Tyree Institute

Extending Wolcott’s expertise to the greater community.

The mission of the Tyree Institute is to provide outreach services and programming focused on adolescent development, educational practices, and learning differences.

Programming and Services

Through our outreach efforts, we serve as a resource for the greater community by sharing research and best practices developed by Wolcott faculty and other experts. The Tyree Institute also offers educational services including fee-based psycho-educational assessments and career coaching.

Programs for Families and Professionals
We offer programs in the areas of parent workshops, professional development, student seminars, and services.

Tyree Institute has a mission of serving the greater community by exporting best practices on adolescent development and learning differences as well as professional development workshops. Throughout the year, Tyree Institute offers a variety of events for community members, alumni, alumni parents, current parents and students, and education professionals. Many of our programs share best practices developed and employed by Wolcott’s expert faculty.

Audiences from across Chicago-land attend lectures, film screenings, and hands-on workshops. The Institute touches hundreds of parents, professionals, and students. Many of our workshops offer professional development credits (PD’s) in partnership with other universities and organizations such as Northwestern University, DePaul University, and Oakton Community College.

The Tyree Institute is named in memory of Jim Tyree, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mesirow Financial. A humanitarian who focused a great many of his volunteer efforts on children and education, Mr. Tyree’s name on the Institute honors his commitment to innovative approaches to learning and a dedication to youth, community, professional development, and shared-knowledge systems. An inaugural beneficiary of the James Tyree Foundation, Wolcott College Prep is proud to be associated with such an outstanding Chicagoan.

Upcoming Events

Ask the Experts Event · Parents + Coaches

One Team. One Message. One Culture.

How parents and coaches can work together to support the growth of student-athletes, on and off the court.

A Morning with Coach Kelly Sena

Friday, October 23

9:00 to 10:30 AM

Arts & Athletics Center
1950 W. Hubbard Street, Chicago

Free and open to everyone. Wolcott families, coaches and families from other schools, and anyone who works with young athletes.

Talent gets attention. Reactions build trust. In this interactive session, Coach Kelly Sena walks parents and coaches through the conversations that shape a season: what happens after a missed shot, what a sideline face communicates, and how the adults around an athlete can send one consistent message instead of two competing ones.

Register Today

Please share this invitation with another coach or parent.

What We Will Cover

Eight Conversations Worth Having

Building Confidence

Creating environments where athletes feel safe to try, fail, learn, and grow.
Emotional Regulation

Helping athletes manage frustration, mistakes, pressure, and disappointment.
Positive Communication

How the words, reactions, and body language of adults land with young athletes.
Responsibility and Independence

Teaching athletes to speak for themselves and take ownership of their development.
Supporting Learning Differences

Communicating effectively with athletes who process information differently.
Accountability with Understanding

Holding high expectations while recognizing that athletes reach them by different paths.
Humility and Trust

Adults who can say "I was wrong" model the accountability we ask of players.
Beyond Wins and Stats

Recognizing effort, reactions, teamwork, and the small victories that add up.

Sports are the vehicle.

Social-emotional growth is the goal.

Your Presenter

Coach Kelly Sena

Athletic Co-Director, Physical Education Faculty

Kelly Sena has spent two decades coaching and directing youth sports programs. She played point guard at Indiana University South Bend, then played professionally for a club in Iceland. She is an official USA Basketball Youth Development Gold Licensed Coach and a Registered Athletic Administrator through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Last season the Lake Shore Athletic League named her its Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.