Cairn Guidance

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Introducing the 2021 Dove Self-Esteem Project Cadre Trainers

Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Dove Self-Esteem Project

2021 Dove Self-Esteem Project Cadre Trainers

Cairn Guidance is pleased to introduce the 2021 Dove Self-Esteem Project (DSEP) National Cadre of Trainers. These 25 professionals are located in every region of the United States and represent 25 states. They work in the fields of education at the elementary, middle, high and university levels (health and physical education), school nursing, school counseling, and school social work. Schools, school district offices, state agencies, and universities are where they are located. A few even own their own businesses. Lastly, they range in a few to several years of professional experience.

Each one is dedicated to the growth and well-being of our youth. They enjoy working with and meeting each one of you via presentations, webinars, and at DSEP exhibit booths, both virtual and in-person, located at many state and regional conferences, as well as national conferences, such as SHAPE America, American School Counselor Association, and the National School Nurses Association. They are a great source and excited to introduce the DSEP Confident Me! lessons, Stay At Home, and Mini-Lessons. Learn more about each by reading the brief introductions below and email antionette@cairnguidance.com if you would like to connect with a cadre trainer in your region.

MONICA COLEMAN, MississippiMonica is an entrepreneur, licensed counselor, and emerging counselor educator. She consults on national and international equity-related projects, offering a mental health perspective to social justice issues. Her clinica…
MONICA COLEMAN, MississippiMonica is an entrepreneur, licensed counselor, and emerging counselor educator. She consults on national and international equity-related projects, offering a mental health perspective to social justice issues. Her clinical work specializes in adolescent mental health in the state of Mississippi. Her teaching, research, and service as an emerging counselor educator center on multicultural and social justice counseling competencies, ethics, wellness, program evaluation, community-based participatory research and counselor development.
Monica says DSEP is certainly important for many reasons. Chief of them is how this work can help young people improve their mental health. Body confidence and self-esteem are great topics to start the conversation about how young people view themselves and others and how that impacts their mental health. Additionally, she believes self-esteem is needed in all of our lives because it reminds us to care for ourselves or practice self-care.
MATTHEW BERRY, Missouri Matt is a middle school counselor, passionate public speaker, Board of Directors Chair for his state’s school counselor association and lifelong youth educator advocating for the academic, behavioral and social/emotional need…
MATTHEW BERRY, Missouri
Matt is a middle school counselor, passionate public speaker, Board of Directors Chair for his state’s school counselor association and lifelong youth educator advocating for the academic, behavioral and social/emotional needs for ALL students. The Dove Self-Esteem curriculum empowers students to reflect and build upon their self-confidence so they might surpass their goals, feel loved, important and build a sense of purpose. Matt says, “I love that I can contribute to their success!”
BRETT DELANEY, IowaBrett teaches middle school health and physical education and is a softball coach. “Self-esteem, body image, and body confidence is something that is an on-going daily issue for both males and females. Finding a way to make a pers…
BRETT DELANEY, IowaBrett teaches middle school health and physical education and is a softball coach. “Self-esteem, body image, and body confidence is something that is an on-going daily issue for both males and females. Finding a way to make a personal connection to the individual or situation is the most important step to the ability to teaching/ helping others. The opportunity to share the power of this program is very intriguing. Most times when people think of body image, self-esteem, and body confidence they think of females. Being a male, I think I could bring a unique experience to influence others to address all parties present in a given classroom.”
FANNIE PAIGE, FloridaFannie Paige, retired physical education/health teacher, taught both middle school and college. Retired with 38 years of teaching experience. Her favorite age group was teaching the middle school adolescent and college level. Th…
FANNIE PAIGE, FloridaFannie Paige, retired physical education/health teacher, taught both middle school and college. Retired with 38 years of teaching experience. Her favorite age group was teaching the middle school adolescent and college level. The media, technology, and society have manipulated what the perfect human body should be and resemble. My question to society, what is the perfect body supposed to look like? We were all created to look different. If we all looked the same, talked, walked etc. how could we be identified in society? God does not make mistakes; we are all special in His sight. Many students consider themselves a nobody because of the comments made by a family member, peers, bullies, or outsider. Fannie can attest words can hurt the inner soul of a person. Being able to bring DSEP within schools and community programs helps enhance students’ self-esteem and confidence. DSEP lessons allow students to explore and strive to be themselves. Her motto: Love Yourself, don’t let anyone steal Your JOY for Love conquers All! 
SCOTT PRZYSTAS, MichiganScott is a K-12 health and physical education teacher as well as cross country, track and basketball coach. "Body confidence plays a huge role in your potential as an individual. I think any person who feels good about him/he…
