Engage the Brain Learning Specialists are grateful to support students with all types of learning abilities. What are they grateful for away from work?
Practicing gratitude has many benefits. According to Mental Health First Aid, research has shown that consciously practicing gratitude can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Studies have found that a single act of thoughtful gratitude produces an immediate 10% increase in happiness, and a 35% reduction in depressive symptoms.
At Engage the Brain, we are grateful for the difference between the words the and a. The Learning Specialists don’t work at a learning center; they work at the Learning Center in Central Florida. (And we just felt a 10% increase in our happiness!) Engage the Brain offers a suite of services unrivaled in the Central Florida region. Specialists are highly trained to support students with a variety of challenges from ADHD and Dyslexia to Speech-Language and Dyscalculia. And if all that is not enough, the North Park Learning Group, a home school hybrid program, is populated with a group of flourishing students.
Gratitude acknowledgements
To put our gratitude practice into action, the Learning Specialists shared what they are grateful for both at work and away from the office.
Jennifer Disch – Founder: I am incredibly grateful to work in an environment that wholeheartedly supports students with all types of learning abilities, and I am equally thankful for the dedicated team of specialists that makes Engage the Brain a comforting, caring, and supportive haven for all.
Outside of work, I am deeply grateful to spend quality time with my family, cherishing the moments that bring us closer together.
Jen Grussaute – Office Manager: I am thankful for Engage the Brain because I look forward to going to work each day because not only are they my coworkers, it’s my work family.
Outside of Engage the Brain I am most thankful for my family and friends and friends that have become family.
Kim Burt – Speech-Language Pathologist: I am very grateful that I have people around me who support me and celebrate my accomplishments and achievements. Many work places do not offer the degree of collaboration, team based mindset and flexibility that Engage the Brain maintains. This makes work much more enjoyable and rewarding.
Having friends and family who are truly available whenever needed is critical to mental health and overall well-being. Knowing I have a “tribe” that I can lean on, and that can lean on me, lessens some of life’s stressors because I know I am not alone in whatever I am going through- challenges and successes.
Sabrina Sullivan – Orton-Gillingham support specialist: We work with a variety of students, and I am thankful to have a team with whom to collaborate and brainstorm.
I am also grateful for my running shoes, which keep me grounded. 🙂
Jenny Wolcott – Executive Functioning Coach: I’m grateful for many things at Engage the Brain. I have wonderful students and co-workers and I’m grateful to have all the resources I need to really provide each student with what they need the most.
Home: I’m grateful to have a wonderful, supportive family that encourages me in everything I do, whether that is changing careers or learning to play the violin. They are always there for me!
Libby Couch – Math Support Specialist: As someone with a non-verbal autistic brother, I’m grateful to be surrounded by a talented team of educators who continuously explore ways to connect with neurodivergent students.
I’m also incredibly happy I have a ceramic studio to create in!
Marla Sullivan – Occupational Therapist: I’m grateful that I can help guide kids towards goals that will help them become more independent. Working in an environment like EtB has given me the creative freedom and support to meet the needs of the kids I work with in the best ways possible.
Something I’m grateful for away from work: My husband and kids. I went back to work this year after staying home for four. They’ve been incredibly supportive and excited for me to jump back into a career I love so much.
Hannah Hartman – Co-Director North Park Learning Group: I am incredibly grateful to see my students learn and grow. Some of our North Park Learning Group students have been with us for years. It has been truly amazing to see them grow in confidence, learn new information, and explore the world around them through the seasons of life.
I am also grateful for the volunteer work I have the opportunity to do with the Winter Park Historical Association. We have just begun planning our newest museum exhibit. It’s a very exciting time!
Final thoughts
Engage the Brain is populated with a variety of professionals with diverse backgrounds who join in the mission of supporting students to help them think, learn, and grow. Each Specialist is grateful for the flexibility given and support received, which helps foster an environment of student success. Engage the Brain encourages our families to practice gratitude and to reap all its wonderful benefits, including reduced depression, less anxiety, and improved sleep.
If your child is struggling in any area of school, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain to discover how a Learning Specialist can help your child realize the best versions of themselves and thrive in both the classroom and in life.