| |
| Jean C. Lawler, a.k.a. The Dragonfly |
Jean C. Lawler (The Dragonfly) is a long-time educator with teaching experience in preschool, elementary, and high school classrooms. She has worked with special needs as well as gifted children in a variety of settings. To enhance her educational experience, Jean earned Masters Degrees from Lesley University in Early Childhood Education (1974) and Harvard Graduate School of Education in Interactive Technology (1984).
She has focused her work for the last 25+ years in educational publishing, helping to create a wide variety of print, media-based, and online curriculum products. Starting out at D.C. Heath, Jean was the project manager for Discovering French Interactive and ¡DIME! Interactive by Jean-Paul and Rebecca Valette—two innovative CD programs that were awarded the Macromedia People's Choice Award and NewMedia's Invision Award of Excellence.
While at Heinemann, Jean managed the development of Units of Study for Primary Writing, Units of Study for Teaching Writing, Grades 3—5, and Units of Study for Teaching Reading by Lucy Calkins, and The Comprehension Toolkit and The Primary Comprehension Toolkit by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis. These products have grossed over $100 million in revenue worldwide.
During this time, Jean managed teams of up to 30 individuals who worked together to deliver the complex, multifaceted products on very tight schedules. In addition to project management, she frequently contributed her writing and editing skills to these curriculum materials.
In July 2004, Jean moved to the North Shore of Massachusetts, where she discovered yoga and tai chi, built numerous vegetable and flower gardens in her backyard, constructed a small pond, put up a flock of birdfeeders, and found herself routinely contemplating the positive effect that spending less time in front of the TV or computer and more time in nature had on her well being.
Over the course of the next several years, Jean came to believe that a balance of nature, nutrition, mindfulness, and media was critical to her peace of mind. As a lifelong educator, her thoughts went instantly to children: what if kids could learn to feel this same sense of calm and contentment? What effect would it have on their health and their school performance? Considering an answer to this question planted the seed that has since grown into Terrapeutics™ -- a way of thinking about helping kids develop their "inner landscapes" -- and the beginnings of a curriculum plan.
Currently, Jean is working with son, Mark, at the family-owned Lawler Publishing Group, Inc. LPG has three divisions: Flying Ribbit – creative services; X-FERMATION – media transfer services; and Lawler Press – specialty publishing.
When she is able to get away from the computer and phone, Jean spends time counting dragonflies in her garden, walking the local beaches, entertaining her grandson, and volunteering at her local community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm program. |
|
|
|
| |
|
