Simply Bee Classroom
We deliver social, emotional, mental and health services to students, parents and educators to promote wellness in the academic and professional setting.
Professional Development Trainings
Available in 2021
Keynote Speech: Growing A Resilient Mind
In this keynote presentation, Simply Bee CEO & Therapist, Audrey Grunst, LCSW, teaches five foundational tools for building emotional wellness through The Growth & Resiliency Model© . The five steps to growth are:
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Increase Awareness
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Learn to Observe
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Respond Effectively
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Integrate Coping Skills
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Practice a Growth Mindset
We know that educators have a lot on their plate and are constantly managing emotions throughout the day. Not only their own, but also those of whom they interact with on a daily basis: students, parents, and co-workers. This can be overwhelming, especially when given all of the other responsibilities in life.
Our mission is to provide educators the necessary skills that support emotional growth during challenging times.
Sneak Peek!
Workshop: Reconnecting As A Team
This experiential workshop is heavily influenced by the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team training program, designed for teams to:
- Build trust
- Manage conflict
- Increase commitment
- Create accountability
- Find common goals
Simply Bee's CEO and therapist Audrey Grunst, LCSW, trains professionals to lead by example and act as a team. Her yearlong experience leading this program with the Northwestern Women's Volleyball Team in 2018 is the foundation of this workshop.
This workshop is ideal for schools who are moving into full in-person instruction with a blended cohort of educators who taught from home and in the classroom. Whether this year was 100% remote, a hybrid model or mostly all in person - we feel this summer is the perfect time to get your team back on track and feeling more unified than ever!
source: TableGroup
Workshop Series: Summer Wellness SPF Prevent The Burnout
Summer is coming, so don't forget the SPF! Educators need ongoing support now more than ever. Don't let your team feel burned this summer! Support them in the form of mental, physical and spiritual wellness with our Summer Personal Development Workshop Series for Educators.
We know school administrators are charged with making big decisions for hundreds of little and big people. This three-part series is a great way to show your educators that you're invested in their well-being. The workshops are focused on improving mental resilience, as well as the physical and spiritual wellness of your educators so they can return to the classroom in the fall feeling recharged and refreshed.
Presentation: The Purpose Behind Hard Things
When we are caught in a thinking trap of "what ifs" and "oh nos" we are no longer in control of our mind. This workshop allows people to safely explore life's hard moments and discover how to accept "what is." Audrey Grunst, LCSW, helps to design a customizable and individualized action plan for each educator to gain back their control using The Growth and Resiliency Model.
Our mission is to provide healthy stress management skills, stop anxiety and worry from interfering with productivity, and introduce cope ahead with skills to prevent burn out.
Workshop: Committing To Wellness
Staying motivated and committed to health goals can be a challenge for anyone. But for educators, their own physical health often takes a back seat as they prioritize the health and wellbeing of others before their own. In this workshop model presentation Audrey Grunst, LCSW, will debunk common myths about wellness such as, putting yourself first is selfish, and provide realistic options for educators to stay committed to their wellness routines.
Our mission with this workshop is to help educators normalize putting their own self-care first to avoid burnout in the long run.
+ Extra Credit Material
Early access!
Share with your team ahead of time so they can take notes and easily follow along!
Custom worksheets!
Provides a personalized plan for educators to implement skills alongside presentation!
Listen again!
Recorded presentation link with 14-day access post-presentation!
About Simply Bee Classroom
Most educators have one thing in common: a deep desire to take care of their students and their own family members. Fulfilling this desire, however, frequently prevents you from meeting your personal physical, mental health and wellness goals.
Like bees who help their hives become successful through individual work for the greater good, here at Simply Bee we believe the same idea applies to you as an educator. If you work hard to take care of yourself first, it directly impacts your hive (e.g. your classroom and your family). The same is true on the flip side, though. If you don't take care of yourself, your hive suffers.
Our mission in creating Simply Bee Classroom is to provide accessible tools so educators can recognize, achieve and sustain personal wellness.
About The Growth & Resiliency Model©
If organizational change is needed, look no further! Audrey combines executive coaching, mental health and team building exercises in this interactive, keynote speech to create the change you need to see. Experience instant growth that is equal parts educational and inspiring.
