Education News
Malaysia Online 1-to-1 Maths Tuition: SPM & IGCSE Options With Learn With Rig
Learn With Rig offers Malaysian parents and students four subject-specific starting points for exploring maths tuition. The websites cover SPM Mathematics, SPM Additional Mathematics, IGCSE Mathematics and IGCSE Additional Mathematics, helping families direct their enquiries to the subject their child studies. For families comparing international-school tuition options, IGCSEMath.com.my provides materials for learning as well as information about online one-to-one Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics online tuition for Core and Extended students. The site also includes revision resources and study tools, giving families a place to explore the subject before discussing lessons. The four-site approach makes an important distinction for parents seeking help: Mathematics and Additional Mathematics are separate subjects. Students may need support in one, the other, or both, and an enquiry should identify the actual course rather than refer only to maths in general. Families seeking Cambridge Additional Mathematics support can explore the IGCSE Add Math tutoring service . That website describes a founder-vetted team of tutors and private online teaching, with a paid trial class allowing the student to meet the assigned tutor before agreeing to a weekly slot. For the Malaysian national examination pathway, SPMMath.com.my focuses on SPM Mathematics 1-to-1 online tutoring . Its online one-to-one service covers Form 4 and Form 5, with lessons taught in English. Families looking for the separate Additional Mathematics subject can visit the SPM Add Math tutoring website to explore the relevant tutoring service and make an enquiry. A useful first enquiry can include the student's school year or form, the subject, current areas of difficulty and preferred lesson times. Parents can also explain whether the priority is strengthening basic understanding, working through difficult questions or preparing more confidently for examinations. These details help make the discussion about tuition more specific and catered to the student. The websites allow families to review the relevant service information before contacting the team. Lesson rates, tutor arrangements and trial terms should be checked on the selected subject's website, since details can differ between services. Teacher Rig's Learn With Rig's SPM Add Math YouTube channel provides an additional introduction to his teaching through add maths videos. Families can use the channel alongside the subject-specific websites when considering the kind of explanation and support their child needs. Parents and students interested in tutoring can begin with the website corresponding to their exam pathway and subject, then use its contact options to discuss their requirements and current availability. Learn With Rig is the teaching brand associated with Teacher Rig. He & his team cover Mathematics and Additional Mathematics tutoring for SPM and IGCSE students in Malaysia, alongside the Learn With Rig YouTube channel.
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- September 29, 2026Education
Hinksey Labs High School Students Research With Experts From Leading Companies
Hinksey Labs, a UK-registered education company running cohort-based business research programmes for high school students, has completed its latest cohort. Students produced original research on real companies while working through a university-level curriculum and training in the ethical use of AI in academic work. Founded by Oxford scholars, Hinksey Labs places students in research groups of up to seven, each led by a mentor holding an advanced degree from an Ivy League or Oxbridge institution. Students are taught the methods expected of undergraduate and graduate researchers: how to frame a research question, build a literature review, evaluate sources, structure an argument and defend a conclusion under supervision. Work is assessed against academic standards rather than classroom ones, and students revise through several rounds of mentor feedback before a paper is considered finished. "Most sixteen-year-olds have never been asked to defend a claim to someone who will push back on it," said Simon Kotlerman, Programme Director at Hinksey Labs. "That is the single biggest gap between school and university, and it is the one we close first. The first draft is always the easy part. What changes a student is the third." The programme also brings students into contact with people doing the work they are studying. During recent cohorts, students met professionals from companies including Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs and Boston Consulting Group, along with researchers from Oxford and Harvard and several Forbes 30 Under 30 honourees. These sessions let students test their assumptions against practitioners before committing to a line of argument, and often send them back to revise a question they thought was settled. Because each group works on a question connected to a real organisation, students cannot rely on a textbook answer. They have to weigh competing evidence, account for constraints a company actually faces, and accept that a defensible conclusion is rarely a tidy one. A distinct part of the curriculum addresses how students should and should not use AI in research. Rather than banning the tools, Hinksey Labs teaches students to disclose their use, verify outputs against primary sources, and retain authorship of their own analysis. Students learn where AI genuinely helps in a research workflow and where it introduces error, a distinction most secondary education has yet to address directly. "Schools are mostly arguing about how to catch students using AI. That is the wrong question," said Kotlerman. "These students will spend their entire careers working alongside these tools. Our job is to teach them to use them honestly, to check what comes back, and to know which part of the thinking has to stay theirs. A student who can explain exactly where AI helped and where it could not is better prepared than one who was told never to touch it." Selected student work is published in The Hinksey Review, the company's open-access academic journal for young scholars, giving students experience of preparing work for an audience beyond a teacher. Hinksey Labs also runs Hinksey Clubs, student-led communities in business, AI and entrepreneurship; an annual essay competition on major business transformations; and AI Programmes, in which students build working solutions for real organisations. "We are not trying to add another line to a college application," said Kotlerman. "We are trying to change what a serious education looks like before university, so that ambitious students can do real work at the point they are actually curious, rather than waiting four years for permission." About Hinksey Labs Hinksey Labs is a UK-registered education company offering cohort-based business research mentorship for high school students. It publishes The Hinksey Review, an open-access academic journal for young scholars, and runs Hinksey Clubs, an annual essay competition and AI Programmes. More at Hinksey Labs , LinkedIn , Instagram , Trustpilot The organization can be reached at [email protected] .
