Trauma Invested Wisdom
I am honored to bring this brand new section to the website. Over the years, I have had the privilege of meeting and working with countless educators in a variety of settings and roles. Their belief in this work and the support they have provided is humbling. I have learned so much from so many. So in 2025, I wanted to try something different. I wanted to find a way to share the amazing things I have learned from others with you! As a result, Trauma Invested Wisdom was created. My intention is to continue to provide you with wisdom from across the globe. Once a week, I will post words of wisdom from many of my amazing colleagues and share with you how their words are trauma invested practices or ideas. I will introduce them, share their experience, share how we became connected and share their advice. I am super proud of this section of the site as I think we can all benefit from learning from other professionals in other roles. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed putting this together. Read on!
Celina Brennan
I have appreciated my educational journey that spans over 20 years. As an elementary teacher, instructional leader, and elementary principal, I have been dedicated to identifying practices that meet the individual needs of every learner. Currently in my role as principal, I am committed to being trauma-invested. I continuously advocate for teaching to the whole child, and I have a passion to inspire fellow educators to adapt their practices to meet the needs of ALL.
Lisa russell
Lisa M. Russell is an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes from the San Poil band. She is the Director of the Kalispel Tribe’s Camas Early Learning Center. She has been working with Indian children and families since 1992. Most of those years were in the field of early childhood education. She also volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in the Kalispel Tribal Court where she advocates for what is in the best interest of the child(ren) who are involved in the child welfare system. She’s been doing this work for 15 years.
Daniel Prorok
Hello, my name is Dan Prorok. I’m the Principal of Jerling Junior High in Orland Park, IL. I’ve been fortunate to be Jerling’s principal for the past three years and as a Principal in the same district for the past 10 years. Prior to being a Principal I was an Assistant Principal for four years and prior to that I was a PE teacher for 8 years. Which means I’ve been in education for 22 amazing years!
Sharon Frys
Psychology and seeking an understanding of behavior have long been fascinations of mine, which led to a career heavily rooted in special education and working with students with learning and behavioral challenges. I stepped out of public education for four years to work in the education program in an inpatient unit for adolescent psychiatry, chemical dependency, and eating disorders, which was an incredible experience meeting with clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, art therapists, and social workers each morning to glean their perspective and gain an understanding of the students in our care. In my return to public education in various leadership roles, I recognized that I could apply this knowledge to students and all stakeholders far beyond the walls of a psychiatric unit. My final and longest stretch in my career was as an assistant superintendent in a suburban school district, a job and school district that I loved. At my retirement, the staff presented a beautiful photo book of various accomplishments we had attained during my tenure with the district. This book compilation reminded me of words of advice I have given over the years. Throughout this book, several statements that staff and leaders observed me say frequently and consistently became known in the district as "Sharonisms" and beliefs.
Melissa Weber
Melissa serves students and families in Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, NE. Her current role is Assistant Director of Special Education. She has worked at the district level within the Special Education Department for seven years. Prior to being at the district office, she served as a Special Education Coordinator, Team Leader for our Middle School Behavior Focus Program, Resource Teacher, General Education Teacher, and Para-educator.
Matt Weld
Matt Weld has taught 7th grade science and ELA, been a junior high Assistant Principal, a K-8 Technology Coach, a regional Director of Learning Technology, and is currently the SEL Coach for Illinois' SEL Hub #5 and its 13-county territory. He is also the Director of TeachIllinois.org, an online professional learning platform, and chair of the annual New Directions in Education Conference. Matt hosts the Teachers’ Classroom podcast, serves on the Board of Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully, and co-authored the Collective Well-Being Framework & Toolkit for Schools through Mindful Practices. He has presented at regional and national conferences on both edtech and SEL topics, authored a chapter, written articles, and served on the leadership team for the St. Louis Edcamp for several years. Matt is also a Google Certified Trainer, a Registered Yoga Teacher, and an IL Master Gardener. His passions include his family of 4, making things, reading, plants, and the outdoors.
