Jackie has over 20 years of experience in education, which spans from the classroom to state level leadership. She has taught elementary grades and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) K-12. Jackie has worked extensively with both the Title III, ESOL and Title I, Part C Migrant Education Programs in both Georgia and Florida. She also has experience working with schools and staff with the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) program, creating culturally responsive classrooms, instructional coaching, mentoring, program development, and reading interventionist. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and ESOL. She also received a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. Jackie is certified in both Florida and Georgia in elementary education, primary education, special education, middle grades, ESOL, and reading. She loves sharing her expertise with teachers and schools to improve student success.

Jackie has five children, Brennan, Bryson, Bradley, Bayleigh, and Brett. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, photography, reading, and gardening.

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears*

Jessica Finell received a dual Master’s degree in Childhood Special and General Education from Bank Street College of Education in New York City.  She has over a decade of teaching experience in classroom settings and worked as a Learning Center Specialist, working with small groups and individual students, focusing on areas of literacy and math.  Her experience using Learning Without Tears in the classroom and in private tutoring sessions allows her to see firsthand the program’s benefits and the progress and success of her students.  Jessica believes that the multi-sensory and systematic approach of Learning Without Tears programs supports students, educators, and parents during instruction, providing clear and consistent language, and encourages them to have fun while learning. In addition to her work as an educator, she trained and completed the Polinger Fellowship with the nonprofit organization Hidden Sparks. She acted as an Internal Coach for a New York City private school, working to help teachers and their students achieve success within their classrooms. In her free time, Jessica enjoys cooking, experimenting with new recipes, traveling, and spending time outdoors exploring hiking trails in national and state parks.

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears*

Shakara Jennings is a former kindergarten teacher and Teacher of the Year, who has served as a professional learning specialist for educators since 2010. She is a graduate of Georgia State University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, a Master of Education, and a Specialist in Education. She is the founder of SEED Consulting LLC, where she sows seeds of excellence through upbeat and engaging adult learning experiences. Outside of facilitating workshops she is often requested for her teacher coaching offerings, instructional design expertise, and e-learning content design. 

Shakara enjoys is an avid football fan who also enjoys playing golf, listening to music, dancing, traveling, crafting, and bargain shopping for treasures!

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears*

Mary Ceille Allen is currently an Early Learning Instructional Designer with Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, Florida.  Mary Ceille holds a B.A. in Communication from North Carolina State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Queens University of Charlotte.  She spent her classroom teaching years predominantly in the early childhood classroom as a teacher, curriculum developer and professional development facilitator.  When not teaching or training, Mary Ceille and her husband are traveling to either North Carolina State or University of Florida to visit their two children and of course watch some football.  At home in Jupiter, Florida, Mary Ceille loves the beach, watching all sports, reading and spending time with family.  Fun fact, when she first started in an early childhood classroom, Handwriting without Tears was the first professional development conference Mary Ceille attended and she used it in every classroom going forward.    

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears*

Erin Dolin is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist with over fifteen years of experience working in clinic and school-based practice settings. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise physiology at California State University, Fresno, earned her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, CA, and completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a research emphasis focused on the link between handwriting instruction and student achievement. In addition to her school-based OT practice, Erin has served as an adjunct faculty member with the Department of Physical Therapy at CSU Fresno since 2005. She has taught several foundational courses including Medical terminology, Neuromotor Development Across the Lifespan, Rehabilitation Professions, and Patient Practitioner Interaction in addition to her advising role for students pursuing Pre-Occupational Therapy option coursework. Erin has completed professional development coursework and holds certifications in Therapeutic Listening, The Perceptual Enrichment Program (PEP), Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT - administration scoring and treatment), and HWT Level 1 Certification. Erin began her role with HWT as a National Workshop Presenter in 2008 and has been using HWT with children since she was a graduate student in 1998. She is passionate about her role as a school based OT and supporting student success. In her spare time, she enjoys cycling, stand-up paddle boarding, triathlon competitions, attempting DIY home improvement projects and relaxing with her dogs.

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears*

Dianna Henn received her B.S. from University of Puget Sound and her Master of Education from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. She has been providing OT services in school settings since 1999 and has been a presenter with LWT since 2011 (has been using the curriculum since 2001). Dianna is a pediatric therapist currently working as a school based OT in Colorado and has her own business providing educational workshops and presentations to educators, administrators, parents, etc. Dianna's experiences include working with Pre-K through middle school students as well as early intervention, both in school and home settings. She strongly believes in the importance of children learning to print and write cursive, even in today’s world of technology.

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears and receives a salary from Weld RE8 School District where she is an employee*