“We lean into learning … embracing risk and innovation in our pursuit to learn and grow.”
— Proof Positive —
What does it look like to incorporate character strengths into a school environment? Just ask Barnel and Gloria. Their work in Character Strengths and Strengths Spotting (identifying and celebrating others’ strengths) of…
A Message from Proof Positive’s Chief Wellbeing Officer in Response to the Surgeon General’s Loneliness Advisory Social connection is as critical to humanity as food, water, or shelter. Some of us feel…
Words of wisdom have been filling the room at the 2023 EdWeek Leadership Symposium in Washington, DC. Nate Thompson, Director of Social, Emotional, and Behavior Services for Littleton Public Schools in Littleton,…
“Positive psychology is the scientific study of human strengths and virtues. The study of what constitutes the pleasant life, the engaged life, and the meaningful life.” – Dr. Martin Seligman According…
“Be grateful for what you have” is a saying that may pop into your head during trying times. However, as a teacher bombarded with papers to grade and IEPs to write, or…
Proof Positive is excited to introduce Avery Bell, one of our amazing team members, as a contributing author to our blog — her post is a must read on National Siblings Day!…
Hello! I’m Angela Rodriguez, Clinical Coordinator at the EPIC School in Paramus, New Jersey. I wanted to tell you about a surefire way to boost morale and spread positivity amongst staff. We…
Wellbeing is a topic that can benefit everyone. Whether you’re an educator in a school setting, parenting a teen with a disability, or a healthcare provider, learning wellbeing skills can immediately enhance…
The words “strengths-based” have long been used in social services and education. But how do we learn to identify our personal strengths and the strengths of our students? How can learning what’s…
“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” — Helen Keller Hellen Keller was a wise woman determined to…
Proof Positive’s mission is to spread the science and skills of happiness. We encourage you to visit our Skills page and join us in implementing effective practices to improve your wellbeing. We…
Proof Positive has been so privileged to work with The EPIC school. The hardworking educators and students on the school campus work with the Proof Positive team to develop and refine the…
Forbes may have said it best, the future of work is wellbeing. No surprise that wellbeing has become a focus of the workplace as we have all weathered a worldwide pandemic, continued…
Avery Bell
Associate Director,
Operations & Community Connections
Proof Positive
(she/her)
“I’m driven to create an inclusive world where everyone thrives. In order for others to fully flourish, I believe the beauty of the outdoors can bring healing, joy, and happiness.”
When Avery Bell is not enjoying fresh air and outdoor adventures, she’s bringing her kindness and innovation to help others practice happiness in any environment.
As the Associate Director of Community Integration at Proof Positive, Avery engages diverse teams of educators, caregivers and service providers to integrate positive psychology skills into the daily rhythms of life. Always learning, Avery supports the organization’s social media, messaging, and collaborations to promote inclusion, equity, and sustainability.
Prior to Proof Positive, Avery fueled her passion for people and the planet as a youth development leader at Cheley Colorado Camps in the Rocky Mountains. At her alma mater, Colorado College, she engaged community members in various initiatives to enhance campus sustainability goals in her role as the Green Programs Intern at the Office of Sustainability.
Applying her innate passion for mental health and wellbeing, Avery has also worked to promote research and awareness on mental health and suicide at the James Kirk Bernard Foundation, where she coordinated social media, marketing, and fundraising events.
With a love for service, Avery enjoys volunteering for a variety of organizations, including Conservation Colorado and Ascendigo Autism Services. As a previous Division III student-athlete, Avery loves working as a team to achieve goals, and will apply this sense of teamwork and community involvement to optimize collaborations at Proof Positive.
She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Environmental Issues from Colorado College.
Avery currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts but calls Basalt, Colorado home. Always looking for a new adventure Avery loves to hike and ski, learn a new crafting skill (currently, it’s printmaking!), and do all things music-related: concerts, playing, singing, and appreciating its beauty!
Jason Kniss, MSc
Director of Instructional Design & User Experience
Proof Positive
(He/Him)
“I firmly believe the frameworks that support wellbeing belong in every classroom, on every team, and at every organization. Through clear and engaging content, I hope to provide perspective to leaders that wellbeing always wins.”
For Jason, translating scientific best-practices into dynamic and meaningful content is more than just a career – it is an act of generosity and love. Jason grew up in a working-class family in Portland, OR and recalls regularly watching PBS as a child. From an early age, Jason was inspired by quality storytelling, opening him up to a world of possibility and a lifelong love of learning. After studying the core sciences in undergrad, he taught Middle School Math & Secondary Special Education where he saw the power of well-designed educational content in helping students grow and feel a sense of belonging.
