Erika and Tiffany connected in 2011 in their administrative licensure program. They bonded over a shared passion for students and the educators who serve them. They enjoy collaborating and writing as a way to share their expertise with other educators. Most recently, they published Connecting Through Conversation: A Playbook for Talking with Students. You can find it, along with many free resources, on their website www.connectingthroughconversation.com. Erika and Tiffany love supporting educators through professional development, consultation, and facilitation of book studies with educators across the country. At the heart of their work–and the mission of Connecting Through Conversation–is a deep commitment to ensuring that all students feel loved, understood, and experience a deep sense of belonging so they learn and grow at the highest levels.
Erika Bare has been an educator for over twenty years, currently serving as a superintendent in Oregon. She began her career as a special educator teaching students pre-k through 21 before becoming a building administrator serving at both the high school and elementary level. She then expanded her impact as the director of special education & assistant superintendent before moving into her current position as superintendent. She is passionate about supporting all students through individual supports to reach their unlimited potential. Erika’s greatest joy comes in spending time with her extremely supportive husband and two remarkable children. Their time together is made sweeter by an energetic dog, and three very mischievous cats.
Tiffany Burns loves working with kids and their grownups. With over two decades in education, she has taught elementary, middle, and high school students in public, private, bilingual, and homeschool settings across Oregon, Alaska, and Mexico. She has served as a school administrator since 2012–including nine years as an elementary school principal. After years leading schools, Tiffany is thrilled to be back in the classroom, teaching in the School of Education at Southern Oregon University and providing leadership coaching to school and district leaders. Tiffany is passionate about improving instruction, strengthening behavior systems, and building sustainable structures that support strong teaching, cultures of connection, and high expectations that honor children’s potential and their humanity. Tiffany lives in the Siskiyou Mountains with her college sweetheart husband, their two fabulous children, and a huge and fairly ridiculous dog.
This book is chock-full of both intentional values around conflict resolution as well as practical takeaways.
–William Parker | Founder, Principal Matters, LLC
This book gives you the playbook to walk in prepared, stay grounded, and come out the other side with the relationship intact.
–Danny Bauer| Host of the Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast
Connecting Through Conversation: A Playbook for Talking with Students is a timely and practical handbook for communicating with students of any age.This is a must read for all educators
–Melanie Marrone, Ed.D. | Executive Director, Molalla River Academy
This book sparked so many ideas that I had to keep a journal as I went along! My biggest take away: this is not just education reform, this is a structure for a new educational system. A system based in the humanity of self, and our students.
–Matthew Reynolds | Human Spirit Amplifier and Author of Biggest Fullest Brightest