About Us
About Us
Here's about the creator of the program and who works with the Brain Highways participants.
Founder, Executive Director
Before assuming the position of Executive Director of the Brain Highways program, Nancy Sokol Green was a classroom teacher; author of curriculum, articles, and trade books; content editor; and educational consultant.
Green earned her teaching credential from the University of California at Santa Barbara. During her years as a classroom teacher, Green worked at an inner city school with children of diverse needs: Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Hmong refugees; students in special education; and at-risk children with behavior and academic concerns.
Her original approach for working with such children led her to become an educational consultant and author of more than a dozen education programs used in schools nationwide. As a consultant, Green provided extensive training of her approach and curriculum to teachers in school districts in California, Texas, and New York. She was invited to present at national education conferences and to be a guest lecturer at San Diego State University, San Jose State University, and the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Green was the content editor for one of the first comprehensive English as a Second Language programs. As a consultant for a nationwide elementary math curriculum created by Harvard mathematicians, she provided lesson tips to help teachers modify the program for special needs students. As a consultant for public schools in San Diego county, Green created numerous original on-site programs for students enrolled in both special education and gifted and talented programs.
Green has additionally written magazine articles and authored two books for the general public: Raising Curious Kids (Crown Publishers) and Poisoning Our Children: Surviving in a Toxic World (The Noble Press).
After first piloting the Brain Highways program for five years in San Diego county public schools, Green opened the Brain Highways Center in 2004. In response to the overwhelming, increasing number of children besieged with problems, the intent was to provide a place where families could learn why their children were struggling and to help them move forward. Based on new research that fully supports the brain’s ability to change (neuroplasticity), Green expanded the school version of the program to include the children’s parents.
As the Executive Director of the Brain Highways Center, Green now oversees the staff and families of both the San Diego and online programs.
Lead Program Facilitators
Along with previous experience working with special needs children, the Brain Highways lead program facilitators generally have an education or psychology background. However, since the Brain Highways curriculum is so unique, it is the lead facilitators’ years of hands-on interactions with program participants that make them so highly effective. Some of the staff have even been with the program since it was first offered in public schools over ten years ago.
Assistant Program Facilitators
College students with future interest in working in fields such as neuroscience, occupational therapy, child development, and education assist the lead program facilitators.