The Speakers for Teachers Newer to our Program

Full bio found here: www.empoweredtoexhale.com/about#portia

Empowered to Exhale was founded by Dr Portia Jackson with a mission to Equip educators and leaders with tools to effectively manage stress and foster resilience so they may serve others from a position of wholeness. Dr. Portia Jackson Preston is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at California State University, Fullerton, where she conducts research  on multilevel approaches to self-care, and examines stressors such as racism drivers of health inequity.

Prior to her career in academia, she worked for Deloitte Consulting and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consulted for Susan G. Komen Orange County, and founded Active Steps Coaching. Dr. Jackson Preston earned her Doctorate of Public Health from UCLA, her Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her Bachelors degree  from Stanford University. 

My name is Tasneem Griffin and I'm an Instructional Coach for the South Suburban Area. I’m a life-long educator and have worked in the field of Child Development for 20 years.  I attended Northern Illinois University with receiving my Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development. I then furthered my education at Erikson Institute with obtaining my Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Advocacy & Leadership.  I’m very enthused to be a part of our per-service training to share information and learn from you all.

Contact Tasneem: tgriffin@eastersealschicago.org

LPC

Mara is a practicing Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Illinois and holds a master's in clinical Mental Health from Adler University. She started her career in early childhood education, interning as a Mental Health Counseling intern, using her expertise to lead within Head Start programs. As a Social Emotional Specialist for Easterseals, Mara brings over 4 years of experience as she supports healthy development in infants and young children between ages 0-5. In her role, she emphasizes social-emotional development and nurturing responsive relationships for the benefit of the children and families she supports, focusing on early identification of social, emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges.  

Contact Mara: mmarin@eastersealschicago.org

Tamaraka comes with 15 years of experience and counting, she holds her Master's in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University in River Forest. Currently she is working on her Doctoral Degree in Special Education. Tamaraka has worked in the field of ECE since she graduated from high school in 2008. Currently, she is a practicing developmental therapist (on the side) and an inclusion specialist here with ES. She has 3 years experience as a Home Visitor working for both Early Head Start and Preventive 

Contact Tamaraka: tking-audu@eastersealschicago.org

Marsha has worked supporting children, families and teachers to understand development and include children for over 20 years in roles ranging from infant to kindergarten teacher, Assistant Director, Instructional Coch to Inclusion manager.  She specializes in understanding child development in the context of relationships and environment and creating supportive solutions for children with developmental differences.  She approaches her work through the context of relationships and capacity building, understanding the role culture and community play in everything we do.  Marsha is a proud alumni of University of Illinois (Go Illini!) and holds various certifications in the areas ECE, TIC, Inclusion and SE supports, but her biggest accomplishment is watching her son who has SPD excel through his school experience and being a band mom. 

Contact Marsha: msummers@eastersealschicago.org