Susan Hopkins, EdD (she/her)

Executive Director, The MEHRIT Centre

Susan Hopkins is Executive Director of The MEHRIT Centre, Dr. Stuart Shanker’s organization and the home of the Self-Reg framework. An international leader in Self-Reg, she co-creates online courses with Dr. Shanker that have reached thousands of educators worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience across Canada and internationally, Susan works across early childhood, K–12, and the systems that support children and youth. She has led in school administration, inclusion, and the early years, and has delivered hundreds of presentations to educators, leaders, and communities. Her work brings brain-body science and co-regulation to life in real-world contexts. Susan is co-author of Restoring Resilience (2025), Self-Reg Schools (2019), and Applied Self-Reg for Educational Assistants (2026). Known for her engaging storytelling and practical insight, she helps educators and leaders reframe behaviour and create the conditions for well-being, connection, and learning.

Presenter Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Lisa Bayrami, PhD

Developmental Psychologist, Self-Reg Presenter

Lisa is passionate about fostering wellbeing among children, youth, families, and communities. As former Director of Research at Roots of Empathy, a large not-for-profit organization, Lisa oversaw all aspects of research globally. Lisa trained as a developmental psychologist under Dr. Stuart Shanker and Dr. Stanley Greenspan and continued her journey as Senior Scientist at the Milton and Ethel Harris Research Initiative (MEHRI) at York University where she designed and led multiple school-based research initiatives and worked with children with special needs and their families. She instructed as a Professor of Psychology in the School of Liberal Arts and Academic Partnerships at Seneca at York. Lisa also consults internationally supporting children, educators, parents, and Governments with the central focus of cultivating wellbeing.

In addition, Lisa is on the Advisory Committee for Measuring What Matters (People for Education) and the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Holistic Early Learning and Development. Previously, she has served as a member of the Babies and Preschool Working Groups as part of the National Reading campaign. Lisa believes that Self-Reg is foundational to changing the landscape of wellbeing for all.

Lisa believes that Self-Reg is foundational to changing the landscape of wellbeing for all.

Presenter Location: Toronto, ON

Lisa Cranston, EdD

Self-Reg Online Learning Facilitator & Presenter

Lisa Cranston is a recently retired educator with over thirty years of experience. She has taught grades kindergarten to four and worked as an instructional coach for literacy and mathematics. Lisa spent the last eleven years of her career in education as the educational consultant for kindergarten and primary grades and led the implementation of Full-Day Kindergarten for her school board from 2010 – 2015. Lisa believes that Shanker Self-Reg® has changed how she views both her own behaviour and that of others, and her goal is to help others to ‘lend their calm’ to those around them. Lisa blogs about her Self-Reg reflections and learning at https://lisacran.blogspot.com

Lisa recently completed a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Western University, studying policy enactment of self-regulation curriculum expectations in kindergarten. She has a Master’s degree in Curriculum Studies from the University of Windsor and an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from Ryerson University in Toronto.

Presenter Location: Harrow, ON

Areas of Focus: Early Years, Elementary School & Mindfulness

Aviva Dunsiger

Blogger & Self-Reg Presenter

Aviva is no stranger to self-regulation, whether in the classroom or in her everyday life. When she’s not moderating blog conversations, Aviva works as a JK/SK teacher at an inner-city school in Hamilton, helping her students develop self-regulation skills. Dr. Shanker’s book, Calm, Alert and Learning has been a source of inspiration for Aviva as a teacher and digital native.

Presenter Location: Dundas, ON

Areas of Focus: Classroom, Early Years & Kindergarten

Leigh Anne Jacques

Montessor Educator & Leader, Self-Reg Presenter

Leigh Anne Jacques is a Montessori educator, school leader, and co-founder of Beaches Montessori School in Toronto. What began as a small school with three classrooms has grown under her leadership into a thriving learning community serving children from toddler through Grade 6 and a team of dedicated educators. A passionate advocate for Self-Reg, Leigh Anne has woven its principles throughout every layer of her school culture. From how educators understand each child to how the Montessori curriculum is delivered, policies are shaped, staff are supported, and families are engaged, Self-Reg serves as a foundation for learning, relationships, and well-being within the community. She regularly facilitates parent seminars and works closely with her team to foster reflective practice, co-regulation, and ongoing professional growth. Leigh Anne is also trained in kids’ yoga and brings a deep appreciation for the connection between movement, regulation, and learning into her work with children and educators. A mother of four, marathon runner, and Ironman triathlete, she is inspired by the power of community and shared goals, a philosophy she brings to both her leadership and presentations.

