Elena Olivieri

With more than 20 years of teaching experience in elementary, middle and high schools, I have had the privilege of working with students across the United States, Asia, and Europe. My career has been driven by a love of learning, a passion for service, and a deep curiosity about people and cultures.

I am the founder of Child•cor LLC, a children’s wellness program that combined yoga, dramatic arts, and creative meditative practices to build confidence and promote well-being. The program provided young participants with tools and strategies to manage stress, nurture resilience, and foster a strong sense of self from an early age.

Beyond the classroom, I have served as a Director of Wellness and Service Learning at schools around the world, guiding students of all ages to discover their talents, interests, and life purposes, and to channel them into meaningful global service projects. I have also worked closely with renowned service-learning leader Cathy Berger Kaye, helping students apply the service-learning model in authentic and impactful ways.

My travels abroad shaped not only my teaching but also my personal mission. Immersing myself in different cultures revealed both my own subconscious biases and the transformative power of empathy. By meeting locals, asking questions, and listening deeply, I not only learned about others but also discovered more about myself.

My studies in neuroscience, inspired by my personal journey with anxiety, deepened my understanding that when we give to others, we also give to ourselves. Service, gratitude, and connection became not just professional pursuits but lifelong passions. Today, I teach students with severe special needs, and while I love this work deeply, I also feel called to make a broader impact by teaching others how to live lives of service, gratitude, curiosity, and compassion.

At the heart of my teaching is a simple mission: to help students develop the skills to observe with care, act with integrity, and reflect with depth.

On a personal note, one of my greatest joys is being a mother to my daughter, whom I met while living in China. Together, we continue to explore the richness of cultures and the beauty of human connection. Photography is one of my favorite hobbies—I love capturing landscapes, people, and the stories that lie within them. For me, each image is a way to honor journeys, land, and culture, and to contribute to building a more peaceful, compassionate world. I share many of these visual stories on Instagram—feel free to visit @elenasphotogallery and join me in seeing the world through my lens.

My journey as an educator, wellness advocate, and global traveler has taught me that true learning is not just about knowledge, but about cultivating empathy, resilience, and purpose. At the heart of my work is a belief that education is most powerful when it nurtures both the mind and the spirit. Whether through teaching, photography, or listening to the stories of others, I strive to create meaningful connections that inspire curiosity and compassion. My life’s path—rooted in service, enriched by culture, and grounded in love for my daughter—continues to remind me that the best way to build a more peaceful world is to begin by giving of ourselves.