Katherine Blair, EdS, NCSP
Katherine Blair is a passionate advocate for students with disabilities and the educators who serve them. As the Special Services Director and School Psychologist at Valley School District, Katherine brings a unique blend of expertise in special education, psychological services, and leadership to her work. She is committed to fostering inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive, and every educator feels valued and supported.
Allyson Rude Azevedo
In my school district, when someone has been around as long I have been, we're called the OGs. Twenty-four years in Travis Unified School District has earned me a place amongst this group, having served as a high school teacher, high school Assistant Principal, continuation high school Principal, and Director of Student Services.
Jeff Omlin
Hi my name is Jeff Omlin, I am a Special Education Inclusion teacher and coach at Cheney Middle School, I have been doing this for the past 22 years. I was born and raised in the small farming town of Quincy Washington. There, I developed a love for the outdoors. I consider myself an avid hunter and fisherman. I initially spent my summers off, helping at harvest driving Semi truck or the combine. Now I spend most of my summers with my wife, Jenny and my daughters, Zoe and Rylee at the lake or in our pool. Growing up on our family farm with parents that instilled a work ethic and encouraged a relentless competitive attitude has had a big hand in the attitude I have as an educator.
Laura Duchow
For 10 years Laura has been a principal in the Mead School District in Spokane, Washington. In that time, she has been in two high-needs Title I schools. Prior to that, she cut my teeth in an Assistant Principal position in an even higher-needs school in Spokane Public Schools. And before all of that, she was a teacher for about 20 years.
Heather Santiemmo
Heather Santiemmo is an Early Childhood School Principal at CCSD93 in Illinois. She has been working in the field of early learning for over 21 years and is dedicated to working with children in early childhood special education.
Paloma Almanza
Paloma Almanza, 10th year as a school administrator, served 6 years as the proud Principal of Mokapu Elementary located on Marine Corps Base Hawai’i in Kaneohe. I was born and raised on the Windward side of Oahu, and have been fortunate enough to work in the complex area which serves my own community for a majority of my career. I am a military impacted sibling. I have been an educator for 21 years. Through observation and experience as a military impacted sibling, I recognized trauma was prevalent in the lives of all my students and therefore, this trauma was experienced by every individual who interacted with them. Basic trauma every student faces as a military impacted child includes and is definitely not limited to: transitioning at least every 3 years, new homes - sometimes a hotel for weeks, new schools - often times multiple schools in their formative years, making and leaving friends regularly, boxes not unpacked, settling in and learning it is soon time to go, and single-parent household. Connecting brain science to the trauma and behaviors we see in school would help us better meet the needs of all our students. If this trauma is our reality, the circumstances we must accept, then how can we succeed? Understanding what's happening to our students and even ourselves so we can respond with Aloha and avoid being reactive and start recognizing students' unwanted behaviors as requests for connection. Connection before correction is critical.
Colin hogan
As the Head of School at Learning Community Charter School, Colin Hogan brings a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to education leadership. With a career spanning 26 years in education, Colin has played a pivotal role in shaping educational environments that foster academic excellence, personal growth, and community engagement. Prior to assuming the role of Head of School, Colin held key leadership positions, including serving as the Highland Park Public Schools Social Studies Coordinator and as President of the Kean University Diversity Council on Global Education and Citizenship, demonstrating his dedication to progressive and student-centered educational practices. He holds a BA in history from Indiana University and a Ms.Ed in early adolescent education from the Bank Street College of Education. He is a proud alumnus of the NJExcel program, where he earned his administrative certification, and currently serves as a faculty member advising future school leaders and teaching the program’s course on charter school leadership. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in educational leadership from William Paterson University.
Betty Weir
Betty is a Director of Professional Learning. She plans professional learning experiences for teachers and for parents in her community. Betty has been working in education for 16 years. She has worked as a teacher, in a curriculum office, as an assistant principal, principal, and now a director. In all roles, Betty has always taken a special interest in social emotional learning.