Join the free HappiGenius live session every Sunday at 6 pm EST.

HappiGenius Elementary (HG-e) in numbers: 

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50 certified trainers

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11 pilot sites

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2 federal grants

The BFF Approach

Each lesson in HG-e is an integration of three skills: Breathing, Focusing, and Feelings—The BFF Approach.

Breathing

Learn slow deep breathing as you build your star.

Focusing

Develop strong and focused attention with fun engaging videos.

Feeling

Develop skills in kindness and gratitude; apply these skills for problem solving.

HG-e skills help children:

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Experience more uplifting emotions

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Better handle frustrations and anger

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Develop positive relationships

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Creatively handle daily challenges

The result—a happier, smarter, creative, calmer, well-mannered, and more connected child.

HG-e Nuts and Bolts

The complete HG-e program has 12 lessons that integrate into the PBIS framework, Tiers 1 and 2.

Each HG-e lesson:

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Is 30 to 45 minutes long

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Involves active hands-on learning

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Offers rich opportunities for group interaction and bonding

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Consists of sequenced activities

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Offers “fun at home” practices

The current HG-e version is best suited for grades 2-4.

Some of the instructional tools include:

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Interactive attention-building games

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Short breathing exercises

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Relationship building practices

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Self-management practices

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Problem solving practices

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Books

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Mini quizzes

All the resources, instructional, and collateral materials can be accessed digitally.

HG-e is available in the following formats:

In the classroom (in-person)

In the classroom (digital)

At home (digital and HG-live)

HG-e Research

HG-e has been piloted and offered at four public schools and one private school. We are collaborating with a Fortune 500 company to bring the program to its employees' families.

In collaboration with InSciEd out, Mayo Clinic, and Rochester Public School District, we have recently completed the first clinical trial of HG-e among third-grade students at the Gage Elementary Public School, Rochester, MN with extremely promising results.

List of studies:

3. Pilot evaluation to assess feasibility of HG-e delivery using a hybrid approach (online and in-person) at Long fellow Elementary School, Rochester, MN. Jan-March 2021.

Sample content

HG-e offers short, engaging videos as starting point for most lessons.

Here are a few examples:

BREATHING: Take five deep breaths as you build your star

FOCUSING: Train your focus with fun engaging videos

FEELING: Access uplifting feelings in short incremental steps

The skills learned through these videos translate into practices that integrate throughout the day.

Bring HappiGenius to Your School/District

We see SEL as a holistic process and not as a standalone program.

HG-e is one component in our systemic approach to SEL.

The six components include: 
Direct SEL instruction (HG-e) + Teacher training + Embedded instruction
+ School wide support + Family and community programs + District initiatives

Our SEL program for schools and districts includes training teachers, staff, administrators, parents and community in a novel approach to resilience that we have pioneered and found efficacious in a research study.

We are committed to serve every group, no matter the budget.

Here is our three-step engagement process:

Step 1. Plan

Initial consultation

Understand the school/district needs and resources.

Build foundational support and plan with all the stake-holders.

Step 2. Pilot

Pilot the program

Pilot the approach with a limited audience.

Refine and finalize the approach based on initial experience.

Step 3. Implement

Implement the program

Provide SEL training for students & resilience for adults.

Assess outcomes, continuously improve, engage community.

Become a HappiGenius Instructor

Join our growing network of HG-trained instructors. You can become an instructor as part of a school district or independently.

Presently, we are particularly interested in training school counselors, psychologists, wellness coaches, resilience trainers, teachers, and college students.

The HG Instructor is a half day one-on-one or small group training.

Please contact us for the next steps.

Contact Us

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Dragos Banu, MD

Medical Director of Primary Care at AHMC
Medical Director at the Alice Center Rehabilitation and long-term care
AHMC Practice Physician Leader, University of Vermont Medical Health Network MG
Burlington, VT

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Ronald Campbell, MD

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Dr. Sood’s program has been like an anchor in these challenging times.  I feel calmer, more focused and able to handle the stressors of life.  The awareness of these simple concepts and principles has changed my life forever.

Sheila A. Anderson

School Counselor
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Jason C. Bartsch, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Internal Medicine Hospitalist
University of Vermont Medical Center
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Gary B. Ihlefeld, DDS

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"As a result of participating in Dr. Sood’s course, I live each day focused on striving to make a positive impact on others, especially during times when others are in distress or feeling overwhelmed. In my effort to live life more for others and less for myself, I discover my life to be more enriched."

