As the longest tenured principal in District 29 of Queens, NY, Harriet has created a loving, stable and collaborative school culture at Intermediate School 192. Since being introduced to Brain Power Wellness in 2014, she has created a model school-wide system, training all her staff in the basic Teacher Workshop, as well as training five Mentor teachers and two Leader teachers. She has created a strong student leadership group and sent two student leaders on a week-long Brain Power Student Leadership retreat upstate New York. Harriet also frequently attends the BPW Administrative Retreats at Honor's Haven Resort and mentors other principals on how to integrate the Brain Power program into their school instructional plan.
Harriet Diaz
Principal, I.S. 192Q
As the Brain Power Leader of Public School 43 in District 7 in the Bronx, Peter is working to advance and nurture the Brian Power community in his school. He mentors a group of Brain Power student leaders and leads weekly Brain Power Professional Development sessions for his peers. Peter has also made self-regulating with Brain Power more accessible, creating an adaptation of the Yale Mood Meter and the Brain Power Activity Cards! He has made an easy-to-use guide for finding the right Brain Power exercises to help students resolve any emotional fluctuations on their own.
Peter Kalkau
Teacher, P.S. 43X
Julian and Reggy-Ryan have attended Brain Power Student Leadership retreats and workshops since they were in elementary school. Now they serve as mentors to younger student leaders and are actively engaged in creating positive change in their school communities. Both young men have initiated "Earth Citizen Dream Projects."
Julian worked on forming a Gay-Straight Alliance to facilitate proactive communication at his old high school, while Reggy-Ryan piloted a project to raise funds for low-income students to have access to sports equipment and recreational leagues. As students, they both frequently helped host community Earth Citizen events and district-wide family seminars at Brain Power schools.
Julian Quaresima & Reggy-Ryan Cadet
Former Student Leaders, Long Island, NY
SUCCESS STORIES
Discover Their Stories
What People Are Saying About Brain Power
"Dave and his Brain Power Wellness team coached our school community about the importance of teamwork, mindfulness practices, the prioritizing of self-care, and the research on how specific movements strengthen the body. We attended several rejuvenating retreats with Dave and his team. The impact of BPW's work can be measured by the shift in our school community which has implemented self-care and Brain Power exercises into our daily practice. Brain Power is an essential part of our school community."
Vivian Bueno, Principal P.S. 73 Bronx
"Before the pandemic, we had already integrated Brain Power Wellness (BPW) practices into the curriculum. Our students were exposed to various activities and strategies designed to support their physical and emotional well-being. As a result, we saw an increase in student engagement and a decrease in disciplinary incidents. Our students also reported feeling more connected to their peers and teachers, and were better equipped to manage stress and anxiety."
Uche Njoku, Principal M.S. 224 Bronx
"The staff at Brain Power helped our principals focus on themselves, which made them feel valued and able to return to their schools re-charged. Lots of our school leaders will bring these mindful practices back to school, where they can share best practices with their own community."
Fred Walsh, Superintendent CUNY/UA
