This week we concluded our 3 session Soft Skills Series with the dedicated team from the Turks and Caicos Islands National Trust.

We began by looking at Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace and then to Inclusive Team Building and culminated to Strategic Planning and Development.

I look forward to watching this group continue to work together and excel as they continue to preserve and celebrate the beauty of these islands for generations to come.

On Saturday I had the opportunity to work with this year's participants of the TCI Top Model Contest. In our webinar on Authenticity and Expression, we focused on the following areas:

• Unlocking individuality and Self-Expression
  
• Developing Emotional Intelligence
  
• Storytelling Through Language and Performance
  
• Confidence-Building Exercises
  
• Presenting Yourself Authentically
  

As always, it was a pleasure working with the TCI Top Model Contest and we look forward to attending the TCI top Model Grand Finale in May. 

This week, the teachers at SNAP (Special Needs Association of Providenciales) completed their 6 sessions of Connected Literacy.

Connected Literacy: Where the Science of Reading Meets the Art of Connection is a six-session professional development experience designed to empower educators with the knowledge and tools to transform literacy instruction. Grounded in the science of reading, early brain development, and emotional connection, this program equips teachers with practical strategies to build strong reading and writing foundations while fostering meaningful relationships with students. Participants explored pre-reading skills, evidence-based instruction, how the brain learns to read, and the vital role of emotional safety in the classroom.

It was a pleasure working with the staff at SNAP and I look forward to working with them again in the near future!
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It was a pleasure to work with some of the staff from Mr. Grouper's Restaurant, Gift Shop and Suites. during our sessions we enjoyed looking not only at Customer service, but also topics such as Understanding and Resolving Conflict, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership. The goal of these sessions was not only to build as a team and improve the guest experience, but also to build wholistically as individuals.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to make a quick trip to Grand Turk. The objective of this session to guide parents as to practical ways to support their child’s confidence, strengthen early literacy skills, and nurture a love of learning through simple, everyday activities that can be done together at home. 

Our session was filled with great learning, ah-ha moments and laughter. Congrats to the Department of Education on organizing such an important session!

Last week I had opportunity to spend the day with the TCI Sport Commission. In the morning session, we looked at Customer Experience and Service Excellence. In this session, they had the opportunity to explore who they serve and why it matters, shape their attitude for service excellence, strengthen communication with impact, and build confidence in handling challenges. We had a great time learning, discussing, and strategizing.

​In the afternoon, middle managers explored Management in Action. This session for middle managers focuses on sharpening the management mindset, mastering emotionally intelligent communication, setting clear goals, delegating effectively, and giving impactful feedback. It is always a pleasure working with the staff at the TCI Sports Commission.

On Friday, I had the opportunity to work with the staff and some of the board members of the National Trust. Our soft skills focus for the session was emotional intelligence.
We explored the importance of emotional intelligence and how it benefits us in our everyday work—supporting stronger relationships with our colleagues and creating more meaningful, positive experiences for the guests who visit our islands.
The session was a great mix of learning, discussion, and problem-solving, and of course, we shared a few laughs along the way. It was an engaging and enjoyable experience that highlighted just how powerful emotional intelligence can be in the workplace.

It is no secret that DEI is a passion of mine, so I was very happy to start off the academic year looking at Gender and Diversity in the Early Childhood classroom. On January 6th, the Department of Education hosted a webinar for its K–2 teachers that focused on gender diversity in the classroom.

I am a strong believer that, in today’s world, diversity is already present in every classroom. Our role as teachers is to notice it, to value it, and to plan for it. To do so, we not only have to take time learning, but also examining our biases. We must be open to the fact that many of our biases function at a subconscious level. We must do the work to challenge norms—and know that when we are asked why we do things the way we do, “it’s the way we’ve always done it” is no longer an acceptable answer.

In preparing for this webinar, I reflected on my childhood in the 80s. Yes, I am an 80s baby. During that time, there was an intentional shift in toys. I was part of the generation where toys that were traditionally considered “boys’ toys” started to be marketed toward girls. Saturday morning commercials began to shift, and suddenly we saw girls in overalls, hair pulled back, planning and building with blocks and LEGO. Somewhere along the pipeline, it was realized that if we want more female engineers and mathematicians, we need to expose girls to the development of these skills early.

By the time my daughter was born decades later, LEGO had become a normal and acceptable toy for girls. Still, I remember when she pointed out that she would appreciate having LEGO sets that included more than just pinks, beiges, and purples. At that point, I began supplementing her collection with more traditional sets that included bold colors not typically marketed to girls.

