Welcome to the Learning Center

The Journey Towards a Trauma Informed Classroom
Ginny Buccelli, MFA, will open this year’s Teachers on Teaching by sharing her journey to certification as a Trauma Informed Specialist. She will offer an overview of the need for creating trauma-informed classrooms for all levels of learners and the impact this work has had on her own students.  

A student panel will follow the keynote presentation. College and high school students will reflect on their experiences dealing with their own trauma while in school.

Ginny Buccelli, MFA, BIO
Ginny Buccelli holds an MFA from Antioch University, and a Trauma Informed Specialist Certificate from CSU Easy Bay. Her seventeen years of teaching at community colleges include ten as a full-time professor at Mendocino College. Prior to her college experience, she spent nearly a decade as a volunteer reading instructor in third grade classrooms and successfully sent two former teens into the world.

Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies to Improve Workforce Readiness
In this workshop the presenter will provide an overview of relevant research and demonstrate strategies that represent a culturally responsive framework to support workforce development in a rural community college setting. Furthermore, the presenter will share evidence based organizational leadership practices that support learning institutions in rural communities with workforce development initiatives. Participants will be provided resources, and hands-on activities that help them to better understand the important connection between workforce development and education in remote locales, such as Mendocino County. Participants will be asked to provide feedback on strategies and practices that they use in order to make learning more relevant and attainable for disadvantaged students living in rural areas of Northern California.

Lisa Furlong BIO
Lisa Furlong earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from California State University, Fullerton in 2003, then graduated from the Multiple Subject Credential Program in 2004. After several years of teaching in K-12, she started working as a Customer Service and Marketing Manager at an FAA repair station in Southern California. While working in marketing, she pursued her master’s in business administration at Loyola Marymount University, in Los Angeles, California. Soon after she graduated in 2016, she moved to Mendocino County where she returned to work as a teacher in K-12. In 2021, while working as the Education Director at a local Boys and Girls Club, she took on additional work as a part time instructor at Mendocino College.  In January of 2024 she became a full-time instructor here at Mendocino College. She currently teaches Business Math, Introduction to Business and Introduction to Management. As a lifelong learner, she continues her own education working towards her Doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership at the University of San Francisco with a goal of graduating in the Spring of 2026.

Equity and Inclusion
In "Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn: A Comprehensive Guide for Teaching All Adults", Raymond J. Wlodkowski, and Margery Ginsberg, share the five key characteristics of a motivating instructor. We will explore our own skill sets and determine how we, as educators, possess expertise, empathy, enthusiasm, clarity, and cultural responsiveness. In turn, we will recognize which skills we may need to refine or gain additional information about. This session will explore andragogy, Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory and the 5 Pillars of a motivating instructor. Further, specific examples and activities related to the 5 characteristics and how to incorporate these skills when teaching adult students will be shared.

Tascha Whetzel BIO 
Tascha Whetzel has been a Learning Disability Specialist and Professor at Mendocino College since 2008. Previously she worked in several K-12 districts as a school psychologist for 17 years. Whetzel teaches study skills workshops and coordinates and implements a Learning Skills Lab. She assesses adults for learning disabilities and approves appropriate accommodations for students in their courses and assists them in developing learning strategies. Most recently she developed a course, Teaching the Older Adult Student. This workshop reflects information and activities from this course. 

Somatic Pilates
Somatic Pilates is a blend of somatic wellness practices and body awareness combined with the principles of the Pilates strength and flexibility training methods. This workshop is a time to check in with our nervous systems, turn our attention to our bodies and soothe our minds. All levels welcome as this will be taught in a playful explorative and integrative way. 

We will explore our own nervous system reactions, learn simple tools to build physical and mental integration and practice some mindfulness through integrative Pilates based practices. This workshop is designed to be an introduction to the concepts we play with in this course, as well as a little break from all of the thinking we will be doing over the course of this conference! All equipment, including mats will be provided in our lovely Mendocino College Dance studio. 
 

