latina Executive Officer- and was the first lifetime member of the national Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. Denise graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University as a Cornell Tradition Fellow and obtained a Master of Science in Education for Early Childhood Leadership at Bank Street College of Education. She is a published author and has been recognized and honored by various organizations for her excellence in educational leadership and outstanding service and impact. 

Laurie Seidel is a mindfulness-based SEL specialist and serves Roanoke City Public Schools as the Coordinator for Mindfulness Education. She leads professional learning in the district for Adult SEL, mindfulness-based SEL, and co-creates SEL communities of practice for educators.  Topics addressed include the trauma-sensitive classroom, the RULER Framework (SEL), mindfulness in the classroom, health and wellbeing workshops, and Cultivating Awareness & Resilience in Education (CARE). She is also utilized to facilitate team building practices including mindful listening and the development of emotional intelligence competencies.  Laurie is happiest when supporting teacher leaders in their schools.   At Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, she is Course Director for The Foundations of Mindfulness Practice, offered to first and second year medical students. She is certified with Koru Mindfulness and CARE through CREATE for Education.

Matt Weld is the SEL Coach for the Regional Office of Education #40 in Illinois, and the Director of Technology and Innovation for the ROEs of Area 5 (Southwestern IL by St. Louis). He manages TeachIllinois.org and DirectionsConference.com after being a 7th-grade science and ELA teacher, JH assistant principal, and K-8 tech coach. Matt is a Google Trainer and a Registered Yoga Teacher who makes things, reads, and goes outside. He facilitates workshops on finding balance as an educator, including an online Mindful Monday series that incorporates breathwork, intention setting, meditation, mindfulness, and yoga. 

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www.teachillinois.com/podcast

Follow Matt on Twitter/X @MatthewWeld