- September 29, 2026Education
EmotionalTeen Launches Teen-Built Emotional Wellbeing Platform With AI Tools and Wearable Stress Prototype
A Platform Built by a Teenager for Teenagers EmotionalTeen, founded by high school student Anushka Nagchoudhury, announces the launch of a free emotional wellbeing platform designed specifically for young people ages 13 to 18. The platform combines educational resources, interactive tools, responsible artificial intelligence, and a developing wearable concept intended to help teenagers better understand everyday emotional experiences. The platform was created around a question that often sits behind the challenges of adolescence: who is listening to teenagers? The concept was developed around the idea that young people may need a place to explore stress, loneliness, school pressure, friendships, family expectations, confidence, social media, relationships, motivation, identity, and other everyday experiences without first needing to identify a clinical diagnosis. The platform’s core tools can be used without creating an account. When a user is not signed in, stress checks are stored only in the user’s browser and do not leave the device. Users may optionally create an account to save their progress over time. They might have to pay for additional discussions with the chatbot TEEN. The platform is positioned as an educational and emotional wellbeing resource rather than a medical or clinical service. It does not claim to diagnose, treat, or cure mental health conditions, and it is not intended to replace therapy, professional care, crisis services, parents, caregivers, educators, counselors, or other trusted adults. A Framework Called TEEN At the center of the platform is TEEN, which stands for Tracking Emotions, Energy & Neurostress. The framework also provides the name for the platform's assistant. The TEEN assistant, available through the Ask TEEN portal, is designed to help teenagers explore what they may be experiencing and identify information or possible next steps. The platform also includes several tools built around specific situations that young people may encounter. These include Stress Check, Emotion Decoder, Decision Helper, Help Me Say It, Feel Better, Science Lab, and Daily Check-in. The tools are intended to provide different ways of approaching emotional and everyday challenges. A teenager might use Stress Check to reflect on how stress is affecting them, Emotion Decoder to explore an emotional experience, Decision Helper when facing a difficult choice, or Help Me Say It when they are struggling to explain something to another person. The platform's broader approach is organized around understanding, connecting, and growing. Understanding focuses on recognizing emotions and experiences. Connecting emphasizes access to resources and appropriate human support. Growing centers on confidence, resilience, emotional awareness, relationships, and life skills. From Student Data to a Wearable Prototype The platform's development also includes a prototype wearable concept designed around stress awareness. The wearable concept was informed by an exploration of student schedules and a review of shared, anonymous wearable observations. The concept explores whether patterns associated with stress and daily activity can contribute to a more useful understanding of the pressures young people experience. The wearable remains a prototype rather than a medical device or diagnostic system. Its development forms part of the broader exploration of how technology can support emotional education and awareness without presenting technology as a substitute for human judgment or professional care. Responsible AI With Human Support at the Center Artificial intelligence is incorporated into the platform's approach to make information and supportive resources more accessible and conversational. The platform's position is that AI can help a teenager explore a question, reflect on an experience, learn about a topic, and identify an appropriate next step. The boundaries around that technology are equally important to the platform's design. “Research can explain a lot, but it does not always tell a stressed student what to do at 11 p.m with three assignments left,” said Anushka Nagchoudhury, founder of EmotionalTeen. “I wanted to create something that could meet teenagers closer to the everyday moments when they are trying to understand what they are feeling and figure out what to do next.” Anushka Nagchoudhury also emphasizes that technology should not become a replacement for people who can provide meaningful support. “AI should never replace the people who care for a teenager,” Anushka Nagchoudhury said. “Used responsibly, it can help a young person find the information, resources, or next step that leads them toward a parent, counselor, educator, qualified professional, crisis service, or another trusted person when human support is needed.” This distinction is central to the platform's positioning. It is designed to serve as a bridge to information and appropriate human support, not as a crisis service, therapy platform, or replacement for professional mental health care. EmotionalTeen Recognized as Best Teen Emotional Wellness Platform in the United States of 2026 LeadrMagazine has named EmotionalTeen.com the ‘Best Teen Emotional Wellness Platform in the United States of 2026,’ highlighting its teen-first approach and accessible emotional wellbeing resources. Created by high school student Anushka Nagchoudhury, EmotionalTeen.com combines educational resources, interactive tools, responsible artificial intelligence, and a developing wearable stress prototype to support teen emotional awareness and everyday wellbeing. Supporting the Whole Young Person EmotionalTeen is connected to a broader mission associated with Hariom Helps Foundation and Fund My Dreams. Hariom Helps Foundation focuses on education, scholarships, opportunity, wellbeing, and access to resources. Fund My Dreams supports young people's needs, goals, and aspirations. EmotionalTeen adds a focus on emotional wellbeing to that broader ecosystem. The underlying approach is that a young person's future is influenced by more than academic performance. Educational opportunity, personal goals, emotional wellbeing, relationships, confidence, and the ability to navigate everyday challenges can all form part of a young person's development. Separately, Hariom Helps Foundation was named the ‘Best Scholarship Nonprofit in the United States of 2026’ by Best of Best Review for its scholarship-focused work. The recognition is presented as part of the broader organization's work and is not an outcome claim for EmotionalTeen. A Starting Point for Teenagers EmotionalTeen gives teenagers a place to explore their emotions, access relevant information, and consider possible next steps. Its long-term vision is to support young people, parents, educators, counselors, and community organizations with accessible emotional wellbeing resources. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, in the United States, or call 911 in an emergency. EmotionalTeen is an educational resource and is not a crisis service. About EmotionalTeen EmotionalTeen is a teen-first emotional wellbeing platform created by high school student Anushka Nagchoudhury for young people ages 13 to 18. The platform provides educational resources, interactive tools, the TEEN assistant, and supportive experiences focused on emotional awareness and everyday challenges. EmotionalTeen is designed as an educational and wellbeing resource and does not replace professional mental health care, therapy, diagnosis, treatment, or emergency services. Additional information is available at EmotionalTeen.com . Business inquiries may be directed to [email protected] .