SCOTT PRZYSTAS, MichiganScott is a K-12 health and physical education teacher as well as cross country, track and basketball coach. “Body confidence plays a huge role in your potential as an individual. I think any person who feels good about him/herself can achieve so much more. From an athletic point of view, DSEP can prompt better individuals, teammates and team cultures.  In the classroom, DSEP can help build confidence and help students feel good about themselves which can help students become healthy active learners.”
MICHELLE RAWCLIFFE, ConnecticutMichelle teaches health education to 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.  She is also a swim coach with a community-based organization. She says, “DSEP is an important component of our comprehensive school healt…
MICHELLE RAWCLIFFE, ConnecticutMichelle teaches health education to 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.  She is also a swim coach with a community-based organization. She says, “DSEP is an important component of our comprehensive school health program because it provides a foundation for all the health literacy skills students will practice. When students feel good about themselves, they are more likely to make good decisions, set goals, eat healthy and exercise, take healthy risks, confidently resist pressures, etc. The activities that build skills related to self-confidence improve the dynamic in the classroom and lead to rich discussions and experiences. My hope is that when students have the skills to maintain high self-esteem, they will develop an enduring empowerment to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible.”
REISA RUDMAN, KansasReisa is a physical education and health teacher for K-12 students. She says that using the Dove Self-Esteem curriculum in her classes has opened up discussions with students during the hard years of growing up.  "It has bee…
REISA RUDMAN, KansasReisa is a physical education and health teacher for K-12 students. She says that using the Dove Self-Esteem curriculum in her classes has opened up discussions with students during the hard years of growing up.  “It has been so useful and eye opening for my students!”
ELISA WILLAMS, CaliforniaElisa Williams has been a practicing professional school counselor at the elementary/middle school level for 7 years! She has a master’s degree in school counseling and a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts. She is also nation…
ELISA WILLAMS, CaliforniaElisa Williams has been a practicing professional school counselor at the elementary/middle school level for 7 years! She has a master’s degree in school counseling and a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts. She is also nationally board certified and licensed as a clinical mental health counselor in Illinois. Having struggled with body image and self-esteem in her youth, Elisa always admired the work of The Dove Self Esteem Project. “Helping students see that beauty and self-worth is measured by our character/values/abilities, rather than looks, has always been my passion. I love that I get to share such an exciting free resource with school professionals who so badly need social-emotional supports for their students that is both current and meaningful.”
SHELLY KLUTZ, North CarolinaShelly is a nationally certified school nurse who since 2007 has served pre-kindergarten to high school aged students. She is also her school district’s lead nurse. Shelly struggled with self-esteem issues as a teenager.&…
SHELLY KLUTZ, North CarolinaShelly is a nationally certified school nurse who since 2007 has served pre-kindergarten to high school aged students. She is also her school district’s lead nurse. Shelly struggled with self-esteem issues as a teenager.  One of the main reasons she became a nurse was to work with youth in hopes to be a positive influence in their lives. Being a school nurse has provided her with such amazing opportunities to do this. She has used the DSEP Confident Me! curriculum and enjoys sharing it with other professionals.  Shelly shares the quote, “Believe in yourself, and you will be unstoppable” ~ Author Unknown
SUSAN ELSWICK, TennesseeDr. Susan Elswick has over 16 years of clinical mental health experience that includes school-mental health programming. She says "Using Dove Self-Esteem curriculum assists in ensuring that I am embedding content into my scho…
SUSAN ELSWICK, TennesseeDr. Susan Elswick has over 16 years of clinical mental health experience that includes school-mental health programming. She says “Using Dove Self-Esteem curriculum assists in ensuring that I am embedding content into my school-based supports that focus on body confidence and building self-esteem of children and youth. It has been an invaluable tool in my direct service delivery in schools.” 
RACHELLE FRANZ, OklahomaDr. Rachelle Franz is an associate professor at a university. She teaches in the physical education and health program. Additionally, she serves as the health and wellness faculty liaison, as well as the coordinator for the W…
RACHELLE FRANZ, OklahomaDr. Rachelle Franz is an associate professor at a university. She teaches in the physical education and health program. Additionally, she serves as the health and wellness faculty liaison, as well as the coordinator for the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Institute. Rachelle is passionate about health and wellness, including the importance of body confidence and a positive self-image. She believes that students who feel good about themselves are more ready to learn, and in turn, they are more successful in the classroom and beyond. Rachelle values the message of the Dove Self-Esteem Project to promote a healthy body image, and she believes that by introducing the core ideas of DSEP, she can help students (and families) adopt healthy life choices that lead to greater self-confidence and self-esteem.
