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Certified Trainers

  • Troy Kemp

    TENNESSEE Troy Kemp is a native of Riverhead, NY. He grew up as one of six children in a single parent, migrant working household. …

  • Vermelle D. Greene, PhD

    Vermelle D. Greene, PhD is a Gurian Master Trainer and has been working with the Gurian Institute since 2010. She has degrees from Dickinson …

  • Marion Hill

    Phoenix Man’s greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done. – Frederick …

  • Dr. Glynetta DeShon Fletcher

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Dr. Fletcher ( preferably called Fletch), has 20 years of experience in education  from middle school level to the university level. …

  • Dr. Tremaine Canteen

    FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA Dr. Tremaine Canteen is the Principal of The Capitol Encore Academy in Fayetteville, North Carolina. With over 16 years of experience …

  • Dakota Hoyt

    Castle Rock, Colorado Gurian Institute Managing Director Dakota Hoyt has been in education for 30 years as a teacher, math/science specialist, assistant principal, …

  • Robert Kodama

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Mr Kodama has been a Certified Gurian Trainer since 2007 and is a member of the Boys Initiative Board of Advisors. …

  • Lakeva Barnes, Ed.D.

    MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Dr. Lakeva Barnes is an educator who specializes in K-8 literacy. Over her 12 year career, she has taught 7th & 8th …

  • Dr. Adonica A. Jones-Parks

    Dr. Adonica A. Jones-Parks is a passionate educator, an advocate for youth, and is committed to social justice and ensuring that education is a …

  • Eva Dwight

    Eva Dwight earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Bethany College. After teaching language arts for 12 years, she earned her Master’s Degree in …

  • Hicxell Wester

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Hicxell Wester is a Los Angeles native and first generation college graduate from the California State University of Los Angeles.  Graduating …

  • Joseph Moody

    Atlanta, Georgia Joseph Moody, Middle School Dean of Student Life for the Boys, The Lovett School, Atlanta, Georgia. Joseph has been an educator since …

  • Theresa Moore

    SAN ANTONIO,TEXAS ​Theresa Moore has been a psychotherapist in the San Antonio community for over 35 years. She divides her time between her private practice, Worth …

  • Marlene Ordaz

  • Shandeen Gomez

  • Tim Coble

    Dr. Timothy Coble is a veteran educator and an internationally recognized expert on learning differences between boys and girls. Presently on the faculty at …

  • Sally Maskill

    Bend, Oregon Sally Maskill is a teacher and the mother of four children: three sons and a daughter.  She grew up in Alaska, graduated …

  • Bonnie Kowaliuk

    ALBERTA, CANADA Bonnie Kowaluk is a creative educational consultant/facilitator employing a holistic, integrative approach in helping individuals, family systems, athletic and organizational teams to …

  • Phyllis Aro-Trejo

    Phoenix I have 36 years of experience in social work. My experience includes working in the areas of: substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, …

  • Dr. Ariana Lopez

    Phoenix Ariana has been in the early childhood field for more than 20 years. She has spent time as a Head Start teacher, supervisor, …

  • Jenn Kirksey

    Phoenix Jennifer Kirksey didn’t choose early childhood education; early childhood education chose her. Jennifer began her college years pursuing a degree in criminal justice …

  • Dr. Lisa Basista

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Dr. Lisa Basista is a lifelong California educator with over 29 years in the K-12 classroom. She has served as an …

  • Martina Andrews

    Phoenix My name is Martina Andrews, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I have been working with children in a variety of sectors for …

  • Jim Weber

    CHICAGO, ILLINOIS INDIANA Jim Weber was born in Chicago, Illinois.  He received his B.A. Degree in English and Education from Augustana College in Rock …

  • Steve Hadaway

    GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA Steve Hadaway has over 20 years of experience as an educator, serving as a high school math teacher, including Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 …

  • Adie Goldberg

    Adie Goldberg, M.Ed., DSW, is a board certified social worker who has worked in many clinical and university settings for more than thirty years, …

  • Abigail Wald

    Abigail Wald is the co-host of the popular “Hand in Hand: A Podcast for Parents,” and also the founder of RealTimeParenting.com, where she works …

  • Latrisha Centers, MA

    Latrisha Centers is an Early Childhood Consultant where her professional expertise and background includes obtaining a Bachler of Science Degree in Child Development and …

  • BJ Crane

    ATLANTA, GEORGIA Benny “BJ” Crane is a dynamic and enthusiastic leader of students, parents, colleagues, and future educators alike.  In his 12 years of …

  • Kimberly Dunn

    Kimberly Dunn joined the San Antonio Academy (SAA) team as its new Associate Head of School in June 2019.  Kimberly is a highly qualified …

