Keynote speaker, consultant, and professional learning specialist helping educators understand challenging behavior through a lens of belief, connection, and support.
Speaking & Professional Development
Believe first, support second. Sam's workshops are grounded in the belief that inclusive systems are built through intentional practices, strong relationships that support students, and realistic expectations for educators. Her sessions will challenge common narratives around behavior and educator burnout while offering tangible strategies participants can apply in their classroom. Her keynote and professional development is designed for educators, school leaders, related service providers, and district teams seeking to strengthen inclusive, behavioral practices and mindsets while supporting staff capacity and well-being
Keynote or Professional Development Descriptors
Your Brain on Behavior
Keynote or PD
60-80 minutes
Your Brain on Behavior: Understanding the brain science behind why student’s engage in the behaviors that they do. This session highlights the educator’s role in reflecting on their own experiences and practices that impact how they discipline and view challenging student behavior. Sam dives into the experiences in her life that shifted her philosophy on supporting students with challenging behavior all while maintaining high and supportive expectations.
Redirecting the Undirectable
PD Session
60-80 minutes
Redirecting the Undirectable: How to shift how we engage students with chronic disruption. This session focus on how to recognize those power struggles with students, avoid them, redirect and re-engage students while still maintaining those high and supportive, behavioral expectations. Attendees will walk away from this session with 7 practical, strategies to take back into the classroom to help decrease chronic disruption and maintain positive relationships with students.
Behavioral PD Curated to your Needs!
60-80 minutes
Sam curates professional learning around the unique challenges your team, building or district is experiencing, with a focus on understanding and supporting challenging behavior. Whether your team needs support with proactive strategies, de-escalation, relationship-building, regulation, or creating more supportive classroom environments, sessions can be tailored to your goals and context. Her goal is to leave educators with a deeper understanding of why behavior happens and practical strategies they can immediately put into action. Believe First. Support Second.