Latest news with #TeacheroftheYear
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Inner Circle acknowledges, Dr. James Eyerman, MD, DLFAPA, as Doctor of the Year 2025
SAN FRANCISCO, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating a Leader in Mind-Body Psychiatry. Dr. James Eyerman, MD, DLFAPA, has been honored as Doctor of the Year 2025 by The Inner Circle for his groundbreaking work in psychiatry. Board certified in general psychiatry, adolescent psychiatry, and integrative holistic medicine, Dr. Eyerman brings a rich, whole-person approach to mental health. Known for his warm, thoughtful care, Dr. Eyerman combines traditional psychiatry with a wide range of healing practices—including Jungian dream work, family systems, psycho-spiritual guidance, Ayurvedic medicine, and carefully managed medication. His mission: to help each individual find balance, meaning, and vitality. Dr. Eyerman also leads weekly Holotropic Breathwork workshops, where participants explore inner healing through conscious breathing, music, and body awareness. These powerful sessions offer a space for self-discovery, transformation, and deep emotional release. His educational journey began with a degree in Classics from the College of the Holy Cross, followed by a medical degree from St. Louis University. He trained in psychiatry at Washington University and deepened his holistic perspective during a year in Europe studying transcendental meditation. His early research work at the Missouri Institute of Psychiatry focused on psychiatric emergencies. A respected voice in his field, Dr. Eyerman is actively involved in organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association and the Northern California Psychiatric Society. He has served as President of the North Bay Psychiatric Society and contributes to professional and charitable initiatives throughout the region. In 2023, Touro University honored him as Teacher of the Year, reflecting his deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of healers. Dr. Eyerman credits his success to the wisdom of teachers and mentors such as Drs. Eli Robbins, Sam Guze, Robert Cloninger, Ferus Pitts, Stanislav Grof—and to spiritual influences including the Dalai Lama, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Shree Maa of Kamakhya. Looking ahead, Dr. Eyerman continues to evolve his work, blending science, soul, and compassionate care. His vision is clear: to support healing and transformation through a truly integrative approach to psychiatry and medicine. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, editorialteam@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Inner Circle
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Specialized Education Services, Inc. Announces 2025 Teacher and Staff of the Year Winners
Fourth annual awards program celebrates team members' dedication to students in special and alternative education settings PHILADELPHIA, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a division of FullBloom, a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and positive behavioral supports to overcome challenges that impede success in a traditional school setting, today announced the selection of Mary Rico as its 2025 Teacher of the Year and Edris Morse as its 2025 Staff of the Year. Rico is an elementary school special education teacher at Sierra School of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa, California. Morse is a team leader at High Road School of Santa Rosa in Pace, Florida. Now in its fourth year, the awards program honors full-time SESI team members, including teachers, social workers, behavior specialists, and clinical and paraprofessional staff, who exemplify high-quality, evidence-based instruction and the importance of equitable education for all SESI students. 'It is with great pride that we recognize Mary and Edris, along with our divisional, regional and campus level winners, for their unmatched dedication to supporting our students,' said Dawn Thomas, president of SESI. 'Each year, we have the privilege of recognizing our most outstanding and innovative educators, who deliver high-quality, evidence-based instruction and shine a bright light on the possibility and untapped potential of every SESI student.' With close to 100 private day schools and over 140 in-district classrooms serving nearly 13,000 students with diverse academic, behavioral, and emotional needs, SESI employs more than 3,500 educators and staff members across the country. Rico and Morse were selected – along with campus, regional, and divisional winners – by a SESI leadership committee. Rico has worked at Sierra School of Sonoma County for almost three years. Throughout her teaching career, she has prioritized differentiated instruction, behavioral support, and culturally responsive, evidence-based teaching practices to meet the diverse needs of her students. 'For me, teaching is not just a profession; it is a responsibility,' said Rico. 'Every child deserves an educator who is fully invested in their growth. Just as I push through personal difficulties to show up for my students, I teach them to push through their own obstacles – whether they are academic struggles, personal hardships, or moments of self-doubt.' Rico's dedication as an educator has helped many of her students make meaningful progress – so much so that several have been able to transition back to a public school setting. These transitions reflect her commitment to individualized instruction, behavioral support, and creating an inclusive learning environment where all students feel valued, heard, and empowered to succeed. Morse supervises program staff at High Road School of Santa Rosa, including special education teachers, social workers, and climate managers. Having begun his career at the school five years ago as a behavioral specialist, he ensures that learning extends beyond the classroom, prioritizing family engagement through weekly communication and monthly community activities. 