Presenter Location: GTA, ON

Sonia Mastrangelo

Self-Reg Presenter

Sonia Mastrangelo is an Associate Professor at Lakehead University Orillia in the Faculty of Education, Chief Editor of the International Journal of Holistic Early Learning and Development and former special education teacher with the Dufferin Peel CDSB. She is also a certified Miller Method therapist, a cognitive developmental approach to working with students on the autism spectrum. Sonia travels nationally and internationally, speaking with parents and educators about autism spectrum disorder, self-regulation, the importance of play and developmentally appropriate practice and provides direct consultative support to schools and clinics. She is the recipient of multiple federally funded research grants and is currently collaborating with the MEHRIT Center on a research study on self-regulation and literacy in Big Trout Lake, Ontario.  Further information about her teaching, research and publications can be found at: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/orillia-campus

Presenter Location: Bolton, ON

Areas of Focus: ASD, Inclusion, Early Years & Anxiety

Trisha Mendoza, MSW, RSW

Self-Reg Presenter

Trisha is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She currently works as Self-Regulation Consultant on a multidisciplinary team at CSC Providence, a French-language school board in Southwestern Ontario. She completed her Bachelor of Arts (Hon. Criminology and Psychology) at the University of Windsor as well as her Masters of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Trisha has spent the past 20 years supporting children, youth and their families with complex needs in the non-profit, community health and education sectors. Her passion lies in working with marginalized groups including justice or child welfare-involved youth and young adults, individuals experiencing mental health challenges as well as BIPOC communities. This led her to open her private practice in 2018, working primarily with referral sources for youth who would not otherwise be able to access therapy. She continues to provide psychotherapy to both youth and adults facing various life challenges.

Self-Reg has become a thread weaved throughout both her personal and professional life. Whether she is facilitating training to school personnel, using this lens with her clients in private practice, or sharing a meal around the dinner table with family and friends, Trisha often leans on her Self-Reg knowledge to guide her interactions with others.

Presenter Location: London, ON

Areas of Focus: Intro to Self-Reg, Self-Reg in Early Years, Self-Reg in Education (elementary, high school, post-secondary), anything related to social services (community agencies, health centres, child welfare, youth justice, etc.)

Trisha also offers presentations en français.

Claudio Moschella, M.Ed.

Self-Reg Presenter

Claudio Moschella is an elementary principal in Ontario and a Self-Reg facilitator with The MEHRIT Centre. He began his Self-Reg journey while supporting newcomer students and families from Syria and quickly recognized its impact. Claudio now integrates Self-Reg across his school and school board, supporting educators and students in building safe, connected environments. A devoted father, he also brings a parenting lens to his leadership, modelling co-regulation in all aspects of his work. Claudio is passionate about helping others build their own understanding of Self-Reg and believes deeply in its capacity to transform school culture and personal relationships.

Presenter Location: Brampton, ON

Joe Persia

Self-Reg Presenter

Joe Persia is an elementary school Principal, with extensive training in Shanker Self-Reg®. He holds a M.Sc. In Education, a B.A. in H.R. Training & Development. As an elementary school administrator, he’s accumulated over thirty years experience in education, and his diverse instructional background includes teaching positions in post-secondary in addition to those from Grade 8 right on down to kindergarten where he spent the majority of his teaching career. His move into an administrative role, followed his work with special needs children living with developmental, communication, self-regulation, & learning exceptionalities.

Evidence of his belief in life-long learning, Joe continues to further his learning and understanding of neuroscience, cognition, well-being, and resilience. With extensive reading, action-research, professional/personal reflection as part of his repertoire, it has become clear to Joe that the course charted for children and their long-term trajectories, although flexible, are continuously shaped by the co-regulatory relationships in their lives. Joe strives to establish conditions that serve as fertile ground for optimal self-regulation.

Joe is currently very active on his school district’s Self-Reg Steering, and Staff Wellness Committees.

Presenter Location: Brantford, ON

Areas of Focus: Intro to Self-Reg, Self-Reg Journeys, School District Educators and/or Administrators, Early Years & Private Sector

Arlene Robinson

Self-Reg Online Learning Facilitator & Presenter

Arlene is a retired elementary school principal with more than 30 years in education, wife and mother of two. She has been searching for more effective ways to support students and adults to their fullest potential in spite of what lies in their life path. “I came for students and left with so much more”. For Arlene, Self-Reg is the answer to this search and she is finding the learning journey to be beneficial both personally and professionally and believes everyone can benefit from this learning.

Presenter Location: Lakefield/Peterborough, ON

Areas of Focus: Transitions, School Leadership & Facilitating Learning

Angie Rosati, PhD

Self-Reg Presenter

Angie is a Professor of Early Childhood Education at Sheridan College and has earned her PhD in Education at York University. Angie has been interested in the impact of the schooling experience on the developmental pathways of children for as long as she can remember. Angie writes policy papers and op-ed pieces for an array of educational organizations and regularly delivers workshops to early childhood educators and college professors on the topics of Self-Regulation, Temperament and the Biology of Behaviour. Angie is working toward the day when the science of self-regulation becomes an embodied aspect of education and is hopeful that when all children come to be viewed through a Self-Reg lens by the important people in their lives, they will be freed to experience the promise of their potential.

