Media & Speaking

Professional Bio

Bernice is a trauma-informed school leader and transformational coach with over 20 years of experience serving public, private, and charter schools across California. She has held diverse leadership roles—including instructional coach, school administrator, special education director, and regional vice president—where she skillfully balances high-level vision and strategy with the human-centered realities of education. Guided by the belief that safe schools for students start with healing spaces for educators, Bernice founded Growth at the Speed of Safety to empower school leaders to heal their relationships with stress, anxiety, and self-doubt so they can lead from a place of calm, confidence and inner wisdom.

As a certified somatic breathwork practitioner, Bernice brings a unique approach to leadership coaching that incorporates nervous system regulation and somatic practices. This holistic, body-centered approach enables leaders to release stored stress and trauma, reconnect with their innate resilience, and lead from a place of calm and clarity. Her integration of somatic-based practices with traditional leadership training creates a transformative experience that helps educators truly embody the grounded, compassionate leadership they aspire to.

As the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants growing up in Compton, and a first generation USC college graduate, Bernice’s journey has  instilled in her a profound sense of resilience and empathy. Her upbringing and experiences have made this work deeply personal; as a cycle-breaking mother of three and a childhood trauma survivor, she understands firsthand the power of inner healing. Through her work, she helps school leaders find the inner peace and balance needed to lead with love, joy, and purpose, fostering environments where both students and staff can thrive. Bernice’s mission is to transform educational and service-based spaces into inclusive, nurturing environments of growth, safety, and wellness—creating a ripple effect of positive change for entire communities.

  • Her work is especially impactful for women of color or those with trauma, whose instinctive fight-or-flight responses make traditional methods of regulation feel unattainable."

    — Mae C. Innes, Special Education Consultant

  • "By the end of the session, I felt relaxed, grounded, and in tune with my mind and body, with my anxiety significantly reduced."

    — Dr. Jarazeth Lopez, School Psychologist

  • "She introduced us to simple but effective breathing techniques to help downregulate our nervous systems."

    — Sara Ozuna, Lecturer & Faculty at Cal State Los Angeles

  • "She reminded us that stress and emotional history remain stored in our bodies unless we intentionally make space to release it, emphasizing that transformation begins with ourselves."

    — Dr. Veronica Gonzalez, Professor at Cal State Los Angeles

Available Speaking Topics:

Beyond Burnout: Healing Leadership Through Somatic Practices

This session explores how stress and trauma are stored in the body and their impact on leadership, providing actionable strategies for nervous system regulation and emotional resilience. Leaders will leave with self-compassionate tools and somatic techniques, including a breathwork reset, to release stress, repattern limiting beliefs, and lead with clarity, calm, and confidence.

Harnessing the Power of Emotions for Healing and Connection at Work

This session dives into the nature of emotions, exploring how they shape relationships and interactions in high-stress environments. Participants will uncover the intelligence within emotions and learn practical methods to reduce workplace tension, foster heart-centered conversations, and build stronger, more collaborative relationships through empathy and connection.

Navigating Triggers with Calm and Conscious Leadership

This session guides participants in exploring their personal triggers and understanding how these reactions manifest in emotions and behaviors. Through reflection and somatic-based practices, leaders will gain practical tools to navigate challenging situations with confidence, clarity, and a renewed sense of calm.

Trauma-Informed Leadership: Healing Beyond the Classroom

Trauma-informed practices are often centered on supporting students, but their transformative power extends to staff and the broader school community. This presentation highlights the importance of applying trauma-informed approaches to create healing spaces for educators and leaders, fostering resilience, connection, and emotional safety. Participants will gain insights into how addressing the emotional well-being of staff and communities leads to stronger, more compassionate educational environments where everyone can thrive.

What Others Are Saying

  • Transformative

    “Working with Bernice has been incredibly transformative. Her coaching feels like a true partnership where she walks alongside me, sharing her own experiences and creating a safe space for reflection. With her support, I’ve learned to embrace my authenticity and trust my own growth process, especially in balancing work, leadership, and personal healing.”

    — Mae C. Innes, Special Education Consultant

  • Grounding

    “Bernice created a gentle and warm space that allowed me to feel safe and supported throughout the session. I came in feeling anxious and scattered, but by the end, I felt relaxed, grounded, and more in tune with my mind and body. Her breathwork practice significantly reduced my anxiety, and I now have a self-help tool to use at home whenever I need it.”

    — Dr. Jarazeth Lopez, School Psychologist

  • Tangible Tools

    “Bernice’s workshop was a transformative experience that gave us tangible tools for healing. She not only broke down trauma and its effects but also provided actionable steps, including simple breathing techniques, to help us regulate our nervous systems. The workshop reminded us that healing is a process.”

    — Sara Ozuna, Lecturer & Faculty at Cal State Los Angeles

  • A Safe Space

    “Bernice’s workshop was an eye-opening exploration of how emotional history and inherited trauma affect our ability to serve others. Through her personal experiences, she created a safe space that empowered us to tap into our own healing journeys, making her workshops an invaluable resource for educators and organizations committed to equity and well-being.”

    — Dr. Veronica Gonzalez, Professor at Cal State Los Angeles

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