About Us
Our Vision
We see a day when
- People feel cared for, respected and empowered in their schools, families and communities
- Families feel that it is normal to ask for help and have a broad network of local resources (or family educators) that cross race, class and culture where they can turn for support and parenting tools.
- Classrooms are places where young people are learning the skills needed in a global society
- Schools are places where mistakes are opportunities for learning and the race bias around discipline is undone
- Communities support schools and families in using solution focused methods that enhance equity and honor each person’s dignity.
We Believe
- All people, young and adult—regardless of race, class and culture—are worthy of dignity and respect
- Misbehaving children are discouraged children
- Current punitive practices and systems work to the detriment of all young people and perpetuate a legacy of oppression and inequity
- Mutually respectful relationships and solution focused problem solving empower children, families, schools, and communities to thrive and foster academic excellence, citizenship, equity, and democracy
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Effective Discipline1:
- Helps children feel a sense of connection. (Belonging and significance.)
- Is mutually respectful and encouraging. (Kind and firm at the same time.)
- Considers what the child is thinking, feeling, learning, and deciding about himself and his world – and what to do in the future to survive or to thrive.
- Teaches important social and life skills.
- Invites children to discover how capable they are.
Our Experience:
Our trainers have a over a decade of regional experience including:
- Five years with Seattle Public Schools using Solution Focused Discipline Whole School Model to eliminate the race gap in disciplinary action in selected schools;
- Four lead trainers for the national Positive Discipline Association;
- Six nationally Certified Positive Discipline Trainers;
- Hundreds of teachers who’ve taken our Positive Discipline in the Classroom workshops;
- Hundreds of parents who’ve taken our Positive Discipline parenting classes in English or Spanish;
- Scores of parent trainers who’ve taken our Teaching Parenting the Positive Discipline Way workshops in English or Spanish;
- Three active mentoring groups for facilitators and parenting educators (in Spanish and English); and
- Five years of comprehensive data on the Seattle schools in our program and ongoing self evaluation and data collection to measure and ensure ongoing effectiveness.
The Sound Discipline Board:
Terry Chadsey, President
Terry is a co-founder of Sound Discipline. He has led workshops and courses in discipline for parents, parent educators, teachers and principals. In addition, he has provided customized coaching and facilitation for district and school teams and presented at local, state, and national education conferences.
Terry has a BA from Yale University, an MS in Elementary Education from the University of Chicago and principal credentials from the University of Washington. He taught kindergarten through eighth grade over twenty-two years in Chicago, Australia, and Washington State. Terry then worked for ten years for school districts, managing change projects and providing professional development for teachers and administrators. Terry lives in Seattle with his wife Jane. Their blended family includes four adult children.
Currently, Terry Chadsey is Co-director of the Center for Courage & Renewal, an organization founded by author, activist and educator, Parker J. Palmer. The Center exists to nurture personal and professional integrity, and the courage to act on it. He is also a Circle of Trust® facilitator.
Mike McMann, Treasurer
Mike McMann, President, PanGaia Consulting LLC
Mike McMann has contributed to educational innovations in technology integration, professional leadership, and organizational development through twenty-plus years as an international consultant, author, school administrator and classroom teacher. Mike's professional contributions include regional leadership for the USA New American Schools project, education strategy planning for Microsoft Corporation, program design for the University of Washington Teaching, Learning and Technology Program, and formation of the Shoreline Teacher Development Center. As a fellow of the National Faculty/Smithsonian Institute, Apple Distinguished Educator, and member of the Board for Sound Discipline, Mike's contributions to improvement in education continue to reach a growing global audience.
Sally Telzrow, Secretary
Ms. Telzrow is a licensed independent social worker. She has worked for over 32 years as a therapist, clinical supervisor and director in a number of community based programs meeting the social, emotional and mental health needs of children, youth and families.
Ms. Telzrow continues to focus on social emotional health and barriers to learning in her current work at Seattle Public Schools. Her administrative skills and knowledge of child development and best practices in supporting social/emotional skill development in children have resulted in successful programming in a number of arenas: implementation of student support strategies at the middle school level, provision of social emotional skills groups to kindergarten students and the development of a program that trains parents to successfully engage culturally diverse families who are experiencing language or cultural barriers in getting connected and involved with their children’s education. She also works with SPS department of Community Learning to provide technical assistance, and professional development support to Community Learning Centers in six secondary schools.
Ms. Telzrow’s family has always been as important as her work. She and her husband, Robert, have raised two children and now enjoy being involved in the lives of their three grandchildren.
Christine Gordon
Christine Gordon is a youth development consultant working to help others empower young people. She has particular expertise in fostering youth voice and engagement in out-of-school-time programs. Christine is passionate about building communities of youth and adults as equal partners, and creating opportunities for young people in positions of leadership. She holds her B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from Pacific Lutheran University and is a Certified Positive Discipline Parenting Educator.
Jilberto Soto
Jilberto Soto grew up in Moxee, Washington and attended the University of Washington, graduating with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. During his undergraduate tenure, he held many positions serving as his Omega Delta Phi fraternity President, and was La Raza Commission Director for the Associated Students of the University of Washington. Jilberto joined The Boeing Company straight out of college as a Business Career Foundation Program participant, a two year leadership rotational program. In his free time, Jilberto enjoys traveling, previously visiting Mexico, Panama, Spain, Rome and Tahiti. He also loves to volunteer and is a big brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Julie Soto
Julie Soto M.S., is a parent educator,child development specialist and family advocate with over 30 years experience teaching, training professionals and developing programs for families with young children. Julie has served on many family advocate boards and was a founding member of the Kids Quest Children's Museum Board. Julie was the editor of Infants Toddlers and Preschoolers; the Best Resources to Help you Parent. She has presented workshops throughout Washington State, nationally, and in Canada. Julie recently retired from Bellevue College as Director of the Parent Education/Early Learning Program.
Executive Director:
Jody McVittie, MD
Jody is the executive director and a co-founder of Sound Discipline. A native Seattleite, Jody McVittie, MD received her BS in Biology from Stanford University and her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University. She completed her family medicine residency and fellowship in California. She worked as a family physician in both California and Washington before shifting to focus on broader community issues that impact all of our health including education, parenting and land use.
Currently she consults with school staff, trains parent educators, teaches parent education classes and provides coaching to teachers and parents. She is a lead trainer for the Positive Discipline Association and co-author of the Positive Discipline Workbook and BRIDGES, Building Relationships for Improved Discipline, Academic Gains and Effective Schools.
Her dream is to build healthy communities by teaching parents, teachers and students how to work together in relationships founded on deep mutual respect. Jody is the mother of three young adults who have been some of her best teachers.
Trainers:
Deborah Alonso
Jennifer Callahan
Terry Chadsey
Stacy Lappin
Jody McVittie
Melanie Miller
Anita Morales
Sahara Pirie
Sean Rolloson
Jeanne Strong
SWIS Facilitators
Jennifer Callahan
Jody McVittie, MD
Jeanne Strong