- September 29, 2026Education
Informed Chiropractor and Protocol Training through a Polyvagal Lens
The Informed Chiropractor, led by Dr. Don MacDonald and Brandi MacDonald, has announced expanded educational programming centered on the MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol, a polyvagal-informed chiropractic approach designed to help chiropractors consider patient responses to safety and stress during assessment, adjusting, and communication. The training is intended for experienced chiropractors seeking to deepen clinical observation, refine hands-on adjusting, and build clearer conversations with practice members. The announcement brings together three related areas of the MacDonalds’ work: adjusting through a polyvagal lens, mentoring through The Informed Chiropractor Collective, and a pelvic floor protocol taught as part of the broader MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol. The programming is offered through ongoing mentorship, live events, hands-on seminars, and educational resources available through The Informed Chiropractor . A Practical Lens on Safety, Stress, and Adjusting Dr. Don MacDonald, an Edmonton-based chiropractor and Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate, has been in practice since 1997. His clinical and teaching work explores how chiropractors can observe a person’s responses to safety and stress and apply those observations in the adjusting room. The MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol reflects this focus by examining interconnected areas of the body that may influence a patient’s sense of regulation, including the upper cervical spine, ribs, diaphragm, pelvis, pelvic floor, and cranial structures. Polyvagal-informed chiropractic refers to the use of concepts from Polyvagal Theory, a framework associated with the nervous system’s role in safety, threat, and social connection, as one lens for clinical observation and communication. The Informed Chiropractor presents this material as an educational model rather than a claim that any single theory fully explains every patient response. The protocol is taught to help chiropractors ask more precise questions, observe more carefully, and adjust with a clearer understanding of the person in front of them. “After nearly 30 years in practice, I am still asking how chiropractors can become more precise adjusters and better communicators,” said Dr. Don MacDonald. “The MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol grew from that question. It gives chiropractors a way to connect what they notice in the body with how they assess, adjust, and explain care.” A Teaching Partnership Built Around Clinical Skill and Communication A central feature of The Informed Chiropractor’s training is the partnership between Dr. Don and Brandi MacDonald. Dr. Don teaches the hands-on clinical and adjusting components, while Brandi brings her background in social work and her expertise in interoception, communication, and how people experience safety and stress. Interoception refers to the ability to sense internal body signals, such as tension, breath, or pressure, and can influence how a person interprets touch and care. In seminars and mentorship sessions, the MacDonalds teach these areas together rather than as separate subjects. Their instruction connects what chiropractors feel through palpation and assessment with what they say before, during, and after care. This integrated format is designed to help participants develop greater clinical clarity while strengthening trust through communication. Brandi MacDonald’s role includes helping chiropractors understand how patient conversations can support a calmer and more collaborative care experience. This includes language choices, timing, tone, and awareness of how a patient may be interpreting the environment. The intention is not to replace chiropractic technique with communication training, but to show how communication can support more informed clinical decision-making. Mentorship for Chiropractors Seeking Another Level of Practice The Informed Chiropractor Collective was created for chiropractors who have already invested in their skills and sense there is another level of connection and precision available in practice. The mentorship community focuses on adjustive technique, patient conversations, regulation, and the practical application of polyvagal-informed chiropractic principles. Participants engage with ongoing education that addresses both the mechanics of chiropractic care and the dynamics of practitioner presence, practice member trust, and body-based communication. The Collective is designed for chiropractors internationally, including those who may be looking for a more grounded way to assess patient responses without relying on rigid scripts. The MacDonalds have presented at chiropractic events in Canada and internationally, including Life West’s The Wave and Parker Seminars, and have spoken with chiropractors in more than 12 countries. Dr. Don is also the author of “The Underdog Curse,” a people-pleaser’s guide to growth and stress reduction, and a former president of the Edmonton Chiropractic Society. Additional educational content, including interviews and practitioner-focused discussions, is available through the Dr. Don MacDonald podcast and The Informed Chiropractor YouTube channel . Updates on events and teaching topics are also shared through Brandi MacDonald’s Instagram profile and related Facebook pages for Brandi MacDonald and Dr. Don MacDonald . Email directly [email protected] . Pelvic Floor Protocol Within a Broader Safety Corridor The pelvic floor protocol is one of the distinctive areas Dr. Don teaches within the broader MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol. Rather than presenting pelvic floor work as a stand-alone technique or replacement for appropriate medical assessment, The Informed Chiropractor frames it as one part of a larger clinical conversation about pelvis mechanics, tension patterns, breath, the diaphragm, and nervous system responses. The teaching introduces chiropractors to the relevance of the pelvic floor in relation to movement, body awareness, and the patient’s response to care. Detailed hands-on instruction is reserved for professional seminar settings, where chiropractors can learn within an appropriate educational environment. The emphasis remains on clinical reasoning, respect for scope of practice, patient consent, and awareness of when referral or collaborative care may be appropriate. Dr. Don and Brandi MacDonald’s upcoming educational direction includes live gatherings and seminars focused on pelvis and pelvic floor work, communication, and mentorship for chiropractors seeking to integrate skillful adjusting with nervous system awareness. The approach is intended to offer a practical framework for clinicians who want to refine what they do with their hands and how they communicate what they observe. “Our work is strongest when the clinical and communication perspectives are taught together,” said Dr. Don MacDonald. “Brandi helps chiropractors understand what a patient may be experiencing, and I help them apply that awareness through assessment and adjusting. The goal is to help chiropractors practice with more precision, care, and confidence.” About The Informed Chiropractor The Informed Chiropractor is an educational platform led by Dr. Don MacDonald and Brandi MacDonald. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, the organization provides mentorship, seminars, events, and digital resources for chiropractors interested in polyvagal-informed chiropractic, adjustive skill development, interoception, communication, and the MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol. Dr. Don MacDonald has practiced chiropractic since 1997 and continues to see patients at South Side Chiropractic in Edmonton while teaching chiropractors in Canada and internationally.
