Sara Knickerbocker, PhD-The CORE Psychology

Title: The Prepared Adult: Transformational Tools for Teachers

Description: Dr. Montessori stated "The real preparation for education is the study of one’s self," and yet the demands of being a Montessori teacher can leave little time for reflection, self-care and the study of one's self that can result in personal and professional transformation. Teachers and administrators alike are interested in preventing burnout and optimizing a school's most valuable resource--the teachers--and yet it is not always clear how to prevent burnout. During this session, participants will use experiential tools to re-energize and respond to the professional mandate to engage in self-study. Participants will learn how to eliminate limiting beliefs from the past, harness the power of the present, and develop goals and intentions to bring forward into the future as a vibrant Montessori teacher. Rekindle your passion for the profession at this critical time of the school year as you strive to complete the year with stamina and compassion.

Bio: Dr. Sara Knickerbocker is a school psychologist and learning specialist dedicated to transforming school cultures by attending to the mental health and social-emotional wellbeing of educators while supporting teachers' professional development as they strive to meet the needs of diverse learners. Prior to working in private practice, she worked for over six years as a learning specialist and school psychologist at a Montessori school where she developed a learning support program, facilitated school-based interventions for academic and social/emotional and behavioral challenges and provided extensive professional development to faculty to support teachers in meeting the individual needs of their students. In addition to her expertise in the areas of child development, differentiation, learning disabilities, psychoeducational evaluation and systemic change, Dr. Knickerbocker is a lifelong student and facilitator of conscious living tools designed to invite personal transformation.