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Clinton Foundation's Health Matters Initiative (CHMI) invited me for the third time to facilitate a breakout session at their third Blueprint Meeting. I not only love working with the CHMI team, but it is inspiring meeting local public health stakeholders, experts and advocates. I have had the opportunity to facilitate this process in both Coachella Valley CA and Little Rock AR prior to facilitating Houston's Blueprint Meeting. "The Clinton Health Matters Initiative (CHMI) works to improve Read ▸ about CHMI Houston Blueprint Event

As we open our doors again for work after a three-month bicycle-trip sabbatical, a great opportunity has come our way. I have been asked to serve on the Board of Directors at RMC Health in Colorado. I am honored to have been asked to participate in an advisory roll for this innovative non-profit within the school health field.I initially worked with RMC Health (previously Rocky Mountain Center) when I was working at the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) in 2004. ODE contracted with RMC to Read ▸ about New Opportunity for Cairn Guidance!

Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is the 28th largest school district in the US. And, now it's my local school district in Louisville, Kentucky. I was invited to attend the JCPS Principal Advisory and District Wellness Committee Meeting today. I was incredibly impressed by the organizations and partners in attendance, including a school board member, Family Resource and Youth Services Center representative, PTA, the school counseling lead for the district, food service director, Read ▸ about Jefferson County Public Schools

I choose it. I'm fortunate enough to live anywhere and I picked Louisville.I've been hearing that a lot lately from family, friends, colleagues and even strangers. People that know me are curious to know why a Jewish girl who grew up in CT, went to school in NY and has lived in Portland Oregon for 16 years choose to live in Kentucky.  Read ▸ about What? Why Louisville?

For the first time, I was invited to be part of an expert panel (volunteer) for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (AHG) in Washington DC at the beautiful Pew Charitable Trust building yesterday! The national advisors from AHG were of course present as were about 20 invited content experts from different areas of school health. It was like a family reunion for me! I walked into the room and was thrilled to see many familiar faces, including close colleagues. We Read ▸ about Alliance for a Healthier Generation Content Expert Meeting

List of grantees. Amazing! OEA Choice Trust hosted their 5th annual Journey to Wellness event in Eugene Oregon yesterday. Over 25 grantees were in attendance. They came together to learn, share and network. The mission of the OEA Choice Trust Wellness Grant Program is to improve the health and well-being of Oregon school employees through grant-making; focusing on empowering and enabling the participants to take responsibility for Read ▸ about Journey to Wellness

This week I'm in Phoenix alongside 20 other invite-only trainers in the field of health and physical education to participate in the first ever national training of trainers (TOT) lead by a partnership between CDC, Nike, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, AAHPERD and the President's Council on Physical Fitness. The TOT is being facilitated by a longtime colleague of mine, Deb Christopher from Bolder Learning and the Physical Activity Leader (content) training is being facilitated by Aaron Read ▸ about Let’s Move Active Schools!

Within 10 minutes it’s obvious to anyone who meets me that I’m incredibly passionate about the field of school health. I started my career as a middle school teacher in schools that had students living in poverty. As the pressure to raise test scores, increase attendance and time-on-task grew, I began to ask questions. I was expected to raise test scores when Charles’ home didn’t have heat on the night prior? Or Lexi just found out that she’s pregnant? Or Tom didn’t know who’s couch he was going Read ▸ about The Best Field in the World