'I believe education should celebrate diversity and foster confidence, and I also value creative expression in education,' said Morse. 'My educational philosophy emphasizes support, creativity, and inclusivity, aiming to empower students to become successful both academically and socially.' The goals of SESI's Teacher and Staff of the Year program include enhancing the visibility and importance of supporting educators, promoting the value of quality education and learning for the future, recognizing and honoring educators and staff who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence, and building an effective professional learning community. Teachers and staff had to meet minimum criteria to be eligible, including having been employed by SESI as of Sept. 1, 2024; teaching a minimum of 75% of the school day; and earning an advanced level rating on the last observation. Bonus points were given for community service activities, school community activity (led special projects, etc.), and mentoring of other staff members. To see the full list of divisional, regional and campus winners, visit: About Specialized Education Services, Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a division of FullBloom, is a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and behavioral supports to overcome challenges that impede success in a traditional school setting. SESI partners with school districts to run in-district classrooms and private day schools that meet the academic, behavioral, and emotional needs of special and alternative education students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Emotional Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and other challenges. Partnering with over 800 school districts nationwide, SESI serves nearly 13,000 students in private day schools and in-district classrooms. SESI is accredited by Cognia. CONTACT: Press Contact Jennifer Leckstrom RoseComm for SESI (215) 681-0770 jleckstrom@
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Inner Circle acknowledges, Dr. Rashid G. Mosley as a Pinnacle Professional Member
CHICAGO, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Dr. Rashid G. Mosley is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence for his contributions to Leading Innovation in Social Sciences and AI Strategy. Dr. Rashid G. Mosley, the president and founder of Dr. Ra Consulting, is a distinguished leader in social sciences, organizational leadership, and AI strategy. Based in Chicago, Dr. Mosley provides expert consulting services in administrative and general management, human resources, research and development, and professional training. His firm is at the forefront of helping organizations navigate artificial intelligence (AI), ensuring they stay ahead in competitive markets while fostering talent for long-term success. Dr. Mosley holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Savannah State University, a Master of Science Administration in Leadership from Central Michigan University, and a Doctor of Education in Human and Organizational Learning from The George Washington University. He has spent two decades in the industry, establishing himself as a thought leader in workforce development, leadership training, and policy innovation. Beyond his consulting work, Dr. Mosley is civically engaged as vice president of programming innovation and impact at Independent Sector, the only national membership organization that brings together a diverse community of changemakers, nonprofits, foundations, and corporations working to strengthen civil society and ensure all people in the United States thrive. He is also an active member of 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, DC. Recognized for his contributions to education and leadership, he has received multiple honors from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., as well as a Teacher of the Year nomination from Northeastern University and the University of Maryland Global Campus. Looking ahead, Dr. Mosley is focused on scaling Dr. Ra Consulting into a global leader in AI-driven workforce and leadership solutions. His vision includes expanding his impact through policy innovation, AI strategy development, and fostering education and community leadership through nonprofit growth. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, editorialteam@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Inner Circle Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Single moment Mo Farah's PE teacher changed his life by breaking a rule
Sir Mo Farah has opened up about the PE teacher who inspired him - and was the first person the Olympic champ confided in after being trafficked to the UK aged 9 Sir Mo Farah's life would have looked very different had he not met the inspiring PE teacher who encouraged him into sports. And now the Olympic champion is getting behind an initiative to get kids moving for 60 minutes a day to help combat the obesity epidemic - and says doing so could change their lives, too. Sir Mo, 42, was born in Somaliland but trafficked to the UK at the age of nine by a woman he had never met. He was forced to work as a domestic servant and to look after the woman's children in exchange for food and board. Mo, who was born Hussein Abdi Kahin but given his better-known name by the people who trafficked him, was eventually enrolled in Feltham Community College in South London. He was made to lie to his teachers, telling them he was a Somalian refugee. There, the unkempt 11-year-old who spoke no English was taken under the wing of PE teacher Alan Watkinson, who noticed the little boy showed a lot of promise on the athletics track. 'If it wasn't for Alan, who recognised my talent and pointed me in the right direction, then I would never have become this guy who's won so many medals. It honestly changed my life,' Sir Mo tells the Mirror. 