Presenter Location: Loretto, ON

Areas of Focus: Early Years, Parents & Reframing Behaviour

Kim Smith, MScEd, OCT, (she/her)

Self-Reg Online Learning Facilitator & Presenter

Kim has been an elementary educator for over 35 years with the York Region District School Board in Ontario, 25 of those years as a Principal. She has a Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, is a Cognitive Coach and is also trained in Adaptive Schools and Mindfulness. Having recently retired, Kim continues to work in schools, leading with a self-reg approach.

Kim is a Senior Lecturer at Niagara University in the College of Education in Ontario, teaching Education Law, Special Education and Assessment. She has also taught the Principal’s Qualification Course at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.

Kim has been inspired by the work of Stuart Shanker and strives to create a haven in schools for students, staff and parents. She believes that self-reg is the way to finding calmness and comfort in our fast paced world and looks for ways of sharing this with others. At home, Kim is a wife, mother, mother-in-law and has a lovely Aussie-Doodle named Penny.

Presenter location: Newmarket, ON

Areas of Focus: Teachers, School Leaders & Educational Assistants

Brenda Smith-Chant

Self-Reg Presenter,  Associate Professor, Researcher, Self-Reg Collaborator

Brenda Smith-Chant is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Trent University and Senior Research Advisor for the Self-Regulation Institute. Her research explores how self-regulation develops and how it is shaped by parents, educators, service providers, and social policy. Her work includes major collaborative studies such as Nurturing the Next Generation (a CIHR Knowledge Synthesis Grant with Peel Public Health), the Parent Experiences Study, and evaluations of community initiatives including the Community Aboriginal Recreation Activator project. She also co-led the SSHRC-funded longitudinal studies Count Me In and Count Me In Too, examining children’s early numeracy development. Brenda’s current research focuses on how Self-Reg principles are applied in learning environments, as well as reframing procrastination and supporting educational transitions. Earlier in her career, she served as Coordinator of the Developmental Section of the Canadian Psychological Association and as a Senior Researcher with the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Outside of her research, Brenda is a proud grandma and foster-grandma who restores her own Self-Reg through cooking and camping.

Presenter Location: GTA, ON

Alfredo R. Tinajero

Self-Reg Presenter

Alfredo R. Tinajero is a specialist in early human development based in Toronto, Canada. He holds a degree in Psychology (Southeastern Louisiana University), a Master’s in Developmental Psychology (Illinois State University), and a PhD in Early Human Development (University of Toronto). His main interest lies in programs that support healthy developmental trajectories from the prenatal stage through adulthood, focusing on physical and mental health, learning, behavior, and self-regulation. In this field, Alfredo has worked as a university professor, project consultant and facilitator, funding proposal writer, and speaker, with the goal of integrating preventive approaches across health, nutrition, education, and neuroscience. He has published several works in the field.

Alfredo R. Tinajero es un especialista en desarrollo humano temprano que vive en Toronto, Canadá. Posee formación en Psicología (Southeastern Louisiana University), además de una maestría en Psicología del Desarrollo (Illinois State University) y un doctorado (PhD) en Desarrollo Humano Temprano (University of Toronto). Su principal interés se centra en programas que promueven trayectorias saludables de desarrollo humano desde la etapa prenatal hasta la adultez, en áreas como la salud física y mental, el aprendizaje, el comportamiento y la autorregulación. En este campo, Alfredo ha trabajado como profesor universitario, consultor/impulsor de proyectos, formulador de propuestas de financiamiento, y conferencista, con el objetivo de integrar acciones preventivas desde la salud, la nutrición, la educación, y las neurociencias. Cuenta con varias publicaciones.

Presenter Location: GTA, ON

Paula Jurczak, MA, RCC-ACS, RSW, DIR-ET  (she/her)

Dean of eLearning 

Presenter Location: Richmond, BC

Areas of Focus: Mental & Physical Health, Schools & Youth

Vicki Parnell, (she/her)

Self-Reg Presenter & Parenting Group Administrator

Vicki is the administrator of the Self-Reg Parenting group on Facebook. She also works as an RDI Certified Consultant and Special Needs Resource Navigator, offering parent support and personalized intervention for families throughout British Columbia who have been affected by autism and other neurodevelopmental differences.

Vicki can often be found reading from her growing pile of books about neuroscience, mindfulness and self-regulation, purchased while taking the Self-Reg Foundations course.

