top of page

 

The Present School ProjectTM 

is an innovative professional development training designed to engage school staff, educators, and administrators in expanding their knowledge and embodiment of the foundational elements of holistic school wellness:

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) 

Care and Healing

Well-Being 

Embodied Equity

School Kids

The Present Schools ProjectTM

Infinity Logos-02.png

Our WHY

We believe that if we want to both teach and equip our students with the necessary skills, practices, and habits of mind of SEL, well-being, and anti-racist ways of being in the world that 

inspire them to live their life with joy and dignity,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we must first be well, become skilled in our own SEL competencies, and embody a Presence that engenders trust from our students.

 

We believe that the work of social justice starts on the inside-- we call this inner practice SOUL JUSTICE. If we aspire to be in relationship to our students and those in our school community from a place of authenticity, respect, and unconditional positive regard, we must first cultivate a relationship with our own selves that honors, respects, and witnesses our inner diversity, truth, and spirit. 

If we want to create classroom conditions that honor students' identities and lived experiences and prioritize their agency and personal power in their learning and self-exploration, we must also explore our own relationship to our diverse identities, lived-experiences, and sense of power and agency. 

Happy Circle
Close up image of smiling woman in swimwear on the beach making a heart shape with hands -

"This training finds its way into improving our relationships with everyone we encounter on our mission to teach. Self-love as the cornerstone of racial justice seems simple, cutting edge, and essential all at once."
Elementary School Teacher

Our HOW

We engage our core training topics in an integrated and innovative way--

we intentionally LEVERAGE the inherent stressors of the profession as the practice arena

for our SEL, Well-Being, and Embodied Equity development.

Just like the lotus flower draws all its nutrients to bloom from the muck in the pond, we can learn practical, yet powerful, strategies and practices that allow us to metabolize stress in a way that not only dramatically diminishes burnout, but burns stress as fuel to burn in to our calling and capacity to be of service to our students with our whole selves. 

 

Stress can be an invaluable catalyst for growth and change!

Through our training, school personnel not only learn about the core features and competencies of SEL, well-being in a human-centered profession, and how to exude a presence of compassion, reverence, and respect for all students, they experience how to trans-form experiences of stress, personal triggers, and uncertainty into their greatest opportunity to actualize the key features of being well in our work and our personal lives. 

Lotus Flower

Our FOCUS

Screen Shot 2020-11-09 at 1.20.43 PM.png

Engage school personnel with strategies, practices, and experiences rooted in neuroscience, social and emotional learning (SEL), trauma-responsive care, and mindfulness to actualize their individual core competencies of SELself-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making

Screen Shot 2020-11-09 at 1.20.43 PM.png

Engage school personnel in experiencing and practicing the 4 elements of the Infinite Well-Being CycleTM to cultivate the 5 elements of Embodied Equity: perspective taking, integrity, self-awareness, truth telling, and unconditional positive regard

Screen Shot 2020-11-09 at 1.20.43 PM.png
schols infinity logos-01.png

Explore the intersection between social and emotional learning (SEL), well-being, healing, and anti-racist practices to cultivate SOUL Justice and SOCIAL Justice 
 

Our curriculum draws upon the following research-based practices that support educators and school personnel in developing and practicing mental and emotional resilience:

Mindfulness 

SEL

Trauma-Responsive Classrooms

Healing-Centered Design

 

Training LENGTH Options include

  • 3.5 - 4 hour Retreat Training

  • 5 - 6 hour Restoration Training

Training FORMAT Options include

  • Virtual 

  • In-Person

  • Hybrid (mix of in-person and virtual)

School personnel earn up to 6

 "clock hours"

of professional learning engagement 

We work with you to customize the investment cost of the training based on the total number of participants and your desired delivery format.

Session COMPONENTS

Intellect & Awareness

Direct instruction on current, research-based foundational knowledge and data about SEL, Educator/School Personnel Well-Being, and Anti-Racist Practices

Mental Health

Mindful mental health meditation practices that calm a busy mind, cultivate non-judgment, and expand perspective taking

Body Wellness

Gentle mindful moment practices that strengthen the parasympathetic nervous system's relaxation response

Integration

Put Into Practice training handbook that outlines detailed practices to integrate core concepts in one's personal and professional life

Professional Colored Pencils

Training TOPICS

Infinity%2520Logos-02_edited_edited.png
Prioritizing Soul Justice and Social Justice as a Practice of Well-being: Self-attention and self-compassion as the cornerstone of soul and social justice
Infinity%2520Logos-02_edited_edited.png
The 5 Core Competencies of Embodied Equity: Exploring the core competencies and foundational practices to embodying soul justice and defining one's "standard of justice" in education
Infinity%2520Logos-02_edited_edited.png
Compassion and Truth Telling: Seeking the "slow in the fast" of our equity and wellbeing work
 
Infinity%2520Logos-02_edited_edited.png
Stoking Social Awareness and Embodied Equity Through Stress: Leveraging stress as a catalyst to cultivating soul and social awareness to intentionally create opportunities to be "in-tune" with the self while we "attune" with our students and each other
 

Your Trainers

Screen Shot 2021-05-13 at 8.18.41 AM.png
Screen Shot 2022-06-16 at 2.31.13 PM.png

Nuhu Sims

Equity Director 

Brooklyn Center Community Schools

Jen Clifden

Founder & Director

Present Teacher Training

Present Well-Being LLC

Thank you very much for your incredible workshop today. My staff were engaged, inspired, and felt a sense of healing and restoration. 

 

Your chemistry throughout the PD today kept my staff engaged and building a trusting relationship between the two of you and each other! 

Elementary and Middle School Principal

Testimonial

Infinity%20Logos-02_edited.png

Interested in bringing The Present Schools Project to your school or district?
Contact Jen for more information...

bottom of page