Erika Lyssand

Erika Lyssand (OLMC class of '04) facilitates the Second Step program at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. She was born and raised in Redwood City, and after spending 4+ years in Sonoma County working in outdoor education, she returned to the Bay Area hoping to bring the lessons learned through experiences in Nature back into a traditional classroom setting. She is committed to creating safe and positive spaces for students to strengthen their social-emotional skills, providing opportunities for leadership and community building, and supporting the holistic well-being of every child. In 2020 she completed a "Mind-Body Wellness and Social-Emotional Learning" training/certification through an amazing organization called Breathe for Change. She looks forward to sharing the new things she learned with our community this school year!

In her free time, she enjoys creating and expressing herself through music and art. Using petals to create flower mandala designs has been one of her favorite ways to create and feel at peace. In past years she has shared this meditative practice with students, and is always inspired by their brilliance and creativity. The possibilities are endless!