Teaching Positivity
In 2014, Peggy Rakas founded Teaching Positivity, in response to the stress that statewide testing was creating in her school district in North Merrick, NY.
Ms. Rakas created positivity workshops for teachers and staff based on nurturing techniques and happiness boosters from positive psychology and has taught workshops at the New York State Music Conference, the Balanced Mind Conference, and the Suffolk Symposium. She is a popular presenter for Nassau and Suffolk County professional development classes and school districts across Long Island.
In 2012, Ms. Rakas received the Nassau County Scope Teacher of the Year Award and is a two-time recipient of the Merrick Teacher of the Year Award. She was nominated for the prestigious Disney Teacher Award and the New York State Teacher of the Year.
Ms. Rakas is the founder and coordinator of the Harry Chapin Practice-a-thon, a non-profit that raises funds for food banks across New York State.
Ms. Rakas is currently an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, a certified Optimize Life Coach specializing in positive psychology, a clinician for SmartMusic, and an approved teacher for the Yale course for high school students called "Psychology and the Good Life." She is a proud graduate of Bowling Green State University and Queens College.
Ms. Rakas created positivity workshops for teachers and staff based on nurturing techniques and happiness boosters from positive psychology and has taught workshops at the New York State Music Conference, the Balanced Mind Conference, and the Suffolk Symposium. She is a popular presenter for Nassau and Suffolk County professional development classes and school districts across Long Island.
In 2012, Ms. Rakas received the Nassau County Scope Teacher of the Year Award and is a two-time recipient of the Merrick Teacher of the Year Award. She was nominated for the prestigious Disney Teacher Award and the New York State Teacher of the Year.
Ms. Rakas is the founder and coordinator of the Harry Chapin Practice-a-thon, a non-profit that raises funds for food banks across New York State.
Ms. Rakas is currently an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, a certified Optimize Life Coach specializing in positive psychology, a clinician for SmartMusic, and an approved teacher for the Yale course for high school students called "Psychology and the Good Life." She is a proud graduate of Bowling Green State University and Queens College.
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""Peggy Rakas is one of the best teachers I have encountered in the realm of self-improvement!
She is positive, upbeat, and makes new concepts easy to understand. Her workshop, "The Power of Positivity", sends participants home with engaging ideas, clear goals, and practical exercises for improving one's outlook on life, and the way in which your own frame of mind affects those around you, in work situations and social contacts."
Carol Purdy
Retired, North Merrick Schools Orchestra Teacher
She is positive, upbeat, and makes new concepts easy to understand. Her workshop, "The Power of Positivity", sends participants home with engaging ideas, clear goals, and practical exercises for improving one's outlook on life, and the way in which your own frame of mind affects those around you, in work situations and social contacts."
Carol Purdy
Retired, North Merrick Schools Orchestra Teacher