Nourishing the Soul of the Teacher: A Paradigm Shift in Education

A Conference Calling Forth Imagination, Creativity, Spritual Life, Leadership and Action

 
WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS

Nature Weavings, Mobiles, and Collages
KADI COOK, BA Colorado College, MEd candidate Lesley University
This workshop will explore our natural surroundings as we collect and assemble sticks, pinecones, grasses and anything else the area has to offer into creative weavings, mobiles, collages or other ensembles. I will demonstrate how to use string, wire, and glue to create assemblages to inspire. This workshop is designed to help you realize the latent potential in natural, common objects. There is cache of free materials in the forest waiting to be incorporated into your art, your classroom, and your life.
Make these highly textural materials come alive with rhythm, pattern, and movement. Take home and enjoy your hand-made example of the balance and interconnectedness of ourselves and nature.

Kadi Cook is presently in the Integrated Teaching through the Arts program at Lesley University (Spartanburg cohort). She has a strong background in the arts, and has taught both adult and children craft
classes. Her undergraduate degree is in English with a focus on Poetry from the Colorado College, but most recently she has spent a few years studying ceramics at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. She is currently continuing her pottery and sculpture under a grant at the Spartanburg County Museum of
Art ceramic studio. Kadi really has a knack for finding uses of discarded and undervalued objects and also offers workshops on recycled trash puppetry.

*                    *                    *

Nourish the Soul and Wake Up the Vision

LORI WYNTERS, MFA Goddard College, PhD Union Institute and University

In this workshop we will explore the power we have to shape our reality by tending to our passions, deep knowings, and shifting paradigms. Buckminster Fuller says "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing reality obsolete". Through improvisational activities, writing exercises, playful, artful, and soulful exploration, we'll explore the ways we nourish and nurture our intuitions, callings and passions that deepen, broaden and transform our lives, and in turn those people and organizations with whom we meet each day in our teaching, communities, art practice and beyond.

Lori Wynters is honored to serve as Convenor of the Essential Leadership Conference and as faculty for Lesely University, Goddard College and Union Institute and University. She is intrigued by the places "in-between" especially the places where culture, politics, art and spiritual life intersect and the ways in which we each practice 'freedom'. "I'm particulalry intrigued by the places where we transgress socially constructed boundaries, where we courageously, authentically and lovingly meet each other and ourselves (especially through art-making) over and over again". Her greatest teachers are the hundreds of students/teachers she has been honored to create and learn with over the years and offers infinite gratitude to her two greatest teachers, soul-partner Wylie and almost 3-year old bundle of joy daughter, Hannah.

*                    *                    *

Asleep on My Feet: The Need for Personal Fulfillment in the Classroom
ELIZABETH SANDERS, BA, Washington and Jefferson College, MEd Lesley University
What would happen if we decided to invigorate our teaching style for our sake? What if we decided to teach a way that would stimulate us as facilitators? I know, I know – there are tons and tons of research that says that we need to address the learning styles of our students, but just for a weekend, let’s imagine that we could somehow integrate our hobbies, our desires for educational reform, and our passions into our lessons… How would that change the atmosphere of our classroom? How would we feel about facing the students with a new lesson? Would you have a problem rolling out of bed on this type of day? I think not! Bring abilities that reflect you, who you are, your issues with your subject matter, your hobbies, your obsessions, the burdens you carry from your classroom, and what you enjoy. It’s time that
we learn to focus on the inner core needs of the teacher.

Elizabeth Sanders is a wife, teacher, dancer, co-founder ARTiFACTS©, active member of her church, poet, and writer. A high school English for ten years in The Public Schools of Robeson County in Lumberton, NC., Elizabeth has BA in English, National Board Certification 2003 and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Creative Arts in Learning. With her Lesley colleague, Harry McFadden, she decided to create a staff development/teacher instruction business, ARTiFACTS©, sharing the power of the arts in the classroom and beyond. She earned the distinct honor of presenting at a breakout session at The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards National Conference in 2005 and The Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Schools (North Carolina) ILT Conference, 2005-2006 school year. This revamped Elizabeth’s desire for education, inspiring her desire to instruct present and up-and-coming teachers. Elizabeth plans to earn her doctorate degree in order to teach college students who desire to become out-of-the-box teachers, present out-of-the-box staff development, and publish her novels and teacher resource guides.

*                    *                    *

Let’s Explore and Experiment with Marbling

CANDICE STANZIONE, BA Edinboro University, MEd Candidate, Lesley University

Marbling is an art form where decorative designs are created in a solution.  Most marbled papers are created with a number of ingredients; however, in our workshop will we create our marbled papers with the use of a few simple inexpensive items.  We will explore Marbling and experiment with a variety of tools in order to get different decorative designs.  The oldest form of marbling is called SUMINAGASHI, or “ink floating”.  Suminagashi is the simplest and most relaxed form of marbling.  These marbled papers created with the use of line, color, and the rhythm of our tools will create a beautiful paper you will be sure to love.  Marbled papers make wonderful papers for collages, handmade books, and wrapping paper.