Adrian Talbot

Executive Director of Human Resources
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"Resilient mindset practices essentially enable us to adapt to life challenges alone and together. What a gift optimism is to believe we can handle whatever comes our way, even in this era of Covid-19. For that we are deeply, deeply grateful."

William, Wendy, Lauren, and Russ Wustenberg

Farmington, MN

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"As an HR leader, I come across a lot of learning programs and offerings. Dr. Amit Sood and his team offer something different: an ongoing exploration that combines practical knowledge and unique experience."

Joel Quast

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Words of encouragement from the resilient ones.

“I am so grateful to have had my team trained in the SMART program. We are using Dr. Sood’s principles within the structure of our wellness programs we offer to healthcare workers. Our programs are extremely well received by our organization’s employees.” 

Sue Goodin

Chief Executive Officer
Progressive Health Center
Denver, CO

Words of encouragement from the resilient ones.

"I have found Dr. Sood’s programs tremendously informative. Every time I meet or listen to Dr. Sood, I learn new skills to help me deal with life's novel challenges, manage stress, and improve my resilience. I am grateful of Dr. Sood’s precious knowledge and his passion to share it."

Stefano Mignardi

Director National Accounts, Daimler Trucks North America
Portland, OR

Words of encouragement from the resilient ones.

“Taking the Transform Class with Dr. Sood and his staff changed my life. They helped give me the tools that I never had in my toolbox for anxiety and stress.”

Gail Z. Richards

Trustee
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Tulsa, OK

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Sarah Johnson, MSOD

Sr. Organizational Development & Resilience Specialist
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Words of encouragement from the resilient ones.

"I give this course my highest recommendation, and not only will you transform, but others around you will as well."

Ken Ro, MD

Emergency Medicine Physician
Cypress, TX

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"This program not only gave me practical ways to grow by creating a wellspring of insight to draw from, but it put me on a new path by giving me the ability to turn my suffering into transformation. For that I will always be deeply grateful."

Austin Johnson

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Words of encouragement from the resilient ones.

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Kavita Prasad, MD

Medical Director
Zumbro Valley Health Center
Rochester, MN

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Words of encouragement from the resilient ones.

"Amit taught me not to chase happiness, but rather to chase meaning; to live a life of purpose and exist for humanity."

David Theil, MD

Chair, Department of Anesthesia
Rose Medical Center
Denver, CO  80220

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Words of encouragement from the resilient ones.

"I have high praise for Dr. Sood’s evidence based, easy to adopt program to improve resilience and build a positive work culture. To find a program that is adaptable to both a work force and to client care is very powerful."

Beth Krehbiel

Chief Executive Officer
Zumbro Valley Health Center
Rochester, MN

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Words of encouragement from the resilient ones.

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Claude Deschamps, MD

President and Chief Executive Officer
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“I have been using the work of Dr. Sood for many years and have been transformed by it. I will forever be grateful for his teaching and mentorship.”

Lisa Hardesty, PhD

Psychologist, Mayo Clinic
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TESTIMONIAL

“Doing this program alongside my son made for a meaningful experience plus it was fun learning with him.  I discovered so much, proving you can always learn and change.  I would love to see every child and family experience and learn with Happi Genius. ”

Erin Hearn

Jacksonville, Florida
September 2020

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TESTIMONIAL

“It teaches you things about the brain with fun activities and games.  Even if you get things wrong, you will learn more.  I learned you can get yourself happy and how to calm yourself down using star breathing.”

Finn Hearn, 8 years old, 3rd grade

Jacksonville, Florida
September 2020

TESTIMONIAL

“As a grandmother who is separated from her grandkids by the pandemic, I was interested in participating in HappiGenius to get some ideas for my twice weekly Story Time Zoom sessions with my young grandkids.   They have loved many of the videos and activities, so it has been a boon to me. " 

Patricia A. Bloom, MD

New York
September 2020

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TESTIMONIAL

“The Happi Genius program provided helpful tools for improving calming skills and increasing attention spans.  And Dr. Sood and Gauri were great with the kids!  We're happy we found a program to help our 6-year-old with these skills.”

Kristin Morgan

Rochester, MN
September 2020

TESTIMONIAL

“This program is really phenomenal.  The proven mindfulness techniques that I worked to learn as an adult have been adapted in this program to teach them to children.  I wish I had learned any of this when I was a child!  What a blessing to be planting these seeds in our young.”

Mary Hedges, MD

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TESTIMONIAL

“I love this class, it is so awesome, I hope everyone can have a chance to do this. I wish this class continued indefinitely.”

