Deeper Learning 2019

Situated on the front lines of education, teacher leaders are the true heroes of the education system.

Your vision and passion lead the quest for deeper learning and transformation. Your intuition and experience guide your path. But what happens when you see the way to bring more meaningful and relevant learning experiences to your students, yet challenges and obstacles litter your path?

This workshop will use the metaphor of the Hero’s Journey to explore how teacher leaders can act as agents of change to transform their schools. Drawing from Brené Brown, Elena Aguilar, the School Reform Initiative, and the power of networks, this workshop will unfold in three acts centered around the story of two Vermont teachers who will share their quest to increase personalization of student learning through flexible scheduling.

In Act 1, participants will identify their own call to adventure and articulate the rules of their world (What is your vision?).

In Act 2, participants will identify and define the true obstacles blocking their path (How do you keep moving forward when you’ve surpassed the resources available to you? How do you get your colleagues to join your innovations as partners and overcome the fear of big changes?).

Finally, redemption will arrive in Act 3, when participants will fill their hero's backpack with tools & strategies and build a map to complete their quest to scale innovation school- or district-wide. This toolbox will include ways to increase capacity for teacher leaders to become effective coaches and to create sustainable and enriching networks with other intrepid & like-minded educators/adventurers aiming to lead school change from within. This adventure will highlight ways to work through challenges without losing momentum or sanity.