Ale for Somerton School Board

04/13/2026

04/10/2026

04/01/2026

What’s going on in your State?

A sneak peek of the 2026 MAPA Report Preview
Five years of impact. Data, leadership, and what’s next for education in Arizona.
Want the full preview? Join our mailing list and we’ll send it your way after MAPA.
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Un adelanto del Informe MAPA 2026
Cinco años de impacto. Datos, liderazgo y lo que sigue para la educación en Arizona.
¿Quieres ver el informe completo? Únete a nuestra lista de correo y te lo enviaremos después de MAPA.

03/11/2026

My sidekick and I going out and collecting signatures 💖

03/10/2026

Encouragement does far more than make a child feel good in the moment. It literally shapes how their brain develops.

When children grow up hearing encouragement instead of constant criticism, their nervous system feels safer. Their thinking brain stays engaged instead of shutting down in fear or shame. From that place of safety, children are far more able to problem solve, learn from mistakes, and trust their own abilities.

Encouragement also shifts a child’s motivation. Instead of acting out of fear of punishment or the need for external rewards, children begin to act from within. They develop intrinsic motivation, which means they try because they believe in themselves and in their ability to grow.

Over time, these small moments of encouragement help build resilience. Mistakes start to feel like part of learning rather than something to avoid. Children become more willing to try again, more confident in their thinking, and more capable of navigating challenges.

This doesn’t mean we ignore mistakes or never guide our children. It means we guide them from a place of connection and belief in who they are becoming.

Our words matter. The way we speak to our children becomes the voice they eventually carry inside their own minds.

And when that voice is rooted in encouragement, it helps shape a brain that is confident, resilient, and ready to keep learning. 💕💕💕