Currently, ash busby is finishing their Ed.D in Educational Leadership for Social Justice & Equity from San José State University where they are researching the intersection of culturally responsive teaching and adult social emotional learning. Their research explores how developing teachers’ social, emotional and cultural competencies informs their beliefs, perceptions and classroom practice. Professionally, ash serves as a Lecturer in four Bay Area teacher training programs. As a former elementary school teacher, ash incorporated mindfulness and restorative justice into their classroom practices; training with Bay Area Restorative Justice Institute in 2014 and with Mindful Schools in 2013. ash is also a certified Mindfulness Meditation Instructor through The Awareness Training Institute and UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center. ash also provides consulting regarding: restorative justice, LGBTQIA+ issues and culturally responsive social emotional learning for youth and adults.