Mara Spencer

Mara Spencer

Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor

Tallahassee, Florida

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.

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Mara’s career in education started in 2003, as a lead teacher in classrooms of 2-4-year-old students. Later, Mara became an Assistant Director, developing curriculum for children ages 18 months to five years. She first heard Dr. Bailey speak at an NAEYC Conference in 2006 and immediately began reading all she could and implementing Conscious Discipline at her school. A few years later, Mara attended a Conscious Discipline Summer Institute (CD1) and realized they had barely scratched the surface! She has been to CD1 every summer since. After attending CD2 in 2016, Mara began training parents in her school and community.

Mara owns and directs her own school in Tallahassee, Florida, where she has fully implemented Conscious Discipline. She provides ongoing training for both staff and parents. Mara also sits on a Board of Directors that oversees two public charter schools, and she is involved in developing and overseeing a strategic five-year plan that includes implementing Conscious Discipline in classrooms and with parents.

Because of her focus on creating the School Family, Mara’s school has some of the lowest staff turnover in the area, with most of her current staff working at the school for 8-12 years. Mara says it’s amazing to see infants breathing and hear toddlers saying, “Did it!” Conscious Discipline also keeps her home calm and her four children regulated. Her family has built strong, positive connections, and her children are constantly finding ways to be of service to one another.

The positive results in her own school and home have inspired Mara to share the powers, skills, and structures of Conscious Discipline with others. Training participants regularly comment on Mara’s engaging presence and say that her leadership has transformed their schools and relationships.

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    Experience

    Mara has worked in education for over 15 years. Her career has spanned roles including lead teacher, assistant director, and now owner/director of her own school. She also serves on a Board of Directors that oversees two schools, and she uses Conscious Discipline with her four children.

    Specialization

    Mara specializes in infant, toddler, and pre-k classrooms, as well as parent education and coaching and creating Staff Families.

    Certification

    Mara is a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor.

    Education

    Mara graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Family and Child Sciences.