Presenter Location: Burnaby, BC

Kristin Wiens

Self-Reg Presenter

Kristin Wiens is an Inclusion Coordinator for the Sooke School District (#62) on Southern Vancouver Island. Throughout her career, she has supported inclusion from Kindergarten to grade 12. Her current focus is on improving transitions to adulthood for students with disabilities. She facilitates workshops on topics including Self-Reg, Mindfulness, Transition Planning and Visuals. Kristin has worked as a Child and Family Counsellor, Education Assistant, and Integration Support teacher. Kristin is the author and illustrator of the children’s book My Gratitude Jar and, soon be released, Self-Reg for Education Assistants. 

Location: Victoria , BC

Susan Hopkins, EdD (she/her)

Executive Director, The MEHRIT Centre

Susan Hopkins is Executive Director of The MEHRIT Centre, Dr. Stuart Shanker’s organization and the home of the Self-Reg framework. An international leader in Self-Reg, she co-creates online courses with Dr. Shanker that have reached thousands of educators worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience across Canada and internationally, Susan works across early childhood, K–12, and the systems that support children and youth. She has led in school administration, inclusion, and the early years, and has delivered hundreds of presentations to educators, leaders, and communities. Her work brings brain-body science and co-regulation to life in real-world contexts. Susan is co-author of Restoring Resilience (2025), Self-Reg Schools (2019), and Applied Self-Reg for Educational Assistants (2026). Known for her engaging storytelling and practical insight, she helps educators and leaders reframe behaviour and create the conditions for well-being, connection, and learning.

Presenter Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Lisa Pinhorn, BA(CYS), MEd, ND, YTT

Self-Reg Online Learning Facilitator & Presenter

Lisa is a holistic family interventionist with Feeding Futures, a private practice she co-founded with her sister. Feeding Futures supports families and professionals to improve the day-to-day lives of children with Autism, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, and developmental trauma. She has over 25 years of non-profit community work, public speaking, and is an advocate for children and their families. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Child Studies specializing in Developmental Disabilities from Mount Saint Vincent University, and a Masters of Education from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, in Adult Education.

Lisa is a firm believer that empowered parents, holistic care, and empathic relationships are powerful, and often missing pieces of pediatric interventions and care. She knows firsthand the challenges of parenting a child on the autism spectrum.

Presenter Location: St. John’s, NL

Crystal Carbino

Self-Reg Presenter

Crystal Carbino is a dedicated Registered Early Childhood Educator with 24 years of experience in early years education, spanning roles in licensed child care and the school board. Currently, she teaches kindergarten as a Designated Early Childhood Educator (DECE) with the Simcoe County District School Board.

Crystal has a wealth of expertise working with children across all age groups, from infants and toddlers to preschoolers and junior/senior kindergarten students. She spent eight years as an Early Childhood Resource Consultant for the Simcoe County District School Board, where she played a pivotal role in facilitating the implementation of Ontario’s full-day, play-based kindergarten program and promoting an understanding of its pedagogy.

A passionate advocate for Shanker Self-Reg, Crystal has studied self-regulation for over 10 years and is deeply committed to sharing its transformative impact on academic achievement and overall well-being. She is proud to be a Self-Reg Champion and holds multiple certifications from The MEHRIT Centre, including the Self-Reg Foundations Certification, Self-Reg Learning Facilitators Certification, and Self-Reg and Early Childhood Development Certification.

Crystal’s extensive experience includes facilitating professional development for educators, with a particular focus on self-regulation. As a learning facilitator, presenter, mentor, and lifelong learner, she is enthusiastic about empowering others with the tools and knowledge to create supportive, self-regulated learning environments.

Presenter Location: Port Severn, ON – Available for Online Presentations only

Rebecca Leslie, MEd, BEd, (she/her)

Self-Reg Online Learning Facilitator & Presenter

With 15 years of classroom teaching experience, Rebecca is a Self-Reg Consultant with The MEHRIT Centre (TMC), delivering dynamic and interactive Self-Reg workshops to educators, parents, and community groups in English/French. She is a Course Facilitator with the Self-Reg eSchool (web-based learning environment) and is a Research and Development Project Manager with the TMC team. Apart from her roles with TMC, Rebecca is a mother of two young boys and an educational consultant in the Toronto region.

Drawn to Self-Reg as a way to understand stress, both negative and positive, Rebecca is particularly interested in the brain-body connection and applying Dr. Shanker’s framework in classrooms, homes, and the workplace. With a BEd and graduate studies at McGill University, she also holds an MEd in Developmental Psychology & Education from the University of Toronto. Her research interests revolve around neuropsychology, sensory systems, and exploring evidence-informed practices for enhancing teacher-student/parent-child relationships.

Presenter Location: Toronto, ON but also available to present in Quebec and the USA