Reducing Stress in Schools: Restoring Connection and Community

Mathew Portell is an elementary school principal in the Metro Nashville Public School system, podcaster, writer, international speaker, and leader of the international Trauma-Informed Educators Network. An innovator and pioneer of trauma-informed education, he utilized neuroscience to transform his school into a global model school for trauma-informed practices. Ingrid L. Cockhren is an internationally known leader in trauma-informed care and systems transformation with twenty years of experience in childhood development, mental healthcare, PreK-12, higher education, consulting, and nonprofit leadership. Cockhren is an adjunct psychology professor, owner of Cockhren Consulting, and former CEO of PACEs Connection. Tyisha J. Noise is a practitioner scholar with twenty-four years of experience working with underserved students in nonprofit and educational settings. She has taught and led in K-12 through early college with extensive expertise in intervention and special education, and administration in middle and high schools. She is also a professional development expert, presenter, and coach. Julie Kurtz is an international speaker, trainer, coach, and consultant who has collaborated with thousands of educators and administrators to integrate trauma-responsive practices and social-emotional strategies into classrooms, schools, and educational systems. Kurtz is CEO of the Center for Optimal Brain Integration(R) and coauthor of several books for children and adults. Julie Nicholson is an early childhood expert, keynote speaker, nonprofit leader, coauthor of thirteen books and coeditor of another. As a professor of practice at Mills College in Oakland for seventeen years, she directed the Leadership Program in Early Childhood, an MBA/MA program and the Center for Global Play Research. She consults nationally on bridging ECE with public education.