Lori Cousino

Activist, Brainstormer, Change Agent, Christian, Concerned citizen, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Idea generator, Parent, Social entrepreneur, Student

I am the Elementary Director of a school in Dallas called Wesley Prep. we are centrally located in the city, which allows us to be deeply connected to our community. Before becoming the Elementary Director, I spent 34 years as an elementary educator, and I've loved every moment. I am a big idea person, driven by passion and curiosity, eager to use my gifts and talents to make the world a better place. I'm hopeful to empower my students to do the same. I love teaching history and language arts because storytelling is at the heart of both. We are connected by one another's stories. They make us feel a part of something bigger than ourselves. We can learn from characters in a novel or from people we encounter in our history books. Both can bring a sense of belonging and understanding; two things we all need! I also love the power of language. Teaching students to write, speak and share their points of view in a variety of powerful ways is so important. The beautiful, intimate exchange that happens wehn Perhaps my most meaningful work as an educator has occurred in the past 5 years, since my students and I embarked on a mission to bring unity to our community through collaborative creativity. We started something called The Common Ground Experiment. Each year my 4th graders would spend the school year in a partnership with new friends in the community to create something together and share it with the world. We have written poetry with women experiencing homelessness, we have written a cookbook with formerly incarcerated youth, and we have written and illustrated a beautiful alphabet book with students who are recently resettled refugees. Each year we sell the books we create to raise money for organizations supporting our friends. To date, my students have poured almost $50,000 back into our community to support those experiencing homelessness, those who were formerly incarcerated, and recently resettled refugees. However, the projects, while they always turn out beautifully, are only a means to an end. The relationships we have formed are the most valuable thing we offer our community. They have been astounding and ongoing. Last year we could not spend time in the community because of Covid, so we hosted a podcast and brought the community to us! We were able to interview changemakers of all shapes and sizes! TED talks have always been instrumental in building my students' understanding of the world around them and where they might fit in the big picture. Our weekly discussions on TED Talk Tuesdays fueled their curiosity and appreciation for other people, innovation, discovery, and wonder. Because of the impact TED has had on my students, they see the limitless potential they have to do good. This is why I applied to host a TEDXyouth conference for our community at my school. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring TEDX to Dallas in 2023!

I'm passionate about teaching and learning, and inviting opportunities for curiosity and connection. I love helping students find their voices and celebrate who they are. In doing so they always seem to be able to celebrate others as well. As I have watched our culture grow progressively more polarized over the last few years, I have realized we must be explicit and intentional in educating our students so they can be a part of reversing this trend. I am passionate about all things creative, and I am inspired by people who have thought outside the box to solve a problem, whatever that problem might be. I want to instill these characteristics in the students at my school, and the best way to do so is by providing opportunities to listen to the stories of others, share our own stories, and find where they intersect.

I would love to share about The Common Ground Experiment, a student led creative project designed to build relationships. Our tag line is, "Inviting unity through collective creativity" The relationships built are mutually beneficial, and our community is strengthened as a result. Plus, students feel deeply connected to their community and empowered to make a difference. The positive effects from these projects will ripple into the future as these kiddos grow up.

Community Engagement, Education, Leadership, Using Creativity to Connect

As I mentioned above, TED Talk Tuesdays have been a fixture in my classroom for years. No matter what we're experiencing, there is a TED Talk to bring us more insight! I always start the year with Shawn Achor's TED Talk because of the practical advice he provides. We refer to his tips all year. The coolest thing about TED is that even though I have some tried and true favorite talks, there are always new ones being generated, so no two classes ever have the exact same TED experience. I am so excited and honored to bring this experience to my community next spring.

I'm good at gratitude! I have a deep appreciation for so many things, and I hope I can help others feel grateful for those things, too. I'm good at making my students and teachers feel seen and heard. I'm good at asking questions and recognizing I don't have all the answers. I am a big idea person, and I love the challenge of trying something when others don't think it can be done.