Teachers Aligned

Sophie Scholl is a fourth grade student in Horry County. She is a legendary basketball and soccer player. She began playing the violin in third grade. Sophie loves history, video games, Stranger Things, and Dr. Strange. She was named after a German student and anti-Nazi political activist, active within the White Rose non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany. She loves to camp, ride her bike, and beat her dad at H.O.R.S.E., which she does regularly.

Sophie's Recommendations

For more than three decades, Dr. Boutte's scholarship, teaching, and service have focused on equity pedagogies and teaching for social justice in Early Childhood Education. She has served as Chair in the Department of Instruction and Teacher Education and held a distinguished endowed chair for four years. She is the author of four books: Educating African American Students: And how are the children; Multicultural Education: Raising Consciousness; Resounding Voices: School Experiences of People From Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds; and African Diaspora Literacy: The Heart of Transformation in K–12 Schools and Teacher Education. She has received more than $1,700,000 in grants and has more than 95 publications.

She has served as a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Scholar at several universities in the U.S. and abroad. Additionally, she has presented nationally and internationally on curriculum, instruction, and diversity issues.  

Dr. Boutte's Recommendations

Educating African American Students: And how are the children

Teaching Tolerance

Pedagogy of the Oppressed - Freire

A People's History of the United States

The Lottery

Rethinking Schools

The Center for the Education and Equity of African American Students (CEEAAS)

Learning Why - ETV

Dr. Ann Marie Taylor began her college education studying Criminal Justice at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. She quickly realized that many of her young charges were struggling with special education needs which inspired her to become a special education teacher. She received her master’s degree in special education from Francis Marion University in South Carolina.  Dr. Taylor began teaching in 2000 at McLaurin Elementary School in Florence and while she was working at Pine Tree Hill Elementary in Camden she earned the title of 2008 South Carolina Teacher of the Year – the first special educator to ever receive this honor. In 2008, she became National Board Certified and also received the Woman of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of America.  In 2009, she was awarded the Educator Leadership Award from Francis Marion University.  She also received the Service Award from Palmetto State Teacher's Association (PSTA).  She has served as the Director of Exceptional Children in Edgefield County for six years. Taylor is currently the Executive Director at Horse Creek Academy.

Ann Marie's Recommendations

Education Rockstars

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.

Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

Jill Guerra is the mindfulness prep teacher at an east Oakland elementary school where she is proud and grateful to serve 425 students per week. She was a classroom teacher for thirteen years prior and holds a master’s degree in Critical Environmental and Global Literacy. She is the author of, Long Hair Don’t Care, a poem picture book about boys with long hair and is working on her next children’s book, We Are Yoga. Visit her website, www.thelovecurriculum.com or email her at [email protected] IG: thelovecurriculum

Jill's Recommendations

Mindful Schools

Leigh Brasington has been practicing meditation since 1985 and is the senior American student of the late Ven. Ayya Khayma. He began assisting Ven. Ayya Khemma in 1994, and began teaching retreats on his on in 1997. He is also authorized to teach by Jack Kornfield.

He has taught the jhanas, along with multiple insight practices, at well over one hundred residential retreats throughout the United States and Europe. He is the author of the book Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas. He has appeared on Dan Harris’s 10% Happier Podcast. Find more about his teaching and schedule at http://leighb.com.

Leigh's Recommendations

Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree: The Buddha's Teachings on Voidness

Michael Taft: https://deconstructingyourself.com/events

Comment from the host, Todd Scholl: This episode contains material that some may not consider secular. As with all episodes, the content does not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Teachers Aligned. It is my belief that we should acknowledge the roots of mindfulness practice and be willing to explore those roots in a way that is respectful to people of all faith backgrounds. I heard Leigh on the 10% Happier Podcast with Dan Harris and was fascinated by his ideas. I reached out to him and was fortunate that he agreed to be a guest on the podcast.  It was my honor to record this conversation with him.

This is a special edition of the Teachers Aligned Podcast. Todd discusses details about the 2020 Teachers Aligned Mindfulness Retreat. 

Learn more about the retreat at http://mindfulnessretreat.weebly.com/.

Dr. Sibinga is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School and the Past-Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Integrative Medicine. Dr. Sibinga is a general academic pediatrician, keenly interested in improving the lives of children and families through the expansion of evidence-based complementary approaches. With funding from foundations and the United States’ National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, she has adapted and evaluated mindfulness instruction (including the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program) for urban children and youth in both clinic- and school-based settings. Dr. Sibinga’s randomized controlled trials have shown that mindfulness instruction for children and youth can reduce psychological symptoms (including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms); improve the stress response, coping, and quality of life; and enhance interpersonal and behavioral outcomes. For youth with HIV, MBSR leads to both psychological benefits and improvements in HIV medication adherence and viral suppression, important outcomes in HIV treatment. Dr. Sibinga’s current work also includes the development and evaluation of mindfulness programming for adults important to children and youth – mothers of infants in the NICU and classroom teachers.

Dr. Sibinga's Recommendations

Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting

Video with Dr. Sibinga - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/faced-outsized-stresses-baltimore-students-learn-take-deep-breath

Chrissie Keillor is a yoga instructor and high school teacher in the Myrtle Beach area. She graduated with a degree in Kinesiology from Illinois State University and began her career as a certified athletic trainer at the high school level. Searching for a more creative outlet, she became a 200 Hour RYT in 2011 and shortly thereafter also acquired her Fitness Nutrition Specialization and Personal Training Certification through NASM. Chrissie started her own yoga business named Subala just a year ago to streamline her vision with athletics, yoga, mindfulness, healthy lifestyle and safer beauty and body products. She currently teaches yoga at New South Brewery, Quigleys Pint and Plate, Twelve 33 and Top Golf. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram using the handle @Subala843

Chrissie's Recommendations

Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses: A Practical Workbook for Integrating Themes, Ideas, and Inspiration into Your Class

Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect Your Practice

Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual

The Freedom of Being: At Ease with What Is

The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have

The Golden Present: Daily Inspirational Readings by Sri Swami Satchidananda

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

Danna Thomas is a former Baltimore City Public School teacher turned founder of a global initiative to support the mental health and wellness of educators. Her organization, Happy Teacher Revolution, is on a mission to increase teacher happiness, retention, and professional sustainability by providing educators with the time and space to heal, deal, and be real about the social-emotional demands they face on the job. Danna served as the national spokeswoman for the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Maryland and the “Music for Mental Health” campaign. She is the recipient of the 2019 Johns Hopkins Community Hero Award and the 2019 Winner of the Johns Hopkins Social Innovation Lab. Her favorite forms of self-care include playing backgammon, community hot yoga, and rocking out on the saxophone.

Danna's Book/Resource Recommendations

Radical Wholeness: The Embodied Present and the Ordinary Grace of Being

First Aid for Teacher Burnout: How You Can Find Peace and Success

Teach Happy: Educating Wellness for Teacher and Student Success

Happy Teachers Change the World: A Guide for Cultivating Mindfulness in Education

The Beginning Teacher's Field Guide: Embarking on Your First Years (Self-Care and Teaching Tips for New Teachers)

Unshakeable: 20 Ways to Enjoy Teaching Every Day...No Matter What

If you are interested in connecting and collaborating with Danna, you can e-mail her at [email protected].