Journeys to Belonging

Mike is a first-generation college graduate from a rural, working-class factory town. His early years, along with his professional career, have given him experiences and a passion for working with the economically disadvantaged. He recently concluded a 30-year career in Blount County Schools nestled between Knoxville, TN, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Over the years, he served as a Teacher of the Gifted Special Ed and a Title administrator. In addition, his work spans over 20 years as a building level administrator including many as a middle school principal, and an Assistant Director of Schools. Mike has gained a wealth of experiences and insights that he now shares with others through his consulting venture, TopTennEC.  

His accent is real, by the way. (from Mike)

Twitter: @TopTennEC

LinkedIn: Mike Crabtree

Website: TopTennEC.com

FB: Yard Saling with Mike and Dave

Wakelet collection with additional information about Mike's work

Dr. Meagan Pollock began her career playing with light projection on tiny microscopic mirrors as an engineer for Texas Instruments. Through her company, Engineer Inclusion, she now utilizes metaphorical projectors and mirrors to shine a light on micro and macro social systems that, when adjusted, improve student and employee success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A TEDx speaker, author, and a past recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Meagan holds a Ph.D. in engineering education from Purdue University, an MS in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University, and a BS in computer science from Texas Woman's University. As an engineer turned educator, Meagan focuses on engineering equity in education and the workforce.

TED Talk: How to Become an Inclusive Leader

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaganpollock

              https://www.linkedin.com/company/engrinclusion

Website: Engineer Inclusion

Jillian is a veteran elementary educator in Clearwater, Florida. Her passion is to infuse joy to those in educational leadership by focusing efforts on listening, serving, and growing alongside colleagues and friends. She uses her voice to foster hope for equity and empathy.   

She is a children’s book author and illustrator of Liv’s Seashells, Road to Awesome: A Journey for Kids, and Look at YOU, Piper Lou!, and is the Chief Optimistic Originator of Imparted Joy, LLC, her publishing imprint.  

Jillian believes the creative process of illustrating children's books brings JOY to life. The expressions, characters, and simple sketches enhance writings with warm emotion as they visually serenade the viewer into the story. The mission is to provide a meaningful experience on every page that captivates the heart.  Each day is a FRESH opportunity to listen, be slow to criticize, and quick to empathize. Keep dancing and dreaming with JOY.

Twitter: @JillDuBois22

FB: jilliandee

Website with links to all of her books: https://impartedjoy.com

Hind works as an English Instructor at the Leading National Academy, Niagara College in Saudi Arabia, The Leading National Academy (LNA). She is heavily involved in PD and her current roles include the IATEFL Global Issue, Issues Month Coordinator, the Incoming Chair of the TESOL International Professional Development Professional Council, and the Executive Secretary at Africa ELTA.  

Hind is also a Womentorship in ELT committee member, which is the most recent TESOL International Professional Learning Network.  She is a founding member of the English Language Testing Society (ELTS) and her main areas of interest include testing, curriculum development, and student engagement.  Her most recent achievements were being selected as a 2021 TESOL International Leadership Mentoring Program Award recipient and a TESOL International Convention  Ambassador.

Facebook: Hind Elkhatim Elyas

LinkedIn: Hind Elkhatim Elyas

In this week's episode, Ilene talks about her mother, an example of a Good Ancestor. Dr. Miriam Winokur was awarded a PhD. in Intercultural Communication in 1998 at 73 years old. She returned to complete her undergraduate degree in 1968 at the height of the Civil Rights movement and Women's Liberation. She was a student in the first Gender Studies class at SUNY at Buffalo. She is a role model, inspiration, and teaches us how to age gracefully and successfully. 

Reach out to me if you need support, a mentor, or just someone to listen. 

Twitter: @IleneWinokur

IG: @ilenewinokur AND @journeys2belonging

Website: https://journeys2belonging.com 

Rabia Khokhar is an elementary teacher with the Toronto district school board and an education and equity consultant at Rabia Teaches. She is also a first-year Ph.D. student at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Rabia is passionate about ensuring schools are inclusive spaces for students of all identities and lives experiences. She is the recipient of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario’s (ETFO) 2021 Anti-Racist and Equity Activism Award. Rabia enjoys sharing her teaching and learning on her social media platforms and website  

Twitter: @Rabia_Khokhar1

IG: @rabia_reads

Website: www.rabiakhokhar.com

ETFO award

Eva Al Qallaf is an enthusiastic and dedicated educator of young children. She came to Kuwait in 1988 and, after beginning her family, found a passion for working in the education sector. Eva’s 20-year employment history includes teaching at some of the leading private schools as well as positions in Pre-K, KG1, and KG2 at a local American school in which she spent 15 years. After achieving her NVQ certificate in the U.K., Eva was able to assume the roles of both teacher and team leader for various grade levels. In addition, she has also participated in accreditation, professional development, mentoring, curriculum modification, and various other administrative procedures.

