ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Please join us for “Applied Self-Reg for Education Assistants: A New Book by Susan Hopkins and Kristin Wiens.”
Susan Hopkins is Executive Director of The MEHRIT Centre, Dr. Stuart Shanker’s organization and the home of the Self-Reg framework. An international leader in Self-Reg, she co-creates online courses with Dr. Shanker that have reached thousands of educators worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience across Canada and internationally, Susan works across early childhood, K–12, and the systems that support children and youth. She has led in school administration, inclusion, and the early years, and has delivered hundreds of presentations to educators, leaders, and communities. Her work brings brain-body science and co-regulation to life in real-world contexts. Susan is co-author of Restoring Resilience (2025), Self-Reg Schools (2019), and Applied Self-Reg for Educational Assistants (2026). Known for her engaging storytelling and practical insight, she helps educators and leaders reframe behaviour and create the conditions for well-being, connection, and learning.
Kristin Wiens is an educator and illustrator whose work focuses on Self-Reg and relational approaches to supporting all students. With a background as an Education Assistant, she developed an EA training program that she has taught for over a decade. She also co-created the Mehrit Centre online course Self-Reg for EAs with Susan Hopkins, based on the book they co-authored. Her writing and illustrations support educators in shifting from compliance-based approaches toward a regulation-focused lens grounded in stress awareness, connection, and compassion. She lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