Candice Stanzione is an Art Teacher, Homeland Park Elementary, Anderson, South Carolina a year round school in Anderson District 5 where she teaches art to grades k-5. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education, K-12 certification, from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and is currently a Master's candidate in the Integrated the Arts in Education Program through Lesley University. Candice enjoys teaching her students inventive ways of learning any subject area using art.  Seeing her students creativity enhanced when she teaches art is the reason she is an educator.  She loves being an art educator, advocate, and artist.

*                    *                    *

Additional Workshop Descriptions Forthcoming!

Approximate Schedule

Friday June 2, 2006

12:00pm-1:30pm                  Lunch, Registration, Opening Reception
1:45pm-3:45pm                    Opening Workshop Session #1
4:00pm-5:00pm                    Open Session#2
5:25pm-5:45pm                    Gentle Stretch/Relaxation-Meditation
5:45pm-7:00pm                    Dinner
7:15pm-8:30pm                    Workshop Session #3

Saturday, June 3, 2006

8:00am-8:30 am                   Gentle Stretch/Meditation
8:00am -9:15am                   Breakfast
9:30am-10:45am                  Workshop Session #4
11:00am-12:15pm                Workshop Session #5
12:30pm-1:30pm                  Lunch
1:45pm-3:00pm                    Workshop Session #6
3:45pm-5:00pm                    Open Session/Networking/Manifestation Box
5:25pm-5:45pm                    Gentle Stretch/Relaxation-Meditation
5:45pm-7:00pm                    Dinner
7:15pm-8:30pm                    Cabaret/Open Mike   

Sunday, June 4, 2006

8:00am-8:30am                     Gentle Stretch/Relaxation-Meditation
8:00am-9:00am                     Breakfast
9:15am-10:30am                   Session #7
10:45am-11:45am                 Closing/Visioning for Next Steps-Contact List-On-Line Dialogues
12:00pm-1:00pm                  Lunch and Departures

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Special Interest Groups may include but are not limited to the following:
*How does/can spiritual life intersect with curriculum and public education?

*How can nourishment of the Teacher/Artist be an essential element of professional development, teacher training programs, administrative support, pedagogical approach and daily teaching and art practice?

*Teacher/Artist as Scholar in the Trenches. What is the process for publishing and documenting what we do everyday as ‘scholarship’? How do we market ourselves and take our work out into the world through publication and as professional development and educational consultants?

________________________________________________________________________________

Logistics

Springbank Retreat Center in Kingstree, SC is approximately 40 minutes from Florence, SC. It is a beautiful and serene conference/retreat center with 80 acres of trails, lovely accomodations (comfortable private/single rooms with shared bath, a living space and kitchen) in addition to the 7 delicious meals in the community dining room, breakout rooms, air-conditioned spaces and a peaceful and inspiring atmoshphere.

Directions to Springbank

Florence, SC Airport is the closes airport and there is a pick-up service for $25

Approaching from I-77 (Columbia) these are a bit longer but easier to follow: Take I-20 East to Florence. At Florence take I-95 South and follow directions listed below: "Approaching from I-95.

or

From I-77, at Columbia, take the Hwy 76/Hwy378 exit toward Sumter. Hwy 76 will branch off at Sumter. Continue on a short distance staying on Hwy 378, yet making a quick left turn following Hwy 378 left turn sign with an arrow in order to stay with Hwy 378 (almost seems that you're entering onto a new road). After that turn in Sumter, continue on Hwy 378 fro approx. 10 miles, watching from Hwy 527 junction. Turn right onto Hwy 527 toward Kingstree. Drive approx. 17-18 miles (crossing the I-95 junction and Hwy 301 junction) to Springbank Road, marked by a sign on the left (springbank Retreat Center-4 miles). Turn left at sign and follow road to entrance (white brick pillars at gate) which will be on left before a sharp curve on Springbank road. Driveway will bring you to main house.

From I-95: Take exit 132 (Hwy 527 exit) east toward Kingstree. Springbank Road is 15 miles. Drive on Hwy 527, you will cross Hwy301 junction. Stay on Hwy 527. Sing-4 miles at Springbank Rd on left side of highway. Turn left at sign and follow road to Springbank entrance.

From Charleston: Take Hwy 52 from Charleston. At first stoplight in Kingstree (Mcdonald's and Hardy's in front of you), turn left-still follow Hwy 52, (join up with Hwy 527). Drive approx 6-8 blocks to the first stoplight (shell gas station on left) at the junction fro Hwy 527. Turn left to follow Hwy 527. Drive approx. 7-8 miles from Kingstree on this highway. Nearing Springbank road you'll cross small bridge and see sign-Springbank 4- miles. Turn right onto Springbank road and follow to entrance.

From Myrtle Beach:

Take Hwy 17 South to Georgtown, take Hwy 521 toward Andrews (Hwy 17A and Hwy 521 run together for a while). Continue on Hwy 521 to junction of Hwy 52. At stoplight, turn right onto Hwy 52 toward Kingstree. Arriving in Kingstree now follow the above directions from the second sentence on) described as though you were approaching from Charleston to reach Springbank.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________