Janeen Antonelli

Janeen Antonelli brings over 25 years of educational and leadership experience to Thriving YOUniversity. Synthesizing her two Master degrees -- one in Cultural Diversity and one in Educational Leadership-- with her wisdom and experience as a former swim coach, teacher, principal, Juvenile Justice program administrator, as well as yoga coach and author, Janeen Antonelli brings an invaluable perspective to the Thriving YOUniversity team and their clients. As a co-founder and Chief Culture Coach of Thriving YOUniversity, she has piloted many of the practices and strategies that we teach in our in-person and online learning sessions and is able to share rich stories of the magical transformation that can occur in lives when applied. Her areas of expertise include Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning; Resilience; Trauma-Sensitive Schools; Mindfulness; and Restorative Practices. Janeen is passionately committed to empowering individuals and organizations to thrive.

AAPF19 Session

​The Biology of Belonging: Building Psychological Safety for Staff & Students
Disconnection and distrust lead to toxicity and incivility in the classroom and the workplace. Strong social connections strengthen our immune system, lower anxiety and depression, and even help us live longer. Additionally, people who feel connected are more empathetic, trusting, and cooperative. Psychological safety is key to any environment where you want students and adults to ask questions, share ideas, and try new things. It is a must for creativity and innovation. This engaging, experiential, and interactive session will provide participants with research, strategies, and structures for building belonging, cultivating connection, and strengthening psychological safety in the classroom, the staff room, and the office. If you want to empower individuals and your organization to thrive, this is the session for you!