Bright Idea: A Letter to My ALC Family

Dear ALC Family, We survived.  We profoundly carved a path through quite a treacherous year.  We put our children’s need for growth and development at school in front of our own fears, and that is something to recognize.  Each time I venture into one of our magical schools to visit the superheroes, I mean teachers, administrative staff and Inclusion Specialists, who work in them, I often find myself humbled just to be there.  I walk […]

Bright Idea: The Gift of Gratitude

Bright Ideas: Tips for Positive Thinking and Personal Growth Well folks, it’s that time of year again.  We’ve ridden the rollercoaster we now call “2020” and have ended up back in familiar territory – Holiday Season.  While many of us may be celebrating a little differently this year, the foundation of the upcoming holiday remains.  The reminders to be thankful, joyous and loving glare at us from grocery store shelves.  We get it, Hallmark.  We’re […]

Bright Ideas: Hope is a Resource

I recently read an article in USA Today (Dastagir; 2020) titled, “Why it’s so important to hope.”  I remember reading the title and glancing down at my coffee mug.  I watched the steam drift up and fade away and sadly thought, “there goes hope for 2020…” I took a deep breath and continued reading, hoping to be transported out of my “Eeyore mentality” for the day.  I’ve related to that sad Winnie the Pooh character […]

Bright Ideas: Love Your Neighbor

Bright Ideas: Tips for Positive Thinking and Personal Growth Bright Idea: Love Your Neighbor Recently, I was asked to create a virtual chapel lesson for a partnering preschool that is very near and dear to my heart.  The topic?  Love your neighbor.  I’ll say it again, Love your neighbor.  Those three words together are quite profound, especially in the state of our world today.  I’ve built a career around loving my neighbor, accepting those that […]

Bright Ideas: In Order to Be Heard, We Must First Listen

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to step back into the classroom as a temporary sub.  Anyone who knows me knows that a preschool classroom surrounded by squishy faces is literally my version of heaven.  I hope one day I am able to put into words just how much I love them all.  But as this school year began and the children filed into the classroom one by one, reality sort of slapped me in the […]

Bright Ideas: Tips for Positive Thinking and Personal Growth

Bright Idea: You Are Always Enough “Quiet the voice telling you to do more and be more, and trust that in this moment, who you are, where you are and what you are doing is enough. You will get to where you need to be in your own time. Until then, breathe. Breathe and be patient with yourself and your process. You are doing the best you can to cope and survive amid your struggles, […]

Bright Ideas: The Art of Saying “Goodbye”

“If it’s difficult to say goodbye, consider your life truly blessed”  I have quite the heavy heart as I write to you today.  Recently, I feel like I have been bombarded with “goodbyes” in the form of socially distanced school parades.  Teachers dressed in tutus with huge smiles behind their masks; kids beaming out of sunroofs holding messages of appreciation and love.  Quite the bittersweet celebration to behold. Saying “goodbye” has many meanings across many […]

March 25th is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day!

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affects a person’s ability to move and keep balance and posture. Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles. Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles. The symptoms and functioning […]