Biographical Highlights

Suzanne loves working with schools to implement Positive Discipline! She is highly respected in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools where she has provided school psychology, counseling and school social work services for over 30 years. She has introduced hundreds of educators to Positive Discipline since 1991 and has consistently helped her own school apply these principles to reduce discipline problems and improve the climate for learning. Suzanne has worked with public, private, and parochial schools primarily at preschool and elementary levels. Participants in her workshops give her high marks for training that is informative, practical, well presented and fun.

Parent education through schools, houses of worship, and community centers is also a high priority for Suzanne. She is available as a speaker for groups and enjoys training parent educators interested in learning to use Positive Discipline. In addition, she has worked with other organizations such as the Girl Scouts to provide adult education for working with children.

Suzanne initial training in Positive Discipline was with Jane Nelsen and Lynn Lott, co-authors of the Positive Discipline books and materials. In addition, she holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and has continued to upgrade her education through course work at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte, and Appalachian State University.

She is the mother of two lovely young adult daughters who have grown up with Positive Discipline at home and who plan to continue the tradition in their own families and careers.

SAMPLE TOPICS

Positive Discipline in the Classroom: An experientially based workshop designed for educators to learn how to foster responsibility, problem-solving skills, and self-discipline in schools.
Parenting the Positive Discipline Way: Parents learn practical methods that help children develop self-discipline, social interest, and problem-solving skills.
Positive Discipline in the Scout Troop or Worship Setting: Identify your own leadership/teaching style and discover how to apply Positive Discipline principles to the group of young people you lead.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT SUZANNE SMITHA


"Suzanne’s workshops focus on the needs of the classroom and support teachers who struggle to maintain discipline. She clearly explains why children act as they do and what structure the teacher needs to implement in order to set the right classroom environment. She is easy to listen to and her sessions are packed full of experiential activities and useful hints and ideas that can be implemented immediately. I am convinced that discipline improved when the staff in our school understood and implemented Positive Discipline. The total school climate became more productive. Suzanne is an effective presenter and coach for schools interested in improving relationships with children, staff, and parents."
Dr. Mary Martin
Winthrop University
Winthrop, South Carolina
"This was a great workshop! You have such a wonderful way of presenting information; you made it so interesting. Thank you. I want to begin this program with our teachers soon."
Bonnie Rowe
McIntosh Elementary School
Newport News, Virginia
"Thank you for your participation in the Leadership Academy for principals. Your session on Positive Discipline was most informative and very well received. In fact, many of the participants listed your session as one of the most helpful aspects of the seminar experience."
Trudy Griffin
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
"I highly recommend this parenting class! You have been great! Thank you for enriching our family!"
John and Cheryl Waskin
Huntersville, North Carolina