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Patricia Ward, M.Ed.
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Mindful Schools Certified Instructor
Patti has been teaching the Mindful Schools Curriculum since the spring of 2013. She has taught PS/K – 12th graders in both private and public school settings. She has had a personal mindfulness practice that formally began with an amazing instructor, April Hadley (Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness), and a MBSR course. She has been practicing mindfulness for many years and will confirm that it has changed her life in immeasurable ways. She completed a yearlong course with the Mindful Schools group based in California, to become a certified Mindful Schools Instructor. She has also received training from Patricia C. Broderick, Ph.D, author of "Learning to Breathe" an adolescent mindfulness curriculum. She has completed the yearlong evidenced based, Koru Mindfulness Training program for Emerging Adults (ages 18 - 29) e.g. college - aged students. In July 2017 she completed a week long intensive training in Making Friends with Yourself, a self compassion training for adolescents and young adults.
With over 35 years of experience in the field of education and a Masters degree in the area of Learning Disabilities, she has loved every aspect of her career. Whether it was as a special education teacher, a teacher consultant, a curriculum director, a professional learning consultant, title I director, adjunct instructor at Aquinas, CMU, or GVSU, educational consultant for Kent ISD or a supervisor for special education interns for GVSU, each role has taught her so much about the stressful and yet amazing educational system.
Bringing Mindfulness into the K – 12 + College setting has become a passion, a passion of giving back to this meaningful endeavor called ‘education’. A place where expectations are set high for both students and teachers and a place where resources are few, a place where stress is thriving. Mindfulness in education is an evidenced based practice that has the potential to bring focus and calm and care to our often-overwhelmed students, teachers and staff. Evidence is mounting that Mindfulness breed's resiliency-the ability to cope in difficult situations, and bounce back from adversity. Perhaps this is the future of education, and it can begin with us.
Resume: LINK
Mindfulness Training Background:
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course - 2010
Mindful Interpersonal Skills - 2013
Mindful Fundamentals Course - 12 hours August 2013
Mindful Educators Essentials Course - 12 hours September 2013
Mindful Schools Yearlong - 300 hours 2014-15
Hakomi Institute - 12 hours May 2015
Learning to Breathe - 2 day curriculum training
Difficult Emotions - 16 hours October 2015
Mindful Communications Course - 16 hours February 2016
Hakomi Institute - 12 hours February 2016
Koru Mindfulness Yearlong - August 2016
Mindful Self Compassion 2 day Training with Chris Germer and Kristin Neff - 12 hours March 2017
Trauma Informed Care for Professionals working with Youth (Center for Adolescent Studies) - 8 CE's June 2017
Making Friends with Yourself (Self Compassion for Adolescents week long training) - July 2017
Mindful Schools Week-long Retreat - July 2017
Mindfulness *Presentations and Teachings
GRCC Early Childhood Presentation Grand Rapids, MI
November 21, 2017
- Shining a Light on the Future: Mindful Classrooms
SIG Keynote Presentation Lansing, MI
October 24, 2017
- Improvement from the Inside Out — When you feel better you do better
GRPS Special Education Presentation
October 26, 2017
- Shining a Light on the Future: Mindful Classrooms
Community of Practice Course
October 3, 2017 - January 9, 2018
- Learn how to teach the Mindful Schools curriculum in a supported blended learning environment.
