Dave Opalewski, MA

Dave Opalewski has been a classroom teacher for twenty-five years and an at-risk counselor for 8 years. Dave has taught at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels. He has recently retired from the Bridgeport/Spaulding Community Schools and is presently a full-time instructor at Central Michigan University in the Teacher Education and Professional Development Department. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Masters of Arts Degree from Central Michigan University. Dave's Masters Degree is in Secondary Education with a Health Education emphasis. His Masters Thesis is titled "Death Education: Guidelines For The Classroom Teacher."  Dave has taught Death Education for Delta College and Death and Dying and Suicide Prevention for Central Michigan University.  He is the author of 5 books titled "Confronting Death in the School Family," "Suicide Prevention for Schools and Communities." “Adolescent Grief Issues: Help for the Caring Adult,” “Guiding the Grieving Child,” and “Root Issues of Student Behavior Problems.”

Dave also has three years experience working in a funeral home helping the family and friends of the deceased cope with their loss. He has been a member and has led crisis teams for schools who have lost students and staff due to illness, accidents, and suicide. His experiences of what works and what doesn't work, plus a desire to share this information, has encouraged him to help create "Crises Response to Tragedy," and "Suicide Prevention Programs."

Dave also has coached interscholastic athletics for twenty-two years. He has developed many quality relationships with students and parents in the communities he has worked. Although teams he has coached have won numerous honors, he is more fulfilled by the quality of relationships that has developed between players, coaches, parents, and the community. Dave can be reached at griefrecovery@chartermi.net