The Board of Directors
As a non-profit corporation, the PCI is guided by an outstanding, committed Board of Directors.
Cheryl Penner
President and Treasurer
Cheryl has eighteen years experience as an educator, and is now currently studying to become a PCI Certified Parent Coach® because of her passion to support families. Cheryl has served as a founding board member of Puget Sound Aikikai, a not-for-profit community dojo dedicated to being a supportive and challenging place for the study of traditional Aikido. While on the board, her experience included fundraising, seeking talent and expertise in the Aikido community, developing governing bylaws and processes for a consensus-based organization, conducting market research, defining the dojo's mission and purpose, planning and constructing the physical practice space, and building dojo membership. Cheryl's main duties at the PCI include leading the Board of Directors and setting the program agenda for the PCI. Cheryl is the responsible fiscal agent for the organization and works closely with Gloria DeGaetano, CEO, to ensure smooth functioning of all aspects of the institute, including the parent coach training program and numerous out-reach projects.
Cheryl Walker
Vice-President
With twenty-one years experience as an Occupational Therapist, Cheryl currently specializes in the treatment of pre-term infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Her past experience includes many years working with pediatric and adolescent psychiatric patients and their families. Cheryl seeks to make life easier for families. As a mother of three (ages 10, 8 and 4), her first experience with the PCI was as a client. She states, "My sessions with my PCI parent coach were life changing, and offered me and my children a more peaceful and respectful family life." She works closely with Board President, Cheryl Penner, supporting fundraising activities and organizational planning.
Lynn Haney
Secretary
Lynn is a certified educator with over ten years experience teaching at the elementary school level—4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Lynn is highly motivated to assist in creating greater child-parenting skills and enjoys her work with the PCI board to accomplish this goal. Lynn, an award-winning Certified Financial Planner spent a portion of her career a realtor and stockbroker. Lynn's responsibilities include keeping records and minutes of PCI Board Meetings and supporting volunteer efforts.
PCI Staff
Gloria DeGaetano
CEO/Executive Director
As founder of the PCI in 2000, Gloria DeGaetano is considered the originator of parent coaching as a new career path and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Today Show, and other venues. Creator of the visionary PCI curriculum and Parent Coach Certification®, Gloria's passion is to forward the main goal of the institute—to link every parent in the world with a PCI parent coach. She is dedicated to the PCI Vision, and deeply understands the immense importance of parenting well to transform society. Gloria's actively engaged in all aspects of the PCI and works together with her dedicated staff to insure the highest level of training and service to both students and parents.
An internationally acclaimed parent educator and author, Gloria's books and educational materials have been translated into German, Spanish, Danish, Turkish, Korean, and Romanian. A sought-after speaker, Gloria has over 25 years experience encompassing education, consultation, lecturing, and parent coaching. She is the mother of two grown sons. Her work at the PCI is "her play" as nothing brings her more satisfaction than catalyzing parents and professionals into productive action on behalf of parents and children.
Gloria's Bio
A Brief History of the PCI
What Students and Grads Say About the PCI and Gloria DeGaetano
Director of Operations
The PCI is currently seeking candidates for this position. The Director of Operations oversees the daily functions of the PCI Parent Coach Training Program.
Support Staff
Geoff Duncan
Information Technology
Geoff is responsible for making sure the PCI is online all the time and leveraging both new and established technologies to support the PCI and its distance learning initiatives. Geoff is also a freelance writer, a musician…and a deep, deep well of trivia. Geoff has a special place in the hearts of PCI grads as he is prompt in making any changes requested on PCI Web site bios.
Wayne Turner
Editor and Desktop Publisher
Wayne has been with the PCI since its beginning, working closely with Gloria in the development, editing and design of the PCI curriculum materials and special projects. Wayne is a gifted photographer and has a unique eye for effectively packaging complex information for both students and parents. When Gloria gets a 3 a.m. inspiration, Wayne knows he's got an immediate new project and a tight deadline!
