MEET CONNIE...
MEET CONNIE...
Hi, I’m Connie — founder of I Rise Academy. I’m an educator of over 20 years, a mom who knows what it feels like to be pulled in every direction, and a mindset and emotional wellness coach committed to helping people rise in the real, messy moments of life.
I created this space because I’ve lived the overwhelm. I know what it’s like to crave change, want better, and not know where to begin. My journey into emotional wellness and growth mindset began with my own personal development — learning how our thoughts, patterns, and daily habits shape the way we live, lead, and connect with others.
What I’ve learned — and now teach through I Rise Academy — is that transformation isn’t about getting it all right. It starts with awareness, grows through intention, and becomes possible with the right guidance and support.
Being a teacher for over 20 years has given me a front-row seat to the struggles and demands that women, parents, and educators face every day — along with an intimate understanding of the challenges our teens are navigating. I’ve witnessed the rising tide of stress, anxiety, and disconnection in schools and homes.
Throughout my career as an educator, I’ve been an active community builder — leading extra curricular athletics, guiding dance and drama initiatives, supporting parent council partnerships, and taking on curriculum and school-wide leadership roles that foster collaboration, creativity, growth mindset, social emotional learning and overall well-being.
These experiences continue to guide my work — helping me connect with women, parents and teens in a real, down to earth and honest way.
Motherhood has been one of my greatest teachers. It’s shown me both the beauty and the exhaustion that come with trying to hold everything together — the love, the guilt, the laughter, and the never-ending to-do lists.
As parents, we often carry a heavy emotional weight — constantly worrying about our children’s well-being and wondering if we’re doing enough. The stress of wanting to protect, guide, and support them can feel overwhelming, especially when we ourselves feel unequipped or unsure.
My years as both a mom and an educator, have given me firsthand understanding of the emotional ups and downs families face and the pressures children and teens experience as they grow and navigate their world.
The truth is, we all need support — no one is meant to do this alone.
My path as a mentor and coach grew naturally from the roles that shaped me — educator, parent, and lifelong learner. After years of witnessing the emotional toll that stress, self-doubt, and disconnection place on women, parents, teens, and educators, I felt called to do more than simply observe it — I wanted to support real change.
Over the past decade, I’ve deepened my expertise through research, ongoing professional learning, and mentorship with a licensed psychotherapist—exploring emotional wellness, growth mindset, and the neuroscience behind how our thoughts and emotions shape the way we live, lead, and connect. This work gave me a profound understanding of the emotional patterns, belief systems, and coping responses that influence how we show up in the world, and it helped me bridge my background in education with the deeper work of emotional wellness in a meaningful way.
Today, my approach is grounded in empathy, curiosity, and honest conversation. I support people in navigating life’s challenges with greater awareness and balance, while helping them build the clarity, confidence, and inner strength needed to rise.
My individual coaching and programs are designed to be practical, compassionate, and deeply human — because lasting change grows from connection and support, not pressure or self-judgment.
Writing has always been a way for me to make sense of the messy, beautiful, and often contradictory parts of life. I’m currently completing two books rooted in authenticity, connection, and self-discovery — projects that blend storytelling, reflection, and emotional honesty to explore what it means to grow through the very experiences that test us most.
Both books weave together decades of personal experience as an educator, woman, and mother with insights from my years of studying emotional wellness and mindset psychology. They invite readers to look inward — to question old narratives, find meaning in imperfection, and reconnect with the parts of themselves they may have lost along the way.
With a mix of humor, heart, and hard truth, I write about faith, self-awareness, resilience, and the moments that crack us open so we can rise stronger and more whole.
Because our stories matter — they remind us we’re not alone. And sometimes, sharing your truth is exactly what helps someone else rise.
Professional Learning & Certifications
MH LIT – Mental Health in Action (School Mental Health Ontario, 2025)
Certificate of Completion – provincial educator training focused on mental-health literacy, student well-being, and capacity building for educators and families.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Retreat (2022)
Week-long immersive retreat in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, deepening practical experience in mindfulness, self-regulation, and compassion-based stress management techniques.
Ongoing Professional Development in Mindset & Emotional Wellness
Completed multiple courses and workshops on personal growth, mindset mastery, emotional awareness, and resilience, integrating evidence-informed tools into all I RISE Academy programs.
Educator & Mindset Coach
20+ years of classroom experience with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), specializing in social-emotional learning, growth mindset, student engagement, and parent-community partnerships.
Founder, I RISE Academy (2024)
Developer of wellness programs for women, parents, educators and teens created in consultation with a licensed psychotherapist, ensuring evidence-informed, trauma-sensitive, and ethically aligned approaches to emotional wellness, growth mindset, and family connection.
(Upcoming 2025) The Science of Well-Being – Yale University via Coursera
Evidence-based study in positive psychology and emotional resilience.