Our comprehensive five-step Growth & Resiliency Model© is designed to fuse theory, skill and knowledge into people’s understanding of their personal growth and emotional development. This model is used in all of the content and material produced by Audrey Grunst, LCSW, and her team.
4x4 Wellness Program For Educators
Self-paced Virtual Course Available Now
What We Solve
Finding motivation and inspiration in life can be hard to achieve. For many educators finding time, energy, positivity and practicing self-care seems even more out of reach due to the demands on their plates. We've talked with teachers about their "bad days" and most admit that on those days they feel stressed, overwhelmed with tasks, isolated, tired, sluggish, useless and anxious. They feel as if their buttons are constantly being pushed, they're overreacting, highly irritable and that they have zero energy left for their personal life.
Our team of experts understands these pain points and will work with you through our 4x4 Wellness Model for Educators to help you discover how you can make changes to positively impact your personal and professional life.
What We Achieve
Think about the "good days" you have as an educator. How do you feel during or after a good day? Maybe you feel clear-minded, present, aligned with your values, motivated, patient, energized, productive and proud of how you're making a difference. These "good day" feelings are your deep desires as an educator and as a person. Once we identify and work to solve your pain point issues, you are better able to achieve these deep desires.
Our Four 'Set' Approach
Each set includes four mini-lessons & applications
Mindset
*Control Your Time*
Mental skills are the foundation to success. Being able to manage time is critical so you feel like you're able to "get it all done" and still have gas left in the tank for spiritual, physical and emotional health. Our day is filled from morning to night. Between lesson planning, teaching, grading school work and taking care of your personal to-dos, it's hard to imagine you have any "hidden" hours in your day. But you do! And we can help you find them.
Physical Health
*Sustain Your Energy*
Physical health is important to sustain energy through food exercise. Mood and emotions impact the way you make decisions about food. We approach nutrition and exercise from a mental wellness viewpoint. So when those "bad days" pop up (sometimes more frequently than the good days) and you're feeling tired and unmotivated, you have the tools to help you not spiral out of control.
Spiritual Practice
*Improve Your Self Care*
Once you're able to identify extra hours in your day to focus on your overall health and nutrition, it's important to continually care for yourself. Mindfulness and movement are two of the best ways to practice self-care. You don't have to be an expert yogi to feel the positive effects of gentle movement, breathing and deep relaxation techniques.
Emotional Growth
*Boost Your Mood*
Emotional health emphasizes the importance of educators' experiences and how they feel about themselves, their students and environment. Restoring a positive outlook on day to day activities boosts mood and improves the interactions between educators and their students.
Impact Story
Testimonials
"Simply Bee has visited our elementary school the last two years. This year we expanded the program to include students, teachers, and parents. The feedback has been nothing but positive from all involved. Audrey and her staff are extremely knowledgeable, approachable, and relatable. They offer a very well-balanced approach to the social-emotional learning process. We can’t wait for them to come again next year."
-Christy Hunter, Principal at Hawthorn South Elementary
"I found your presentation [Overcome Overwhelm] to be amazing, it was jam-packed full of GREAT information, so thank you!"
-Heather P., OT
"I learned from Audrey about stepping back and separating emotions from reactions and other steps to not just react or manage; but to prevent being overwhelmed and to better understand my emotions."
-Mary Rose P., Educator
"Audrey and her team at Simply Bee have been one of our most trusted partners and allies over the past few years. Their blend of strong content, relatability and forward-thinking technology allows them to connect with students and families in a way that many can’t. Our community and schools are better because of their work."
-Andy Duran, CEO at LEAD & Member of the Board of Education for District 65
"I love the concept of shifting your time mindset from scarcity to abundance and that time is an internal experience, so we CAN change our sense of time. This exercise will help me stretch and push my levels of comfort in order to help achieve goals that align with my values and give me energy to give more to others after I have prioritized and put the work into myself first."
-Holly S., Educator, 4x4 Participant
"Thanks again for all the work you and your colleagues have done with the videos. I'm finding them really helpful, and I look at each new mini-lesson because I always walk away with new insights and practical suggestions."