PCI Instructors
The Parent Coaching Institute and Seattle Pacific University proudly offer progressive professionals an innovative, year-long learning experience to become a PCI Certified Parent Coach®. At the PCI, we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards for parent coach training. As an institute, made up of heart-centered, highly skilled leaders in the field of parent support, our highest priority is to offer individualized parent coach training to each participant. We value and place a high priority on our relationships. The parent/child relationship is sacred. The parent coach/parent relationship is sacred. As is our relationship with you.
As a student in our program, you'll have the unique opportunity to work with a dynamic group of leaders in the parent coaching profession who exemplify the mission of the PCI. Each PCI instructor is carefully selected to ensure the highest delivery of program content to our students. Our course instructors come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds and yet, what they have in common is their unwavering commitment to the PCI and their unparalleled level of professionalism and skill. The PCI content course instructors are all adjunct faculty with Seattle Pacific University. All PCI Instructors have gone through the PCI training program and have received Parent Coach Certification®.
Cathy Adams
Cathy received her Masters in Social Work from Loyola University and her Bachelors in Elementary Education from Drake University. She has worked many years as a Child and Family Therapist and Clinical Educator in Child Psychiatry at Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago. Currently building a part-time parent coaching practice while staying at home in Chicago with her two young daughters, Cathy also teaches part-time for the PCI. Her centeredness, warmth, intellect, her amazing leadership skills, and fabulous questioning techniques are just a few of the favorite traits our students appreciate about her. To learn more about Cathy, you can visit her Web site: www.intentionalparent.net.
Karen Bierdeman
Karen, also the mother of two young daughters, recently left a successful teaching career to devote all of her time to her parent coaching, speaking, and consulting. Well, not all of her time. Karen teaches several different content courses for the PCI and facilitates Participatory Process Calls each quarter. Karen is our Coordinator for Parent Coaching Pilot Projects, doing an exceptional job interacting with agencies and supporting and mentoring the PCI students who participate in the studies. An accomplished decoupage artist, Karen's cards and plaques are inspired treasures and truly demonstrate her remarkable creativity and that exuberance and passion we all love to be around! Karen's popular Web site is The Guilt Free Mom. With PCI Parent Coach Raelee Peirce, Karen offers regular podcasts, Two Hip Mamas. Check out Two Hip Mamas and be inspired! Have you found a way to expand time, Karen?
Barb Bushey
Barb received her Masters in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University and her Bachelors in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University. She has been married for 39 years and has a daughter who is working on her PhD. in nursing. Barb worked for 37 years as an early elementary teacher and consultant to preschools. A recognized national leader in early childhood, Barb has co-authored a popular book with Carleen Glasser on Choice Theory for young children and served on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for Early Childhood Education. Barb, now retired from teaching, is currently enjoying coaching a group of four year olds and their parents preparing them for kindergarten. Little people have always had a special place in her big heart. Now the students and staff at the PCI, have the privilege of experiencing that big heart close up. Barb is a steady force for our students, constantly inviting them to increased levels of aliveness in their training. She models full participation well and is an inspiring guide and inspired leader at the PCI. She likes to let everyone know that her teaching with the PCI is "her dream brought to destiny." How fortunate for all of us!
Michelle Golingo
Michelle received her Master's Degree in Education from the University of Washington and began her career as a teacher in Special Education programs. This led to several illuminating years working with students, families, and professionals in public school education. Once Michelle's two daughters were born,her teaching career transitioned to full-time parenting. Deciding to become a PCI-trained Parent Coach was a natural career-path progression for Michelle. Her formal and informal interests center on curiosity and discovery—perfect for effectively supporting parents through the parenting journey. Working with clients in her coaching business and students in the PCI program provide opportunities for Michelle to follow her passions as an educator and as a parent coach. PCI Staff and students love working with Michelle. Her gentle, authentic support infuses the PCI with inspiration and possibility-thinking. Her can-do attitude knows no bounds. She is our peaceful reservoir, quietly comforting, calming, and energizing. For more information about Michelle and to find additional details about her commitments to parenting and parents ready to experience clarity, compassion and creativity in their lives, please go to: www.monarchcoachingcircle.com
Lori Jo Kemper
Forget Maxwell House, Cheerios, and Tropicana Orange Juice. Now, as Founder and President of The Parenting Path™ LLC, Lori has followed her ultimate passion, by becoming a PCI Certified Parent Coach® and leading the successful start up and growth of her own company, The Parenting Path™. In following her heart, Lori has become a successful and highly sought after parenting coach, for parents nationwide. Lori's enjoyment for new product development while combining her broad experience in marketing and sales with leading brands and top Fortune 500 companies has allowed her to enjoy the challenges of being part of the start up of this exciting new field of parent coaching. She delighted in being in a position to finally market and develop a product that she could not be more passionate about—the need for every parent to have a PCI-trained parenting coach. Lori leads the PCI marketing team—supporting grads to build and develop their parent coaching businesses through phone classes, on-site workshops, on-line seminars, and by being there for each and every grad whenever a question about marketing comes up.
