Ora Meles, Ph.D, is currently a Manager for the Department of Behavioral and Mental Health at the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida. Over the past 26 years, Dr. Meles has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, trainer/professional development expert and district administrator.
Since becoming the District’s lead contact and manager of the Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) initiative, Dr. Meles has exceeded the goals set forth by the Florida Department of Education. Over 88% of the employees in Palm Beach County School District, the 10th largest District in the United States, are currently YMHFA certified. She strongly believes that trauma-informed schools foster and cultivate optimal learning conditions for all students, particularly those affected by trauma. Her lifetime work and professional experiences have focused on building educator and leadership capacity to support student achievement and wellbeing. She has provided thousands of educators and leaders with training on creating optimal conditions for learning.
This year, Dr. Meles has been charged with promoting trauma-informed practices by educating school leaders and teachers about trauma and its impact on students. She is creating professional development for school-based leaders, support staff and educators to better understand trauma-informed practices. Through education, training, and ongoing support her goal is to build a trauma-sensitive district where educators have the knowledge and skills to meet the emerging mental health needs by providing safe and supportive learning environments.
