Callen Reese is an educator from Cleveland, Ohio, who has dedicated his career to finding ways to creatively connect with students. Graduating from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Minor in Coaching, Callen began his journey working with young people through mentorship, coaching, and teaching outside of the classroom. He later earned a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Georgia State University.
“As a trained school counselor and a former teacher, I uniquely understand the multifaceted layers to school discipline as it relates to the psyche of the teacher and the student. Knowing the risk that permeates when discipline is deemed too severe from students or too mild from teachers, having a consistent and fair methodology for discipline is key.”—Mr. Reese
For the past 5 years, Callen has been a counselor. He prides himself on his ability to connect with every student, cultivating an experience for his students rooted in empowerment, encouragement, and empathy. His mantra of “doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will” and claim of being a “self-care warrior” follows him wherever he goes, along with the smiles, laughter, and positivity for all he encounters.
“Working in urban populations, I also have spent much time in understanding the inequity of the historical systems of discipline and how the School-to-Prison pipeline is not only related to standardized test scores but to nationwide disproportionality in consequences given to students of color, students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and students who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer. ” —Mr. Reese
He begins a new journey with the role Dean of Students at Bayhill. He wants to be part of the shift from out-dated approaches learning to more restorative approaches that center relationships and relationship-building.