(Click each names to read about the presenters. Return to the Jamboree event page by clicking the graphic above.)
Jamboree presenters
Tonya Byous, Conscious Discipline certified instructor
Tonya Byous is dedicated to the field of education. She is an advocate, instructor, coach, and mentor. Her introduction to Conscious Discipline was life changing. Tonya’s focus is to ensure that educators have access to transformational information and to be the support to help them sharped skills. She lives by the moto: Charity first, service to others, and to use your God given talent.
She has worked in the field of Early Education and Care for 22 years as a teacher in the Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms, administrator to Head Start and child care programs, adjunct staff at Cuyahoga Community College Department of Early Childhood Education - East Campus. She is currently the Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Early Learning at The Centers and advocates for the Early Childhood profession. She holds a master’s degree Early Childhood Education.
Chazz Lewis, Early childhood education specialist and podcast host
Chazz “Mr.Chazz” Lewis spent years using his own classrooms as living laboratories, developing a more conscious, informed, joyful and dignity-driven and inspired approach to learning, leading, and elevating others. His philosophy began to find relevance far beyond the classroom and has found a home everywhere from parenting to education, personal development and organizational leadership.
He is a former Montessori teacher, parent coach, educational specialist and social media influencer. He holds a master’s degree in executive leadership from American University and shares his ideas in a fun, playful, and accessible way, training thousands of teachers.
Breakout Presenters
Emily Durham
Emily received her Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education with concentration in Child Life from Mills College in May 1999. Emily began work soon after as a Certified Child Life Specialist helping children and families understand and cope with medical experiences through play, expressive art activities, and psychological preparation. In 2019, Emily began working as an early interventionist in South Carolina providing one-on-one support and interventions for children with special needs. Emily has also been an adjunct instructor in ECD courses at Greenville Technical College since 2018. Currently, Emily is working with Palmetto Shared Services Alliance to create and provide training for early childhood educators.
Presenting (10:15 – 11:15 a.m. & 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.):
You Can't Be My Friend!
Nichole Hudgens
Nichole Hudgens is a Pyramid Model Program Implementation Coach with the Pyramid PIECES team, supporting school districts with program-wide implementation. Prior to joining Pyramid PIECES, Nichole served as an Inclusion Specialist with the SC Inclusion Collaborative, and as Quality Coach with the South Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Network for four years. Nichole earned a BA in Early Childhood Education from Clemson University and received her master’s degree in education from Ashford University. Nichole also taught pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and upper elementary school. Nichole holds a certification as a Certified Trainer and Technical Assistance Provider with the SC Endeavors.
Presenting (10:15 – 11:15 a.m. & 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.):
Pyramid Model: At the Helm of Classroom Success For All Young Students
Susan Kirby
Susan Kirby is a Conscious Discipline® Certified Instructor, one of two in the state of South Carolina. Previously she was a Certified Parent Educator (PAT) working with at-risk children and their families. Susan’s first opportunity to use Conscious Discipline® was at the Center for Child Development in Richland School District Two. She was able to see firsthand the changes taking place in the lives of teachers, administrators, teaching assistants, parents, and young children. Her real-life experiences help others to know that they are not alone in their frustrations and that there is a better way! With 25 plus years working with students and parents and 10 years as a Certified Instructor, she understands firsthand the difficulties that life can present. She considers Conscious Discipline® a gift one that she is always willing to share.
Presenting:
(10:15 – 11:15 a.m.)
It Takes Two! Me Co-Regulating You!
(12:15 – 1:15 p.m.)
It Still Takes Two To Problem Solve!
Delores Rock
Delores is employed as a Parenting Program Coordinator-PAT for South Carolina First Steps and serves as the Co-State Lead for South Carolina PAT. She has held the positions of trainer, supervisor, parent educator, center owner/director, and early interventionist. Through these positions she has worked with families, therapist, and in-home and center-based child care providers. Delores continues to follow her passion of engaging people and ensuring best practices are followed in learning environments for young children.
Presenting (10:15 – 11:15 a.m. & 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.): Self-Regulation: Together We Can - One Parent at a Time
Jessica Sharp MAT
Jessica is an experienced leader with over two decades of direct and indirect service to children and families in South Carolina. Prior to leading SCPITC, she managed the organization’s statewide Infant/Toddler Specialist Network.
Jessica began her career as a care teacher of children birth to age five. Driven by her passion to serve children and families, she has also worked as the director of a nationally-accredited child development center, and supported early care and education at the county level through her management of cradle-to-career educational investments at the United Way of Greenville County.
As a leader in South Carolina’s infant/toddler quality initiatives, Jessica engages in multiple intrastate and cross-state collaborations to innovate new services for infant/toddler child care providers and augment access to resources across the state. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from Furman University and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Early Childhood Education from Converse College. She teaches a graduate course on Relationship-Based Caregiving for Infants and Toddlers at the University of South Carolina.
Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter and volunteering with local non-profit organizations. She also performs with the South Carolina Bach Choir.
Presenting (10:15 – 11:15 a.m. & 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.): Expectations vs. Reality: Child Behavior and Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Kim Spigener
Kim Spigener is an Early Learning Specialist with the South Carolina Department of Education. She has been with the agency for since 2007 and taught pre-school and kindergarten for twelve years prior to joining SC Department of Education.
Presenting (10:15 – 11:15 a.m.): Nurturing Responsive Relationships and Designing Supportive Environments
Jennifer Stark
Jennifer Stark is an Education Associate for the SC Department of Education. Mrs. Stark has over twenty years of experience in education and spent her career serving in many different capacities. She has taught grades Kindergarten to 2nd grade, served as an administrator, worked as a coordinator and with a nonprofit who partnered with the South Carolina Department of Education. She currently works in the OELL supporting teachers in CERDEP classrooms.
Presenting (10:15 – 11:15 a.m.): Nurturing Responsive Relationships and Designing Supportive Environments
Carrie Trivedi
Carrie Trivedi is the Lead Behavior Specialist with Pyramid PIECES. In this role, Carrie leads Program-Wide Pyramid Model Implementation in child care as well as the Pyramid PIECES Community of Practice. Carrie earned a BA in Psychology from the University of South Carolina. She loved being a Gamecock so much that she returned to earn her Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education. Carrie holds a South Carolina Professional Teaching Certificate as well as being a Certified Trainer and Technical Assistance Provider with SC Endeavors.
Presenting (10:15 – 11:15 a.m. & 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.):
Pyramid Model: At the Helm of Classroom Success For All Young Students