  • Tracé Copeland

    COLUMBUS, GEORGIA Tracé Copeland is currently the Brookstone School Intermediate Division Head.  Prior to this role, she taught Middle and Upper School as well …

  • Susan Jentzsch

    With a 20-year career in high tech, Susan is a proven strategist, project manager and trainer. She successfully managed multiple, complex construction projects simultaneously …

  • Beth Black

    SOUTH CAROLINA Life is an amazing journey!  I always thought I would be a teacher and went to college to study elementary education.  But, …

  • Greg Ferguson

    Greg Ferguson has over 40 years of experience in the teaching profession. His educational background includes a B.S. in special/elementary K-9 from the University …

  • Angela Brown

    FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA Angela Brown is the Principal of Dillard Elementary School, located in Northwest Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Angela’s professional experience ranges from counseling, …

  • Patrick Atkerson

    SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS When teachers and parents become frustrated with children it is often due to a lack of understanding.   By combining qualitative and …

  • Gloria Sherman

    LAPEER, MICHIGAN Gloria’s passion is to equip parents, educators and service providers with tools to assist them with what she believe is their most …

  • Shericka Smith

    KENTUCKY ​ Shericka Smith was born and raised in Lexington, KY and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Transylvania University with a …

  • PR Mac McStravick

    A native Texan, with a few formative years spent growing up in Australia, Mac has worked as a teacher and coach for almost thirty …

  • Miranda Scully

    FAYETTE COUNTY, KENTUCKY Miranda Scully is the District Coordinator of Family and Community Engagement with Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS).  She joined FCPS after …

  • Leon Buford-Kelly

    LEXINGTON, KY I attended Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY were I received my bachelor’s degree in Education. After graduation, I moved to …

  • Erica Beatty

    LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY Erica Beatty is a Student/Family Transitional Support and Dropout Prevention Specialist for Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS). She has been employed with …

  • Christian Adair

    LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY Christian Adair has over 20 years of experience as a Special Education Teacher, Coach, and Mentor. Currently, he leads the Educating Boys …

  • Jolene Boyle

    EATTLE, WASHINGTON ​ Jolene Boyle is a licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in adult, adolescent and parenting/teens counseling, and maintains a private practice in …

  • Richard Jack III

    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Richard Jack III is a school counselor with five years of experience. He is originally from Bayonne, New Jersey and relocated …

  • Kathy Bentley

    KANEOHE, HAWAII ​ Kathy Bentley is a nationally recognized Parent Educator and the owner of Kathy’s Parenting Solutions. She has her Bachelor’s degree in …

  • David Glover

    Parkville, Md I attended Niagara University where I received my Bachelor of Arts and Social Science and my Master of Science in Counseling Education. …

  • Betsy Hoke

    EVERGREEN, COLORADO Betsy Hoke is a Master Trainer for the Gurian Institute and an Education Consultant working with private, public and charter schools across …

  • Kathy DeNiro, PhD

    PUEBLO, COLORADO ​Dr. DeNiro is a native Coloradoan and currently serves as the Vice President of Pueblo City Schools Board of Education in Pueblo, …

  • Paige Bray

    CONNECTICUT Paige M. Bray, EdD is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood at the University of Hartford. She is a teacher educator with primary …

  • Ethan Segovia

    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ​ Mr. Ethan Segovia is the Dean of Academics at the Army and Navy Academy in San Diego, California. He also …

  • Stephen Parmelee

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Steve Parmelee has taught at all levels of education.  Growing up in Ohio, attending college in Florida, obtaining his Master’s Degree …

  • Lisa Macias-Flavin

    WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA In 2005, Lisa Flavin didn’t know how to get her then pre-school-aged son to stop karate kicking his friends.  Someone …

  • Deborah Beck Engilman

    STUDIO CITY, CALIFORNIA ​Debra has been working with children for over 33 years. She has been a classroom teacher for every grade level, pre-school …

  • Amy Coe

    CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA ​ Ms. Amy Coe is the Assistant Dean of Academics at Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, California. Ms. Coe taught Chemistry …

  • Morgan Rutherford

    Morgan Rutherford, 7th Grade Social Studies, The Lovett School, Atlanta, GA Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Morgan earned her Bachelor’s in both Secondary Social Science …

  • Stacia McFadden

  • Mary Olszewski

    Mary Olszewski, Executive Function Coach, The Lovett School, Atlanta, GA   Originally from Warren, Ohio, Mary earned her Bachelor’s in Middle-Level Education from Duquesne …

  • Fatima Coy

    Fatima Coy is a Kindergarten Master Teacher at Friendship Public Charter School in DC. She has taught kindergarten for going on 11 years. This …

