About Dodie

I have a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Adult Education. I taught 5th grade for 10 years and was a math specialist grades k-5 for one year. I was introduced to Positive Discipline in 1995, the year my son was born. I took a two day training called Positive Discipline in the Classroom. It changed me and my view of teaching in a tremendously wonderful way.

I began helping students feel more belonging and significance. We had class meetings daily for connection and encouragement. We solved problems as a class instead of me simply punishing students for mistakes. My classroom felt more like a family than a competitive environment. We learned from each other, helped each other, and were changed by each other. I'm grateful for all of the students that have been in my classroom and ALL that I have learned from them!! (can you guess that their skill level in manhy academic areas improved dramatically the year they were in my class? And no, it wasn't because I'm a black belt at math or reading....but that they felt safe and capable. They were willing to make mistakes, try new skills, and take risks on new and challenging activities)

I decided to stop teaching in the spring of 1999, to spend time with my two young children, and to simply slow down. In the spring of 2004, when my sweet daughter began kindergarten, I was ready for something more. I remembered how much I loved and was inspired by Positive Discipline so I played around on the internet and learned that there was a whole PD association! I loved it's tools and skills so much and had grown as a human being as a result of it, I decided to become certified in it. I decided that if I wasn't going to share PD tools and skills with my own students, how cool would it be to facilitate teacher and parent trainings with it. To share it with 30 teachers, who then share it with 30 students.. (ooohh)..or to facilitate a class with 15 parents and they go home and encourage their own children...(ahhh)..now that is an amazing effect.

I spent a good year and a half becoming a Certified Positive Discipline Associate. Now I am honored to share Positive Discipline with many parents and teachers all over the valley. Positive Discipline is based on the theories and philosophies of Alfred Adler. Because Alfred Adler's model was so affective for me, teachers, and parents, I wanted to learn more. During my certification process, I hired a life coach to help suppport me in all of the forward movement. The professional coaching I experienced was so empowering for me that in 2007 I decided to go to the Adler School of Professional Coaching. It seemed like the perfect mix of professional coaching and Adlerian theory. So now, I am an Adler Trained Professional Coach (in the process of becoming certified). I, presently, coach teachers who are challenged with classroom management issues and coach "regular" people to find more fulfillment and joy in their lives.

Truthfully, there is no greater gift I can give myself, my children, or my family than to be sharing Positive Discipline tools with teachers and parents weekly. It is almost impossible for me to do a teacher training in the afternoon on respectful relationships and then go home and chew my children out. Hmmm. Lucky me!