-Sandra A., Educator; 4x4 Participant
"This series has been very beneficial for bringing some of the things I already knew back to the forefront of my mind. I have personally committed to gratitude every morning, yoga 4-5 times a week, using breath work on a daily basis, and staying present as much as possible to control my anxiety. Thank you so very much for this program and all of your expertise and insight. So grateful!!"
-Laura S., Educator, 4x4 Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Request A Custom Presentation?
Am I Required To Offer The 4x4 Wellness Program to Everyone In My Building/District?
Are PD Presentations In Person or Virtual?
How Much Access To the 4x4 Wellness Program Will My Educators Have?
How Much Access Do I Have To A PD Presentation?
How Quickly Can My Team Get Started With The 4x4 Wellness Program?
Can These PD Topics Be Made Available As Presentations For Parents?
Do You Provide The 4x4 Program For An Individual Educator?
Looking For More?
Schedule a 15 minute call with Kate Kelley, Manager of Community Education so she can help!
Meet The Team
Meet Audrey
Audrey Grunst, LCSW, is CEO and a therapist at Simply Bee. She earned her Masters Degree of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago in 2011 (where she was also a Division I volleyball player) and is certified in Change Management from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Audrey combines over 10 years of clinical experience with her business background to help others improve their mental health and wellness.
Over the past three years she has partnered with several schools and districts to provide supplemental Social Emotional Learning (SEL) support for students and parents, as well as, personal wellness programs and professional development workshops impacting the lives of thousands of educators.
Audrey has extensive training in skill-based therapy including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Family-based Therapy for Anorexia and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She uses these skills in her strategy formula to promote change and provide wellness skills to educators.
Meet Stephanie S.
Stephanie Smith, M.A., M.Ed. & IIN Certified Health Coach grew up outside of Boston but now resides in the Chicagoland area with her husband and two daughters. She has been an educator for over 15 years and has experience as a teacher, coach and a school administrator.
Since an early age she's been interested in the connection between nutrition, performance and mental health. She studied holistic nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and is a certified IIN Health Coach who is passionate about helping children, adults and educators live their happiest and most vital lives through health and wellness.
Stephanie's education includes a Master of Arts from Dartmouth College and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from American College of Education. In addition to working at Simply Bee as a Health Coach, she currently teaches sixth grade.
Meet Stephanie B.
Stephanie Bersh is the resident yoga practitioner within the Simply Bee Wellness Team. Her passion for wellness is grounded in the practice of yoga. She uses breathing exercises, yoga postures and energy works as tools to help clients access deep relaxation, stress reduction, emotional release and physical blockages. She guides clients toward finding safety in their body and connect to their breath and mind in order to improve their overall wellbeing.
Stephanie specializes in yoga postures that promote grounding, relaxation and growth, along with supported restorative poses that release tension in the mind and body. In addition to yoga, Stephanie is a certified Reiki teacher and uses the practice of Reiki as another healing modality.
She is passionate about self-love and as a facilitator for the Embody Love Movement, she hosts workshops and retreats for tweens, teens and adult women to guide them in reconnecting with their bodies and practice self-love and self-compassion as part of their overall wellness journey.
National Presenters
Ready to Buy?
Available Summer PD
Reconnecting As A Team Workshop
$1800
3 Hour Professional Development
SPF Summer Workshop Series
$750
3 Hour Professional Development
Available Fall | Winter | Spring PD
Growing A Resilient Mind Keynote Speech
$600
1 Hour Professional Development
The Purpose Behind Hard Things Presentation
$600
1 Hour Professional Development
Committing To Wellness Workshop
$600
1 Hour Professional Development
Space Is Limited!
We are now booking into the Fall 2021-22 school year.
Grab a spot on the calendar to show your educators how much you value their well-being. We will help them focus on their professional development and personal wellness.
Contact our Manager of Community Education Kate Kelley today.
Thank you for everything you do for the children in our communities!
We can all remember that one teacher who made an impact in our life. The one who set us on a whole new trajectory. That teacher who believed in us and empowered us to aim high and dream big. We created these workshops for them.
We ask so much of our educators. They are the backbone of our country; shaping young minds and doing it selflessly without missing a beat. We are here to do our part and give back and to help our educators fill their cups first - - for once in their life! We hope you see the value in our programs and invite you to connect with us to learn more.