'I was one of these kids who wasn't afraid to do the work, but I came into a new environment, with a new language and I was dealing with my own life. The only language that I did speak was PE. If we were in PE, doing athletics, javelin or football, then I was that kid who was laughing and smiling. That's what I enjoyed the most.' Alan, who won the Pride of Britain award for Teacher of the Year in 2012, was the first person Mo opened up to about his real identity. He was instrumental in alerting social services to the young boy's circumstances, and he was placed with another Somalian foster family. Throughout Mo's turbulent school years, Alan was a steady presence who went above and beyond to nurture the future Gold medallist's talents. 'I'll never forget there was a moment when my PE teacher actually took me to the local running club and I joined,' Sir Mo recalls. 'Then from my club I got asked to represent Middlesex. I didn't know how I was going to get there or what we were doing, and Alan said, 'I'll pick you up'. He did that and I represented Middlesex and I won it! And I'll never forget that moment. 'It's like, that's a PE teacher! He's not my parent. He's not my guardian. It's someone who believed in me. You never forget a teacher who has encouraged you and given you the best advice.' Now Sir Mo is teaming up with his old teacher again as part of the Youth Sport Trust's drive to back National School Sports Week, which aims to encourage kids to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. Less than half (47%) of children currently achieve an hour of exercise each day. Research shows that one in 10 children in England are classed as obese or at risk of obesity by the time they start reception, at the age of four or five - and by age 11, more than one in five (22.7%) are either overweight or obese. And if current trends continue, it is predicted that more than a third (38.9%) of children will be overweight or obese within the next 10 years. 'Obesity is a concern and there are so many issues that kids will face if we don't recognise this and tackle it together as a nation,' says Sir Mo. 'If we don't make more kids active, we are in trouble. We're already in trouble right now, but I think the quicker we react, the quicker we come together, the more we can do about it. 'When you're an adult you know what to do, whether you cycle, run or walk, or whether you mentally just go out to clear your head, but for kids it's hard,' he adds. Dad-of-four Sir Mo follows the example with his own family. Wife-of-15-years Tania Nell was heavily pregnant when he won his double gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics - and twins Aisha and Amani were born just a few weeks later. The pair, now 13, have a 10-year-old brother Hussain and a 20-year-old stepsister Rihanna. 'We're really active within our family, because I know myself how far I've come and what I was doing when I was their age,' he explains. 'It's important for me as a father to support them. It's not that I want them to be champions. No, it's just for their own mental health. 'I try to make them active, whether it's cycling, running or rowing. One of them does enjoy athletics and as a father I just try to support her and tell her what she can achieve.' Sir Mo is not wishing to single out which daughter might be following in his footsteps, but he stresses he will never be a pushy parent. It's her choice. 'She can become whatever she wants to become, and as a father I just carry on supporting them,' he says. As part of the new initiative, Sir Mo has devised a series of fun challenges for kids that can be downloaded from the Youth Sport Trust's website. Schools can register to receive free activity packs, plus there is a chance to win a visit from a star athlete or one of 1,000 free kit packs from Sports Direct. 'Exercise can be little and often,' says Sir Mo. 'Break it down into 20 minutes before they start school, 20 minutes at lunchtime and 20 minutes after school. As long as the heart rate goes up and you are moving, that's what counts,' says Mo. It should be fun, too - just as it was for him as a child, despite his difficult early years. 'I just wanted to be a kid and talk about certain things and have a laugh with other kids,' says Mo. 'And I believe with having a hard life early on, it was hard to find that place, so sports helped me escape. 'It gave me somewhere where I could talk to people, where I could be myself, and people could just see me as a sportsman and then be judged for that, rather than not being able to speak English or not knowing anything about history or geography or religious education.' *National School Sports Week takes place between June 16 and 22, powered by Sports Direct and Under Armour. Register for free at There are 1,000 sports kit packs to be won as well as vouchers and athlete visits. GET MOVING WITH MO Sir Mo's gone the distance and devised several easy challenges for children, all available online and on YouTube. These are his favourites: The Catch and Clap challenge: see how many times you can throw a ball up, clap once and catch it in 60 seconds. The Zig-Zag relay: choose a place to start and lay out five markers in a zig-zag pattern. On 'go', run around the circuit and touch each of the markers before running back to the start. Each time you complete a circuit you score a point. Do the plank: Lay face-down on the floor, resting your weight on your forearms and toes. Hold the position for 60 seconds, keeping your bottom down, your back straight and your forearms flat on the floor. Around the World: How many times can you pass the ball around your waist in 60 seconds? If you drop the ball, you need to pick it up quickly and carry on. Speed Bounce: jump over a cone, side to side, landing with both feet on the floor, each side of the cone. Challenge yourself to complete a certain number of jumps within 60 seconds For more challenges, visit and use the QR code to watch on YouTube.
