Years Experience
It's an Experience
Can't Miss events
The Teach Your Heart Out (TYHO) Conference offers valuable experiences that place the needs of educators and administrators front and center. Expanding into multiple annual events , TYHO has granted thousands of teachers an invigorating space to connect, learn, and share. Teachers, administrators and education experts from across the nation will unite to attend our TYHO conferences.
Our Founder
Meet Lisa!
Teach Your Heart Out was started in 2017 by educators Lisa Dunnigan and Tosha Wright. They wanted to offer teachers a fun way to get their professional development credits while also learning research based strategies that can be implemented right away in their classrooms. They have had conferences all over the United States and also in the Bahamas and Western Caribbean.
Teach Your Heart Out is committed to curating events, experiences, and products that empower educators everywhere. These women understand how valuable teachers are and the impact they make in the lives of their students.
Through their companies Teach Your Heart Out, The Wright Stuff Chics and The Pink Santa Hat Movement, they are making positive impacts on educators, students, and the future of education
Founder
Lisa Dunnigan
Year-Round Experiences
for Educators
Can’t stop. Won’t stop. The marathon continues! TYHO is an experience you can embrace throughout the entire year. Our most robust and comprehensive conference takes place on July 8-9, 2021, but the fun, learning and excitement doesn’t end there. This December, we focus on innovative classroom strategies for PK-2nd grade educators and administrators at the Early Learning Conference. In March 2022, it’s all aboard for the TYHO Cruise! Where are we going? What will you learn? Stay connected to find out! You don’t want to miss these and other experiences created with YOU and YOUR STUDENTS in mind. Mark your calendars and secure your spot in advance! And don’t forget to check out our blog to learn more about exciting news and perspectives from educators across the nation.
MEET THE TEAM
Dr. Deonna Smith - Business Strategist
Dr. Smith is a former teacher, school leader, and educational justice advocate with over a decade of experience in K-12 and higher education. Witnessing the inequities in schools firsthand, she saw the potential for these institutions to be spaces of liberation and joy. With a doctoral degree in education and social justice, Deonna connects theory with practice to make educational theories accessible and applicable. Now, she works with education stakeholders nationwide to promote joyful, inclusive, and equitable spaces for students. Her book Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Community of Equity, Belonging, and Care, provides practical tools for building thriving classrooms.
Tatiana Lyné Dortch - Operations Manager
Tatiana Lyné is an accomplished educator with over 15 years of experience, specializing in special education, and recognized as 22-23 Teacher of the Year. In addition to the classroom, Lyné focuses on supporting fellow edupreneurs as a virtual assistant, offering expertise in social media management, email organization, and time management tools. With a passion for empowering edupreneurs, Lyné aims to transition full-time into her virtual assistant business while continuing to judge cheerleading competitions. Outside of work, she enjoys travel, reading, and binge-watching TV shows.
Ashley DiMercurio - Conference Director
Ashley is a certified Reading Interventionist and passionate educator based in sunny South Carolina, a teacher, podcaster, and a mom to two. She excels in making online learning engaging, specializing in tutoring young learners using Koala Go. Ashley's expertise spans PreK through Middle School, focusing on Reading, Writing, and Spelling. She thrives on making authentic connections with students, families and educators, fostering their confidence and growth. Ashley values collaboration among educators, believing in the power of shared learning experiences. She has hosted several online summits for online teachers and is excited to apply her skills to the Teach Your Heart Out Team.
Katie Cook - Social Media Manager
Katie Cook (she/her) is an Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ teacher and advocate who spent the last 7 years as an Elementary Teacher in Arkansas. She recently left the classroom to further educate the world about important topics and to advocate for equity in all areas. As an educator Katie has been involved with educational policy reform, teacher rights and advocacy as a union representative, reinforcement of social emotional learning and mental health efforts, and helped to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the elementary level. She is known for educating and raising the overall vibrations of the world.
