Dr. Dena Simmons to Keynote Conference

Dr. Dena Simmons will be keynoting the 2021 annual conference with a talk entitled, "Selfcare, Healing, and Equity Responsive Practices For Educators When the World Feels Heavy." Dr. Simmons is the Assistant Director of Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, where she supports schools to use the power of emotions to create a more compassionate and just society. Prior to her work at the Center, Dena served as an educator, teacher educator, diversity facilitator, and curriculum developer. She has been a leading voice on teacher education and has written and spoken across the country about social justice pedagogy, diversity, emotional intelligence, and bullying in K-12 school settings, including the White House, the inaugural Obama Foundation Summit, the United Nations, two TEDx talks, and a TED talk on Broadway.