Janice Toben works with public and private schools across the country to promote positive school climate. She directed the Nueva School’s Social and Emotional Learning Program for twenty-seven years. On the strength of the SEL program, Nueva was recognized by the Templeton Foundation as a National School of Character and has become a Blue Ribbon School three times.
Janice facilitates professional development seminars, parent education programs and teaching institutes such as InstituteforSEL.net. She conducted educational seminars at Wheelock and Columbia Teacher’s College; designed over twenty programs with the Center for Advancement and Renewal of Educators, providing an innovative program for emotional and intellectual renewal for educators in the San Francisco School District; and presents at conferences such as NAIS and CAG. Janice appears in the video Emotional Intelligence: A New Vision for Educators (based on Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence [Bantam, 1995]) and is the author of many lessons for the early and mid-elementary grades. Janice has two grown sons.
Ben Grossman-Kahn, M.Ed is the former Education and Innovation manager at Children’s Creativity Museum and is currently an Innovation Coach and Design researcher with the Nordstrom Innovation Lab. Ben spent several years as a Project lead with the d.School K-12 Lab, bringing design thinking activities and curriculum to partner organizations, including Girl Scouts, Maker Faire and the Palo Alto School District. Ben has also taught design thinking around the world, working with organizations in Taiwan, including Quanta, LCY, and National Taiwan University.
When not designing and brainstorming, Ben can frequently be found backpacking, searching for the best dumplings in China, and the coziest hostels in Eastern Europe. In a previous life, Ben was a Principal and Director of Jefunira Camp and founder of Happy Campers Parties, which offered custom birthday parties and treasure hunts for children.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in Asia studies from Pomona College and a master’s degree in education from Stanford University.
To conduct one’s life according to the Tao, is to conduct one’s life without regrets; to realize that potential within oneself which is of benefit to all. — Lao Tze
