Megan Gildin Professional Experience

Professional Summary

Creative and skilled facilitator dedicated to fostering inclusive communities with over fifteen years of experience in education and human development. A dynamic collaborator and content creator working at the intersection of group dynamics, social and emotional learning (SEL), healing-centered engagement, equity, and appreciative inquiry. Effectively distills research into tangible practices to build impactful professional learning opportunities, resources, and systems to help individuals and organizations increase sense of belonging and achieve their goals.

Key Skills

Consulting, technical assistance, and client management
Program, professional learning, and curriculum development
Training and teambuilding facilitation
Project management and people development

Professional Experience

American Institutes for Research November 2021 – Present

Senior Technical Assistance Consultant
Deputy Director, National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments
Manage project teams (3 to 65 people), budgets ($50,000 – $4,000,000), and deliverable timelines for federal, corporate, and state and local education agency clients to achieve project outcomes, ensure contract compliance, and meet revenue goals.
Respond to emerging priorities from the White House and U.S Department of Education, leading the rapid development of resources and national webinars to disseminate vital information to education communities. Priority areas include supporting religious inclusion in K-12 and higher education, preventing school violence, and addressing chronic absenteeism.
Lead development and delivery of virtual, in-person, and hybrid professional learning opportunities (statewide professional learning networks, webinars, peer exchanges, communities of practice, and eLearning modules) to increase educational professional capacity to foster inclusive learning environments and improve education systems.
Increase state education agency capacity to improve student support systems:
- Facilitated data-driven improvement process to increase coherence of student well-being initiatives, including the co-creation of logic models, program profiles, strategic goals, and a statewide mental health supports PowerBI map.
- Designed and facilitated process to co-develop and disseminate statewide guidance for implementing comprehensive school-based mental health systems, effectively using state funds to increase student mental health.
- Developed statewide SEL standards revision process to increase inclusion and access.
Provide coaching to local education agencies to build positive school climates and increase effective implementation of staff well-being, trauma-informed, and SEL practices.
Foster organizational eminence and capacity-building opportunities via national conference presentations and resource development (e.g., tools, briefs, and resource compendia).
Increase organizational effectiveness by leading onboarding processes, coaching project teams on equity-centered design and adult learning, and providing quality assurance reviews.
Promoted from Technical Assistance Consultant to Senior Technical Assistance Consultant.
Clients: U.S. Department of Education (Student Engagement and Attendance Center, Equity Assistance Center, and National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments), National University, Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Illinois State Board of Education, Michigan Department of Education, Capital Region Education Council, and Pasco County School District

The Be Collaborative February 2009 – Present

Founder and Consultant
Launched a benefit corporation to foster inclusive communities through multi-disciplinary work, having collaborated with over 30 clients to date to meet their unique needs.
Provide custom program and training design for non-profits, businesses, and local education agencies to improve program quality and reach impact goals.
Design and deliver evidence-based training sessions utilizing adult learning principles.
Facilitate yoga and teambuilding experiences to improve well-being and work culture.

Alliance for a Healthier Generation April 2019 – October 2021

Senior National Advisor, Social Emotional Health
Spearheaded development and management of organization-wide content creation process aligned with DEI standards to improve efficiency across six teams and increase user impact.
Designed learning pathway and provided coaching to 20 staff members to build capacity in training facilitation and content creation to increase effectiveness of client services.
Provided subject matter expertise to guide funding, communication, and organizational strategies in line with grant requirements.
Designed evidence-based eLearning modules, trainings, and digital resources utilized nationwide to support school health planning for 53,000 schools and districts (70% Title I).
Facilitated 100+ targeted training sessions in-person and virtually to school and district staff. Consistently received high ratings (average 4.8 out of 5) in engagement and usefulness.
Rapidly developed COVID-19 resources, including a bilingual Me Moments Hub, and 5-Week Guides to help 1,900 schools/districts respond to the needs of 3.2 million students and staff.
Provided consultation to a caseload of 61 schools and 3 districts to support continuous improvement planning around staff and student well-being. Districts included Prince George’s County Public Schools, Denver Public Schools, and Aurora Public Schools.
Promoted from Social Emotional Health Content Manager to Senior National Advisor.

Girls on the Run International October 2014 – October 2025

Positive Youth Development Specialist
Increased program impact by developing a blended-learning national coach training model utilized by 230+ councils to deliver consistent, high-quality training to 40,000+ coaches.
Provided technical assistance for council leadership, staff teambuilding, national curriculum development, and DEI strategy development to bolster organization outcomes.

Additional Professional Experience

Recruitment & Professional Development Deputy Director, Philadelphia Millennial Advisory Committee	2022 – 2024
Instructional Assistant & Mascot, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools	2011 – 2012
National Teaching Fellow, Citizen Schools	2009 – 2011
Teambuilding Facilitator, The University of Michigan Challenge Program	2007 – 2009

Education

Masters of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education, May 2013
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, The University of Michigan, May 2009

Professional Credentials and Certifications

Appreciative Inquiry Facilitation Certification, The Center for Appreciative Inquiry, 2024
Certificate in Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy, The Embody Lab, 2024
Certificate in Leadership Principles, Harvard Business School Online, 2023
Restorative Yoga Certification, Three Queens Yoga, 2022
Foundations in Somatic Abolitionism Certification, Resmaa Menakem and Education for Racial Equity, 2022
Healing Centered Engagement Practitioner Certification, Flourish Agenda, 2021
Nyasa Yoga Nidra Certification, Art Yoga Fusion, 2020-2021
The Roll Model Method Certification, The Roll Model, 2019
Yoga Instructor (200 RYT) Certification, Inbound School of Yoga, 2015

Selected Presentations

Bradshaw, C., Gildin, M., & Ryder, R. (2024, March) School Mental Health: Working Well – A Focus on Staff Wellbeing with an Equity and Mental Health Lens. CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) 2024 Convention & Expo. San Antonio, TX.