  • Shawn Hardnett

    WASHINGTON, D.C. Above all, Shawn Hardnett is a teacher.  A product of the community that he serves, he knows their challenges well.  Of the …

  • Dodie Blomberg

  • Gary Ross

    GEORGIA Gary Ross has over 40 years of experience as an educator, serving as a special education teacher (K-12), as an elementary and middle school teacher (public and private), which included three …

  • Kimo Steenaart

    AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Kimo Steenaart – 1967, has been a high school English teacher since 1996 and got her second degree in Pedagogy in 2005. …

  • Tamika Parran

    Lanham, Maryland Mrs. Tamika Parran is the Assistant Principal of Catherine T. Reed Elementary school in Lanham, Md. She graduated from Bowie State University …

  • Diane Roberts

    Diane Roberts began her journey in education 25 years ago as a teacher in an alternative school in Chicago, Illinois, where she discovered that …

  • Yon Berezin, LCSW-C

    Howard County Maryland Yon has over 25 years of experience working in both the private and public sectors providing assistance to a wide range …

  • Donna Powell-Murphy

    Baltimore County, Maryland Donna Powell-Murphy’s journey in education started in Jamaica teaching at an all -boys high school as a young teacher’s college graduate. …

  • Joe Sampson III, Ed.D.

    Maryland Husband. Father. Educator. I am a native of Charleston, SC and a former product of Charleston County School District, and was blessed to …

  • Helen Webster

    Silver Spring, Maryland Helen Webster was born and raised in Laurel, Maryland. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master …

  • Diedra Barnett

    Maryland Ms. Diedra Barnett was named the Vice Principal at J.P. Ryon Elementary School in 2018. Prior to J.P. Ryon, she was the Reading …

  • Markesa Thomas-Oliver

    Maryland Mrs. Thomas Oliver is from Baltimore, Maryland. She attended Temple University in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in African …

  • Marianne Lescher

  • Lauren Paiva

  • Andrea Borum

  • Dr. Toyin Atolagbe

    Dr. Toyin Atolagbe is currently the Headmaster of Archway Lincoln Classical Academy – Great Hearts Academy (GHA). She joined GHA in June 2011 as …

  • Megan R. Hujik, LPSC

    mhujik@sjjtitans.org Toledo, OH Megan Hujik received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Northern University in Mathematics and Education. She started her career in …

  • Kim Ealy-Lambert

    Ms. Ealy-Lambert grew up in Harlem located in New York City but currently resides in Ellicott City, Maryland.  She attended Hampton University in Hampton, …

  • CJ Kruska

    Mr. CJ Kruska is a teacher and mentor at Crespi Carmelite High School, a Gurian Institute Center For Educational Excellence. With a Bachelor of …

  • Thurston M. Smith

    Thurston M. Smith is a distinguished development coach, captivating speaker, accomplished author, seasoned facilitator, and trusted consultant. His forte is demystifying intricate concepts, transforming …

List of Certified Trainers - Current and Former

Western States

Arizona

Eva Dwight
Trish Lucas –

Beth Rogers –
Maria Pohlman-Talamante –
Shawna Thue –
Ciera Rockliffe –
Eric Lauer –
Cinthia Martinez
Kimber Wright –
Maureen Kappler –
Richard Hartmann –
Deborah Nattress –
Janelle Radoccia –
Alycia Wright
Shandeen Gomez
Marlene Ordaz
Marion Hill
Marianne Lescher
Dr. Andrea Borum
Dodie Blomberg

Latrisha Centers

Thurston Smith

California

Dr. Lisa Basista –
Marcia Chin –
​Amy Coe
Dr. Robin Cowen –
Deborah Beck Engilman –
Dr. Glynetta Deshon Fletcher
Susan Jentzsch –
Robert Kodama
Lisa Macias-Flavin –
Stephen Parmelee –
Ethan Segovia
Abigail Wald –
Yvonne Huang
Hixcell Wexler
Wayne Ward –
Paul Nixon
Debra Bernstein

Daniel Parlato

CJ Kruska

Allison Serrao

Colorado

Dr. Paige Bray
Anna Maria Banuelos
Betsy Hoke
Dakota Hoyt
​Aimee Dierking –
Hilary Jaynes

Jeannie Stewart

Hawaii

Kathy Bentley

Nevada

Richard Jack

Utah

Brett Bawden

Oklahoma

Twilla Berwaldt

Oregon

Sally Maskill

Washington

Jolene Boyle –
Victor Craig –
Rosemarie Engman
Adie Goldberg

Greg Smith

Jill Royston

Scott Stone

Central States

Illinois

Dr. James Weber

Indiana

Dr. James Weber

Kentucky

Christian Adair –
Erica Beatty
Leon Buford-Kelly –
Joshua Collins –
Charliese Lewis –
Quincy Murdock –
Miranda Scully –
Shericka Smith