- September 27, 2026Education
Dr. Ball LLC Introduces New Keynote When the Numbers Dip Leadership Rises
Dr. Ball LLC is highlighting its newest keynote, When the Numbers Dip, Leadership Rises , developed by international keynote speaker and organizational leadership expert Dr. Donya Ball. Now being delivered to a wide range of organizations across industries, the keynote addresses what happens when sales decline, performance metrics plateau, test scores drop, customer retention shifts, or other critical data moves in the wrong direction. Organizations often respond to disappointing numbers by scrambling. Leaders make abrupt changes, introduce multiple new initiatives, increase oversight, and pressure teams to produce immediate results. According to Ball, this reaction can create confusion and instability at the exact moment employees need clarity and direction. “When the numbers dip, leadership cannot dip with them,” Ball said. “That is when solid leadership must step up the most.” A central message of the keynote is that data dips and plateaus are normal parts of every continuous improvement process. Progress rarely follows a perfectly straight line. A dip does not automatically mean an organization or its people are failing. It provides information leaders can use to examine what has changed, identify contributing factors, and determine the most effective next step. “The dip is data,” Ball said. “What leaders do with it determines what happens next.” When the Numbers Dip, Leadership Rises equips leaders to move from reactive decision-making to calm analysis, strategic action, and team alignment. The keynote emphasizes the importance of separating facts from fear, identifying focused priorities, communicating expectations clearly, and ensuring employees understand their roles in the improvement process. Ball also challenges leaders to recognize the difference between urgency and instability. Addressing concerning results may require immediate attention, but urgency does not require leaders to abandon sound practices or create organizational chaos. The keynote applies across industries because every organization relies on data to measure progress. Whether the numbers represent revenue, productivity, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, patient retention, enrollment, attendance, or student achievement, the leadership question remains the same: How will the organization respond when the data does not reflect the results it expected? “The numbers may reveal the problem,” Ball said. “Leadership determines whether the response creates panic or progress.” About Dr. Ball LLC Dr. Ball LLC is a leadership development company led by Dr. Donya Ball, an international keynote speaker, organizational leadership expert, professor, best-selling author, former superintendent, and TEDx speaker. Ball brings 25 years of experience across public and higher education, along with a professional foundation in marketing and advertising. Through keynote speaking, workshops, research, mentoring, and writing, she equips leaders and organizations with practical strategies for navigating complexity, strengthening communication, and achieving sustainable results. For more information about Dr. Ball LLC or When the Numbers Dip, Leadership Rises , visit donyaball.com .
- September 26, 2026Education
University of Leeds Lifts Staff News Engagement 20% by Letting 9,000 Employees Choose What They Read
The University of Leeds is improving staff engagement through a novel mechanism by changing the internal news that its more than 9,000 employees read when engaging with their feeds. Figures from the educational institution show that it was able to increase staff news engagement by 20% by building a personalized news experience inside its existing Microsoft 365 environment. This change has allowed its internal communications team to save around 4 hours per week, or half a day, on newsletter curation. The university decided to undertake this project because of the wider problem in today's society: information overload. Large organizations that devote a lot to communication often require employees to respond to hundreds of messages and emails per day. Unfortunately, this often leads workers to wonder which communications really matter and which don't, especially as communication becomes more devolved and more teams publish their own updates. At the university, faculties and departments often publish their own news. An interesting story: the university found that interesting stories and updates were not reaching the right people frequently enough, and staff often had to check several SharePoint sites to find stories relevant to them. Silicon Reef, a people-first Microsoft 365 consultancy, worked with Leeds University's internal communications and IT teams. Their SharePoint intranet specialists enhanced the tools' existing offering instead of adding a new platform, enabling the news curation process to succeed. The SharePoint Online and Microsoft 365 system uses Beacon News, Silicon Reef's news product. It allows staff to follow any topic they want, so their news reflects their choices and brings together all sources from the university into a central hub. Departments can still publish their own news using shared templates and editorial governance. Headline news stories stand out and ensure that priority messages reach all staff members. The change has caused staff news engagement to rise by 20% and has also saved the university's internal communications team around 4 hours per week that used to go into curating newsletters. The system makes it far easier for staff to find relevant stories, including specialist updates and news from across the university, while also improving editorial oversight and ensuring that only quality information reaches people who can benefit from it. This experience has practical implications for other universities, since staff at Leeds said they would be more likely to visit the intranet regularly when its content reflected topics they had chosen to follow. If they want to boost staff engagement, they must make sure that the stories reaching their staff are relevant, which means personalizing the news people receive rather than adding more channels. For more information about the company use the contact details below:
- September 25, 2026Education
Dr. Carolyn Wilson Featured as Author and Panelist at CBC ALC 55, Showcasing H.E.R.Story & H.I.M.Story Series and Advancing Dialogue on Black Men’s Mental Health
