Education Consultant

Educational Background

• PhD, in the Philosophy of Early Childhood Education,                                             2013, Walden University, A grounded theory on spiritual development for US early childhood educators (Amie Beckett, advisor)
• M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, 1994, Cleveland State University, Emphasis in Early Childhood Education
• Assumption Montessori Training, 1974, Ravenhill Academy; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)
• B.S., Psychology, 1971, University of Southern California at Santa Barbara

Higher Education Work Experience

• Adjunct Instructor, Siegal College of Jewish Studies, 2004 to present, Teaching Undergraduate courses in early childhood Jewish teacher education, and supervision of field students, facilitator of Jewish Reggio Study Group
• Online Instructor, 2005-2006, Gratz College: Philadelphia., PA, Teaching Undergraduate courses in early childhood teacher education, and supervision of field students
• Instructor, 2004 – 2005, Lake Erie College, Teaching Undergraduate courses in early childhood teacher education, and supervision of field students
• Instructor, 2002-2003, Cuyahoga Community College, Teaching Undergraduate courses in early childhood teacher education, and supervision of field students
• Adjunct Instructor, fall 2001, Chestnut Hill College, Montessori Philosophy and Child Development
• Adjunct Instructor, 1983-1985, Montgomery Community College, Blue Bell, PA, Teaching Undergraduate courses in early childhood teacher education, and supervision of field students
• Adjunct Instructor, 1978-1983, San Bernardino community college, San Bernardino, CA.

My PhD is in spiritual development of young children beginning at birth which is deeply connected to raising peace loving children.

Professional Experiences in Peacebuilding / Community Building
All of the following experiences have provided me with the opportunity to be a peace builder as I guide children to better know themselves.  It is my belief that in raising children with strong self-awareness, we are insuring a more peaceful community.  Also, a spiritually nurtured child knows peace, as does as child who spend time in nature.

• Director and teacher at Shaker Cooperative Nursery School at Heights                   Sept 2010-present, Christian Church
• Early Childhood Consultant for the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland                        2000-present
• Early Childhood Consultant, 2006 – 2009, Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association, Early Childhood Professional Development Instructor for professional Development ODE,  2007 – 2009
• Co-seminar planner and Faculty, 2005-2007, Jewish Community Center Association -  Lekhu Lakhem
• Early Childhood Director, Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center, 2003-2004
• Montessori Head Start Teacher, 2001-2002, Laura Waring Elementary School:  Philadelphia, Pa.
• Teacher and Early Childhood Coordinator, Agnon School in Cleveland, Ohio                                                                  1991-2001
• Kindergarten Teacher, 1985-1991, Solomon Schechter Day School, Philadelphia., PA.

Director of Programs & Outreach
River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding
www.centerforpeacebuilding.org

Educational Background
Jeffrey Weisberg is a founder and the Director of Programs & Outreach for the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding (RPCP). He brings his experience and training to support the implementation of programs and services to all community members with a focus on prevention, intervention and healing from violence.  He is an adjunct faculty member at the Universty of Florida and other schools in Florida.  His emphasis is on promoting and training youth and adults in social/emotional learning, healthy communication and conflict resolution. A guiding principle is for everyone to learn to resolve conflicts through healthy communication in relationships, thus breaking the cycle of violence and creating a safer community.

Jeffrey has studied  Non-Violent Communication with it’s founder, Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, Restorative Justice Practices, Mediation, Emotional Intelligence Principles, Group Dynamics and Leadership. He has worked for Outward Bound in the outdoor experienctial educational field and other similar organizations, leading trips for over 20 years. He was the director of Kripalu Center’s “Coming of Age” and “Communication & Self Esteem” programs for youth.  He continues to draw from best practices to develop cutting edge programs offered through RPCP delivered throughout the state of Florida.

Jeffrey is a graduate of the first PPI offered in 2010.

Professional Experiences in Peacebuilding / Community Building
Jeffrey’s teaching experience spans over 25 years working with youth and adults in experiential learning settings.  Programs like Outward Bound, YMCA, Kripalu’s Coming of Age and others programs set the stage for his current work with the Center for Peacebuilding. His approach has been influenced by mentors and trainers such as Dr. Rosenberg’s Non-Violent Communication, Lauren Abramson’s Restorative Justice program called Community Conferencing, Stephen MR Covey  work called “The Speed of Trust” and Daniel Goleman’s work on Emotional Intelligence.  These and other modalities have informed Jeffrey’s approach to peacebuilding which is applied to settings ranging from the University of Florida (4^th Largest University in the US), small businesses, the Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice, local schools, individuals and organizations. He is a Florida State Certified mediator and is able to apply those skills to assist his efforts in building stronger relationships and finding common ground.

His vision and efforts are to create a model that can be translated to communities throughout the world.  This model is aimed at helping to focalize peacebuilding efforts to effect change on a large scale with an empasis of starting on the personal level.

Jeffrey is a founding member of an intentional community and program center in central Massachusetts called “Earthlands”.   In addition he is a founding member of The Peace Alliance (TPA) and has served on the Board of Directors for both TPA and the Peace Alliance Educational Institute for many years.  His leadership is inspired by his personal mission to create a world of deep peace and vibrant connections in all relationships.

He is currently developing a new approach of working with small businesses, organizations and institutions called “Organizational Peacebuilding”.  This combines organizational development principles, the Appreciative Inquiry process along with the Emotional Intelligence, Communication Skill Building and Conflict Resolution tools necessary to implement the goals and vision of these teams.

The project that Jeffrey brought to PPI back in 2010 was to develop his vision and plan for the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding and they have just celebrated their one year anniversary. RPCP is increasingly being recognized by peacebuilders around the world, including being introduced to the UN as a model for developing infrastructures of peacebuilding.

Publications

7 Week Communication & Self Esteem Curriculum     2012
Workshop Curriculum: Exploring the Masculine, Father Son/Daughter Retreat, Peacebuilding 101, Department of Juvenile Justice – Juvenile Probation Officers