Over the years, we have seen that toys such as LEGO not only improve spatial awareness, but also other cognitive skills such as planning and organization, math skills, problem-solving, and, of course, creativity and imagination. These skills are in addition to the fine motor and executive functioning skills required for longer, sustained tasks like building LEGO creations.

In addition to reflecting on the opening up of the LEGO world for us 80s girls, I also dug deep into my memory to consider how this shift looked for boys. Does anyone remember My Buddy? My Buddy was a toy introduced by Hasbro in the mid-80s to help normalize nurturing play for boys. Traditionally, dolls were marketed almost exclusively to girls. My Buddy was an effort to support the development of social-emotional skills in boys, particularly caring and nurturing behaviors.

Whether you are a parent or a teacher, it is important to take time to reflect on your biases and your ideas about what is “gender appropriate.” Is there such a thing? Does that question—is there such a thing?—comfort you or make you nervous? All of these are worth exploring when making an intentional effort to create inclusive spaces.

If you are a teacher wanting to be intentional about creating a gender inclusive classroom, here are some quick suggestions to help. 

Consider the Environment

• Diverse books and visuals
  Include characters of all genders, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Toys and centers not labeled by gender
  Avoid “girl corner” or “boy corner.”
• Inclusive language
  Use terms like “children,” “friends,” or “everyone.”

Teaching Practices

• Offer choices in how students learn and show understanding
  Drawing, building, acting, writing—avoid steering choices based on gender.
• Normalize emotions for all children
  “It’s okay to feel frustrated—let’s work through it together.”
• Avoid reinforcing stereotypes
  For example, avoid phrases like “Big boys don’t cry.”
• Encourage risk-taking across subjects
  Girls in math, boys in storytelling—really, everyone in everything.

Teacher Language Tips

• Praise effort and persistence rather than gendered traits:
  “I noticed how carefully you planned that tower.”
  “You kept trying until it worked—that persistence is excellent.”

Responding to Gender Policing
Things children might say:

• “Only girls wear pink.”
• “That’s a boy toy.”

Simple, developmentally appropriate responses:

• “Toys are for everyone.”
• “Colors don’t belong to boys or girls.”
• “Everyone can try.”

As the year comes to a close, I am really excited to share that Learn and Lead was featured in the Winter Issue 2025/2026 of Times of the Island Magazine. Pick up your copy at the center, as well as a number of other community hubs including grocery stores. An electronic version of the magazine can also be found here. ​https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/70877106/times-of-the-islands-winter-2025-26

During the month of November, the staff at Mr. Groupers Restaurant had the opportunity to take part in a set of dynamic collaborative experiences to 'Elevate the Guest Experience.' We look forward to completing our sessions in the New Year!

Goal setting is an important part of Strategic Planning. Sometimes we get so used to setting goals, that we need an refreshed approach. I had the opportunity to conduct a number of workshops with middle managers at Pelican Energy to discuss setting SMART(ER) goals. Our workshop objectives were to:

• Understand how the SMARTER framework creates clear, actionable goals
• Align individual and team goals with strategic objectives
• Navigate challenging conversations about progress and motivation
• Keep goals dynamic and maintain accountability
• Practice goal-setting in real scenarios with peer feedback
• Foster a culture of growth, reflection, and continuous learning

On November 11th, I had the opportunity to facilitate a webinar that was hosted by the Department of Education - Early Childhood Development Division. This webinar was geared towards parent and these were the objectives:

• Empower you to help your child fall in love with reading... no matter how busy life feels.
• Share practical, research-backed strategies that fit into real family life.
• Give you simple, doable steps you can start using right away.
• Remind you that you already have what your child needs to become a reader.

Last week I had the opportunity to work with this group of young leaders at the Edward Garland Youth Center. Our time was filled with great learning, discussion and play 😊. Never underestimate how much can be learned through play…at any age.

We wish them all the best as they continue to grow as young leaders!

This weekend I had the pleasure of working with some lovely women from the Soroptimist Club of Providenciales. As part of their 'EmpowerHer' Learning Skills program, we looked at Emotional Intelligence and Public Speaking. I wish them all the best as they continue to inspire and empower young women in our community!

Leading From the Middle is a great opportunity for middle managers to come together, brush up on their leadership skills, learn best practices and work together to gain strategies to excel in management. Ports Authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands has now put two cohorts of their middle managers through this dynamic training.

