About Us
Our Vision
We see a day when
- People feel cared for, respected and empowered in their schools, families and communities
- Families feel that it is normal to ask for help and have a broad network of local resources (or family educators) that cross race, class and culture where they can turn for support and parenting tools.
- Classrooms are places where young people are learning the skills needed in a global society
- Schools are places where mistakes are opportunities for learning and the race bias around discipline is undone
- Communities support schools and families in using solution focused methods that enhance equity and honor each person’s dignity.
We Believe
- All people, young and adult—regardless of race, class and culture—are worthy of dignity and respect
- Misbehaving children are discouraged children
- Current punitive practices and systems work to the detriment of all young people and perpetuate a legacy of oppression and inequity
- Mutually respectful relationships and solution focused problem solving empower children, families, schools, and communities to thrive and foster academic excellence, citizenship, equity, and democracy
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Effective Discipline1:
- Helps children feel a sense of connection. (Belonging and significance.)
- Is mutually respectful and encouraging. (Kind and firm at the same time.)
- Considers what the child is thinking, feeling, learning, and deciding about himself and his world – and what to do in the future to survive or to thrive.
- Teaches important social and life skills.
- Invites children to discover how capable they are.
Our Experience:
Although newly established as a 501c3 non profit, we have a decade of regional experience including:
- Three years with Seattle Public Schools implementing in ten schools the Solution Focused Discipline Whole School Model to eliminate the race gap in disciplinary action;
- Finalist for the 2008 Anne V. Farrell Leadership Grant in Education of The Seattle Foundation (applied through Seattle Public Schools as we were not yet a 501c3);
- Two lead trainers for the national Positive Discipline Association;
- Ten nationally Certified Positive Discipline Associates;
- Hundreds of teachers who’ve taken our Positive Discipline in the Classroom workshops;
- Hundreds of parents who’ve taken our Positive Discipline parenting classes in English or Spanish;
- Scores of parent trainers who’ve taken our Teaching Parenting the Positive Discipline Way workshops in English or Spanish; and
- Three years of comprehensive data on three Seattle schools in our program and ongoing self evaluation and data collection to measure and ensure ongoing effectiveness.
The Sound Discipline Board:
Patricia Moriarty, President
Patricia Moriarty is a career educator with extensive experience in professional and organizational development, elementary-level teaching and learning, and program administration.
Currently an independent education consultant, Ms. Moriarty is on contract to the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Renton Public Schools, and others. Current duties include working with the parents, administration and staff at Forks High School, in Clallam County, to refine and implement their school-improvement plan.
Her teaching experience focused mainly on the elementary level and includes specialties in mathematics instruction and the introduction of computer technology into the classroom. She was director of professional development in Everett Public Schools and professional development manager in Seattle Schools. She has taught college-level teacher-education classes focusing on professional development and teacher certification.
Ms. Moriarty holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and did post-graduate studies in early childhood education at the University of Washington.
Mike McMann, Treasurer
Mike McMann, President, PanGaia Consulting LLC
Mike McMann has contributed to educational innovations in technology integration, professional leadership, and organizational development through twenty-plus years as an international consultant, author, school administrator and classroom teacher. Mike's professional contributions include regional leadership for the USA New American Schools project, education strategy planning for Microsoft Corporation, program design for the University of Washington Teaching, Learning and Technology Program, and formation of the Shoreline Teacher Development Center. As a fellow of the National Faculty/Smithsonian Institute, Apple Distinguished Educator, and member of the Board for Sound Discipline, Mike's contributions to improvement in education continue to reach a growing global audience.
Sally Telzrow, Secretary
Ms. Telzrow is a licensed independent social worker. She has worked for over 32 years as a therapist, clinical supervisor and director in a number of community based programs meeting the social, emotional and mental health needs of children, youth and families.
Ms. Telzrow continues to focus on social emotional health and barriers to learning in her current work at Seattle Public Schools. Her administrative skills and knowledge of child development and best practices in supporting social/emotional skill development in children have resulted in successful programming in a number of arenas: implementation of student support strategies at the middle school level, provision of social emotional skills groups to kindergarten students and the development of a program that trains parents to successfully engage culturally diverse families who are experiencing language or cultural barriers in getting connected and involved with their children’s education. She also works with SPS department of Community Learning to provide technical assistance, and professional development support to Community Learning Centers in six secondary schools.
Ms. Telzrow’s family has always been as important as her work. She and her husband, Robert, have raised two children and now enjoy being involved in the lives of their three grandchildren.
Caprice Hollins
Dr. Caprice D. Hollins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She received a B.A. in psychology from Seattle University and an M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Multicultural and Community Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology―LA. She became licensed after doing her post doc work at Atlantic Street Center.
Dr. Hollins has over 15 years of experience working with ethnically diverse populations, providing mental health services, facilitating workshops and teaching graduate courses as an adjunct professor at several local universities. She currently works as an assistant professor at Mars Hill Graduate School.
After serving as the Director of Equity, Race & Learning Support for Seattle Public Schools for four years she started Cross Cultural Connections, LLC, providing culturally relevant professional development and consulting services to organizations seeking to improve their skills in effectively engaging all cultures.
Dr. Hollins works hard to balance her passion and commitment to equity and social justice while at the same time raising a young family with her husband, Gary Hollins. Together they have two young children and she has three adult step children.
Terry Chadsey
Terry is a co-founder of Sound Discipline. He has led workshops and courses in discipline for parents, parent educators, teachers and principals. In addition, he has provided customized coaching and facilitation for district and school teams and presented at local, state, and national education conferences.
Terry has a BA from Yale University, an MS in Elementary Education from the University of Chicago and principal credentials from the University of Washington. He taught kindergarten through eighth grade over twenty-two years in Chicago, Australia, and Washington State. Terry then worked for ten years for school districts, managing change projects and providing professional development for teachers and administrators. Terry lives in Seattle with his wife Jane. Their blended family includes four adult children.
Currently, Terry Chadsey is Co-director of the Center for Courage & Renewal, an organization founded by author, activist and educator, Parker J. Palmer. The Center exists to nurture personal and professional integrity, and the courage to act on it. He is also a Circle of Trust® facilitator.
Executive Director:
Jody McVittie
Jody is the executive director and a co-founder of Sound Discipline. A native Seattleite, Jody McVittie, MD received her BS in Biology from Stanford University and her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University. She completed her family medicine residency and fellowship in California. She worked as a family physician in both California and Washington before shifting to focus on broader community issues that impact all of our health including education, parenting and land use.
Currently she consults with school staff, trains parent educators, teaches parent education classes and provides coaching to teachers and parents. She is a lead trainer for the Positive Discipline Association and co-author of the Positive Discipline Workbook and BRIDGES, Building Relationships for Improved Discipline, Academic Gains and Effective Schools.
Her dream is to build healthy communities by teaching parents, teachers and students how to work together in relationships founded on deep mutual respect. Jody is the mother of three young adults who have been some of her best teachers.
Trainers:
Deborah Alonso
Jennifer Callahan
Terry Chadsey
Stacy Lappin
Jody McVittie
Melanie Miller
Anita Morales
Sahara Pirie
Heidi Ramos
Sean Rolloson
Jeanne Strong
SWIS Facilitators
Jennifer Callahan
Jody McVittie
Jeanne Strong