Dena Watson-Krasts BIO
Dena Watson-Krasts has over 20 years of experience teaching mat Pilates and a variety of group fitness classes. She holds a graduate degree in Analytical Psychology and is a full-time faculty in Psychology here at Mendocino College. She loves practicing and teaching mind-body somatic methods as a means for fostering resilience and overall wellness, both physical and psychological. 

Overcoming the Social Studies Snoozefest: UDL In Action
This professional development workshop will provide educators with a practical understanding and application of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Participants will explore the following: Personal Connection, UDL Framework Introduction, Experiential Learning, Debrief & Reflection, Introduction to Ludia: A UDL Tool, and Building a UDL Network.

Logan Silva BIO
Logan Silva is an educator who ignites curiosity through innovative, hands-on learning. He often collaborates with national leaders to craft curricula that bring civics and history to life. A proud Mendo local, Logan is grateful for educators at local schools.

Had it Up to Here with the Challenges of Teaching High School Students? - A Session Centered on Solidarity & Support for College Instructors Teaching High School Students
Join us for an enriching and empathetic dialogue that centers on the importance of solidarity and support when grappling with the unique challenges of teaching college-level content to high school students.

The session will begin with introductions, followed by an open discussion where colleagues are encouraged to share their personal experiences regarding challenges faced teaching both on and off high school campuses. Then, we will brainstorm together to generate innovative approaches and practical solutions to the challenges identified. By leveraging our collective expertise, we will develop actionable strategies that can be implemented in our classrooms. We will close our session by exploring opportunities to extend our support of one another beyond this space.  

Although the intent behind this session is to create a supportive space for college faculty currently teaching high school students to connect, all educators are welcome to attend. 

Bias Collins BIO
Bias Collins (they/he) is a queer instructor teaching dual enrollment at Upper Lake High School. They are both a ULHS & Mendocino College graduate. He has been teaching with the English department since Fall 2023 & is grateful for the opportunity to reengage with these academic communities. 

Recharge with Iyengar Yoga
We will be doing some beginning yoga poses in the middle of the room, sometimes with a partner. Iyengar yoga emphasizes precision and alignment, and I will give instructions for practicing safely and efficiently, so that you get the most out of your experience. You will exit the class feeling calm, energized, and refreshed.

Jeff Brunner BIO
Jeff Brunner teaches English and yoga part-time here at Mendocino College. He has studied and practiced yoga since 1998, and taught yoga since 2010. He became a certified Iyengar yoga teacher (CIYT) in 2014.

Navigating the Classroom with Calm
By understanding your own trauma landscape and recognizing the emotional triggers that may surface, teachers can better regulate their reactions and create a nurturing space for both themselves and their students. Thoughtfully assessing situations that pull you away from the present moment and learning practical grounding techniques will help you navigate challenging moments with increased fluency. As teachers prioritize mental wellness—whether through mindfulness, self-reflection, or proactive coping strategies—they not only reduce the risk of burnout but also cultivate an environment of empathy and support. This commitment to well-being fosters a classroom atmosphere where both educators and students can thrive, learning and growing in a space of emotional safety and mutual respect.

Lisa Larimer-Burtis BIO
Lisa Larimer Burtis (she/her) is the Health & Wellness Counselor/Coordinator at Mendocino College, where she provides therapy services and wellness support. With extensive experience in both community mental health and private practice, she offers a compassionate and knowledgeable approach to counseling. Lisa holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco and focused on interpersonal communication during her undergraduate studies at the University of Montana. Her guiding motto, “Each day is a new beginning,” reflects her commitment to helping individuals start fresh on their path to well-being. 

Embracing Intersectional Identities through Project and Interest-Based Learning
Bill Thornsby from Big Picture at South Valley will explore intersectional identities and the framework of intersectionality—how race, gender, class, and other identities shape learning experiences—and demonstrate how the Big Picture Learning model cultivates inclusive, equity-driven education by embracing student identities and interests.

Bill Thornsby BIO
Bill Thornsby is an advisor at Big Picture South Valley within the Ukiah Unified School District. Before teaching high school in Ukiah, he spent years as a music instructor, a passion he now enjoys sharing with his teenage son. Bill's perspective on education blends English Language Arts, music, technology, and student-centered learning.