Through his experience working in schools, Jason became fascinated with the intersection of learning design and organizational effectiveness. He quickly expanded his work beyond K-12 education to spend more than 10 years providing training leadership to universities, non-profits, health systems, and Fortune 500 companies. In helping organizations evolve and thrive well-into the digital age, Jason blends his skills of strategic thinking, creativity, and fostering community.
Jason holds a Bachelor’s in Biology from Oregon State University and a Master’s in Information Design & Strategy from Northwestern University in Chicago where he completed his capstone work on Design Thinking within complex organizational settings. Knowing the incredibly hard work it takes to change our individual and organizational habits, Jason brings a spirit of innovation and an ever-present sense of humor to his work.
Jason loves traveling, becoming ever closer to visiting all 50 states (46 and counting). He is grateful for the opportunity to let his mind wander while visiting museums, exploring new cities, and taking long walks along a lake. Jason has called Oregon and Chicago home and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Patricia Wright, PhD, MPH
Executive Director
Proof Positive
(she/her)
“I have traveled to the ends of the earth to learn from autistic individuals. My hope is that through aligning the science and skills of happiness with autism intervention, wellbeing becomes accessible to all.”
Many of Dr. Patricia Wright’s greatest stories lie within the pages of her passport (just ask her about Alaska, India or China), but her most exciting pursuit is making the world a more inclusive place for autistic individuals and the communities that support them. Through Proof Positive, her bold vision is being realized.
Guided by her passion (and zest) for education and advocacy, she’s dedicated her career to ensuring individuals with autism have access to effective services and supports that lead to more joyful, meaningful lives.
Now she’s leading the charge to advance the science of positive psychology and skills of happiness as the Executive Director of Proof Positive, a national non-profit collaborating with schools, autism organizations and positive psychology leaders to integrate and expand wellbeing programming for autistic individuals and their communities.
Applauded as a global leader in autism advocacy, programming and interventions, Patricia brings a track record of success working in management at top autism organizations. She was pivotal in the design and transformation of a statewide system of support for children with autism for the state of Hawaii, and she also served in leadership roles for NEXT for AUTISM and as the National Director of Autism Services for Easterseals.
Additionally, Patricia has held advisory roles for a number of professional associations and advocacy groups, including the Organization for Autism Research’s Scientific Council, the Executive Committee for the Friends of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts and the Autism Society Panel of Professional Advisors.
Patricia has advised and provided expert testimony at Congressional Hearings. She is also a frequent contributor in the media, raising awareness of early identification and developmental milestones and deepening the public’s understanding of disability equity, inclusion and access.
She holds a Ph.D. and Master of Public Health from the University of Hawaii. Her research focuses on the delivery of evidence-based interventions in community-based settings and healthcare access for people with disabilities.
Katie Curran, MAPP
Chief Wellbeing Officer
Proof Positive
“I believe passionately in the potential for human flourishing. Positive psychology allows me to cultivate growth through meaningful connections and joy.”
Imagine a world where wellbeing wins for everyone, including individuals with autism. Katie Curran believes this is possible, and she loves making it happen. The engine that drives her purpose forward: the science of happiness.
Katie is the Chief Wellbeing Officer of Proof Positive, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the science and skills of happiness for individuals with autism, and their families, educators, and service providers.
Katie has more than 20 years of clinical experience working with autistic individuals. She’s widely recognized as a creative force when it comes to autism intervention, developing strategies and tools that fuse Positive Psychology with Applied Behavior Analysis to improve wellbeing.
Katie’s zest for her work makes her a sought after speaker and workshop leader. In her role as a Primary Instructor on UPenn’s Master Resilience Training team, she led interdisciplinary teams around the world to train educators, soldiers, athletes, and government officials on the skills of resilience and human flourishing.
Prior to Proof Positive, Katie held tenure at three of the world’s leading behavioral institutions (i.e., Sheppard Pratt Mental Health Institute, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Princeton Child Development Institute). Her sense of purpose was ignited when she realized that behavioral interventions, alone, were not enough to develop thriving lives for autistic individuals and their communities. Early in her career, she recognized an opportunity to prioritize wellbeing as a pathway to improve learning trajectories and quality of life outcomes.
Always curious, she has authored articles on the topics of Goals Setting, Hope Theory, Character Strengths, and Learned Happiness. She serves as a global representative to the International Positive Education Network; held a seat on the MAPP Alumni Board at University of Pennsylvania and was a founding board member for the Global Autism Project.
Katie holds a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her Bachelors of Psychology with honors from Towson University in 2004. With her love for lifelong learning, Katie is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania.
Katie lives in Princeton, NJ with her partner, Maria, and their two kids. She is most grateful for the joy she finds getting lost in nature, playing (just about anything…as long as she is winning) with family and friends, and spoiling her dog, Georgie.