Sandy Beery
LAPSF News:
Great Conversations is an afternoon event filled with delicious appetizers and desserts and in-depth conversations with subject area experts.
This is part of a series about the conversations that will take place at the 4th Annual Great Conversations from 2-5 p.m., April 28 at Los Alamos High School.
The Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation hosts this important community event, which includes a discussion on “Developing Strong, Resilient Children” featuring Sandy Beery.
What is the power of assuming positive intent? Sandy Beery is an experienced teacher and school administrator.
She will guide the discussion about how the composure of the many adults in a child’s life will have a lasting affect on a child’s ability to learn self-regulation.
Also, how moving children from the survival or emotional state of the brain to the executive state of the brain will impact their learning both in and out of the school setting.
Berry is currently the director of an elementary charter school in Taos. She has been an educator for 20 years, beginning her career as a high school math teacher. She has been a school administrator for more than 16 years.
Early on, she observed that the most important part of her job as a teacher was to create an environment in her classroom that was welcoming, one in which it was safe for students to practice some academic risk taking.
Through her work as an administrator, Berry has had countless opportunities to discuss with children of all ages, the kind of behavioral choices they have made, what they were thinking when they made those choices and what strategy they could use to make a different choice “next time.”
“I am fascinated with the developments in our understanding of brain development and how simple actions can physically change the way we feel in the moment,” Beery said. “I wonder how many times have any of us stopped to take a breath when things are stressful. This work has always been a passion of mine because I have always believed that until we feel safe, calm, connected, loved and important; we are unable to focus on difficult cognitive tasks.”
Those interested in attending Great Conversations can pick up a registration form or drop off a completed form with payment to The Finishing Touch at 174 Central Park Square.
A complete list of the speakers and an overview of the 14 conversations Scheduled for this year’s event are available at www. lapsfoundation.com. Call (505) 470-3734 or e-mail j.gillespie@laschools.net with any questions.