Mindful Schools Cohort Mentor
August 2017 - June 2018
- Mentor a group of 8 participants within the international Mindful Schools yearlong program
KEC Beltline High School
March - June 2017
- Mindful Schools Curriculum 8 week/16 lessons
Northview East Oakview Elementary
February - May, 2017
- Mindful Schools Curriculum 8 week/16 lessons with Kindergarten - 4th grade; 16 classrooms (including the special education classroom)
Grandville East Elementary
January 17, 2017
- Mindful Schools Curriculum 8 week/16 lessons with 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th grade classroom
Rockford High School
January 16, 2017
- Koru Mindfulness 5 week session
*KEC Oakleigh - School wide Implementation
November 22, 2016
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Teacher and Parent as Advocate presentation
- Mindful Schools follow up - bell training
- Mindful Schools Curriculum 8 week/16 lessons with 2nd - 8th grade
- "Introduction to Mindfulness" - staff presentation 3 hour
- Overview of Mindful Schools grant and staff training schedule
*East Grand Rapids Public Schools
September 1, 2016
- "Introduction to Mindfulness" – staff presentation two 3- hour
- "Introduction to Mindfulness" – staff presentation 3 hours
Mindful Moments "Mindfulness Family Day"
May 21, 2016
- Mindfulness Family Day: Mindful Listening, Mindful Breathing, Family Gratitude Jar, Tai Chi Movement
*Grand Rapids Public Schools PBIS Instructors
May 18, 2016
- "Mindfulness, SEL (Social Emotional Learning) and RTI (Response to Intervention)"
MIFCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) State Conference
March 17, 2016
- Student presentation: “Mindfulness for Teens: Discovering Your Inner Strength”
Mindfulness and Tai Chi for Middle School Students
March 16 – May 8, 2016
- Eight week session utilizing Mindful Schools Curriculum and Tai Chi Instruction
GVSU Treat Yourself Student Club
February 17, 2016
- “Introduction to Mindfulness” - Student presentation
*Rockford Public Schools
February 10, 2016
- "Mindfulness in Education, A Promising Practice" - staff presentation
Mindfulness and Tai Chi for Middle School Students
January 7 – March 10, 2016
- Eight week session utilizing Mindful Schools Curriculum and Tai Chi Instruction
Grand Rapids Christian High School Students
January 6 and 13, 2016
- “Introduction to Mindfulness” - Student presentation
Greenville Public Schools Students
January 7, 2016
- “Introduction to Mindfulness” - Blooms Girls (4-5th grade after school group)
*Kent School Services Network
November 18, 2015
- “The Science behind Mindfulness in Education” - staff presentation
*SLD Read
November 13, 2015
- “Practical Uses of Mindfulness for Tutors” staff presentation
*Greenville Public Schools,
October 12, 2015 and December 4, 2015
- “The Science behind Mindfulness in Education” ½ day staff presentation
*Covenant House Academy Grand Rapids
October 27, 2015
- “Introduction to Mindfulness” - Staff presentation
Covenant House Academy Grand Rapids - Students
October 6 – 27, 2015
- Within school - Mindful Schools Curriculum and Tai Chi Practices with homeless youth ages 16-21
Mindful Way to Stress Reduction Course - Students
September 17 – November 12, 2015
- Six week session - After school Mindful Schools Curriculum with 7th – 8th grade students
Mindful Way to Stress Reduction Course - Students
September 14 – October 26, 2015
- After school Mindful Schools Curriculum with 4th – 6th grade students
Learning to Breathe - Students
August 4 – 20, 2015
- Summer Mindfulness Course for 4th – 6th Grade Students utilizing “Learning to Breathe” curriculum by Patricia Broderick
Summer Teen Mindfulness and Ropes Course Retreat - Students
June 15 – 19, 2015
- “Learning to Breathe” curriculum by Patricia Broderick
- Ropes and Challenge Course at Kent ISD
Grand Rapids Montessori Schools - Students
September 9 – March 5, 2015
- Teacher Introduction to Mindfulness
- Mindful Schools Elementary Curriculum: three Children’s House (3 -5 year olds)
- Mindful Schools Elementary Curriculum: five E1 (1st – 3rd) classrooms
- Mindful Schools Elementary Curriculum: four E2 (4th – 6th) classrooms
- Mindful Schools Elementary Curriculum: two Middle School (7th- 8th) classrooms
Lake Michigan Academy, school for students with Learning Disabilities - Students & Staff
September 29 – December 3, 2014
- *Teacher "Introduction to Mindfulness"
- Mindful Schools Elementary Curriculum with 1st – 5th grade students,
- Mindful Schools Adolescent Curriculum with Middle School Students and High School Students.
Stepping Stone Montessori School - Students
March 2013
- Mindful Schools Curriculum, 4th – 6th grade general education students