JOHN LAKSHMANAN, MarylandJohn is his school’s health and physical education department head who teaches health education to 6th, 7th and 8th graders, is a basketball coach, serves as the athletic director and is chair of a mentoring program for youn…
JOHN LAKSHMANAN, MarylandJohn is his school’s health and physical education department head who teaches health education to 6th, 7th and 8th graders, is a basketball coach, serves as the athletic director and is chair of a mentoring program for young men at his school. John enjoys what he does. No matter the context in which he interacts with students, he sees the need for higher self-esteem and more confidence amongst a variety of students. John says, “This is why the Dove Self-Esteem Project (DSEP) is so important. Students often judge themselves against media representations of what a perfect body and person should look and act like. These personas and images are unattainable because they are not real. The DSEP provides students with a dose of reality and a fundamental understanding of what is real when it comes to being a teen in 2021.”
DANIELLE PETRUCCI, MassachusettsDanielle has been a public school teacher since 2005. She has held many positions such as health teacher, curriculum coordinator, and adjunct professor. Danielle received the 2018 MAHPERD Health Teacher of the year aw…
DANIELLE PETRUCCI, MassachusettsDanielle has been a public school teacher since 2005. She has held many positions such as health teacher, curriculum coordinator, and adjunct professor. Danielle received the 2018 MAHPERD Health Teacher of the year award for her contribution to the health education field. She helps students think about who they are today and the kind of adult they want to become socially, emotionally, and physically through skill development. Danielle says, “I was interested in becoming a DSEP Cadre member to help young people understand their self-worth goes far beyond body image. When students break through the barriers of negative body talk and comparisons, they begin to realize their personal potential without limits.”
BRITNEE WEATHERSPOON, Pennsylvania Dr. Britnee Weatherspoon is an educator serving in a K-12 district administrator role. She is passionate about working with disadvantaged populations to create healthier, sustainable school and community environmen…
BRITNEE WEATHERSPOON, Pennsylvania
Dr. Britnee Weatherspoon is an educator serving in a K-12 district administrator role. She is passionate about working with disadvantaged populations to create healthier, sustainable school and community environments, and believes that all youth should have access to opportunities so they can thrive.
As a fourth-year cadre trainer, Britnee finds that DSEP is important because it fills a gap that is often ignored and empowers youth to have a voice for themselves. Britnee helps raise awareness around body confidence and promotes positive messaging that transpires to helping young adolescents develop confidence and self-esteem that play an instrumental role in their overall well-being. Britnee says, “YOU are your own unique individual and you were created to be the way you are. Be confident in who you are…Love Yourself…Embrace your imperfections. Imperfection is Beauty…’But by the grace of God, I am what I am’ 1 Corinthians 15:10.”
MARY JO WENTLAND, WisconsinMary Jo is a health, physical and adaptive physical educator as well as at-risk youth educator. She is in her twenty-third year of teaching. Her passion for health education has given her the opportunity to speak in severa…
MARY JO WENTLAND, WisconsinMary Jo is a health, physical and adaptive physical educator as well as at-risk youth educator. She is in her twenty-third year of teaching. Her passion for health education has given her the opportunity to speak in several states and help develop health curriculum for her state. Her most recent work has her developing a unified health curriculum for Special Olympics MN. She is excited to be a DSEP cadre member. Mary Jo says, “Helping young people overcome body image issues and fulfill their potential by building positive body confidence and self-esteem is so important in today’s youth. Body image starts in your mind and not in the mirror. I look forward to bringing the DSEP curriculum to teachers in the Midwest.” Mary Jo adds, “Your body hears everything your mind says, stay positive.”
LISA WALL, KentuckyLisa grew up in Richmond, Kentucky and has been happily married for 26 years and has one daughter. She has been teaching physical education/health for 17 years and has taught students from pre-school-12th grade. Lisa is extremely …
LISA WALL, KentuckyLisa grew up in Richmond, Kentucky and has been happily married for 26 years and has one daughter. She has been teaching physical education/health for 17 years and has taught students from pre-school-12th grade. Lisa is extremely happy to be the DSEP Cadre Trainer in Kentucky so she can spread the word about body confidence to students across the state by sharing with other Kentucky teachers.
TARA COOPER, New JerseyTara is a middle school health and physical education teacher. She finds that adolescents are constantly bombarded by different conflicting messages on body image and ideals every day from their family, peers, society, social …
TARA COOPER, New JerseyTara is a middle school health and physical education teacher. She finds that adolescents are constantly bombarded by different conflicting messages on body image and ideals every day from their family, peers, society, social media, religion and, not to mention, hormones.  Tara sees educators as having a role in helping to guide their journey of navigating through this difficult age, supplying students with as many tools as possible so they can best handle the situations that are presented to them.  She adds that DSEP allows these unique opportunities to do just that! Tara says, “We are whole when we encompass body, mind, and spirit…there is not one without the other.”