Dr. Carolyn Wilson, MBA (h.c) award‑winning transformational speaker, author, filmmaker, and founder of The MYE Institute, recently appeared as a featured author and panelist at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference (CBC ALC 55), held in Washington, D.C. Dr. Wilson appeared as a highlighted author in the ALC Expo, where she showcased her acclaimed H.E.R.Story™ Anthology Series —a collection of powerful narratives written by women who have journeyed through healing, emergence, and resilience. Dr. Carolyn Wilson serves as a Men's Mental Health panelist at the CBC ALC 55 She also served as a panelist for the session “A Crisis: Black Men’s Mental Health,” offering trauma‑informed insight grounded in her book H.I.M.Story: Honorable. Intelligent. Matured. The book centers the emotional experiences and healing journeys men, especially of Black men, providing a foundation for Dr. Wilson’s perspective on identity restoration, and culturally responsive mental‑health support. As a trained Master Resilience Trainer (MRT), contributing author to The Mastery Code: Mental Health Matters, and visionary behind H.I.M.Story this panel allows her to create a safe space that allows us to discuss rewriting narratives, dismantling stigma, revealing truth, healing, and transformation. “Black men’s mental health is not just a conversation—it’s a crisis that demands visibility, compassion, and action,” said Dr. Wilson. “Through H.I.M.Story, we honor the voices of men who are often asked to be strong without being supported by being seen, heard and respected.” Dr. Wilson’s presence at ALC 55 reflects her growing influence as a thought leader in resilience, emotional intelligence, and narrative healing for women and men as it pertains to mental health. “CBC ALC is where critical conversations become catalysts for change,” said Dr. Wilson. “Sharing H.E.R.Story™ and H.I.M.Story™ in this space reinforces the power of narrative healing and the urgency of mental‑health advocacy.” About Dr. Carolyn Wilson Dr. Carolyn Wilson is a transformational speaker, Master Resilience Trainer, Prosci Change Practitioner, award- winning filmmaker, author, educator and founder of The MYE Institute. Her work blends trauma‑informed leadership, emotional intelligence, and narrative healing to empower individuals and organizations to rise through adversity with clarity and purpose. Her thought leadership has been featured across national and global media outlets, and she continues to shape conversations around resilience and community transformation.
- September 23, 2026Education
Ellie's Nest Gives Every Child a Village Through Park Pals Crew
On Saturday morning, September 19, Washington Market Park in Tribeca filled with small hands, oversized gloves, and a lot of pride. Nearly fifty children arrived for the first Park Pals Crew micro-litter pickup, a turnout that surprised even the organizers. It was more than a cleanup. It was proof of an idea taking root: children deserve a village. A Voice for Children Ellie's Nest is a New York City-based community and early childhood advocacy brand founded by Elizabeth "Ellie" Ortiz. Her mission is direct and personal. She wants to be a voice for children. Too often, she believes, kids are discussed but rarely consulted, cared for but rarely heard. "Children are always being talked about, but rarely asked," says Ortiz. "I want to close the gap between the adults in a child's life and make sure the child's voice is part of the conversation." That gap sits at the heart of everything Ellie's Nest does. Parents, caregivers, and teachers all shape a child's world, yet they rarely move in sync. Ellie's Nest brings them closer together while keeping a child's space, development, and experiences at the center of the conversation. The Meaning Behind Park Pals Crew Park Pals Crew is the brand's first series, and it was built around a simple but powerful lesson in emotional intelligence, often called EQ. When a child cleans up their own park, something clicks. They learn that their actions matter. They learn that they belong to something larger than themselves. They learn that caring for a shared space is a way of caring for each other. Those lessons echo the ideas Ortiz shares with parents online every week: co-regulation, self-regulation, and the quiet, transformative power of play. These are not abstract concepts. They are the building blocks of secure, happy, well-regulated children who grow into thoughtful adults. "A village that shows up for you, teaches you, and cares for you is a good feeling," she says. "Kids should have access to that. When they do, they grow into more regulated, secure, and happy people who make better decisions." A Community That Showed Up The first event did not happen alone. Four community partners made it possible. Amara, NoBiggie, and Tiny Culture contributed products for thank-you gift bags, while Bluestone Lane kept parents and caregivers fueled with two boxes of coffee. For the children, those gift bags carried real meaning. They were a moment of recognition. Helping your community feels good, and it gets noticed. That small acknowledgment plants a seed that can last a lifetime. A child who learns early that giving back matters becomes an adult who understands responsibility, empathy, and belonging. The morning captured what Ortiz calls the return of the village. In a city as large and fast-moving as New York, it is easy for families to feel isolated. Park Pals Crew offers the opposite experience. It gathers neighbors, businesses, parents, and children in one place, working toward one goal, sharing one sense of pride. What Makes Ellie's Nest Different Many organizations serve children. Few place the child's voice at the center the way Ellie's Nest does. The brand closes the gap between parents, caregivers, and teachers, and finally gives children a seat at the table because their voice matters too. This is the differentiator that sets Ellie's Nest apart. It is not simply teaching kids to pick up litter. It is teaching them, at an early age, to become conscious about emotional intelligence, community, and giving back to their own neighborhood. It is early childhood advocacy grounded in action, not theory. Every event connects a tangible task to a deeper emotional lesson. Cleaning a park becomes a lesson in belonging. A thank-you bag becomes a lesson in recognition. A group of fifty children becomes living proof that a village can still exist in the heart of a modern city. What Comes Next This is only the beginning. Park Pals Crew returns next month with a Halloween-themed event at Washington Market Park. After that, new chapters will open at other parks across the city in the coming months. The vision is expansive and clear: every child, in every neighborhood, should have a village and should understand what it means to be part of