Nancy Chang grew up in Northport, New York.
Nancy taught in many places, including Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, New York where she began her career in 1983. During these years, she became interested in learning how to de-escalate intense behaviors through mindfulness strategies. From there, she continued to teach students with autism and emotional disabilities in the BOCES program in Long Island, New York. Nancy was highly successful in helping these students as she incorporated physical activities, stretching, mindfulness and relaxation activities into the classroom. Her students started to improve behaviorally and thrive academically!
Nancy also taught in Florence, Italy as the special education consultant at the American International School in Florence. Her caseload included students from kindergarten through twelfth grade who were experiencing learning and emotional challenges. She worked with the families on coping strategies and different learning strategies to help ease anxiety for all.
Upon returning to the United States, Nancy spent her next years teaching in the Fairfax County Public School System.
At Bryant Alternative Learning Center, Nancy became the leader of the PBIS Team and instituted community learning experiences such as the school garden, poetry slams, guest speakers, chess tournaments, the food pantry, art therapy, field trips to Washington DC that aligned with the curriculum, cultural celebrations, relaxation workshops for students and staff, and additional educational and social opportunities for her students.
When Nancy took her first son to an infant massage class, it sparked her interest in teaching the class, as she noticed how relaxed and content the babies became! She then studied and became certified to teach through Infant Massage USA in 2015.
Since then, Nancy has been teaching classes to friends, family members, and different organizations throughout the DMV. Now that she has retired from full-time teaching, she loves to share it with moms, dads, caretakers, and anyone who is interested, as it is such a wonderful gift to give and receive!
Nancy provides classes and workshops for babies ages 1–9 months, their parents, and caregivers. The experience is a special time for parents and caretakers to bond with their babies through a series of massage strokes and baby exercises!
During her free time, Nancy likes to work out at the gym, take walks along the trails, belly dance, study Spanish, work in her garden, travel and spend time with her children who are now adults!
