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Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz
Director of Student Services/Resilience at ESSDACK
Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz
Director of Student Services/Resilience at ESSDACK
Biography
Rebecca is a dedicated advocate working tirelessly with both communities and schools across the United States to tackle poverty and heal trauma. Her journey began in 2011 when, as a single mother of three, she fought her way out of poverty and a trailer park. Discovered by a local poverty resolution project, Rebecca's transformative journey led her to ESSDACK. She later went on to establish multiple projects aimed at assisting families across the country.
After earning her college degree with an emphasis on education, Rebecca turned her attention to public schools, sparking a trauma-informed schools movement in her state and beyond. Widely recognized in Kansas and throughout the United States for her groundbreaking work in building trauma-informed schools, Rebecca is a captivating presenter. Her lived experience invites audiences into a powerful narrative of healing, hope, and restoration.
Rebecca is a master facilitator, a generous storyteller, and possesses a unique talent for distilling and conveying complex concepts around the brain, behavior, and healing. Her carefully crafted work has illuminated the path for hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers on their journey to creating trauma-informed cultures and frameworks. More importantly, she guides participants in identifying their current position, their goals, and the path forward as a system.
Currently, Rebecca is the Director of Student Services/Resilience at ESSDACK, a school board member, and an active collaborator with Youth Core Ministries in expanding poverty resolution projects in Kansas and beyond. She is a wife to her soul mate, a mother to three incredible sons, and she treasures mentoring women in her hometown.
Speaker Videos
Paradigm Poverty Simulation Clip
Speech Topics
Understanding Poverty & Adversity Through Experience: Brains Wired for Survival
This is an immersive and transformative experience designed to deepen your understanding of poverty and its impact on students and families. Our day begins with the Poverty Paradigm Simulation, where participants will step into the shoes of those living in survival mode. Over the course of four intense 15-minute weeks, you will role-play the challenges faced by families on the lower economic scale, gaining first hand insight into their decision-making processes and daily struggles.
Following the simulation, we will engage in a comprehensive learning session that explores the intricate relationship between poverty and adversity, the brain, the body, and the stress response system.
Key topics include:
- Poverty and Adversity: This is a Brain Issue and Not a Character Issue
- Discipline vs. Punishment: Learn how accountability and consequences can build trust and foster resilience in the face of adversity.
- Classroom Regulation and Behavior Hacks: Equip yourself with practical strategies to support students with big behaviors.
This event is perfect for educators, community leaders, and anyone passionate about making a difference. Together, we can initiate the paradigm shifts necessary for transformation. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your understanding and enhance your skills in supporting those affected by poverty. and /or adversity.
Behavior is a Brain Issue & Not a Character Issue
Discipline Versus Punishment: America's Grand Experiment on Punishment
From Adversity to Resilience (Her Story)
Brains Wired for Survival
Related Speakers
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International Speaker on Economic Diversity & Social Economic Class, Expert on the Impact of Financial & Emotional Poverty on Learning
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