🎥 Episode 3 – Planning & Organization Skills
Is your child constantly losing homework or forgetting school supplies?
Planning and organization are learned step by step:

• Preschoolers: try simple routines and picture charts.
• Primary kids: use a homework folder and practice packing bags the night before.
• Teens: teach planners, to-do lists, or digital reminders for tracking assignments.

Let kids try — and even make mistakes — so they learn to self-correct and build independence.
Organization isn’t about perfection — it’s about giving kids tools to succeed.
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🎥 Episode 2 – Building Focus & Attention
Does your child struggle to finish a task without getting distracted?
Focus is like a muscle — it grows stronger with practice.

• Preschoolers: keep activities short and interactive (puzzles, matching games, storytime).
• Primary kids: break homework into smaller chunks with quick breaks in between.
• Teens: create distraction-free study zones and plan realistic work sessions.

And remember — kids model what they see. Put your phone away during shared activities to show them what focused attention looks like.
Little by little, their attention span grows — and so does their capacity to learn.

Connected Literacy - Where the Science of Reading meets the Art of Connection. It was a pleasure hosting teachers from Providenciales and North Caicos at Learn and Lead for this important topic! To find out moe about our Connected Literacy Program, visit HERE. 

🎥 Episode 1 – What Are Executive Functioning Skills?
Did you know that skills like planning, focus, and self-control matter as much as IQ for school success?
Executive functioning skills are like the brain’s air traffic control system — they help kids manage their thoughts, actions, and emotions to reach goals.
These skills include:
🧠 Working memory – holding and using information
🎯 Focus and attention – staying on task
⏱️ Planning and organization – managing time and materials
💡 Flexible thinking – adapting when things change
😌 Self-control – managing impulses and emotions
These skills grow from preschool into early adulthood. Parents can help by creating routines, modeling problem-solving, and letting children practice decision-making in safe, age-appropriate ways.
Strong executive functioning skills set kids up for success — in school and in life.
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The School Year Start-Up is a one-hour interactive workshop designed to help parents and caregivers lay the groundwork for a smooth, confident, and connected start to the academic year. This session offers practical strategies and helpful tools for creating the kind of home environment that supports academic success, emotional resilience, and a positive school mindset.
Parents will learn how to:

• Establish consistent routines that reduce stress and support learning.
• ​Encourage motivation, independence, and a growth mindset.
• Communicate with children in ways that build connection and trust.
• ​Partner effectively with teachers and school staff.
• Stay grounded and intentional as a parent throughout the school year.

Whether your child is just starting school or entering a new grade, this workshop is an opportunity to reflect, reset, and feel more equipped to support the months ahead. You will leave with actionable insights and a printable Parent Start-Up Kit to help put it all into practice.

​Does your child have trouble following directions or sitting for a story?
This is Episode 7 in our Reading Readiness Series, and we’re focusing on a skill that often gets overlooked: listening.
Before children can become strong readers, they need to be able to listen, focus, and follow along. If a child struggles with listening, they may also find it difficult to process stories and understand what they read.
You can help build listening skills through simple, playful activities:
🎯 Games like Simon Says
👂 Two-step directions like “Touch your nose, then hop once”
📚 Shared storytime with gentle reminders to listen
Start small, be consistent, and make it fun. Strengthening listening now lays the groundwork for reading success later.

Do you point to the words when you read with your child?

This is Episode 6 in our Reading Readiness Series, and it focuses on a foundational skill: print awareness.
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Print awareness means understanding that printed words carry meaning. It’s the knowledge that we read from left to right, top to bottom, and that words are made up of letters.
You can nurture this awareness every day by:

• Letting your child hold the book
• Pointing to words as you read
• Encouraging page-turning
• Noticing print on signs, menus—even cereal boxes

These simple habits build familiarity and confidence—key ingredients for reading success.
Let print become part of your everyday moments. It’s a small shift that leads to big growth.

Does your child have trouble following directions or sitting for a story?
This is Episode 7 in our Reading Readiness Series, and we’re focusing on a skill that often gets overlooked: listening.
Before children can become strong readers, they need to be able to listen, focus, and follow along. If a child struggles with listening, they may also find it difficult to process stories and understand what they read.
You can help build listening skills through simple, playful activities:

• Games like Simon Says
• Two-step directions like “Touch your nose, then hop once”
• Shared storytime with gentle reminders to listen

Start small, be consistent, and make it fun. Strengthening listening now lays the groundwork for reading success later.