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Why Proactive Support Benefit Every Learner In a recent professional development session I facilitated with a school in Fall River, Massachusetts, a really important question came up, one that tends to surface in almost every training when we talk about classroom behavior and student engagement. We were discussing behavioral strategies to support student learning while also preventing interfering behavior. The conversation centered around proactive planning, structure, and ho

How often do you say yes before you’ve even had a chance to think about it? I recently had a conversation with my wise colleague, Dr. Lina Slim, that really stuck with me. She shared a piece of advice she’s learned over time: pause before saying yes. It sounds simple, but it’s not always easy. Even when you’re overworked, overbooked, and stretched thin, invitations to participate in interesting projects, support meaningful causes, and attend fun social gatherings are still en

One of the most common and powerful functions of behavior is attention. As adults, we often think of attention-seeking behavior as something children do. But the truth is, we all seek attention. We all want to feel seen, heard, and acknowledged. And often, attention becomes most valuable when it feels limited or diverted. I remember when my children were younger. The moment I got on the phone, it was immediate: “Mom.” “Mom.” “Mom, mom, mom…” It didn’t matter that I had been a

Most parents don’t imagine their journey will include panic attacks, chronic stomachaches, school refusal, meltdowns, concussions, family illness, grief, and the lingering effects of a global pandemic. And yet for so many families, this is the reality. Add in sports disappointments, friendship struggles, learning challenges, and the daily unpredictability of growing brains and bodies, and it can feel like you are constantly in crisis-management mode. This is why so many of us

Effective school consulting is about more than strategies and systems. It's about people. Two essential practices that guide my work are including paraprofessionals throughout the treatment process and collecting meaningful, feasible data. When we center both, we create supports that are compassionate, practical, and impactful for students and the teams who serve them. Consulting Tip #1: Include Paraprofessionals Paraprofessionals spend their days alongside students. They are

I had the incredible opportunity to speak about identifying and strengthening our professional superpowers. These are the natural and learned abilities that allow us to reach the peak of our potential- our unique strengths that, when refined, can make a meaningful difference in how we support students, par ents, and colleagues. What Are Superpowers? In this context, superpowers are the behaviors, skills, and strengths that go beyond the ordinary. They’re the abilities that al