Sabrina Hedges

Third Grader

Our Team of Experts and Researchers

Gauri Sood,
Co-Creator, Happigenius

Sheila Anderson

Brent A. Bauer, MD

Arush Chandna

Debbie Fuehrer,
MA LPCC

Carla J. Paonessa

Brenda Schiltz,
MD

Amit Sood,
MD MS FACP
Co-Creator, HappiGenius

HappiGenius Trainers

Gauri Sood,
Co-Creator, Happigenius

Sheila Anderson

Brent A. Bauer, MD

Arush Chandna

Debbie Fuehrer,
MA LPCC

Carla J. Paonessa

Brenda Schiltz,
MD

Amit Sood,
MD MS FACP
Co-Creator, HappiGenius

HAPPIGENIUS TRAINERS

Amy Becker
School Social Worker
Fairmont Area Schools Fairmont, MN 56031

Ann Clark, M.A.
Education Consultant Principal (Retd.) Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction (Retd.) Rochester Public School District Rochester, MN

Allyson Yennie
Third Grade Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Ankit Sabharwal, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Guggenheim Building 13-35Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN

Amanda Guenther
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools
Rochester, MN 55901

Baris Mohamed
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Bobbi Waters
Elementary Teacher / Behavior Interventionist Dover Eyota Public Schools Eyota, MN 55934

Catherine G. Knier, M.D. Ph.D.
Trainee
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Rochester, MN 55905

Chantanielle Clyde.
Dine College
Tsaile, AZ

Camila de Avila Dal’Bo, PhD
Department of Neuroscience
Mayo Clinic
Scottsdale, AZ

Connie Vaughn, BSc, MT
Retired Elementary Teacher Wisconsin

Debbie L. Fuehrer, M.A., LPCC
Instructor in Medicine Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN 55905

Drew Wanzek
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Dhwani Bansal
High School Senior
Chandigarh, India

Eric Aeschlimann
Dover Eyota Public Schools Eyota, MN 55934

Elizabeth Napolitano
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Gretchen Lewis
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Gauri Sood
Lead Trainer, HappiGenius Senior, Mayo High School Rochester, MN

Gretchen Bill
Human Resources Generalist Department of Human Resources Rochester, MN

Heather Lyke
Director of Teaching and Learning Dover-Eyota Public Schools Eyota, MN 55934

Joshua Jensen
Therapist
Zumbro Valley Health Center Rochester, MN 55904

Jen Horman
Elementary Teacher
Gage Elementary School Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Julie Bushman
Elementary Teacher
Dover Eyota Public Schools Eyota, MN 55934

Jennifer Davidson
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Julie J. Pospishil

Jennifer Arroyo, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Department of Nephrology Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN 55905

Kennedi Todd, MS
Bioinformatician
Mayo Clinic
Scottsdale, AZ

Kris Davidson
Principal
Gage Elementary School Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Kimberley Olney
Research Assistant
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Laurie Hurst
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Lauren Greif
Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ

Michaela Budach
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Megan Tuohy
Elementary Teacher
Dover Eyota Public Schools Eyota, MN 55934

Meagan Bies
Elementary Teacher
Elton Hills Public SchoolRochester, MN 55901

Pam Whitfield
Instructor of English and Equine Science
Rochester Community and Technical College
Rochester, MN 55904

Paula Braun
Elementary Teacher
Dover Eyota Public Schools Eyota, MN 55934

Reema Bansal, MD PhD
Additional Professor
Uveitis and Vitreo-Retina Services
Advanced Eye Centre
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER)
Sector-12, Chandigarh, India-160012

Robert Campbell, MD

Sheila Anderson, M.Ed.
School Counselor
Britton-Hecla School District Britton, SD 57430

Sandhya Chandna, Ph.D.

Seema Kumar, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN 55905

Sarah Floren
Fifth Grade Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Suzette Rowen
Elementary Teacher
Dover Eyota Public Schools Eyota, MN 55934

Samantha Spinner
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Steven Willman
Principal
Elton Elementary School
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Tasha Lewis, M.A.
Therapist
Zumbro Valley Health Center Rochester, MN 55904

Theresa Zafft
Elementary Teacher
Rochester Public Schools Rochester, MN 55901

Sheila Anderson

Jennifer Arroyo, Ph.D.

Gretchen Bill

Sandhya Chandna, Ph.D.

Ann Clark, M.A

Debbie Fuehrer,
MA LPCC

Catherine G. Knier, M.D.

Tasha Lewis, M.A.

Julie J. Pospishil

Ankit Sabharwal, Ph.D

Amit Sood,
MD MS FACP
Co-Creator, HappiGenius

Gauri Sood,
Co-Creator, Happigenius

Connie Vaughn