Courage to Teach at Hale

Based on the work of Parker J. Palmer, this Courage to Teach® two-day retreat is rooted in the belief that good teaching flows from the identity and integrity of the teacher.

Education proclaims we must understand, embrace, and teach the whole child. It is unacceptable to ask students to leave parts of themselves outside the classroom.

But what about the whole teacher?

Teachers are consistently asked to leave integral parts of themselves outside school. This comes at an expense.

Over the course of two separate days, we’ll focus on the renewal of teachers’ inner lives and well-being rather than on the techniques of teaching.

Together, we’ll create and hold space for the wholeness of every educator, and we invite participants to bring all of who they are to this experience.

This professional development opportunity isn’t limited to classroom teachers; any K-12 educators who wish to pause, reflect, and remain true to themselves during challenging times are welcome.

Schedule

Day 1: Why We Teach—Exploring Our Own Inner Teacher

Sat. Oct. 26, 2024, 9 AM–3 PM

We often need to “get away” to get in touch with or reconnect with who we are; to hear our own voices. Today, you’ll join a supportive community as you escape typical distractions, embrace quiet, and experience solitude. As you begin listening to yourself, you’ll explore why you are here, what you want and need, and what your purpose is. Journaling, nature walks, conversations, and group circles will invite you to examine what brings you joy in your life and work. This opportunity to pause, relax, and breathe will help you focus more deeply on YOU.

Day 2: What About the Whole Teacher? Reclaiming and Maintaining Joy in Your Life and Work

Sat. Nov. 23, 2024, 9 AM–3 PM

When was the last time you were truly listened to? When was the last time you had the opportunity to ask questions and wonder? When was the last time you had an opportunity to hold space open for others while they did the same for you? Today, you’ll tap into your inner wisdom, explore questions you haven’t had time to consider, and experience the gift of a Clearness Committee. Clearness Committees invite participants to think deeply about issues—transitional, vocational, relational, or spiritual—through supportive questions asked by a small group of peers. Today is dedicated to all this and more as you find joy in your life and work.

Professional Development Points (PDPs)

This Courage to Teach® experience is offered in collaboration with Hale’s Perrone-Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership, an approved professional development provider of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Teachers who complete this two-day program will receive a certificate for 10 Professional Development Points (PDPs).

Instructors

Chandra Joseph-Lacet

Chandra is a faculty member of Hale’s Perrone-Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership and has three decades of experience working in the field of education. She began her career in higher education, where she worked in student affairs, and later transitioned to K–12 education, where she began teaching elementary school. In addition to serving as an elementary school teacher, she has served as a special education teacher and coordinator, a literacy coach, an assistant principal, and a coach for early career teachers. Chandra firmly believes that just as every student deserves high-quality teachers, every teacher deserves high-quality coaching and support for continual growth and development. She is licensed in Elementary Education, Special Education, Reading, and as a Principal/Assistant Principal Administrator. Chandra and her husband live in Boston and have two children and a wonderful Goldendoodle named Troy. Chandra earned a B.A. in Academic Sociology from Wagner College, a master’s degree in Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education from New York University, and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

A passionate educator, Chandra is a Courage & Renewal apprentice who co-creates brave spaces where teachers tune into themselves to learn, grow, and expand the whole of who they are.

Lisa Sankowski

Lisa provides administrative leadership for Hale’s Perrone-Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership and professional coaching and consulting programs that inspire and prepare educational leaders. She has dedicated her career to working with nonprofit organizations that serve adults and children in creative learning environments including the Center for Artistry and Scholarship, Open Circle Social Competency Program, the Center for Courage & Renewal, and Boston Children’s Museum. A painter and sculptor, she enjoys working on and with paper. She grew up in northern Vermont, has lived in Boston most of her adult life, and now resides in Roslindale with her wife. They regularly walk, hike, climb, snowshoe, ski, and otherwise enjoy New England’s diverse landscapes. Lisa earned a B.A. in Government from Smith College and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Lisa is a Circle of Trust Facilitator prepared by the Center for Courage & Renewal.

Pamela Seigle

Pamela considers it a privilege to work with teachers and principals in building equitable school communities where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. She led Courage & Renewal Northeast at Wellesley College, which started as an affiliate of the national Center for Courage & Renewal experience. She is the founder of Open Circle, a whole-school social and emotional learning program, and she is co-developer of Leading Together: Building Adult Communities in Schools and Soul of Leadership: Courage, Presence, and Integrity. Pamela brings her love of singing and the belief that the arts connect us to our shared humanity into her work in schools and nonprofit organizations. Pamela has served on many nonprofit boards, including as Boston Public Library Trustee. She earned a B.A. in Literature and an M.S. in Urban Education from Syracuse University.

About Hale Education

Our nonprofit programs serve 20,000 people per year, and we count on donations from people like you to provide experiences like this for people throughout Greater Boston. Your gift (made online, or when you register) will help us continue to serve our community, steward 1,000+ acres of open space, and offer transformational learning opportunities in the great outdoors.

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