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.

​

Connect with Dawn!

LinkedIn

Twitter/X & IG: @DeCostaDawn

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!

empoweringeducator.org

LInkedIn

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.

​

Connect With dee!

LinkedIn

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!

​​

Connect with Mimi!

mimisyogakids.com

IG: @MimisYogaKids

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.  

​

Connect With Erin!

LinkedIn

Instagram 

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!

LinkedIn

Facebook: Ashley Gibson / Interior Learning

IG: @Interior_Learning

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! 

LinkedIn

Thamir Aljobori is an ESL/bilingual educator and curriculum designer with over a decade of experience supporting multilingual learners. He has served as an instructional coach, academic consultant, and second-grade classroom teacher in diverse, multilingual school communities. With a strong focus on equity and access, Thamir designs culturally responsive curricula, leads professional development on language acquisition and assessment, and supports the integration of SEL and mindfulness into content instruction. He is passionate about empowering educators to create inclusive learning environments where all students thrive. Thamir holds a master’s in education and an MBA and is actively engaged in cross-district collaborations and educator wellness initiatives.

​

Connect with Thamir!
LinkedIn
Bluesky
 

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!

LinkedIn

Facebook: The Innocent Brown Girl Project

IG: @theinnocentbrowngirlproject

Twitter/X: @theIBGP

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.

​

Connect With Reena!

LinkedIn

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.

​

Connect with Kalee!

LinkedIn

IG: @kaleethompson

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.

​​

Connect with Jamie!

LinkedIn

Facebook: Jamie B. Wasser-Goforth / Mindfulness, Meditation, Education, Exploration 

IG: @wasserjamie