Testimonials

Few educators have an understanding of exceptional students as deep as Shelley Hawkes. I have worked with Shelley in two different schools, as a teaching colleague, and also as a design partner for school programs. Shelley brings assets of curiosity and emotional intelligence to her leadership style, which allows her to collaborate seamlessly with classroom practitioners, school administrators, and families alike. Her style is highly approachable and she builds trust in minutes. I would recommend her services to any school hoping to improve the classroom experience for all students.

Patricia Podorsek, Director of Teaching and Learning, Nido de Aguilas, Santiago, Chile

Shelley's consultation has had a profound and lasting impact on our school community, particularly in our approach to supporting students' social-emotional learning (SEL) and behavior needs. Her breakdown of behavior, coupled with her tier-one teaching approach, has equipped our faculty with practical, actionable strategies that have transformed our inclusive learning environments. Shelley's guidance was not only easy to implement but also infused with infectious enthusiasm, leaving our faculty feeling empowered and supported.

The testimonials from our teachers speak volumes about the transformative effect of Shelley's expertise. One teacher remarked on the shift from skepticism to possibility, saying, "I used to think it was difficult to integrate students with special needs in the regular classroom. Now I think, that, with some effort, it is possible." Beyond mere inspiration, the changes catalyzed by Shelley's visit have yielded tangible benefits for our students. By implementing her strategies and fostering a common language across our division, we have seen a significant decrease in office discipline referrals and an enhanced sense of belonging among students. These outcomes underscore the invaluable contribution Shelley has made to our school's inclusive practices.

For any educational institution committed to fostering inclusive environments and addressing diverse student needs, I could not recommend partnering with Shelley more strongly.

Jennifer Stockbridge, Elementary Principal, Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lima, Peru

My experience with Shelley's consultancy was a positive turning point in our Support Services Department, and consequently, in our entire school. It was clear that Shelley put a lot of time and effort into understanding our context and needs even before her arrival. She tailored each training to the needs and responsibilities of the attendees. She has a wealth of knowledge of current research for behavioral science, inclusion practices, and practical application of both within international school settings. She prepared resources and was ready and willing to share them with us as needed.

One of the most notable things about working Shelley was her attentiveness and approachability during one on one conversations. She truly listened to my concerns, was committed to fully understanding the problem(s), and finding solutions together. 

Shelley has made it clear, in both word and actions, that her professional relationship with us did not end with her in-person visit. Since then, she has checked in with our team regarding our progress and made herself available to answer questions that we have about implementation of new initiatives following her consultation. 

I highly recommend working with Shelley Hawkes. 

Sadie Gearheart, Escola Americana de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Shelley Hawkes was a visionary leader during her time at the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL), where she was part of the team that founded the Life Centered Education (LCE) program, revolutionizing our approach to inclusive education. Under her guidance, the LCE program became a cornerstone of our inclusive curriculum, prioritizing the holistic development of every student, even those with more significant moderate needs. Shelley's innovative initiatives, including the establishment of adaptive physical education classes and the Middle School Service and Awareness Club, showcased her unwavering commitment to fostering inclusivity and social responsibility. Shelley worked extremely hard to connect all students, regardless of neurodiversity, by including a mix of students to participate in the semester-long Social Success class. Shelley's dedication and leadership creating and advocating for an inclusive and supportive learning environment has left an indelible mark on our school community and has been foundational in our growth as an inclusive school. I would one day love to have Shelley return to ISKL to see how far we have come and seek her advice to help us continue on our inclusion journey.  

Peter Casey, Middle School Principal, The International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The work of Mrs. Hawkes has had a huge impact on our son’s development. Her social emotional support program has provided our son with excellent tools to better deal with certain situations in a way that has translated into confidence and self-assurance. This has been a tipping point for him because now he has confidence and a sense of calmness that was immediately reflected in his school performance. We cannot thank her enough for this. These types of initiatives are what make the difference. Together with Mrs. Hawkes, we had the opportunity to learn in depth about this social-emotional learning process and the enormous benefits for our children. The more we understood it, the more sense it made. The work that Mrs. Hawkes does, with her spectacular methodology, for our children is invaluable. It is a blessing to have someone like Mrs. Shelley Hawkes who can guide our children through this process of personal development with her great knowledge and enormous affection. 

José Ignacio Galindo and Carla Branca, Parents, International School Nido de Aguilas, Santiago, Chile

Shelley Hawkes was a teacher for students with special needs at the Universal American School Dubai during the years when I was the elementary principal at the school. She is a very effective teacher. She has a deep professional knowledge base, she has the "people skills" to attract students to her and to lead colleagues in teams and in other collaborative work, and she makes student learning and professional learning environments interesting and productive. At UAS she not only handled the expected tasks (IEP's, lesson planning, preparing learning environments, scheduling, recordkeeping, etc.) effectively, but also brought in outside resources for teachers and parents and used effective "outside-the-box" strategies to help students learn.  Ms. Hawkes is a dedicated, compassionate professional who has a great track record of helping students, parents, and other professionals.

Eric Webb, Elementary Principal, Universal American School, Dubai 

Before being enrolled in social skills class with Mrs. Hawkes, I had been a very quiet person, avoiding other individuals my age. Not being taught the social expectations of making friends, it had been a struggle for me. Mrs. Hawkes helped me understand and be familiar with the social constructs. She has also taught me how to embrace my own inner differences, while being able to manage it by making sure I am able to get the help I need. Today, I am able to make connections and good friends as well as any neurotypical individual.

Anonymous Former Student, The International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Not everyone is born with social skills. My daughter was a loner at lunch and at the playground without a friend. Not by choice, though. She just didn’t know how to make friends. We were unaware of her need to learn social skills, learn how to make friends and start a conversation, learn how to make eye contact etc. Mrs. Hawkes was a Godsend for us, specifically for my daughter. I don’t know how but she did it! She is an amazing and loving person with a huge passion to help kids thrive. My daughter now has different groups of friends, and is making more along the way in college. Mrs. Hawkes has changed her life, taught her lifelong and life-changing skills. I can’t imagine how different it would have been if she hadn’t been there for my daughter. Thank you so much, Mrs. Hawkes!

Parent of Anonymous Former Student, The International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In addition to being a warm, compassionate, empathetic, passionate, and kind person, Shelley Hawkes is also an outstanding educator.  I had the privilege of working with Shelley and watching her build programs, support families, and engage with teachers in positive, thoughtful, and constructive ways.  

If you are looking for someone who can support and assist your organization I can not think of a better person to help you navigate and build. 

Larry McIlvain, Superintendent of the American Community School in Amman, Jordan 2009-2023