Moments for MySELf  Podcast

Colleen has been a City Connects Coordinator for Mary O. Pottenger Elementary School in Springfield, Massachusetts since 2017. City Connects is a whole child approach, where the coordinator creates a tailored support plan for every student. She earned both her Masters and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Psychology from American International College. Colleen had an eclectic journey to becoming a school counselor. She attended Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) and Belmont University (Nashville, TN) for her undergraduate degree in Violin Performance and Music Business. Colleen is a champion fiddler, accomplished orchestra player and fiddle teacher. She chose to take a different career path after she found her passion in working with students. She loves working with all students but specifically students that are at the elementary school level. Colleen believes in helping all students and each child holds a special place in her heart. Colleen is known in her school for her utmost compassion for students. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband, traveling, and new adventures with their dogs, Trigger and Brady.

Contact:

perryc@springfieldpublicschools.com

Wendy is a wife and a mom who became a teacher at 40 after 17 years in the business world, and she's been a second grade teacher since 2010. A warrior of social emotional learning, she helps her students embrace and embody empathy, resilience, citizenship, and growth mindset through dynamic classroom experiences, a global learning lens, and a trauma invested learning experience. Career highlights include being named the 2017 Delaware Teacher of the Year, a Compassion Champion, a Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Teaching Science, and a Global Learning Fellow with the NEA Foundation.

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Jill is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kids for Peace, home to The Great Kindness Challenge. She is a former elementary school teacher, character education/service learning specialist and a playwright and director of children's musicals. Jill has been recognized with many awards including President Obama's Call to Service Award and has been a guest on several news shows including Good Morning America. Jill's passion is working closely with youth and making the world kinder and more compassionate for all.

Contact:

jill@kidsforpeaceglobal.org