Bolen, T., Gildin, M., & Parker, D. (2023, November) From Legislation to Implementation: How SEA’s Can Support Adult SEL. Social Emotional Learning Exchange, Collaborative for Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Atlanta, GA.

Gildin, M. (2023, April). An Integrated Approach to Support Well-Being in Your School Community. University of Pennsylvania Project for Mental Health and Optimal Development Consortium, Philadelphia, PA.

Gildin, M. & Liberiste-Osirus, A. (2022, September). Centering Equitable Social Emotional Learning in Instructional Practices. Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, Bethesda, MD.

Gildin, M. & Hatcher, D. (2021, October) Staying Calm & Cooling Down. Hispanic Education Summit, North Carolina Society for Hispanic Professionals, Cary, NC.

Berg, K. & Gildin, M. (2021, August) Building Your Emotional Health Toolkit: Strategies for Staff and Students. Denver Public Schools Trauma-Informed School Champion Conference for Service Providers, Denver, CO.

Berg, K. & Gildin, M. (2020, August) Filling Your Cup: Comprehensive Self-Care Strategies for Educators. Denver Public Schools Trauma-Informed School Champion Conference for Service Providers, Denver, CO.

Gildin, M. (2019, September) Filling Your Cup: Comprehensive Self-Care Strategies for Educators, Tennessee Department of Education Conditions for Learning Forum, Nashville, TN.

Gildin, M. (2019, May) Making Mindfulness Meaningful. Center for the Promotion of Social Emotional Learning (CPSEL) National Social and Emotional Learning Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Gildin, M. (2018, April) High Impact Coaching: Trauma-Informed Coaching Practices. Girls on the Run Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.

Gildin, M. (2018, February) Finding Your Flow: Using Yoga as a Tool to Build Social Emotional Capacities. Foundations Beyond School Hours Conference, Orlando, FL.

Selected Publications

Gildin, M. & LaPoint, D. (2024). Free to Learn. National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments.

Gildin, M. and Allen, L. (2024). State Education Agency (SEA) Planning Guide: Supporting Local Education Agencies (LEAs) With Implementing Proactive Schoolwide Attendance Strategies. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Student Engagement and Attendance Center

Gildin, M. (2024). Strengthening Connections to Support Student Well-Being With the ISBE Wellness Initiatives Inventory and Analysis Project. Region 9 Comprehensive Center

Frazelle, S., and Gildin, M. (2024). Action Planner for Reengaging Students to Support Everyday Attendance. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Student Engagement and Attendance Center.

Gildin, M. & LaPoint, D. (2023). Promoting Safe and Inclusive Environments for Students of All Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Identities. National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments.

Gildin, M. (2023, October 25). Collaborating to Support Student Well-Being. Region 9 Comprehensive Center.

Gildin, M. and Hernandez, I. (2023). An Exploration of Equity-Centered K-12 SEL Implementation Guidance, Standards, and Competencies Across 17 States. Region 9 Comprehensive Center.

Long, T., Castillo, K., Whistler, A., and Gildin, M. (2023). Planning Tool for Family Engagement. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Student Engagement and Attendance Center.

Long, T., Castillo, K., Whistler, A., Gildin, M. (2023) Planning Tool for Youth Engagement. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Student Engagement and Attendance Center.

Gildin, M. (2022, September 20). A Lesson from the Redwoods: Tools for Building A Root System of Support Across Initiatives. Region 9 Comprehensive Center.

Gildin, M. (2022). Addressing Educator Burnout and Demoralization: Actions for Administrators. National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments and Center on Great Teachers and Leaders.

Gildin, M. (2021). Leveraging Reset Opportunities to Help Students and Staff Thrive. National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments.

Gildin, M. (2021, December). What Can Practitioners Do to Reset After Winter Break to Help Students and Staff Thrive? National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments.

Gildin, M. (2021). Strategies to Promote Student Motivation. Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente.

Gildin, M. (2021). Virtual Me Moments Hub. Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente.

Gildin, M. (2021). Taking a Me Moment: Integrating Self-Regulation Strategies for Students into Your Learning Environment. Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente.

Gildin, M. (2020). 5-Week Guides for Building a Caring School Community. Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente.

Gildin, M. (2020). Building a Sustainable Gratitude Practice in Your School Community. Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente.

Gildin, M. (2019). Connect & Recharge: Designing Your Customized Staff Relaxation Zone. Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente.

Gildin, M. (2019). Managing Conflict with the RELATE Model. Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente.

Gildin, M. (2020, April 9). Connecting with Students in a Virtual Space. Alliance for a Healthier Generation Blog.