The Caring and Compassionate Human: Teaching Kindness and Empathy to People of All Ages

Presented by:
Jessica Patterson, LMSW, DSW, Educational Manager, CEU Creations
Jessica Patterson is a licensed social worker with over ten years of experience working in different systems. Jessica has a strong passion for teaching, training, and professional development. She also has a strong background around creating trauma informed systems, social emotional behavioral health and the implementation of community and individual support systems.
Jessica has created and facilitated many professional development trainings throughout her career. Jessica’s role at CEU Creations includes developing curriculum, working with licensure boards, and presenting at various CE trainings.
Jessica holds a Bachelor’s degree in organizational management and sociology from Ashford University. She received her Master’s in Social Work from University of Iowa and her Doctoral degree in Social Work from Capella University. Jessica is a licensed Social Worker through the state of Iowa. Jessica currently lives in Iowa with her husband, four children, two dogs, and cat. Any spare moment that Jessica has is usually spent running or reading.

Daniel Gill, Teacher, Author
Daniel Gill was born and raised in New York City. He graduated from Iona College with a B.A. in psychology. He served in Vista, the national peace corps. During this time, he counseled young inmates at Rikers Island Prison. He attended Columbia University and graduated with a master’s degree in urban education and curriculum.
Mr. Gill came to the Montclair School System in September of 1970. This is his 52nd year teaching. He was part of the committee to redesign the middle schools of Montclair in order to desegregate the schools to comply with a court order. In 1984, he led the adoption of Glenfield as a peace site. In 1996, he coordinated the centennial of Glenfield School. In 2004, Mr. Gill and his students wrote a book on the history of Glenfield. It celebrated the Brown vs Board of Education ruling and its effect on desegregating the Montclair Public Schools. The focus of the book was to look at Glenfield as a microcosm of that decision.
Mr. Gill has served in the Upward Bound Program at Seton Hall University for 40 years. This program serves high school students from East Orange, Newark and Irvington, New Jersey, and provides them with academic and counseling services with the intent of getting them into a college or university upon graduation from high school. Mr. Gill was the recipient of the Robert Merril Scholar Award from Cornell University and was awarded with the Euphema Lofton Haynes Award from the Montclair NAACP. He is part of a recent documentary entitled "The One That Got Away" that dealt with one of his students and how he fell into the gang culture, his subsequent arrest and imprisonment. This year Mr. Gill served on the committee that organized the celebration of Glenfield’s 125th anniversary. Mr. Gill is the proud father of three children who all graduated from Montclair High School and he enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren and wife, Michelle, who has always provided him with support and encouragement.