I am an Outschool Star Educator, 5-Star ACE Educator, and was recognized as a 2023/24 Outschool Outstanding Educator and nominated in 2023 for Best in Review. I have 14 years of experience as a Confidence and Kindness Mentor to children ages 7-11. I teach Life Skill classes about Kindness and Confidence, using art and conversation, as well as Writing and Drawing games, designed to encourage creativity, social skills, manners and confidence.  I am skilled at inclusion and create a positive, respectful and fun-loving classroom. The comment I hear the most from parents is that I am a very "kind teacher". My classes welcome ESL and ELL students to practice their writing, drawing and speaking in an encouraging environment.  (Class is appropriate for CEFR: B1,B2,C1,C2*). 

I have a B.S. Degree in Psychology. Prior to working with students ages 7-11, I spent 25 years mentoring and managing in the Financial Services Industry. Fourteen years ago I shifted from Finance to teaching Kindness and Confidence lessons in K-4th grade classrooms. I encourage students to love being their authentic selves, which I believe, helps in every aspect of life. I taught my Kindness and Confidence program in person and online prior to joining the Outschool team. All of my lessons center around gratitude, confidence, kindness and self esteem, with a lot of positive conversation, art, fun and laughter. When your child leaves my class I want them to feel good about themselves, the friends they made and the effort they put into the class.  If your student is eager to show you what they created in my class, I did my job right!  

Do you remember positive teachers from your childhood? Those adults that made you feel like you were included, seen, heard and valued? That even today, as an adult, you remember because of how they made you feel? That is my goal for every class I teach. I encourage students to speak, draw or write (ideally all three), in a safe and supportive environment and to express themselves and their unique viewpoints!  I want students to feel empowered, safe, brave, creative and to let their silly side show when they do projects with me. 

Fun fact? I have bungee jumped twice, once forward and once backwards, off the highest legal bungee jumping bridge in the United States. I have skydived. I have gone on three scenic glider rides! I love to learn new things. I love inspiring, motivating and teaching students how to believe in themselves. I love being a paper artist. I love being able to bring kids together to feel their best, while giving their best. I love my family, gardening, building furniture, paper art, problem solving, people who try hard, going on walk and talks, bike rides, Elmo’s positive outlook, good communicators, tennis, playing cards, ping pong, meditation and I looooove belly laughing. Most of all, I love teaching kindness and confidence lessons to kids.  -Ms. Leslie