one. Ellie's Nest is also preparing something larger. Early in 2027, the brand plans to launch a nanny agency, built on the very community it is creating right now. That sequence matters. Ortiz is not building a business and hoping a community follows. She is building a genuine community first, then giving it a foundation to stand on. The trust comes before the transaction. That approach reflects the care behind the entire brand. Ellie's Nest treats children, families, and caregivers as people worth investing in for the long term. The result is a movement that feels less like a program and more like a promise. Why It Matters Childhood moves quickly. The habits, feelings, and lessons formed in these early years shape the adults children eventually become. A child who learns co-regulation grows calmer under pressure. A child who learns self-regulation makes stronger choices. A child who learns they belong to a village grows secure, confident, and kind. Ellie's Nest offers parents and caregivers a practical, joyful way to teach these lessons without lectures or worksheets. Instead, children learn through play, service, and connection. They learn by doing, surrounded by neighbors who show up for them. For families searching for that sense of belonging, Ellie's Nest offers a clear answer. The village is back, and it is welcoming new members one park at a time. Join the Next Chapter Families are welcome to bring their loved ones to the next Park Pals Crew event, along with neighbors and members of the wider community. Following Ellie's Nest is a way to learn when the next Park Pals Crew event lands near you, discover weekly guidance on EQ and play, and connect with a community of parents and caregivers who believe every child deserves a village. The experience begins with something simple. A child picks up an oversized glove, cares for a shared space, and realizes that their actions make a difference. That moment, small as it seems, can shape a lifetime. More information about Ellie's Nest is available at elliesnestagency.com and on Instagram at @elliesnestnyc . Media inquiries can be directed to [email protected] .
- September 23, 2026Education
Printable Children’s Feelings Activities: Back-to-School Wellbeing Bundle Launch
"My Values Journal" has launched its Back-to-School Values & Feelings Bundle, a collection of printable activities designed to help children express their feelings, build confidence and adjust to school routines as the new academic year begins. More information is available at https://myvaluesjournal.com/ The launch comes as school-related pressures remain a significant wellbeing issue for young people across the UK. The Children’s Society’s Good Childhood Report 2025 found that 43% of surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds were very or quite worried about getting good grades at school or college, making academic achievement their most common worry about the future. Created for children aged 5-12, the downloadable PDF bundle provides worksheets, reflection prompts, feelings activities, and routine-building tools that parents and professionals can use to encourage conversations about returning to school. The activities give children structured opportunities to identify emotions, think about their concerns, and prepare for changes in their daily routine. "My Values Journal" has also designed the materials with different learning needs in mind. The child-friendly visuals and adaptable activities make the resources suitable for home and classroom use, as well as pastoral, therapeutic, neurodiverse and SEN settings. The Back-to-School Values & Feelings Bundle is available as an instant digital download, allowing parents, teachers and wellbeing practitioners to print individual activities as needed. This format also allows the resources to be incorporated into one-to-one conversations, classroom activities or ongoing wellbeing work. Beyond the start of the school year, "My Values Journal" offers a wider collection of values-based printable resources intended to support children’s emotional and personal development throughout the year. Individual bundles explore areas including confidence, kindness, compassion, social skills, feelings and emotions, and growth mindset. A physical version of "My Values Journal" is also available. The journal encourages children to reflect on their experiences, feelings and personal values over time, complementing the more focused activities available in the printable collections. The wider aim behind the resources is to help children connect, communicate and grow with greater confidence and compassion, while giving the adults supporting them accessible ways to begin conversations about emotions and values. Parents, teachers and practitioners can explore the Back-to-School Values & Feelings Bundle and the wider collection of printable children’s wellbeing resources at https://myvaluesjournal.com/store-product-list
- September 23, 2026Education
Merge Unveils Web-First Platform to Bring 3D Spatial Learning and Creation to Any Device
SAN ANTONIO, TX — September 21, 2026 — Merge, a leader in augmented reality and spatial learning tools for education, today announced the release of the all-new Merge 3D Platform. Built entirely for the web, the new platform delivers active, embodied learning and creation directly to student desks without app store downloads, MDM deployment delays, or specialized hardware requirements. In recognition of its innovation and impact on daily instruction, Merge 3D was named a Tech & Learning Best of Show Award Winner at ISTE 2026. Selected by a panel of expert educators and editors, the award honors exemplary technology showcased on the ISTE exhibit floor. The award- winning platform eliminates app store hurdles to deliver browser-based 3D objects, simulations, and AR + AI creation tools across K-12 classrooms. Eliminating Friction for Everyday Classrooms By transitioning to a web-first architecture, Merge 3D allows K-12 students to explore complex science simulations, inspect digital artifacts, and create their own 3D models using standard web browsers on Chromebooks, Mac and Windows laptops, PCs, iPads, and smartphones. Key Features of the Merge 3D Launchpad: Centralized Content & Curriculum: Access thousands of interactive 3D simulations, open collections from world-renowned educational partners, and standards-aligned activity plans in one dashboard. AI-Powered Creation Tools: Enables students to generate, animate, and code interactive 3D models using natural language prompts, sketches, and photos. District-Level Administrative Controls: Centralized tools for managing user permissions, content access, and settings across entire districts. Active, Embodied Learning at Every Desk Merge 3D transforms passive screens into interactive 3D learning environments through dynamic interaction modes: Hand Tracking: Uses device cameras to let students manipulate 3D models on screen with natural gestures. Head Tracking: Converts device screens into dynamic 3D viewing windows based on head movement. Merge Cube Mode: Delivers tactile, hands-on interaction in the palm of a student's hand using augmented reality technology. 