Teachers Aligned

Dr. Bhagat received his doctorate in Educational Leadership from VCU, where he specialized in a regional approach to school diversity. His post-doctoral work is in the areas of Restorative Justice in Education, Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience, Social Emotional Learning, and Culturally Responsive Mindfulness practices. He fulfilled the requirements for his MEd in School and Community Counseling from Virginia State University, where he concentrated in group counseling, with a keen focus on African American males affected by gun violence. Ram received Bachelor of Science degrees in Microbiology from Virginia State University and Science Education from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr. Bhagat is currently serving as Manager of School Climate and Culture Strategy for Richmond Public Schools. His primary role is to envision, design, and connect trauma informed practices and restorative practices to schools and communities throughout the district. He intends to help lead RPS and its partners in the creation of a sustainable and transformative paradigm of equitable and just learning environments for all students.

Dr. Bhagat is an adjunct faculty member at Eastern Mennonite University’s Graduate Teacher Education program and certified trainer of Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) for the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Dr. Bhagat’s unique approach to Trauma Sensitive Restorative Practices, called Massive Resilience, is rooted in the science of yoga and de-colonized mindfulness practices.

Dr. Bhagat is actively involved in healing the effects of racial trauma within communities of color, as a leader of Emotional Emancipation Circles in Virginia. 

In the early 1990s, Ram co-founded Drums No Guns (DNG) world percussion ensemble to engage youth in “healing community with rhythm.” More than two decades later, the Drums No Guns, Foundation continues to work around the country with youth traumatized by gun violence, using drumming, dance, drama, and culturally responsive contemplative practices.

You can contact Dr. Bhagat at [email protected]

Read more about Dr. Bhagat's work.

His TED Talk can be viewed at https://youtu.be/FoIzx3G9gPo

Ram's Book Recommendations

Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain

Dr. Emily Whitecotton is a fifth grade teacher at the Center for Inquiry in Richland School District Two. Emily has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, a Masters in Language and Literacy, and a PhD in Language and Literacy from the University of South Carolina. She has implemented a mindfulness program in her classroom and regularly advocates for mindfulness in public schools.

You can contact Dr. Whitecotton via e-mail at [email protected].

Emily's Book Recommendations

Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

On this episode of Teachers Aligned, we examine how to start a mindfulness practice.

Lisa Ellis is the founder of SC for Ed, a teacher advocacy group whose goal is to place an extraordinary teacher in every classroom in South Carolina. Born and raised in South Carolina, Lisa Ellis’ path follows the quote “Not all who wander are lost.” Lisa earned a bachelor’s degree in English from College of Charleston, a master’s in Forest Resources Management from Clemson University, and another master’s in Organizational Leadership from Columbia College. During her educational career, she has taught English, Leadership, been a Director of Student Activities, and an Instructional Coach in 4 schools and 3 school districts. She will enter her 19th year of teaching as a journalism teacher at Blythewood High School. Lisa created the SC for Ed Facebook closed group as a community for SC educators to create a collective voice.

For more information on SC for Ed visit, https://www.scfored.org/.

You can also connect with them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/scfored/.

Kara Foster-Lee is a veteran early childhood educator who currently serves as the Program Director for Compassionate Schools at USC-Upstate in Spartanburg, SC. Kara has incorporated mindfulness in her classroom for several years and completed the certification program offered through Mindful Schools. She has facilitated a number of trainings across the state related to trauma-informed and mindfulness practices. She enjoys reading, yoga, eating, and spending time with her dog Weezy. She looks forward to the day that heart smarts are as treasured as brain smarts.

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

Kara's Book Recommendations

The Whole-Brained Child by Dr. Dan Siegel

TJ Rumler is a social worker and trauma-informed specialist for Greenville County Schools. His TED Talk, "What Are We Doing About School Suspensions" has been viewed over 5,000 times. In this episode, TJ shares his thoughts on trauma-informed practices and restorative justice.

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