About the Director

Norma Neumann-Johnson created the Breakthrough Training Institute (BTI) to share the powerful tools of mindfulness, restorative discipline, and brain science with parents, teachers, schools and communities.

As the founder and leader of two groundbreaking magnet schools in Hartford, Connecticut, Neumann-Johnson began introducing mindfulness to her students and staff in 2006.  Her background includes several decades founding, designing, and being the principal of one of two "Global Schools for Students of Character." Her school achieved national recognition in 2015 when it was selected as the "Number 1 Magnet School" in the U.S. by Magnet Schools of America and "A National School to Learn From" by Teach for America.  This was due, in part, to the students', staff and families'  immersion in the schools' Character Guide contents, communicated through the acronym B.R.I.C.K., and student instruction in Mindfulness.  

*To understand the uniqueness of Breakthrough Magnet School South, check out their current magnet school recruitment video,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpl6RqhGFfQ

Ms Neumann-Johnson consulted with, did staff training in, and launched the Tracey Elementary Magnet School in Norwalk, CT into becoming a Character Education themed school in 2016 & 17. It was named a National School of Character in 2019 by Character.org, the Washington D.C. non-profit. 

Ms. Neumann-Johnson is certified as a Mindfulness Instructor by Mindful Schools (MS) in Emeryville, CA, and focuses on supporting school leaders, staff, parents and communities in developing emotional intelligence in students. This is done through the creation by school staff of experiences expressive of the tenets in the BRICK  character  guide, Be A BRICK not a Marshmallow, plus restorative discipline, and mindfulness instruction.. Her study and training show how the environment provided by parents and teachers alters the brain. Neumann-Johnson completed 300 hours of study in Schoolwide Implementation Planning (SWIP) of mindfulness with M.S. in 2021 to consult with school leaders on introducing and planning for the growth of mindfulness skills for all, over time, in a school community.  The strategies contained in BTI courses address the need for positive, restorative discipline to be used with children throughout their developing years. 

BTI courses can be offered in schools or community-based organization settings. Ms. Neumann-Johnson's Character Guide is newly published and available for purchase in this website's store.  Contact us to check for availability of her 2 groundbreaking courses, "Teaching (or Parenting) with the Brain in Mind" to be taught to your parents and/or teachers and the stand-alone 90 minute workshop, The Brain Architecture Game, described separately on our website menu..

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