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Illinois Teacher of the Year from Indian Prairie District 204 has hosted dozens of discussions across the state on belonging
Rachael Mahmood has taught at Indian Prairie School District 204 for the past 20 years — the district gave her her first teaching job, she said, and she's worked there ever since. But her connection to the district goes back a bit further, to when she was in college. She began attending meetings of the district's Parent Diversity Advisory Council, she said, with one of her professors at the time. That group, which focuses on equity and diversity in District 204, hosted what's called a 'World Cafe' about 15 years back, Mahmood recalls. It became a yearly event, she said, and was what first exposed her to the initiative that would later become the focus of a year-long sabbatical she took as Illinois' 2024 Teacher of the Year. 'I just remembered feeling … agency, feeling belonging, feeling like I had (a) voice as an educator,' Mahmood said. The World Cafe is a technique 'based on the understanding that conversation is the core process that drives personal, business and organization life,' per its website, and 'a way of thinking and being together sourced in a philosophy of conversational leadership.' The methodology is outlined in a book, 'The World Cafe Book: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations that Matter,' by David Isaacs and Juanita Brown. According to its website, the basic format is a series of small-group conversations at small round tables, often modeled after a cafe setting. Each round of discussion is started with a question, and individuals are later invited to share insights with the larger group. Mahmood called it 'a dialogue model' that's meant to solve issues in communities via grassroots conversations. 'It's built on the idea that the collective wisdom to solve any issue in society already exists inside the community,' Mahmood said. 'We just need systems to draw out that wisdom.' Now, 20 years later, Mahmood has spent the past year hosting these World Cafes at school districts across the state, as part of a sabbatical she was awarded to serve as an ambassador for teachers after being named the 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year. Mahmood was named Illinois' Far West Suburbs Regional Teacher of the Year in 2024, which put her in the running for the statewide title, which she was awarded last May. Being selected as Illinois Teacher of the Year comes with a paid, year-long sabbatical to serve as an ambassador for teachers at events and engagements across the state. District 204 Superintendent Adrian Talley has said Mahmood is the first teacher in the district to be selected for the award, according to past reporting. Recipients of the statewide award typically give talks across the state about teaching, but Mahmood chose to do something a bit different by hosting World Cafes at school districts across the state. 'There wasn't really a lot of opportunities to collect voice-back from educators,' she said. 'So this was a great way to do that in reverse and say, like, 'I'm not just giving inspirational speeches, but I'm also collecting your stories and your inspiration, your ideas.'' The questions Mahmood asked at the discussions she facilitated were about defining belonging in a school, the strengths of their particular school environment, what challenges exist to feeling a sense of belonging and what action steps can their school take to increase feelings of belonging. The World Cafes were originally geared toward educators, Mahmood said, but soon districts asked if parents and students could be part of the conversations. 'We are this delicate ecosystem,' Mahmood said. 'It's kind of like all three pieces — the parents or the community, the students and the educators, their sense of belonging is kind of dependent on each other.' She chose to focus on the feeling of belonging in schools because of her own experiences as a mixed-race student. Mahmood is the daughter of a Russian Jewish mother and an Indian Hindu father, according to past reporting, and grew up around cultural and religious practices from both sides of her family. Indian Prairie's commitment to equity is in large part what informed her interest in working for the district two decades ago when she was first hired, she said. Now, with her sabbatical ending on July 1, Mahmood said she estimates she's spoken to around 6,000 people through World Cafes — mostly educators, but also some parents and students, and hosted around 50 World Cafe discussions so far. The discussions have taken place nearby at schools in Aurora and Plainfield and at districts downstate, for example. Throughout the year, she has been compiling surveys from the discussions, which she is providing back to the school districts. She also has plans to write a book or manual with her findings, she said. In addition to hosting dozens of discussions, Mahmood has also been a part of other events — from speaking at conferences to meeting with government officials to leading fans in singing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' for the seventh-inning stretch at a Cubs game during Teacher Appreciation Week in early May. The latter event she tried, unsuccessfully, to keep under wraps. 'I was kind of embarrassed because I'm not a great singer,' she said. 'Joke's on me because everyone watches the Cubs game. And so, my phone was blowing up … It was just all over the place. There was no hiding.' Recently, she's also been preparing this year's winner, East Leyden High School science teacher Víctor Gómez, for the experience of being Illinois Teacher of the Year. And — though she said she has discussions booked out past the end date of her sabbatical, and will continue her responsibilities through January as a state winner of the Council of Chief State School Officers' 2025 State Teacher of the Year — Mahmood is returning to Indian Prairie next school year. Before her sabbatical, Mahmood was teaching fifth grade at Georgetown Elementary. Next year, she's back in the district, but in a different position: teaching fourth grade at Builta Elementary. 'Maybe, I'll have some really good guest speakers,' she laughed, as she described coming back to the district. Mahmood said she's excited to be back, but said she's not sure yet what kinds of changes the past year will bring to her teaching. 'I think that, maybe, most of the changing will be something going on inside my heart,' she said. In the time she was away from the classroom, however, the world of education has experienced considerable change and uncertainty, from threats to federal education funding to federal investigations into alleged racial discrimination at Chicago Public Schools and the University of Chicago as part of a federal crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Despite the uncertainty, Mahmood believes that the Illinois State Board of Education and Indian Prairie District 204 can weather what's to come. And she hopes the discussion model she's shared can help districts across the state handle any challenges that arise. 'I'm hoping that I've left the communities that I've been a part of with a tool that they can continue to use as they move forward with the uncertainty and they are faced with some real issues,' Mahmood said. 'Maybe they can turn to using a World Cafe and the collective wisdom of their community to help to cope, grapple, support, understand, fix, solve what they're facing in the year to come or the years to come.'