Michigan

Gloria Sherman

Missouri

Chris Palazzolo
Greg Ferguson

Nebraska

Nora Robinson
Roxane Humphrey

Ohio

Megan Hujik
Phil Levering
Dr. Adonica Jones-Park

Tennessee

Dr. LaKeva Barnes
Thankful Davis –
Tommy Hobbs –
LaShondra Rivers –

Texas

Patrick Ackerson
​Jose Maldonado –
Theresa Moore
​Alex Rivard –
Parker Ruby –
Kathleen Hill-
Mary Strickland-
Laura Bennett-
Maria Ortiz-
Kimberly Dunn

Veronica Bordano

PR Mac McStravick

Adam Farnie

Eastern States

Connecticut

Dr. Paige Bray-

Florida

Jennifer Colling
Michelle Cook
Beth Black
David Martin II-
Maria Ta’Bon –
Arnie and Michelle Roza
Amy Morales-

Georgia

Tom Moak –
Joseph Moody
Gary Ross –
Mary Olzsewski
Morgan Rutherford
Dr. Gloria Bruce-
Jelena Naim-
Steven Hadaway
Troy Kemp
Col. Robert Cagle
Tim Otis

Maryland

Cera Rebello –
Dr. Pauline Washington
Diane Roberts
Olga Lloyde
Dr. Angela Holocker
Diedra Barnett
Dr. Joe Sampson, III
Yon Berezin
Dr. Andrea Kane
Mr. Desmond Williams
Christine Betley
Helen Webster
Tamika Parran
Athena Green
Markesa Thomas-Oliver
Anne Hammel
Donna Powell-Murphy
Jonathan Robinson
David Glover
Thomas Ryan

Kenneth Nance

Kim Ealy Lambert

New York

Piri Taborosi –
Scott Milliken-
Donna Ruggiero-
Michelle Hughes-
Amy Frisch

North Carolina

Rick Pollard
Dr. Tremaine Canteen

Pennsylvania

Kira Shadegg-
Elizabeth Fuller-

South Carolina

Calvin Croxton

Cameron Kerr

Virginia

Shawn Hardnett –

Washington D.C.

Rictor Craig –
Shawn Hardnett –
Joseph Speight-
Fatima Coy

Guam

​Ismael Perez

International Trainers and Former Certified Trainers

Canada

Bonnie Kowaliuk

France/Qatar

Timothy Coble

Netherlands

Kimo Steenaart –

Jamaica

Marguerita Hall –
Henry Kadian –
​Melody Williams –

Former Certified Trainers

Adam Brooks
Frank Griffitts
Cindy Hans
Rande Hoggard
Michelle Hufford
Frank Lazarek
Trina Moore
Troy Rivera
Tom Schutte
Travis Webb
Ally Bowen
Andre Hill
Angela Scott
Angela Brown
Barbara Fracione
BJ Crane
Carrie Mulert
Casey O’Brien
Catherine Lucas
Constance Walker
Deborah Downey
Don Anderson
Dr. Kathy DeNiro
Ellen Turskowski
Eric Scott
Frank Dilallo
Gary Bryan
Janet Allison
Jennifer Bell
Deborah Cardoso
Melissa Dingle
Cassandra Griggs-Frierson
Beverly Humbert
Amanda Sheets
Yvonne Sherba
Dr. Carla Sparks
Thomas Jones

 

Legend:  more past trainers above appear with an “-“.  Trainer certifications can be renewed every three years by attending one of our Training Institutes or taking the online course.

Karen Boyk
Ashanti Branch
Karen Yankovich
Kathleen Willson
Kathy Wasserman
Keisha Scriven
Kevin Batule
Kirk Effinger
Kristi Dahl
Lynn Ritvo
Noelle Roni
Pam Martin
Paula Noe
Peggy Daniels
Phillip Levering
Shaunta Singer
Shavonda Mitchum
Sheryl Gaston
Stacy Rivard
Stacy Wrenn
Tom Schutte
Trace Copeland
Cindy Hans
Kari Kirchner
Deborah Nattress
Michael Girodo
Lillia Hernandez
Sam Currin
David Leavitt
Ryne Linsey
Eddie Ybarra
​Edward Bradford
Tim Cassler
Velma Uriegas
Don Nelson
Paul Garro

Contact the Gurian Institute at info@gurianinstitute.com for information on how a professional development plan can be designed to meet the needs of your organization and the families you serve.

Trainers - GURIAN INSTITUTE