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Molly Nilssen is a proud Milwaukee native who attended Milwaukee Public Schools from K4 through 12th grade. She went on to earn her degree from the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before beginning her career teaching kindergarten and later first grade.

After teaching in three different schools, Molly found her home at the Milwaukee College Prep campus on 38th Street, serving predominantly minority learners. Over her career, she has taught every grade in elementary and middle school and nearly every subject, giving her a rare, full-spectrum understanding of how children grow, learn, and struggle across developmental stages.

For the past four years, Molly has taught Wellness, a subject that blends self‑regulation, brain science, hygiene, puberty and development, sex education, core values, boundaries, social justice, mindfulness, and more. Her work sits at the intersection of academic learning and human development.

The realities of Milwaukee deeply shape Molly’s commitment to SEL, one of the most racially segregated cities in the country, and a community grappling with high rates of violence and the disproportionate incarceration of Black males. These systemic conditions show up in classrooms long before they show up in statistics. Molly sees firsthand how chronic stress, community instability, and generational inequities impact students’ nervous systems, attention, behavior, and sense of safety.

Her message is clear: SEL is not optional in a city like Milwaukee. It is a protective factor, an academic accelerator, and an equity imperative. With 17 years of experience spanning major shifts in technology, AI, and post‑pandemic learning, Molly brings a powerful, urgent perspective on what today’s students truly need to thrive and survive, not just academically, but as whole human beings.

School Website: https://www.milwaukeecollegeprep.com/38th-street

Resources:

Videos

A Tour of the Brain (for kids)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6vqSehMYQQ&t=87s

Brain Basics for Kids (and also adults!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD1wliuHxHI

What is my Lizard Brain? (Self-regulation lesson)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLaBYt3AHVI&t=19s

Neurons and Synapses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0rHZ_RDdyQ

Zones of Regulation Curriculum Website

https://zonesofregulation.com/

Articles:

Power Of Brain Breaks

https://www.edutopia.org/video/the-mysterious-power-of-brain-breaks

Projects, Purpose, and the Teenage Mind

https://www.edutopia.org/article/projects-purpose-and-the-teenage-mind

Survive and Thrive During Testing Season

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/survive-thrive-during-testing-season-lori-desautels

Intentionally Slowing Down to Ensure Students Learn Material Deeply

https://www.edutopia.org/article/slower-instruction-deeper-learning

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