Shawna Snow is a Professional Development Specialist with extensive experience in education, leadership training, and community development. Based in Ventura, California, Shawna is currently creating curriculum and training material for the documentary “The Biggest Little Farm” with the Rodale Institute. She also serves as the Head of School for “The Biggest Little School” in Moorpark, California, where she leads a comprehensive three-year program for elementary school focused on Biodynamic Farming.
Shawna‘s foundational approach is rooted in Dialogue Education, a learner-centered method she discovered while earning her Master’s degree in the early 2000s. This methodology has since become the cornerstone of her career, guiding her work in various contexts.
For over 15 years, Shawna led Reckoning, a nonprofit organization she founded, which used art-making and play to teach character and leadership to young people. She designed, trained, and led volunteer teams to implement after-school programs, equipping college and high school students to mentor elementary-aged children. Her work in Reckoning led to international collaborations and engagements, allowing her to design and deliver training in conflict resolution, strategic planning, cross-cultural communication, leadership development, and team-building across Europe, Africa, and the United States.
In addition to her work with Reckoning, Shawna co-authored the training workbook “Creating a Playground for CLASS (Character, Leadership, and Social Skills),” a practical guide used in training educators and mentors.
Currently, Shawna focuses on empowering educators to adopt student-centered teaching methods, promoting engagement, agency, and active learning in classrooms. Her work helps teachers shift from being content providers to becoming facilitators of rich, interactive learning experiences.
Beyond her professional expertise, Shawna is passionate about fostering meaningful connections between people and nurturing a deep appreciation for nature. Her mission is to inspire individuals to live in harmony with one another and the environment, creating a more compassionate and sustainable world.