3D & Anaglyph Mode: Offers accessible, high-impact 3D viewing on standard device screens. "At Merge, our goal is to empower the next generation to explore, learn and create in 3D with technology that fits seamlessly into daily instruction," said Franklin Lyons, Founder of Merge. "By bringing Merge 3D to the web, any student can now hold the universe, visualize abstract structures, and create their own interactive learning experiences in 3D all from their regular, everyday classrooms." Educators and administrators can get a free trial at www.TryMerge.com , and explore the new Merge 3D by visiting Dashboard.Merge 3d.ai . Merge 3D | Explore, learn & create in 3D. Merge 3D Blog About Merge Merge develops spatial learning technology that helps millions of students worldwide understand complex ideas, engage more deeply, and create their own learning experiences through interactive 3D objects, embodied learning, and AI + AR-powered creation tools. Learn more at www.merge3d.ai .
- September 22, 2026Education
Doctor Ruffin Announces a Leadership Framework Focused on the Hidden Cost of Organizational Stability
Dr. Quincy K. Ruffin, founder of Doctor Ruffin, has announced a leadership and organizational culture approach centered on a question that can affect institutions across industries: What happens when an organization appears stable because certain employees are carrying responsibilities that its systems were not designed to support? Dr. Ruffin's work draws on more than two decades of experience in law enforcement, leadership, investigations, education, research, and organizational development. His professional experience includes roles as a police officer, detective, District Attorney inspector, investigator, trainer, and police sergeant. Dr. Ruffin's subsequent academic work led to a Doctor of Education in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University and the development of original frameworks addressing organizational culture and institutional accountability. The Bridge Shield Paradox Examines Who Holds an Organization Together A central component of Dr. Ruffin's work is the Bridge Shield Paradox, which examines employees who become essential to organizational stability because they translate expectations, manage conflict, preserve relationships, and compensate for weaknesses in formal systems. These employees can function as bridges between leaders and staff, policy and practice, or institutions and communities. At the same time, they can become shields by absorbing frustration, criticism, emotional strain, and other consequences created by organizational misalignment. Dr. Ruffin argues that this dynamic can create borrowed stability. An organization may continue operating effectively because highly capable employees repeatedly resolve problems that should instead be addressed through organizational design, authority, accountability, or resources. “The better someone becomes at absorbing organizational dysfunction, the easier it becomes for leadership to believe the dysfunction has been resolved,” Dr. Ruffin said. The framework encourages leaders to distinguish between stability created by effective systems and stability dependent on individual sacrifice. Cultural Current Theory Adds a Second Lens Dr. Ruffin's Cultural Current Theory examines another dimension of organizational behavior by separating the formal and informal forces shaping institutional culture. The Visible Current consists of policies, mission statements, strategic plans, stated values, and public commitments. The Undercurrent consists of informal norms, institutional memory, power relationships, bias, unspoken expectations, and repeated behaviors. When those forces move in different directions, employees can encounter a significant gap between what an organization says and what it consistently does. Dr. Ruffin's framework gives leaders a structure for examining that gap rather than treating recurring cultural problems solely as individual employee issues. Recognized As Best Organizational Culture Consultant In 2026 Dr. Quincy K. Ruffin has been recognized as the " Best Organizational Culture Consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area of 2026 " by BestofBestReview.com, recognizing his work in organizational culture, leadership development, and institutional change. The recognition reflects Dr. Ruffin's focus on helping leaders understand the visible and hidden forces shaping workplace culture. Through his Cultural Current Theory and Bridge Shield Paradox, he offers practical frameworks for strengthening trust, accountability, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. A Career Inside High Pressure Institutions Dr. Ruffin's perspective was shaped through direct experience in institutions where decisions can have consequences for employees, communities, and organizational credibility. Dr. Ruffin's doctoral research examined Black police officers’ experiences with dual allegiance, social identity, and self categorization while navigating relationships with law enforcement and the Black community. Dr. Ruffin's academic background includes a Master of Human Relations with a specialization in diversity, equity, and social justice from the University of Oklahoma, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Oregon, and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. Dr. Ruffin's work has also extended into healthcare and medical education. Dr. Ruffin has presented and served as an invited panelist at Stanford School of Medicine and co developed a curriculum addressing stereotype threat and implicit bias that was subsequently adopted by dermatology departments at Northwestern University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Pennsylvania. Personal Challenges Influenced His View of Resilience Dr. Ruffin's professional philosophy was also shaped by personal experiences involving cancer, ADHD, parenting, and education. While completing his doctorate, he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. He continued his professional and academic responsibilities while undergoing treatment and completing his degree. Dr. Ruffin has also navigated ADHD. During