Allyson Apsey | Create school environments where staff and students thrive. Best-selling author of Leading the Whole Teacher.

Allyson Apsey

Create school environments where staff and students thrive. Best-selling author of Leading the Whole Teacher.

Allyson Apsey
Biography

Allyson Apsey has been an educator for over twenty years; a school leader for fifteen of those years. She is passionate about students and staff, and leads others through their strengths. She tries to be transparent, vulnerable, and supportive, and she doesn't ask questions unless she wants the answers. Despite the fact that she never wanted to set foot in a school again after high school graduation, there is nowhere else she'd rather spend her days than in classrooms. In fact, she doesn't even have a chair at her desk because she is moving around the school all day long. The challenges and delights of being a principal fill her days with joy. Allyson enjoys nothing more than helping others be the very best they can be. Allyson is so proud of her school district and the Zeeland, Michigan community, and she loves being the principal of Quincy Elementary. She cannot image a more dedicated, passionate and skilled group of teachers. They illicit wonder, excitement, and a love for learning in their students. Recognizing the significant impact trauma has had on many of our students, staff, and families, Allyson completed a program to become a certified trauma practitioner in education. The supports students affected by trauma need are beneficial to all students because they are grounded in a foundational core of strong, positive relationships based on trust. Allyson is also certified in William Glasser's choice theory and reality therapy. Allyson is honored to serve on the executive board of directors for MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association) as the State and Federal Relations Co-Coordinator. Additionally, she is on the steering committee for MACUL (Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning) SIG-ADMIN. Allyson enjoys working with and learning from amazing educational leaders in both of these organizations. Allyson writes on a blog called Serendipity in Education, and this is her third book. She is also the author of The Path to Serendipity and the picture book The Princes of Serendip, both published by Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. Allyson also loves speaking to passionate groups of educators as we work to be happy and effective people for the benefit of everyone around us. Allyson is married to Jim and she has two amazing sons with him, Laine and Tyson. She is blessed.

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Finding Your Own Path to Serendipity

The origin of the word serendipity comes from a Persian tale, “The Three Princes of Serendip.” In the story, three princes tried to impress their father by traveling as everyday people rather than as nobles. During their travels, the princes saw the hardships people went through as well as the good in the world. They learned a life without hardships was a life devoid of valuable lessons.

Serendipity is a way of living, but not one that came naturally to me. When I was younger and trying to figure out how life worked, I thought life just happened to us. We woke up each morning, stuff happened, we dealt with it, and then we went to bed to repeat the same process the next day.

This presentation is about embracing all experiences, particularly our challenges, and allowing them to make us better. It is about stumbling upon the fortunes of life and looking at every experience as a treasure—those moments that bring us more pain than we thought possible, more joy than we feel we deserve, and everything in between.

Outcomes:

Five basic needs drive all behavior.
All behavior is purposeful, and all behavior is information.
We get to decide who we want to be and how we react to what life throws at us.
The only person who controls you is you.
We can’t always get what we want, and there are three things we can do when we don’t.
Respect means meeting our own needs without interfering with someone else trying to meet their needs.
Strong, positive relationships are essential to our well-being, and they take work!
This presentation is a journey of reflection and self-discovery. The interactive format features innovative technology tools. The participants will feel big, ask themselves important questions, laugh, maybe cry, and be compelled to improve for tomorrow.

Supporting Students, Staff and Families Affected by Trauma

Many of our students, staff and families have been affected by trauma, which makes becoming a trauma-informed educator an important part of setting our students up for success. In addition, the CDC discovered that exposure to trauma increases the likelihood of 7 out of 10 of the leading causes of death in the United States. As educators, not only do we have a responsibility to support students affected by trauma, we must make sure that our school environments are not trauma-inducing for any of our students. Our staff may come with their own background of trauma, and are at risk for trauma-fatigue as they give everything they have to their student. The good news? The supports that are required for students affected by trauma are good for all students.

Outcomes:

Identify indicators of trauma
Understand the crisis cycle and how to support students through it
Learn strategies to support students who have been affected by trauma
Understand how the strategies are good for all students
Recognize trauma-fatigue in staff, and learn strategies to counter the impact of student trauma
Value taking care of yourself so you can serve others
This presentation is a journey of reflection and self-discovery. The interactive format features innovative technology tools. The participants will feel big, ask themselves important questions, laugh, maybe cry, and be compelled to improve for tomorrow.

Embracing Challenges

The true test of our character comes not from surviving through the hard times, but thriving because of the hard times. Challenges give us an opportunity to test the strength of our spirit. Embedded in every experience we face is a beautiful opportunity to inch closer toward the person we want to become. Allyson will guide participants on a journey to uncover the lessons the boulders in our path present, to allow ourselves to experience the great joys bestowed upon us, and to live in the moment because, as Gretchen Rubin says, “The days are long, but the years are short.”

Outcomes:

Understanding what is within our control, and what is not.
Reflecting on challenges we have faced and the beautiful lessons embedded in them.
Learn strategies to live in the moment so you can present your whole self to the people right in front of you.
Identify the boulders in our path and take action to crush them, avoid them, or allow the person who created the boulder to keep it for themselves.
This presentation is a journey of reflection and self-discovery. The interactive format features innovative technology tools. The participants will feel big, ask themselves important questions, laugh, maybe cry, and be compelled to improve for tomorrow.

Building Strong, Positive Relationships

Nothing is more important in an organization than strong, positive relationships built on trust. In this presentation, Allyson will share the components necessary for strong positive relationships, strategies to develop these relationships, and allow participants to reflect on their relationships in their workplace and their personal lives.

Outcomes:

Understand the five basic needs.
Self-evaluate the strength of your own needs.
Reflect on what motivates your own behavior and the behavior of others.
Explain what trust is and how it is developed.
Accept what is within our control and what is not.
Develop strategies to contribute to the important relationships in your life.
This presentation is a journey of reflection and self-discovery. The interactive format features innovative technology tools. The participants will feel big, ask themselves important questions, laugh, maybe cry, and be compelled to improve for tomorrow.

Allyson Apsey
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