SISTERHOOD SPOTLIGHTS ILLUMINATE LOCAL GIRLS WHO INSPIRE
By SisterHood Scribe: Gretchen Johnson | Needham Mom

• Martha's Vineyard-based neuroeducational consultant Noel Foy is on a mission: to decrease stress and boost performance among our youth; and never before has such a mission been so vital. 
• As a classroom teacher and Learning Specialist for many years, Noel grew increasingly concerned about "an alarming new set of patterns in her students...including a lack of emotional regulation, resilience and self-direction" to name a few. As a result, Noel developed AMMPE, her neuroeducational consulting practice designed to empower by providing practical applications for building the skill sets + mindsets needed to maximize success in and beyond the classroom.
• With her trademark aura of positivity + growth mindset, Noel's coaching has range: from one-to-one sessions with students or athletes to workshops with parents or educators to powerful, all-school assemblies. "Science has proven that stress is a big inhibitor to learning, so my work and trainings focus on how to remove stressful barriers to learning. Building underdeveloped executive function skills, facilitating mindful thought patterns and embedding multi-sensory strategies that support the neuroscience of learning—these strategies support how the brain learns best—and will boost learning," said Noel.
• In the recent past, anxiety among children and teens has spiked to double-digit growth, but Noel is determined to take on the challenge connected to these stats: "Anxiety can take up so much space in the brain and get in the way of our success in school, jobs, relationships and overall life enjoyment. It doesn't have to be that way though; anxiety is treatable, and with help and strategies, you can regain control over anxiety's vicious cycle."
• In her book ABC Worry Free (which she reads in an engaging "story-time format"  on YouTube!), Noel paints a picture of how worry works, how to shift perspective and how to take control of anxiety. Her coaching reminds us that: "As educators and parents, we are always looking for tools and resources to help our students and children to process everyday challenges, especially during these uncertain and disruptive times. Now, more than ever, children and adults need to have conversations about their worries and ways to cope."
• Noel, thank you for sharing such valuable, timely (and free!) resources during these trying times for families and educators. Learn more about Noel here.