Thesis Presentation 2009

INSPIRING

a sense of

RENEWALJoan Griffin

a REFLECTIVECOMMUNITY

GROWS from a

TEACHER

BOOK CLUB

TEACHERBOOK CLUB

THESISreSEARCH

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.



Teacher Book Club

Parker Palmer’s “Spiritual Call to

Action”

•Go Public•Live Undivided•Create a Community of Congruence•Dialogue Around Important Ideas

Qu

ickTim

e™

an

d a

TIF

F (U

ncom

pre

ssed

) de

com

pre

ssor

are

nee

de

d to

see

this p

ictu

re.


are needed to see this picture.“Mindset Group”

Teacher Book Club


are needed to see this picture. “World Café”

ConversationsThat

Matter

Teacher Book Club



“Mindset Group”



“Live the questions now.Perhaps, then someday…you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way intothe answer.” ~ Rilke



What is the PURPOSE

of Education?

TEACHERBOOK CLUB

THESISreSEARCH







Research Questions

• Why do teachers teach?

• What is the goal of education?

• Why are teachers so distressed and so in need of renewal?

Why do teachers

teach?



“There is no word in the language I revere more than teacher.

My heart sings when a kid refers to me as

his teacher...

I’ve honored myself, and my whole family,

by becoming one.”

~Pat Conroy



In a Public Agenda SURVEY of



1000 teachers

96% f

“love teaching”




1000 teachers

72% f

“contributing to society…helping others.”



1000 teachers

65%

F chose the words… “passion” “mission”


What is the GOAL

of Education?



The GOAL of Educationis to meet the NEEDS of…

CHILDREN





SOCIETY




are needed to see this picture.not the filling

of a vessel.”

~Plutarch

“Education is the kindling

of a flame,



self-discovery connection among souls

natural developmental stages organic unfolding

authentic spiritmake meaning of experience

HOLISTICawakening inherent capacities

find own calling

draw forth divine formative

forces

self-realization

“To understand LIFE is to understand

OURSELVES, and that is both

the beginning and the end

of EDUCATION.”

~ Krishnamurti


CHILDREN





SOCIETY

“Education should seek harmony

between



the organic needs of human development

and the rational requirements of the social contract.”

~ Rousseau

A Nation at Risk - 1983A Nation Prepared - 1986

National Board for Professional Teaching - 1986

What Matters Most - 1996To Touch the Future - 1999

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND - 2002

Standards & Assessments

Culture Highly Qualified Teacher

“America needs an educational system in which our children will “fulfill their God-given potential… and live out their dreams… and our workers will out-compete the world…

and our economy

will grow.”

~ Barack Obama




CHILDREN





SOCIETY



Why are teachers

so in need of

renewal?


CHILDREN





SOCIETY



TEACHERS



“We become teachers for reasons

of the heart.d

But often, as time goes by, we lose heart.

d How can we take heart,

alone and together,d

so we can give heart - which is what good teachers do?”

~ Parker Palmer

NEEDS of TEACHERS

AutonomyCommunity

Competency Reflection

COMMUNITY





AUTONOMY

COMPETENCY



QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

REFLECTION

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.





Reflect back to your school days…

Was there a

teacher who inspired you,

who had a positive impact on you?

TEACHERBOOK CLUB

THESISRESEARCH





A Reflective Community

“My teaching will never

be the same!”

~ Maggie

Meeting #1

“I think we can start working with our students

in this way, even while we’re working

on our inner ,,

selves.”

~ Doug

Meeting #1



“I just discovered

I work with the most amazing

people… smart and

deep.”

~ Michelle

Meeting #1





Mining Hearts and Minds

Borrowing Stories INTERVIEWS



What is the VALUE of Mindset Meetings?

“a sense of optimism, energy, & depth.”

“share & encourage…” “… affirming… inspiring… surprising.”

“… personal reflection.” “all fired up!” “We validate each other.”

“… express… really listen…” “… make changes.”

“… really know & appreciate colleagues.”

“… take risks.” “I feel safe!”

LEARNING, INSIGHTS, and Personal Changes



“I find myself being more of a self-observer, experimenting and watching…

“There’s an awareness of what thoughts are coming out of my mouth and their impact… and an awareness of others, too, that has developed into a real appreciation and connection to them…

“I find I am seeking out more learning for myself… it’s caused me to read more books, too.”

~ Doug

LEARNING, INSIGHTS, and Personal Changes


are needed to see this picture.“It’s not about technique or methods--It’s about self-reflection. I’m really looking at my personal and professional goals… and deciding to make changes… with this new support group to help me!”

~Diane

“I feel inspiration for personal growth… It’s been kind of like a virus--the ideas spread,taking you over, and then you pass them along.”

~ Eleanor

A Reflective Community Meets Teacher NEEDS

AutonomyCommunity

Competency Reflection


CHILDREN





SOCIETY



TEACHERS



“Because of those meetings, I feel more hopeful and optimistic about my teaching and about our school.

j

I feel totally accepted, as an expert teacher and a worthy colleague, by everyone there.

j

I feel like we share a common vision within the group, and I am excited by what this ‘gathering of the minds’ has given me… and for our prospects for the future.

j

I feel like I’m regaining control.”~ Betty

INSPIRING a sense of

RENEWAL: a REFLECTIVE

COMMUNITY

GROWS from a TEACHER

BOOK CLUB

“When you want something, all the universe conspires

in helping you to achieve it.”

~Palo CoelhoQuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor




LEGACY2009-2010 Plans

Growing

16Colleagues

4 Books

LEGACY

LEADERSHIP is “Teaching Writ Large”

Educators & Leaders

of equal dedication

& expertise populate

schools all across

America.





School climate

Invitation

Stamp ofApproval

Hands offLeadership

Hold Space

EstablishForm

Community Relationships

Dialogue

MeaningfulIdeas

Administration

Change

Action

Growth



Build it, and they will come.

~ Shoeless Joe, Field of Dreams

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

~ Margaret Mead

Thesis Presentation 2009

Education

Transcript of Thesis Presentation 2009