workshops
Both in-person and online workshop sessions are available.
MINDSET: We are a Family
1:1 mentoring and/or consulting
1:1 MENTORING
New Educators (Certified, PARA Educators, and etc.)
Educators in crisis due to a variety of reasons i.e. Classroom Management Concerns that have a Trauma-informed basis.
CONSULTING
Provide support for “Best Practices” within Education Environment for Trauma-Informed
Recommend Classroom Management techniques that support Trauma-informed
Assist Client to define their current “Mindset”
Assist Organization to transition from Traditional management to a “Trauma Informed” classroom management “Mindset”.
Offer a variety of supports based on Trauma-Informed strategies
Recommend attending WORKSHOPS & PDs, to create Trauma-Informed Strategies
Please email me to discuss the details of this BOOK STUDY for your school District. You will not be disappointed. Your faculty and staff NEED to be introduced to the wisdom of both Rick & Doris Bowman.
BOOK STUDY OPPORTUNITY
The newest Trauma book (Facing the Fantasy Finding the Way Forward, April 6th) from Rick and Doris Bowman has just arrived in my mailbox. Over the Spring Break, I immediately started to read it. In my opinion, this is a book all educators NEED to read & discuss. Then most of all, begin to implement actions clearly defined within the book, and spread the word to their fellow educators.
Over the years, I have reached out to the authors; Rick and Doris Bowman many times. Both of these Educators are a powerhouse of ideas, guidance, and have orchestrated numerous training sessions across the country. Following my unofficial retirement in 2017, I still see not only Educators but also Administrators struggle with CHILDREN THAT HURT. They are still focused on the following: The Behavior, The Consequence, The Motivation of the student, The Reward, etc.
The Mindset that follows the path above, is currently not achieving meaningful and lasting CHANGE. Sadly, the negative and harmful patterns continue.
I am initiating the idea of offering a BOOK STUDY next Fall or this summer for all educators using the new book:
Facing the Fantasy Finding the Way Forward
Below, is a list of the foundational information that you may find helpful in making this decision.
Number of Book Study Sessions: 17
Length of each Session: 1 hour
Frequency: 2x a month
Format: TBD online or in-person or combination
Price of Book: $37.95 (Amazon)
Clock Hours: I will present Objectives for this Book Study so Clock Hours could be offered
ISBN- 13 978-0996223850
Publisher: Journey Books, LLC
Publication date: April 6, 2026
Dimensions: 7 x 0.62 x 10 inches
Print length: 296 pages
Donna’s FEE: $125 per chapter session
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
- Maya Angelou
Attachment Trauma Network is a great resource to check out.
Compassion Quotations
“trauma-informed education is a journey, not a checklist. there is no magical program that’s going to fix kids because we’re not fixing kids. we’re supporting kids in being successful.”
Empathy Quotations
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Besides being an educator I am also a wife to Pat, mother to 3 grown children, Sean, Kevin, and Erin. Kevin and his wife Elena have enriched our family with 2 fantastic BOYS, OUR GRANDSONS:
Liam and Robert.
Being involved with educators and struggling children fill most of my days, but I also like to camp in our RV, garden, pull weeds, swim a mile each morning, bike 3-4 times a week, sew a variety of fun projects, spin on my spinning wheel, and then of course knit.
Pat and I have always had dogs in our lives. There is a long list over the years. Aari is our current furry buddy, an Aussie. He was a rescue puppy from the Portland Humane Society. He became a McPeak when he was only 6 weeks old. One of Aari’s favorite activities is to run alongside Pat’s bike (leashed of course) when we head out on a biking journey.
I am a 40+yrs veteran educator with unique experiences. I was born & educated in the Midwest. I have teaching experiences in the Private, Public, & University settings. I have had the opportunity to work with all 12 grade levels. Meeting the needs of children & building relationships with them is the foundation of my MINDSET. Simply stated, “Teach children as if they were your own.” By Dr. Karen Uncaphor (University of Dayton).
I love the song “My Way”. It describes the path my career has taken, always following these wonderful words from Dr. Uncaphor from the University of Dayton.“Teach children as if they were your own.” It is simple but so impactful when followed.
photos
of the family
Erin taking Aari on his first walk in the SNOW
Donna relaxes many times with her Spinning Wheel
Erin and Donna off the coast of Oregon
Donna’s Sunflower garden
Aari on look out as we were hiking
Sean, Erin, and Pat walking the Oregon coast
Aari is so excited about getting his very own Pup Advent Calendar
Mr. Froggy loves to knit
Donna, on the Scripps Science Ship, Melville off the coast of Taiwan for 1 month
Learning how to tie up the ropes
I have the Tag line for the J15
Practice putting on the GUMBY Suit
Helping the J15 being deployed
Scientist explaining the project
I loved to watch and learn
The J15 TEAM
I am talking to one of the scientists