Beyond Brain Breaks

In this section we will look at moving beyond basic ""brain breaks"" to structured, intentional mindfulness and SEL. Grounding self-regulation in the belief that our Lord created children with these capabilities and teaching the neuroscience to children so they understand why it works will help us build goals and practical implementation plans during the presentation.

With 25 years of experience, I am deeply passionate about high-quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) and its lifelong impact on young learners. My leadership background includes founding three early childhood programs, serving as the EC Coordinator for Lakeview Public Schools, and spending seven years as the MN EC District Coordinator. A graduate of Martin Luther College, I hold dual degrees and teaching licenses in both Elementary and Early Childhood Education across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Dedicated to developing future educators, I also serve as the SEW district lead mentor. I am currently the Early Childhood Director at Pilgrim Lutheran in Menomonee Falls. I reside in Milwaukee with my husband, Michael—a pastor and professor at WLC—and our three daughters. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, the outdoors, and visiting family.