Instructors by Specialization

Jen Arndt

Certified Instructor

Jen is a wife, mother, and early childhood educator with over 10 years of experience. She discovered
Conscious Discipline her first year of teaching and has applied it in her professional and personal life ever since. She has worked in public and private elementary schools, pre-k classrooms, and most recently with her young son. Jen graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and an M.Ed. in Language and Literacy.

Jenny Spencer

Certified Instructor

With over 20 years of experience working with children and adults with special needs, Jenny is a Master Teacher who specializes in providing learning opportunities that address the needs of diverse populations. She has worked with children of all ages and has a special knack for connecting with the most challenging children and helping them tap their true potential. While Jenny enjoys working with children of all ages, her sweet spot is the early childhood years!

Sue Dierks

Certified Instructor

Sue Dierks has over 25 years of experience in the field of early childhood education that includes classroom teaching, parent engagement, teacher coaching and training as well as program administration. Sue’s thesis work explored resiliency in Head Start preschoolers and that interest in resiliency continues today through her work with Conscious Discipline.

Shana Schmidt

Certified Instructor

Shana Schmidt holds a masters degree in counseling with over 25 years working with children, adults, and families. Her professional career brings tons extensive experience in early childhood mental health and healing trauma to draw participants closer to who they want to be and how they want to serve others.

Renee Sutherland

Certified Instructor

Renee Sutherland, a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has worked with children, families and educators for over 30 years. As a former Preschool Teacher, Head Start Home Educator, Center Director and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist she brings practical perspective, solid knowledge and relevant stories to her trainings.

Mary Margaret Wilson

Certified Instructor

Mary Margaret Wilson has over 40 years of experience in early childhood education. Her experiences range from early childhood public school classroom teacher to adjunct instructor.  She served as an Early Head Start/Head Start Administrator for over nine years. She has many years of experiences coaching teachers and administrators in research based practices to support positive child outcomes and school readiness. She presently serves as an early childhood training and technical assistance consultant in Texas.

Kay Zastrow

Certified Instructor

Kay Zastrow brings to each training decades of classroom experience with children of all ages, including those with special needs and challenging behaviors. As a teacher with a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education and Elementary/Middle School, Kay has practiced the skills of Conscious Discipline in her personal life and professional interactions within preschools, child cares, Head Start settings, public schools and homes. She weaves the principles of Conscious Discipline with her knowledge of sensory integration, behavioral interventions and brain development into each sought after presentation and coaching session. Within each training, she shares her documented learner success as she helps staff, parents and children integrate the skills of Conscious Discipline into their lives for a transformational experience.

Jennifer Skrivanek

Certified Instructor

Jennifer Arnold Skrivanek graduated from Texas A&M University in 1987 with a Bachelors Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  Her first teaching experience was in third grade in Bryan Texas.  After spending time at home caring for her young children she returned to teaching and worked in a church preschool setting for five years. Jennifer then returned to the public-school setting in Bryan, Texas teaching Kindergarten for eight years.

Heidi Condrey

Certified Instructor

As a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor, Heidi Condrey is passionate about sharing the Conscious Discipline message with others.  Heidi has worked in the field of early childhood education for sixteen years.  A state licensed teacher, Heidi holds a Master’s Degree in Education with a specialization in Teacher Leadership. Her career has centered around early childhood education and the empowerment of both children and their families.