1. Read the definitions of the 5 “types of educators” below and see which one(s) best describe you in terms of where you are as a new-paradigm educator or caregiver of young people. You can fall into more than one category, and one is not better than another.. 

2. Once you get a feel of where you land in the new paradigm, move on to the next page to answer 16 more specific statements about where you are in carrying out some of the new-paradigm skills you will learn in this program.   

SH - SHIFTERS - Individuals who are already successfully using new-paradigm practices such as trauma-informed and social-emotional practices and other tools to shift their environments into trusting, person-centered, confident, creative, compassionate, fun, and inspirational places of learning and well-being. They have had many experiences of shifting their own disempowering “ways of being” into more healthy and empowering patterns, and have experienced how this personal shift positively shifts the young people and peers around them too. They understand the POWER of personal coaching and want more of it. They are becoming experts in these practices and want to help coach and train others.

EA -EARLY ADOPTERS - Individuals who are dabbling in using new-paradigm practices such as trauma-informed and social-emotional practices and other tools to shift their environments into trusting, person-centered, confident, creative, compassionate, fun, and inspirational places of learning and well-being.  They want to adopt more of these practices and be successful at them. They are ready for more info, mentorship, coaching, and guidance. They want to lead the way in the new-paradigm and fully adopt these practices because they know that they and the young people and peers they are working with will benefit greatly.  

V - VISIONARIES  - Individuals who know and can see that there is a better way to mentor and “teach” young people. They feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and stressed as an educator, not liking what the old education system is about (one-size fits all, no time to pee, unrealistic expectations, etc). They want the young people they work with to thrive but are not sure how to make this happen. They don’t want to quit (although they have thought about it) because they love working with children and youth, and they know if they can find the “thing” they hope is out there, things can change for the better.  They are looking for “answers” and are ready to explore them. They are ready to work on themselves to feel more positive, happy, connected, and energized in their work and in their lives. Visionaries are ready to step into the new “vision” even if they feel a little fearful, because they know it will be worth it for the good of themselves, the young people, their peers, and the world.  

HS- HAPPY SURVIVORS - Individuals who love children and youth and have figured out how to be in the system and survive it well. They have learned how to use negative consequences, punishment, and discipline to keep their “students” on task, quiet, and controlled, while keeping a pretty good connection with them. They feel like their “students” are doing fine and learning what they are supposed to learn, and that is what makes them a great teacher and mentor. They don’t really want to change their teaching methods or take part in person-centered learning. They are not interested in personal transformation as a way to support themselves, their “students” and co-workers, or to help shift the current education system. To them, everything is already working pretty well.

QS - QUITTING SOON - Individuals who are done with teaching and are looking for another profession.

NOTE: If you fall into the first three, (Shifter, Early Adopter, Visionary) then you will most likely enjoy and learn from this program.

Those of you who are "Happy Survivors" or "Quitting Soon", may not want to put the time into personal transformation or towards the SHIFT of the education system. You may be close to retirement, or you have a new idea coming through you of how you can take your skills and passions into your own business.

Those of you who are "Quitting Soon" and are ready to leave the education, foster care, or juvenile system, and want to explore creating a new personal business, we have created a group to get you started. Please check out https://passionknowledgeproject.com/home where you can begin to get the framework and support to create your own knowledge passion business.

Those of you who feel too burnout, overwhelmed, and have physical health challenges that keep you from wanting to learn MORE practices, you may need some time for yourself to work on just your self-care. If so, please check out a group we created just for caregivers who want to become self-care connoisseurs! https://www.caregiversconnection.care/home.

No matter which way you go, you will have opportunities to work on your internal blocks that keep you stressed, overwhelmed, fearful and unhealthy, as you integrate new, empowering and healthy patterns of living and learning.