Jennifer Mangan
With two teens and two in college Jen has a wealth of mothering experience that serves her well in her parent coaching practice. She maintains a client base of 15–20 clients per week…which keeps her plenty busy. But lucky for the PCI, she finds time to teach marketing courses and workshops for the PCI, giving recent grads a taste of the next steps that await them when they become PCI certified parent coaches. Jen has a varied career in marketing and parent educational writing, having written a parenting column for the Chicago Tribune and other outlets. Jen's confidence, bold-stroke questioning, and fearless approach to potential clients and referrals serve as an inspiring model. Jen, like all of us at the PCI, believes her parent coaching is a true vocation that gives her life a significant purpose. So her marketing classes and workshops are deeply reflective experiences, as well as stimulating calls to action!
Kris Meyers
Kris Meyers has over 15 years of experience working with children, teachers and parents. Most of her professional career was spent working in the public school system first as a K-2 classroom teacher, then as a Title I Reading Specialist and finally as a Professional Development Literacy Coach for teachers. While taking a break from teaching in 2003, to stay at home with her first baby, she found that her passion for teaching literacy became a passion for raising children who love to read, write, and learn. She graduated from the PCI program in the spring of 2006 and developed the concept of Beyond the ABCs that summer. Kris brings a steady, sure support in her role as PCI instructor, assisting students to achieve their highest level of coaching skills. Kris's high standards, deep integrity, and contagious enthusiasm are signature strengths that continually bless us all at the Institute. Besides teaching for the PCI, coaching and consulting with parents, Kris also teaches an early literacy class at Virginia Western Community College for early childhood educators. Kris lives, works, and learns with her husband and two young boys in southwestern Virginia, near beautiful Smith Mt. Lake and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Bridgid Normand
Bridgid, passionate about creating a world where children and families can thrive, has been using that passion for over 30 years. Her involvement has included working as a teacher at all levels, as an elementary school counselor, as a child and family therapist and parent educator. Currently she creates evidence-based curricula for schools on social emotional learning, and bullying and violence prevention for a nonprofit organization based in Seattle. Building her parent coaching practice while working full time and being a fabulous mother, Bridgid reminds us of the importance of honoring the living system principle of timeliness. A woman of high integrity and keen intellect, she models authenticity and self-awareness to an uncommonly high degree. In addition to teaching Course 1 for the PCI, Bridgid offers a popular teleclass "Mindfulness in Parent Coaching." A must to attend—it will change you in profound ways…gently and caringly, just like Bridgid!
Roni Stein
Roni treasures participating in the PCI productive community. As an educator for over forty years she has worked in settings from nursery school through university level. Providing environments that address learners' needs is an area of ongoing interest. In particular, she has enjoyed using her study of "the theory of loose parts" as a tool to create dynamic spaces for children that facilitate social-emotional and physical development. She has been both a teacher and administrator and appreciates the challenges of making things work well for all members of a learning community. To that end her studies relate to furthering cultural sensitivity through exploration of key dimensions of cultures. Roni believes in life-long learning and inspires, motivates, and leads both students and staff in authentic self-reflection. Roni's wisdom touches us deeply and inspires all of us to new levels of growth. In addition to her PCI training, her latest ventures include learning about being a grandma and bird watching. Both offer rich opportunities to sharpen observation and listening skills—always priorities for Roni. In addition to teaching for the PCI, Roni has a growing coaching practice that she finds very gratifying.