Louise Gomer Bangel, Founder
Louise began her career in education in 1967.
By the mid 1970s she realized that, for a peaceful, healthy and productive community to be created, all of us needed to learn how to interact with caring and respect which included resolving conflicts nonviolently. It made sense to start with the children where the needed skills could be most easily acquired and practiced. Along with like-minded members of the Cincinnati community, Louise co-founded the Center for Peace Education (CPE) in 1979. CPE focused on teaching young people and adults the skills and attitudes needed to manage disputes in ways that were peaceful, constructive, and affirming of the inherent goodness and value of each human being. During the 30 years of CPE’s lifetime, Louise served as a trainer, program marketer and advocate, curriculum writer and editor, fundraiser and board member/officer/recruiter.
Though CPE was absorbed in 2009 into another local non-profit, its new home closed in 2013. Since the need in our schools and community remained, Louise worked in 2014 to found the Center for Social-Emotional Learning (CSEL) for which she currently serves as Board Chairperson.
Awards & Recognition
Co-Author of A Year Of SCRC: 35 Experiential Workshops for the Classroom, a teachers' manual designed to supplement the Children’s Creative Response to Conflict text, A Friendly Classroom for a Small Planet, to make it easier for teachers to start using the program in their classroom. Published 1992.
Co-Editor of Creating a Peaceful Classroom for Young Children, a manual for preschool teachers and childcare providers authored by Mary Ann McPherson, published January, 1999
Louise began her career in education in 1967.
By the mid 1970s she realized that, for a peaceful, healthy and productive community to be created, all of us needed to learn how to interact with caring and respect which included resolving conflicts nonviolently. It made sense to start with the children where the needed skills could be most easily acquired and practiced. Along with like-minded members of the Cincinnati community, Louise co-founded the Center for Peace Education (CPE) in 1979. CPE focused on teaching young people and adults the skills and attitudes needed to manage disputes in ways that were peaceful, constructive, and affirming of the inherent goodness and value of each human being. During the 30 years of CPE’s lifetime, Louise served as a trainer, program marketer and advocate, curriculum writer and editor, fundraiser and board member/officer/recruiter.
Though CPE was absorbed in 2009 into another local non-profit, its new home closed in 2013. Since the need in our schools and community remained, Louise worked in 2014 to found the Center for Social-Emotional Learning (CSEL) for which she currently serves as Board Chairperson.
Awards & Recognition
- Center for Peace Education (CPE) 20th Anniversary Award for Twenty Years of Dedicated Service - November 5, 1999
- The Daniel J. Ransohoff Citizen Initiative Award received from League of Women Voters Cincinnati Area – March 16, 2000
- Award of Excellence for Board Service received from Brehm Preparatory School, Carbondale, IL – Spring, 2003
- Center for Peace Education Dedication Award for Perseverance, Enthusiasm and Commitment to CPE for the Past 25 Years – October 2, 2004
Co-Author of A Year Of SCRC: 35 Experiential Workshops for the Classroom, a teachers' manual designed to supplement the Children’s Creative Response to Conflict text, A Friendly Classroom for a Small Planet, to make it easier for teachers to start using the program in their classroom. Published 1992.
Co-Editor of Creating a Peaceful Classroom for Young Children, a manual for preschool teachers and childcare providers authored by Mary Ann McPherson, published January, 1999
Robert E. Kelly, Director
As a career educator, Bob knows the importance of giving his students every tool and skill possible for a successful life.
From 1974 until he retired from Mt. Healthy Schools in 2011, Bob served as a principal of Catholic and Public Schools. In 1976 he founded St. Peter's Montessori, still in operation today.
As an educational leader Bob understood the importance of a nonviolent community, leading him to develop People Against Violent Environments (PAVE) Peer Mediation Team. He implemented this award-winning program in two schools, and trained mediation teams in several other schools. The PAVE program received the 1998 Ohio School Conflict Management Award, the Nestle’ Foundation Very Best in Teaching Award, the 2000 Ohio BEST Practices Award, and the 2000 Best of the Ohio BEST Practices Awards (covering all BEST Practice categories).
While Bob was working as principal of New Burlington Elementary, a 66% poverty level school, the school progressed from Continuous Improvement to an Excellent Rating on the Ohio Report Card in 2010 after he implemented five best practice programs over six years, including PBIS, PAVE Peer Mediation, the Effective Schools Model, Stiggins’ Assessment for Learning Model, and Safe and Civil Schools Champs and Foundations Models.
Awards & Recognition
As a career educator, Bob knows the importance of giving his students every tool and skill possible for a successful life.
From 1974 until he retired from Mt. Healthy Schools in 2011, Bob served as a principal of Catholic and Public Schools. In 1976 he founded St. Peter's Montessori, still in operation today.
