New Trier Township Institute 2025

Ali Hearn, LCSW is a National keynote speaker, trainer, and coach whose mission is to shift mindsets and ignite fires within others to create sustainable change and impact. Throughout her career, she has worked with thousands of educators across the country, emphasizing the importance of improving social/emotional skills, promoting the installation of Restorative Practices within school systems, and reinforcing MTSS frameworks to better support the current needs of students, staff, and families. Ali’s diverse experiences as a school-based social worker first sparked her passion for working with people, and her years working with the Midwest PBIS Network in partnership with the National Center on PBIS, honed her skills in strengthening school systems and culture to positively impact social, emotional, and academic outcomes. Ali’s balance of energy, humor, candor, and heart not only inspires educators to want to make schools better, but empowers them to know they can. Her unique style and approach make her a sought-after leader in educational spaces and a dynamic catalyst for change. Ali received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois and her Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago, is a certified Restorative Practices trainer, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She shares monthly strategies, reflections, and resources with a growing online community through her “SPARKS".