KATE KALNES, IllinoisSince beginning her career as a strength and conditioning, and volleyball coach, Dr. Kalnes has co-authored police performance training courses, high school physical education, and higher education wellness curriculum. Currently…
KATE KALNES, IllinoisSince beginning her career as a strength and conditioning, and volleyball coach, Dr. Kalnes has co-authored police performance training courses, high school physical education, and higher education wellness curriculum. Currently, Kate is the co-owner of a business focusing on improving human performance and reducing workplace injuries. She is also a high school kinetic wellness teacher. Her focused efforts on female adolescent self-worth has led her to create a curriculum and to speak at various state and national level conferences.  She is looking forward to bringing the DSEP program to other educators who understand the importance of improving self-worth and body confidence in all of our students.
DAWN GRAFF-HAIGHT, OregonDr. Dawn Graff-Haight recently retired as a professor of health education. She continues to teach online courses. Dawn is also one of the educators involved in updating DSEP materials. She is excited to bring the program to …
DAWN GRAFF-HAIGHT, OregonDr. Dawn Graff-Haight recently retired as a professor of health education. She continues to teach online courses. Dawn is also one of the educators involved in updating DSEP materials. She is excited to bring the program to teachers and students throughout the United States. Dawn says, “The Dove Self-Esteem Project enables middle school students to develop body confidence and understand the external influences that impact them during this important developmental stage. Building self-esteem among middle school students sets the stage for making healthy choices for a lifetime.”
DREW MILLER, New YorkDrew (he/him/his) has taught high school health and sexuality education in public schools for over a decade. In his current position, he teaches ninth grade health education, co-teaches a Year 2 (twelfth grade) elective, serves …
DREW MILLER, New YorkDrew (he/him/his) has taught high school health and sexuality education in public schools for over a decade. In his current position, he teaches ninth grade health education, co-teaches a Year 2 (twelfth grade) elective, serves as the Condom Availability Program School Leader, and is the head cross country and track and field coach. Learning to accept and appreciate one’s body takes a lifetime of practice, and Drew believes in the DSEP’s ability to start these conversations at an early age with young people. “When we make the primary focus taking care of our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, our physical well-being tends to follow suit.” –Kristina Bruce
PAM POWERS, TexasPam is an educational consultant, award-winning educator, author, child advocate and owner of her own business that supports efforts to increase physical activity in schools, organizations, and at home. She has developed curriculum …
PAM POWERS, TexasPam is an educational consultant, award-winning educator, author, child advocate and owner of her own business that supports efforts to increase physical activity in schools, organizations, and at home. She has developed curriculum for local schools and nationally.  Pam recognizes the importance of helping others become more aware of body image and acceptance. She often remarks, “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” ~ Oscar Wilde
ANGIE RODGERS, IdahoAngie has been a physical educator and health teacher for the past fifteen years and a coach for over 25 years. There is no question that the relationship between student confidence and educational success is tightly intertwined.…
ANGIE RODGERS, IdahoAngie has been a physical educator and health teacher for the past fifteen years and a coach for over 25 years. There is no question that the relationship between student confidence and educational success is tightly intertwined. When student self-confidence suffers, they may feel they are unworthy of obtaining their goals or think it is impossible to achieve them. Building confidence in students can help prevent student dropout rates and help them achieve their dreams and goals. Dove’s Self-Esteem Project is important because it provides tools that students can use to analyze today’s media and its messages and how it affects not only their self-esteem but society. 
ALLISON SABB-GLENN, South CarolinaAllison is a middle school counselor and craft boutique entrepreneur. As a counselor, her main focus is to introduce her students to all of the possibilities and resources available to them. Growing up in a rural to…
ALLISON SABB-GLENN, South CarolinaAllison is a middle school counselor and craft boutique entrepreneur. As a counselor, her main focus is to introduce her students to all of the possibilities and resources available to them. Growing up in a rural town, and now working in one, Allison fully understands the pressures that come along with being an adolescent. Her primary reason for joining the Dove Self Esteem Project was to have an alternative forum for students to discuss body image and the pressures that come along with it. Allison’s personal motto is “Believe you can do it, and you are halfway there.”
MICHELLE WHITE, AlabamaMichelle is a school counselor working with students in grades K-12. She is also a Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor. DSEP is important because it gives teachers and adults who work with students a research-based progra…
MICHELLE WHITE, AlabamaMichelle is a school counselor working with students in grades K-12. She is also a Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor. DSEP is important because it gives teachers and adults who work with students a research-based program to teach the importance of improving self-esteem.  “I believe all students should have the opportunity to learn about self-esteem.  It’s not something that is intuitive to everyone, it needs to be taught, especially in this age of social media.”

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