Melissa Ospina is a former elementary school teacher, instructional specialist, and newly appointed Vice Principal of The Incarnation School in Manhattan. A lifelong New Yorker, she was raised in, has taught for, and is educating her son in New York City schools. Over the years, Melissa has become a fierce advocate for children, teachers, and parents alike.
For over thirty years, educational theory has prioritized standards-based learning over student’s individual needs. But emerging research has begun to show that a new way of teaching is possible. Inspired by the latest pedagogical research, we believe we need to shift our focus and recenter our classrooms around our students as individual learners.
Inspired by the overwhelming evidence of benefit to students, schools and districts have begun to add SEL into their curricula. Research shows, however, that to achieve positive results for their students, schools need to begin by invest in training their teachers. Teachers can only teach Social Emotional Learning effectively if they receive high quality pre-service and ongoing SEL training themselves.
We are blessed with a thriving community of passionate, creative, dedicated people. The Gifts of Authenticity online store is our way of honoring all the beauty, goodness, and joy they create in the world. It is also a way to celebrate and affirm the authentic creativity that lives in each of us.
Enjoy unique, from-the-heart gifts created and donated by the members of the Guild's community. All proceeds support our mission of helping children transcend limiting expectations and explore and develop their authentic selves through creativity education.
Not in the mood to shop but would like to support the Guild's mission? Please make a one-time or monthly donation. Thank you.