Eva’s enthusiasm for education led her to Kuwait University, where she accepted a position teaching English in the Community Service program, which she did for six years. In 2013 Eva decided on a career shift and joined Specialized Solutions, a private company providing professional development for teachers and support for parents of young children. In 2017 she completed the STEP Leader Training Program in San Diego, California.

Eva’s insight into the emotional and developmental needs of children, as well as parents, has been fostered by more than 20 years of teaching experience in Kuwait. By facilitating parenting courses she has come to understand the needs of parents in raising children and how to support those needs. She says: “Life is a never-ending education; every day provides an opportunity to learn something new.”

About Parentool:

After many years of working with parents and students at schools, we realized that the emphasis is almost solely on students, while parents are the most neglected part of the equation. But effective parenting needs to be learned too. Established in 2018, Parentool evolved from Parenting Step by Step in response to strong demand for practical support for parents. We understand that the experience of caring for young children, especially for first-time parents, can sometimes be overwhelming.

With Parentool you’re not alone with your problems and concerns. We concentrate solely on supporting parents. We don’t judge or criticize. We communicate and collaborate. Under the guidance of our educational consultant, the STEP program provides you with hands-on, practical problem-solving skills that make parenting more successful and less stressful.

You’ll get an added boost by interacting and sharing your experiences with like-minded parents in a relaxed setting during our learning sessions

IG: @parentoolkw

Patty Marotte grew up in California and now resides in Kuwait with her husband, who she met while in college, and four children. She comes from a multicultural background from parents of mixed ethnicity and feels like she belongs to four cultures. Patty loves spices and healing with foods. She is a Lupus warrior and a cooking fanatic. Patty shares her journey to belonging, including self-belonging, in this episode and how she has overcome an autoimmune disease by healing through a healthy diet and her faith. 

IG: spice.coach

In this episode, Dr. Ilene shares her ups and downs and how sometimes she's not ok. And when she's not ok, how she reflects on her feelings and asks why she feels that way. That's true self-care. She also shares some awesome moments from the past week and her #oneword2022.

Twitter: @IleneWinokur

IG: @ilenewinokur

     @journeys2belonging

Facebook: Ilene Winokur

Christa Campsall has vast K12 experience as a Classroom Teacher, Learning Integration Support Teacher in Special Education, and Teacher-Leader of School-based Teams. Christa currently enjoys engaging with educators in the global community as a professional development facilitator, online instructor, mentor, peer, and author.   

Throughout her career, Christa witnessed dramatic successes as she educated learners to uncover their own innate wisdom, well-being, and resilience. Based on these successes, Christa answered the National Resilience Resource Center (NRRC) call for a Global Principle-Based K12 Curriculum.   

With a team of education experts filled with goodwill and grounded in the 3 Principles, Christa created "My Guide Inside: Knowing Myself and Understanding My World." This vital,  comprehensive, story-based curriculum is aligned with educational competencies and guidelines for academic credit at the Primary, Intermediate, and Secondary Levels. Along with the focus on sharing knowledge and language development, it promotes experiential learning with a variety of related fun-filled activities.   

"My Guide Inside" Learner Books and Teacher Manuals are available worldwide and have been disseminated in over 20 countries in paperback and e-book formats. Due to the goodwill of expert educators, multiple translations are becoming available.

Christa is a HundrED.org Ambassador. The "My Guide Inside" Innovation was successful in making it to the second of three levels of the HundrED/LEGO SEL Innovation Spotlight! What an honor! Christa and her collaboratorss are launching a free online introductory training (thanks to the goodwill of "Feel the Vibe" out of the US.)

Twitter: @myguideinside

IG: instagram.com/christa.mgi.curriculum

FB: facebook.com/3PrinciplesEdTalks

Website: https://www.myguideinside.com

Link to My Guide Inside books: https://www.myguideinside.com/mgibooks

National Reslience Center