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Meet Your Workshop Host

Dr. Goins, Founder of Heartwise Scholars

Dr. Goins’ work is rooted in relationships, research, and relevance. In addition to founding Heartwise Scholars and raising five children, she has spent years serving youth and families through education and ministry.

With over a decade of experience in K–12 education and youth ministry, Dr. Goins developed an approach called Relationship-Based Classroom Management, which later inspired her book When Relationships Matter: A Socio-Emotional Approach to Teaching and Learning.

While earning her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership (K–12) at Regent University, she began leading professional development for educators on social-emotional learning, restorative practices, and student-centered classroom management. Her research explored the science behind her approach, connecting it to social motivational theory and an interactionalist style of classroom management.

Today, Dr. Goins applies this research through her Heartwise Decision Making framework, supporting children, families, and educators in building socially motivated learning communities.

Through the Heartwise Community Workshop Series, she now shares these insights with the wider community—helping families and educators understand how to raise and support children who care for themselves, their community, and the world.

Join a workshop to learn more about the Heartwise approach.