As an educational leader Bob understood the importance of a nonviolent community, leading him to develop People Against Violent Environments (PAVE) Peer Mediation Team. He implemented this award-winning program in two schools, and trained mediation teams in several other schools. The PAVE program received the 1998 Ohio School Conflict Management Award, the Nestle’ Foundation Very Best in Teaching Award, the 2000 Ohio BEST Practices Award, and the 2000 Best of the Ohio BEST Practices Awards (covering all BEST Practice categories).
While Bob was working as principal of New Burlington Elementary, a 66% poverty level school, the school progressed from Continuous Improvement to an Excellent Rating on the Ohio Report Card in 2010 after he implemented five best practice programs over six years, including PBIS, PAVE Peer Mediation, the Effective Schools Model, Stiggins’ Assessment for Learning Model, and Safe and Civil Schools Champs and Foundations Models.
Awards & Recognition
- National Science Foundation Grant for Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) Leadership Training – served as an NSF consultant for fifteen years
- Educator of the Year – Diocese of Toledo; Commendation-Ohio Senate
- Sohio Foundation – Teachers in American Enterprise Award winner
- Mohican Outdoor School – Ten Years of Service to Outdoor Education
- NCEA Distinguished Principal Award (ceremony in NYC); Commendation – Ohio General Assembly
Ilyas Nashid, Training Coordinator
Ilyas is a lifelong believer in nonviolence. He believes it is his calling to educate and inspire others towards personal and social excellence through the appreciation and actualization of their inherent human potential.
Prior to joining the Center for Social-Emotional Learning (CSEL) in 2015, Ilyas worked with Louise at the Center for Peace Education (CPE) from 1994-2009. Utilizing the Center for Peace Education’s Students’ Creative Response to Conflict (SCRC) program, Ilyas taught K-12 students in the Cincinnati Public, Charter, Parochial, and Private schools. SCRC teaches the themes of Affirmation, Communication, Cooperation, Diversity Appreciation, and Creative Conflict Management. While working with CPE, Ilyas implemented this program in more than 100 schools in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Now, as the Training Coordinator for CSEL, Ilyas is responsible for training and coordinating efforts of CSEL facilitators who deliver the service of providing social and emotional education to teachers and students at elementary, middle and high schools in Greater Cincinnati.
Awards and Recognition
Ilyas is a lifelong believer in nonviolence. He believes it is his calling to educate and inspire others towards personal and social excellence through the appreciation and actualization of their inherent human potential.
Prior to joining the Center for Social-Emotional Learning (CSEL) in 2015, Ilyas worked with Louise at the Center for Peace Education (CPE) from 1994-2009. Utilizing the Center for Peace Education’s Students’ Creative Response to Conflict (SCRC) program, Ilyas taught K-12 students in the Cincinnati Public, Charter, Parochial, and Private schools. SCRC teaches the themes of Affirmation, Communication, Cooperation, Diversity Appreciation, and Creative Conflict Management. While working with CPE, Ilyas implemented this program in more than 100 schools in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Now, as the Training Coordinator for CSEL, Ilyas is responsible for training and coordinating efforts of CSEL facilitators who deliver the service of providing social and emotional education to teachers and students at elementary, middle and high schools in Greater Cincinnati.
Awards and Recognition
- Winner of Applause Magazine’s Image Maker Awards for Youth Advocacy (2003)
- Recipient of the Rev. Maurice McCrackin Peace and Justice Award (2001)
- Delegate to Seoul, South Korea to train administrators and selected teachers in the skill of mediation for the Seoul Metropolitan Area School System (2002 and 2003). This school system consisted of 70,000 teachers and 1,600,000 students.
- Awarded an Ohio Senate Commendation for outstanding community service and exceptional personal achievement (2001)
- Received Certificate of Appreciation from the Honorable Judge Susan J. Dlott of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio for being a facilitator to the Cincinnati Police-Community Relations Collaborative (2002)
- Selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men In America (1983)
Rosalyn B. Fuller, B.S., M.Ed., Clinical Supervisor
Rosalyn B. Fuller, B.S., M.Ed., Guidance and Counseling, M.Ed., Ed Administration, University of Cincinnati; LPC-S, Ohio Social Worker Board; College Admission Certification, Harvard University, has been a CSEL facilitator since 2016 and Clinical Supervisor since 2018.
During her career, Rosalyn served as Director of Guidance Counseling for Walnut Hills High School and then Cincinnati Public Schools. She has been an adjunct professor and lecturer at Wright State University and was named the Outstanding Graduate of the Decade by the University of Cincinnati College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services Department. Rosalyn was one of ten guidance counselors selected to represent the United States in an international guidance conference at St. Andrews University in Scotland.
She has served on the College Advisory Boards of six universities and five community organizations, in addition to volunteering in numerous community organizations.
