Update as of 10/06

My birthday has always been a time of reflection. As I have celebrated year forty, forty-five, and soon even sixty-seven, I examine my own journey - the beginning, the continued struggles, and the progress. It is an opportunity to examine my fears, integrate the learnings, and grow. It is a time to analyze what I have accomplished and what still needs to be done.

Each year I set a personal goal. Last year, a year of trauma for my family, it was to generate more joy for myself and others - friends, family, colleagues, even strangers. As a result, there was more laughter in my life. This year my goal is to be more blunt (i.e., for me this means to be more candid, more straightforward, to move toward rather than away from confrontation). Certainly, I will be facing both a major fear (i.e., the world won't love me) and a driving need (i.e., I must be perfect). So this means that I must be more willing to step forward on various projects, committees, or goals, and to share my thoughts/ideas.

To promote professional growth I participated in the following on the NDNU campus: Harrassment Training (see agenda) and Crossroads Ministry Anti-Racism Training. In addition, Six Seconds held two Master Classes (five days each) for EQ dvanced practitioners to learn and grow from each other. The two one-week symposiums (one in February and one in June) were held at Pajaro Dunes near Monterey. I attended workshops presented by Todd Everett, consultant, on marketing; Debbie Havert, consultant, on Optimism; Amy Franklin, Ph.D., Taos Educator, on Effective Decisions; Laura Celis Black, multi-cultural specialist, on Diversity; Mimi Frenette, consultant, on leadership and change; David Tubley, Navy Chaplain, on handling adversities/ complexities; and Carina Fiedeldey-Van Dijk, statistician, on interpreting/evaluating data (here is the course description).

As a dedicated reader, I have devoured the following books:

Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Raising Emotionally Intelligent Teenagers by Elias, Tobias, & Friedlander
Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
Emotional Intelligence in Everday Life by Ciarrochi, Forgas, & Mayer
The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond
Ready or Not, Here Life Comes by Mel Levine
POP! Stand Out in Any Crowd by Sam Horn
Enriching the Brain by Eric Jensen
Writing to Change the World by Mary Pipher
A Guide to Inclusive Therapy by Bill O'Hanlon
Content Literacy for Today's Adolescents: Honoring Diversity and Building Competence by Brozo & Simpson
How to Think on Your Feet by Bergren, Cox & Detmar
You're Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation by Deborah Tannen

And the following magazines:

Scientific American Mind
Middle Ground: The Magazine of Middle Level Education
Middle School Journal

And, of course, I have kept abreast of the latest textbooks in my content areas including Educational Psychology; Windows on Classrooms by Eggen and Kauchak, and Teaching as Decision-Making: Successful Practices for the Secondary Teacher by Sparks-Langer, et al.

In addition to research previously mentioned in the 2005 portfolio, this year's major endeavor is the creation of the Six Seconds' Emotional Intelligence Assessment for Youth (SEI:YV). The draft for the beta study (approximately 140 self-assessment items) for youngsters aged 8-18 has just been completed. We will be gathering data from elementary and secondary schools in the following locales among others (i.e., Singapore; Taos, NM; Houston, TX; Community Schools, San Mateo, CA; Walter Hays School, Palo Alto, CA; Ohlone School, Palo Alto, CA; Gunn High School, Palo Alto, CA; and Ontario, Canada).

I have designed and am now launching an extensive research study about NDNU students' emotional intelligence and the links to academic and life success as well as health and risk behaviors.

In addition to the beta sample, some schools will be participating in a supervised experimental and control study examining the effectiveness of teaching Self-Science: the Emotional Intelligence Curriculum. In this instance pre-post assessments will be utilized.

Of course, whenever I speak professionally, it is an opportunity to garner comparative data, such as what other colleges/universities are experiencing in terms of admissions, retention, etc. On October 19, 2006 I was the keynote speaker for the Institute of Professional Development (IDL) Student Services Conference held in Scottsdale, Arizona (agenda). On November 11, 2006 I will be the presenter for Prepared 4 Life's partners in Houston, Texas, including but not limited to: Houston Independent School district, teach for America, Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, 4H, Houston Children's Museum, and the Search Institute. Prepared 4 Life is the dream child of well-known entrepreneur, Michael Holthouse (memo). And I am very excited about being the visiting scholar for the 50th anniversary celebration of Cabrini College near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the spring of 2008. I have been asked to do a keynote address, teach several classes, and be available for interviews (here is a brochure from their last progam).

I continue to serve on the Editors' Advisory Board for each edition of Educational Psychology: Annual Editions. Board members are instrumental in the final selection of articles and provide feedback on content, currency, and relevancy to ensure appropriateness for future educators.

For many years, as President of Six Seconds, I have served as a consultant to a variety of schools/committees (both local and national) regarding emotional intelligence issues/ concerns. Over the past two/three years, the schools have included: St. Josephs' Episcopal School, FL; Anansi, NM; Sequoia High School, CA; San Carlos Charter Learning Center, CA; Walter Hays Elementary School, CA; Ohlone School, CA.

This year, 2006-07, Six Seconds has a government contract with the Navy Chaplains. Emotional Intelligence training will be provided to hundreds of chaplains gathered in eleven sites globally. The emphasis will be on presenting the Six Seconds' Model of Know, Choose, and Give Yourself with specific strategies and techniques for developing the eight competencies (i.e., emotional literacy, pattern recognition, intrinsic motivation, optimism, empathy, noble goals, consequential thinking, and emotional management) to make them more effective at leading change. Here is a description of one of the courses we delivered for Navy.

The purpose of this consulting work is to help build healthy, mature adults around the globe. I believe these individuals recognize the complexities of life, know who s/he is, have a defined path to follow, and retain a “zest” for life. I know I am working to become one.

"Hmm, summa cum laude - very impressive. But what exactly is a Bachelor of Arts & Leisure?"