Simply Social Kids' Staff

Our Social Coaches:

Nadine Briggs, Director of Simply Social Kids and managing partner of How to Make and Keep Friends, LLC, is a best-selling author and an accomplished social educator. Nadine has dual graduate certifications in Coaching Children & Teens and Coaching Children & Teens with ADHD. She has expertise and certifications in bullying and cyberbullying prevention, positive psychology including learned optimism and resilience, and sibling relationships (Sibshops). Her training includes collaborative problem solving to teach children conflict resolution and training in child anxiety at the Child Anxiety Network at Boston University. She is certified in the Girl Meets World curriculum which addresses relational aggression in girls. Simply Social Kids infuses elements of positive psychology throughout the program.

As Managing Partner of How to Make and Keep Friends, LLC, she co-authored the best-selling How to Make & Keep Friends: Tips for Kids to Overcome 50 Common Social Challenges, How to Make & Keep Friends: Helping Your Child Achieve Social Success, I Feel Mad! Tips for Kids on Managing Angry Feelings, I Feel Worried! Tips for Kids on Overcoming Anxiety and Tips for Teens on Life and Social Success. She is a parent/educator consultant and public speaker.

Norah Lasorsa has devoted to her life and career to teaching.   She holds a double major from Boston College in elementary education and special education and masters in social work from Boston College.  Her holistic approach towards relationships led her to become certified as a nutritional counselor, personal trainer, and triathlon coach.  She thinks self-care goes a long way and that when we feel our best we can be our best.   With this unique and relevant set of wellness skills, Norah believes that all children should be coached and supported as they practice and ultimately succeed in building healthy relationships. She believes that attention to our emotions, our physical wellness, and our nutritional wellness all matter. 

Jesse Lowe is a seasoned family counselor and educator with extensive experience in social skills instruction with children from preschool to high school. She holds a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Antioch New England Graduate School and a Bachelors Degree in Human Development and Community Studies from Lesley University. She is a certified Leave No Trace educator through the National Outdoor Leadership School. Jesse is also a member of the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation.  Jesse has facilitated social skills groups with young children, grade school students, and high school students in a variety of roles, including early childhood educator, school adjustment counselor and family outreach therapist. She has worked at a therapeutic day school for children with different diagnoses that impacted their social development. There she collaborated with their teachers, families and outside providers to bring out their optimal social engagement across environments. A mother of two, Jesse homeschools her children and participates in local homeschool cooperatives. She enjoys outdoor adventures, gardening, and caring for the environment.

Jennifer Bellissimo has lifelong career serving others. Her masters in criminal justice led to a career in law enforcement for 18 years before retirement, Jennifer served as a detective in the Special Services Division with a focus on Family Services and Special Populations. It is through this position, along with her experiences as a parent of two daughters, that she found her passion in helping kids develop their strengths and establish strong relationships. Jennifer worked in law enforcement for nearly two decades. She was a liaison at Lighthouse School where de-escalated situations with students who struggled with emotion regulation. Jennifer evaluated instances of bullying and determined the course of action with an understanding of the population she served. She worked with many at-risk families and children with behavioral and social challenges.

Jennifer is on track to receive her Doctorate of Counseling and School Psychology at Rivier University. When not at Rivier University or Simply Social, Jennifer spends as much time as she can with her daughters and husband exploring what the world has to offer.

Shannon Keele is a graduate from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a degree in Psychology. She is on track to receive her Masters in School Counseling/ Family Counseling from Rivier University this May and has worked with children since she was 14 years old. Shannon currently works in the Westford Public School System helping children with social skills and emotion regulation. She has extensive experience working with children from all age groups and loves to give each child their best chance. She has experience working with small groups on increasing self-esteem and confidence, assisting with friendship problems, teaching empathy and optimism, kindness, coping skills for anxiety, and bullying prevention. Shannon believes teaching children social skills and kindness sets a solid foundation for future success. In her free time, Shannon enjoys gardening, running and hiking, and spending time in Arizona visiting her family. 

The rest of our staff is a bit camera shy...

Program Manager/Social Coach Assistant:

Susanne Pearson

Social Coach Assistant:

Kellie Flynn

Support Staff:

Christie Cleaver, Office Manager

Rebecca Smith, Assistant Office Manager

Stephanie Keum, Graphic Artist