About Us
There’s no such thing as problem youth, just youth with problems.
Teach them to cope and they will soar.
Sandy
Sandy Balascak
Sandy
Even though Sandy is retired, she is still teaching university online, teaching on call in Abbotsford and continuing to deliver her workshops and develop courses. She prefers the term “pre-tired”.
Using her more than twenty years of experience as an educator and the majority of that experience being focused on at-risk youth, Sandy created the Whyse Approach to understand and manage behaviours in the classroom. As the idea developed, it was obvious that the training had applications beyond the classroom, and she began teaching the skills to other organizations as well.
She is happily using her pre-tirement to follow her passion for helping and now teaches others what she has learned through her many years of experience and research.
Sandy’s education and certifications include a B.Ed. an M.A. in interdisciplinary studies, and several courses in the areas of counselling and other social sciences. She is also has certifications in Red Cross Psychological First Aid instruction, The Brain Story, and the BC College of Teachers. Sandy also developed and taught a behaviour course at the UBC Summer Institute in Education, and has taught both SEL and behaviour courses through Queen’s university online. She has spoken at several conferences for educators, and works with FVACFSS to provide training to their caregivers. Past courses and conferences include:
Some of Sandy’s Speaking Experience
| Name | Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| FVACFSS (Xyolhemeylh) | Multiple 2021-2022 | Whyse Approach |
| Panorama Ridge | May 2021 | Whyse Approach |
| Nanaimo School Administrators | October, 2020 | Whyse Approach |
| UBCO Summer Institute | July, 2019 | Overcoming Behaviour Issues by Understanding the Cause(s) |
| COTA February Conference | February, 2019 | No Such Thing as Problem Youth, Just Youth With Problems |
| Ignite 35 | May, 2018 | Be As…… |
| ABEABC Conference | April, 2018 | The Public Speaking Process |
| Ignite 35 | May, 2017 | Born This Way |
| ACE Conference | May, 2017 | Personalizing Education for Adults |
| TEDx LangleyEd | January, 2017 | From Outcast to “Incast” |
Mike Mutter
Health Services Consultant
Mike
Mike is the co-presenter and co-developer for The Whyse Approach for Health Services.
Mike has close to 40 years in the Health Care field as both a Registered Nurse and a Paramedic. In addition, he has many years in a variety of leadership positions, including management and a position as Clinical Nurse Educator. Mike is passionate about facilitating learning in a relaxed, engaging, and FUN atmosphere.
Mike’s formal post secondary education includes a BHSc (Nursing) and an M.Ed. Other certifications include Red Cross Instructor (First Aid, CPR and Psychological First Aid), Critical Incident Stress Peer Debriefer training and the Vancouver Community College Provincial Instructor Diploma Program (PIDP). Mike is a British Columbia Institute of Technology faculty member in the Part-Time Studies Department, and teaches for University of the Fraser Valley, Continuing Education. He and Sandy co-taught Red Cross Psychological First Aid certification classes.
In his free time, Mike enjoys getting out in nature with his Nova Scotia Duck Toller Red and his wife Arlene.