Instructors by Specialization

Amy Niemeier

Certified Instructor

Amy Niemeier has been an educator for seventeen years and is currently in her seventh year as principal of Slate Run Elementary School. Amy holds her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University and Education Specialist degree from Indiana State University. After seeing the positive impact Conscious Discipline had on her personal life as a wife and mother as well as on children, families, and the school community since 2013, Amy has made it her mission to share Conscious Discipline with others.

Annette Chastain

Certified Instructor

Annette Chastain is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from The Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon and lives in Redmond, Oregon. Annette provides mental health consultation, training, and coaching for Head Starts, childcare centers, Social Service agencies, Native American tribes, communities, and schools K-12. She has over 25 years of experience in outpatient mental health, day treatment, classroom settings, mental health promotion and prevention, parent training, in-home skills training, and as a certified prevention specialist.

Carla Briezen

Certified Instructor

Carla Briezen has been working in the field of education in Aruba for over 20 years. Her aim is to introduce Conscious Discipline to as many people as possible and to be an example of living the principles of Conscious Discipline. Carla believes that adults and children alike can grow and live joyous, valuable lives founded on love instead of fear. By consciously accessing our brilliance when we apply the powers and skills of Conscious Discipline, we can build more loving and connected families, schools, companies and communities.

Gina de Kort

Certified Instructor

Gina is a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, trainer, coach, and team leader who has worked in the educational field for more than 20 years. She currently coordinates the team of Educational Facilitators of Innovation at the Department of Education of Aruba, incorporating Conscious Discipline in her leadership approach. She also facilitates Conscious Discipline workshops for parents and educators.

Jennifer Welmers

Certified Instructor

Jennifer Welmers has over 17 years of experience as a primary teacher. She is a licensed child coach who specializes in the social and emotional development of children and adults. She coaches families and is a director of Tools4HappyKids, which promotes a healthy upbringing and education for young children. Jennifer also runs her own business, ZieMeStralen, which is based on transforming lives with Conscious Discipline through coaching at homes, schools, and childcare centers.

Lindsey Merrick

Certified Instructor

Lindsey Merrick has over 10 years of experience in education. She has worked as a lead teacher and is now the founding principal of the School of Arts and Sciences at The Centre. Lindsey has implemented Conscious Discipline into the school from the start, producing excellent results. She has also coached and trained administrators and teachers at multiple grade levels and in varied settings.

Mara Spencer

Certified Instructor

Mara McElroy Spencer has a B.S. in Family and Child Sciences and has worked in the Early Education field for almost 20 years. Mara owns and operates a fully implemented Conscious Discipline preschool/primary school, serving ages birth-1st grade. Additionally, she sits on the Board of Directors for two K-8 Public Charter Schools in Leon County, FL. She resides in Tallahassee, FL with her husband, Justin, and their four children: Mallie, Jack, Luke, and Ella Cate.

Paola Salcedo

Certified Instructor

Paola Salcedo is an award-winning teacher specializing in Early Childhood and Bilingual Education with over 15 years of experience in the classroom. She has worked as a Conscious Discipline coach at a Title I school in Houston ISD since 2015, where she has successfully implemented bilingual parent involvement programs. Paola is currently pursuing a master’s degree in School Counseling. A mother of four, she experiences the successes and challenges of the Conscious Discipline journey firsthand at home and at school.

Tracy Skripka

Certified Instructor

Tracy Skripka is a Public School Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has been instrumental in the implementation of Conscious Discipline school and district-wide. Tracy uses Conscious Discipline as the foundation of her school counseling program and her private counseling practice.