Testimonials

 Training with Sara has really allowed me to feel like my workplace is a safe space to be human and not feel like a robot and be perfect all the time. - School Receptionist

My decision to bring Sara to our school can be captured in one word: Drama! Even with a commitment to no drama, it seems unavoidable. This work with Sara keeps us focused on recognizing our own drama and remembering it doesn’t serve us. - Head of Charter School

She has helped team members as well as myself personally become “unstuck”, gain empathy, work on accountability – she has improved dynamics as well as work flow. - New Head of Montessori School

I feel that everyone from my staff who attended Sara's workshop really enjoyed it and felt like they learned a lot.  Everyone was very receptive to what she had to say. - Head of small Montessori School

It has helped me be brave in being honest in my communication with others, and seek my true self. I walked away from every session with Sara feeling positive, encouraged, and willing to change, regardless of how I walked in.  - Level Lead, Upper Elementary Teacher, 20+ years

Dr. Sara's trainings helped me to understand the psychology and human emotions/responses to typical work issues.  It gave me some tools and phrases to better understand and describe staff drama at a school.  My staff and I gained a shared vocabulary and a shared understanding.  - Public School Administrator (20 years),Building Principal (10 years)

The shared language with colleagues is invaluable; it cuts through much of the drama, creates a background/baseline understanding of our shared humanity and goodwill, and provides a way forward that is authentic and productive. - Elementary Teacher/Curriculum Coordinator

Sara has a calm, focused demeanor when in training; she listens closely and actively and problem solves in the moment with an insightful understanding of how her participants are internalizing the material. - School administrator, Middle School Teacher

In Sara’s trainings, I have gained powerful tools to help me recognize the things that hold me back from reaching my potential as a colleague and leader at work. In my personal life, I feel strongly that the work that I have done with Sara has helped me recognize and understand patterns and behaviors that have not served me well in my relationships. I feel that I have grown in self-awareness, confidence, and feel better equipped to navigate challenges and understand and care for those around me. - Director of Elementary Education

I think of Sara’s work as a way to extend my reach with my staff. As an administrative leader (who is also the instructional leader), I don't have enough professional time to do all of the TLC I'd like to do for my staff. I can extend my reach through our partnership. - Head of Charter School

The vocabulary, conceptual framework, and communication tools that Sara illuminates in her trainings have positively influenced my teaching, supported my relationships with colleagues, as well as helped me navigate aspects of my own relationship. One of the many aspects that I love about Sara's work is that I always feel like I'm able to listen and take in the information with multiple hats on simultaneously. I often have a reaction something like this: "WOW! What a great activity/practice to bring into ANY workplace. I'm SO glad that everyone I work with has this same vocabulary to utilize. My goodness, I HAVE to go home and share this with my spouse too. We also need to be on this same page."  - Instructional Coach

Sara’s gift for balancing science and soul is a profound and decisive force in this profession. - Leadership Consultant, Retired Head of School

Sara’s ability to listen to her audience, expand the context of the training and customize work according to needs (either on the spot or with advance notice) is responsive and remarkable. - Leadership Consultant, Retired Head of School

Sara affirms what’s hard about education – and the traps people fall into – and gives tools and perspective to stay out of the traps – or to quickly recognize when you have fallen in. She helps with burnout and supports wellness and emotional health. - New Head of School, Primary-Trained Montessori Teacher

Sara has a great way of connecting with teachers and making them feel that their challenges are understood.  I also believe that her workshop is energizing and uplifting and people feel inspired after attending.  - Head of School, Montessori Toddler & Primary Programs

Sara's training helps you understand the motivation behind what you say and do, making it possible to stop unhealthy communication or behaviors regarding relationships with colleagues or students. - Upper Elementary Teacher

Sara’s training provides a framework for culturally aware employees to traverse the typical school climate challenges. It helps the average teacher to understand the psychology and basic emotional reactions our bodies experience with workplace stress and introduces tools to enhance emotional resilience. Public School Administrator (20 years),Building Principal (10 years)

Sara’s training shows us how to reconnect with our authentic needs, provides a shared understanding of how people operate that doesn't place value judgements on us (this is huge in a profession in which we hear a constant drumbeat about our shortcomings from the larger culture and constant improvement drive), and provides insightful pathways on how to process our emotions and move forward with our colleagues. - Curriculum Coordinator, Upper Elementary Teacher

The information and skill set offered in this training are crucial to prevent burnout and trauma to the daily challenges we all experience. A better-centered educator helps herself, first, and children and their families better than anyone could have imagined. - Principal, Public Charter Montessori

Sara’s trainings interweave personal reflection and growth tools with professional standards and mandates. It's a balanced blend of 'ah-ha' moments with useful tools for continued growth for individuals and teams. - Middle School Teacher

Sara’s training and practice that will make you take a hard (but good!) look at yourself and what you bring to the table when it comes to conflict, discontent, or self-doubt in your work or personal life. This is incredibly valuable training that will help you peel back the layers of what is holding you back from showing up as your very best self as an educator and human. - Lower Elementary Teacher

Sara’s trainings are one part self-care/TLC, one part organizational health. It helps folks self-reflect by offering tools to use and a common vocabulary. - Head of School

We, as teachers, work an incredibly demanding job. We must meet the demands and needs of state standards, our administration, our school community of parents, the children whom we teach, our fellow colleagues and somewhere, somehow, (and too often last) ourselves. Everyone knows that teachers are overworked and underpaid, and yet this general knowledge does nothing for the teacher that is trying to hold his or herself afloat while trying to balance the mounting demands and pressures that "come with the job". Anyway, all of that being said, this is the exact context whereupon productive communication, shared understanding, vulnerability and continued social and emotional growth are essential. Teachers need this work! They need this shared vocabulary and this stocked toolbox, because teachers don't have enough time and space to afford not having these tools at their disposal. We need this extra support for ourselves and each other because we expend so much extra energy supporting so many other members of our community on a daily basis. - Lower Elementary Teacher

Sara has an uncanny ability to listen to the needs of the community (and also intuit them) and to understand that the key for educators “doing better” is their willingness to be vulnerable to the school’s healthy evolution. - Retired Head of School

I inherited some baggage with my team – and needed somebody not only to help us heal, but to learn new tools and move forward. I knew Sara had the skills to work/coach 1:1 with people so that they could then come back as a team and do good, positive, supportive work as a team.  She is great at giving specific skills as well the science/back-up to what she is assisting with. She is smart, funny, vulnerable, firm and direct. -New Head of School

By bringing Sara to our school, we were hoping to help some dysfunctional teams find their way to functionality for the long term, creating an authentic and collaborative culture that will carry forward. All the emotional energy and time spent in frustration could be theirs again- for personal joy and professional inspiration. - Team Leader

In order to productively apply the 24K gold of Sara’s work, a school (its leaders and staff) must be willing to make a commitment to some agreed upon goals, to offer their attention and full attendance at trainings, and a commitment to follow up work. - Head of Montessori School, over 30 years

Sara is amazing! I do feel like her sessions help keep unity within our team and also help refresh our perspective when she does come visit. It’s so easy to get caught up in the routines and demands that jobs have. - School Receptionist

Sara's ability to systemically support teams by understanding so deeply the individuals that comprise them is a must have for any organization! - MS Learning Specialist

Sara provides a unique mind-shifting and heart-opening experience for those lucky enough to work with her. She has a gift for understanding human nature and helping people get “unstuck” from patterns and habits that do not serve the growth and potential that lies beneath the surface. - Director of Elementary Education