the same graduation season, he earned his doctorate, his daughter earned her bachelor’s degree, and his son earned his high school diploma. All three have ADHD. The experience contributed to Dr. Ruffin's broader perspective on resilience. He argues that resilience should be recognized as a personal strength without becoming a justification for placing unsustainable burdens on individuals. “I survived Stage IV cancer while completing my doctorate. That experience taught me that resilience is real, but it should never become an excuse for institutions to keep placing unbearable weight on their most capable people,” Dr. Ruffin said. Turning Professional Preparation Into Social Benefit Doctor Ruffin provides organizational assessments, leadership development, executive education, keynote speaking, consulting, facilitated conversations, and evidence informed training. Dr. Ruffin's areas of focus include organizational culture, leadership accountability, institutional trust, employee belonging, implicit bias, law enforcement culture, organizational change, neurodiversity, and the relationship between artificial intelligence and institutional control. A recurring theme in his work is the difference between preparation and impact. Dr. Ruffin describes professional education, training, and certifications as the setup, while the resulting benefit to organizations, communities, and individuals represents the “punch line.” “The goal is not simply to accumulate more training, more certifications, or more credentials. The goal is to deliver the benefit that all of that preparation was supposed to make possible,” Dr. Ruffin said. Dr. Ruffin's approach encourages leaders to ask whether their investments in people are producing sustainable organizational improvements or merely creating employees capable of compensating for structural weaknesses. Books and Continuing Work Dr. Ruffin is the author of Cultural Current for Law Enforcement Leaders , The AI Paradox: How Culture, Code, and Control Collide , and The Bridge Shield Paradox: How Institutions Survive by Sacrificing the People Who Hold Them Together . Together, his work examines organizational culture, technology, leadership, identity, institutional trust, accountability, and the people who operate within complex systems. “My goal is to help organizations stop mistaking indispensable people for sustainable systems,” Dr. Ruffin said. Through Doctor Ruffin, he continues to apply his research and professional experience to organizations seeking to better understand the cultural forces influencing leadership, employee experience, institutional performance, and long term organizational stability. About Doctor Ruffin Doctor Ruffin, founded by Dr. Quincy K. Ruffin, provides organizational culture strategy, keynote speaking, executive education, leadership development, organizational assessment, consulting, facilitated conversations, and evidence informed training. Dr. Ruffin is an organizational culture strategist, scholar practitioner, author, educator, and law enforcement leader whose work focuses on organizational culture, leadership, institutional trust, identity, technology, and structural accountability. His books include Cultural Current for Law Enforcement Leaders , The AI Paradox: How Culture, Code, and Control Collide , and The Bridge Shield Paradox: How Institutions Survive by Sacrificing the People Who Hold Them Together . Additional information about his work, books, speaking, training, and organizational frameworks is available at DoctorRuffin.com . Dr. Ruffin can also be found on LinkedIn . For business inquiries, contact [email protected]
- September 22, 2026Education
The Math Pal LLC Founder, Ms. Leena Deshpande, Receives 2026 Global Recognition Award in Mathematics Category
Ms. Leena Deshpande , founder and chief executive officer of The Math Pal LLC, has been named a recipient of a 2026 Global Recognition Award in the Mathematics Category for her work building The Math Pal Academy into a trusted name in personalized mathematics instruction. The award recognizes her development of a personalized abacus and math instruction model that has produced measurable gains for students. Photo Courtesy of M.A Ms. Leena Deshpande holds a master's degree in pharmacy and previously worked in pharmaceutical research before transitioning into education. Through The Math Pal Academy, she now offers abacus instruction, concept-based math, and competitive math programs tailored to individual learners. Program Structure and Credentials The Math Pal Academy provides individualized instruction, with every enrolled student working directly with Deshpande. The academy's structure reflects that approach. Every enrolled student works directly with Deshpande herself, preserving the individualized attention. She holds credentials from the Vedic Maths Forum India and the Indian Institute of Vedic Maths and Abacus. Parents cite measurable gains in academic performance and confidence. Award Evaluation Criteria The award was determined by the method used to arrive at it. Ms. Leena Deshpande's application was evaluated using the Rasch model, a linear measurement framework that allows the panel to compare applicants from different fields on a single common scale. Within that framework, she scored at the top level in vision and strategy implementation, ability to inspire others, and ethical decision-making. On the service dimension of the evaluation, Deshpande also scored at the highest level, reflecting the scale and reach of her initiatives, her responsiveness to broader learning needs, and the impact of her civic engagement. "Every child learns differently, and my role is to meet them where they are rather than force them into a single method," Ms. Leena Deshpande said, describing the philosophy that underlies her teaching. "I never set out to build a company. I followed the families who trusted me, and the structure came later," she said. Alex Sterling, a spokesperson for Global Recognition Awards, described the selection in similar terms. "Ms. Leena Deshpande represents the kind of educator whose impact is measured not in credentials alone but in the sustained trust of the families she serves," Sterling said, adding that "her selection confirms that a personalized, relationship-driven approach to education can meet a world-class standard just as effectively as achievements measured through more conventional means." About Global Recognition Awards Global Recognition Awards is an international organization that recognizes exceptional companies and individuals for their significant contributions to their industries.
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