Rosalyn B. Fuller, B.S., M.Ed., Guidance and Counseling, M.Ed., Ed Administration, University of Cincinnati; LPC-S, Ohio Social Worker Board; College Admission Certification, Harvard University, has been a CSEL facilitator since 2016 and Clinical Supervisor since 2018.
During her career, Rosalyn served as Director of Guidance Counseling for Walnut Hills High School and then Cincinnati Public Schools. She has been an adjunct professor and lecturer at Wright State University and was named the Outstanding Graduate of the Decade by the University of Cincinnati College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services Department. Rosalyn was one of ten guidance counselors selected to represent the United States in an international guidance conference at St. Andrews University in Scotland.
She has served on the College Advisory Boards of six universities and five community organizations, in addition to volunteering in numerous community organizations.
Cheryl Edmondson, Facilitator
Cheryl is in her fifth year facilitating for CSEL at Mt. Healthy South Elementary School, where she is teamed with Tracey Jasper. She has also facilitated social-emotional learning classes from kindergarten through tenth grade in various schools and is known for her energized delivery and melodious voice.
When she walks down a hallway at Mt. Healthy, Cheryl is besieged by students and staff hugging her. She enjoys teaching skills that enable students to work cooperatively in their learning environments through role playing, discussion and written expression. Cheryl is committed to” helping students move to their next level of educational achievement and personal success.” She focuses on “developing the Awesomeness and Excellence in each student.”
Cheryl is a retired Intervention Specialist with Mt. Healthy Schools and worked extensively with seventh and eighth graders during her entire 35-year career. She has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education with additional hours toward a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati. Cheryl holds a permanent K-12 license as an Intervention Specialist and an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant License with the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professional Board.
Cheryl is in her fifth year facilitating for CSEL at Mt. Healthy South Elementary School, where she is teamed with Tracey Jasper. She has also facilitated social-emotional learning classes from kindergarten through tenth grade in various schools and is known for her energized delivery and melodious voice.
When she walks down a hallway at Mt. Healthy, Cheryl is besieged by students and staff hugging her. She enjoys teaching skills that enable students to work cooperatively in their learning environments through role playing, discussion and written expression. Cheryl is committed to” helping students move to their next level of educational achievement and personal success.” She focuses on “developing the Awesomeness and Excellence in each student.”
Cheryl is a retired Intervention Specialist with Mt. Healthy Schools and worked extensively with seventh and eighth graders during her entire 35-year career. She has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education with additional hours toward a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati. Cheryl holds a permanent K-12 license as an Intervention Specialist and an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant License with the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professional Board.
Tracey Jasper, Facilitator
Tracey is in her fifth year as a facilitator for CSEL and at Mt. Healthy South Elementary School, where she is teamed with Cheryl Edmondson and makes the other half of a dynamic duo. Students are excited to see Tracey in the hall at Mt. Healthy and are eager to know when she will come to their classrooms. In addition to Mt. Healthy, she has facilitated classes in several other elementary schools since 2016.
Tracey is very organized in preparing for classes and also provides staff development for CSEL facilitators.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree of Elementary Education from the University of Cincinnati in 1997 and is currently pursuing post-secondary certifications in Counseling and as a Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant. She also holds a license as an Ohio Substitute School Teacher.
Tracey began her career as a Preschool Teacher with Terri’s Montessori, The Children’s Center and Gymboree Play & Music, working in these areas for twelve years. She has worked with students in Cincinnati by leading Summer Enrichment Programs through the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools and was recognized by the National Director while serving in this role. Tracey also served two years as a Site Director of before and after-school programs with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati.
Tracey has been married for 26 years and resides in Cincinnati with her husband and three children
Tracey is in her fifth year as a facilitator for CSEL and at Mt. Healthy South Elementary School, where she is teamed with Cheryl Edmondson and makes the other half of a dynamic duo. Students are excited to see Tracey in the hall at Mt. Healthy and are eager to know when she will come to their classrooms. In addition to Mt. Healthy, she has facilitated classes in several other elementary schools since 2016.
Tracey is very organized in preparing for classes and also provides staff development for CSEL facilitators.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree of Elementary Education from the University of Cincinnati in 1997 and is currently pursuing post-secondary certifications in Counseling and as a Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant. She also holds a license as an Ohio Substitute School Teacher.
Tracey began her career as a Preschool Teacher with Terri’s Montessori, The Children’s Center and Gymboree Play & Music, working in these areas for twelve years. She has worked with students in Cincinnati by leading Summer Enrichment Programs through the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools and was recognized by the National Director while serving in this role. Tracey also served two years as a Site Director of before and after-school programs with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati.
Tracey has been married for 26 years and resides in Cincinnati with her husband and three children