We’ve heard from many school and district leaders that support and community are needed more than ever. Navigating the education system—keeping up with state and federal compliance; recognizing and nurturing the individual needs and talents of educators; finding the time to make improvements, not just keep afloat—is no small task. And the sands are always shifting, making it difficult to remain ahead of new challenges.
It’s easy to experience isolation amid these challenges, especially when our nation’s educators are feeling targeted. Facing History wants to change that isolation, and our residential seminars are not only tailor-made to kickstart relationship building, but are specifically designed to infuse inspiration and practical know-how into your day-to-day work practices.
We have two Residential Seminar Team Experiences focused on civic learning and inclusive education this summer. Take a look and see which option would work for you and your team.
Facing History will cover the cost of the seminars, all meals, and lodging in a single-occupant room. You are responsible for a $75 fee per attendee and transportation. The deadline to apply for both summer opportunities is May 1 at 5 pm ET.
- Monday, June 23 - Thursday, June 26 | St. Pete Beach, FL, TradeWinds Resort
- Monday, July 21 - Thursday, July 24 | San Francisco, CA, Hotel Kabuki
What are the benefits of the residential structure of the seminars?
We know educators are devoted lifelong learners and Facing History is fortunate to be able to facilitate a space of learning, networking, and collegiality for educational leaders across the country. In the residential structure, Facing History is modeling a learning community that is a microcosm of the ones that school and district leaders oversee day-to-day, and we hope they will take what they learn and experience here back to their schools and districts.
Here are some of the additional benefits that come from a residential seminar:
- The rare opportunity to slow down for a few days and return to a place of learning
- A chance to connect with other leaders and educators from across the country
- Time to consider key drivers for change in your school or district: How are you preparing students for civic agency? How are you building inclusive cultures? How are you preparing students for civic agency? What teacher practices do you need to adopt to achieve these goals? How will you measure student outcomes to these goals?
- More time for processing, hitting all the points of the Facing History pedagogical triangle, and experiencing our full educational approach as an in-person learner
We know it’s a lot to coordinate a four-day work trip during your summer break. But we believe the benefits of connection, inspiration, and putting a work plan in place with Facing History will get you excited and energized to get back to school in the fall. Below we outline three more key reasons attending a Facing History residential seminar makes a difference for educational leaders and teachers.
A Unique Format that Emphasizes Learning and Connection
Residential Seminars are one of the few Facing History professional learning experiences designed especially for school and district teams. They are an opportunity to be in community both with your colleagues and with other school leaders and district administrators from around the country. Participants of our residential seminars are able to experience firsthand the powerful learning activities their students encounter in Facing History classrooms.
Show, Don’t Tell
We approach the seminars with a “show, don’t tell” format to better equip school and district leaders with strategies and methodologies for fostering a collaborative, inclusive community among the adults they work with—this is part of creating and modeling a culture of belonging where young people can thrive. Research shows us that experiencing a sense of belonging and purpose in school impacts academic mindsets, behaviors, and ultimately, student achievement.
A Dynamic and Supportive Environment
Gathering committed school and district leaders in the same place brings together an impressive brain trust. Sharing and exploring the Facing History pedagogy together makes for emotional and impactful learning. This is a powerful experience as new relationships are forged and the latest Facing History scholarship is discussed and put into practice.
Harnessing the Power of Your Team
Too often school and district leaders, and classroom teachers themselves, are relegated to “working on an island” with little time and opportunity for collaboration and shared learning. Everyone’s different strengths, life experiences, and areas of expertise contribute to the lens through which each person interacts with the seminar, bringing different points of view together. Partnership is invaluable in ensuring the future of any work we do together is successful!
Tips for choosing a team to bring: Consider both formal leaders and informal “influencers” in your school and district. An assistant superintendent, principal, director of teaching and learning, or instructional leader can all envision the ways that Facing History’s pedagogy will impact the instructors in a school or district and how a partnership complements existing work to help achieve your goals. A social studies lead teacher or department chair will bring their expertise and knowledge of the content to the team and help evaluate the effectiveness of instructional material; a counselor can shed light on the social and emotional learning built into Facing History’s approach and see ways it will impact the relationship between and among students and adults alike; a classroom teacher can review strategies and learning activities to consider ways they work with existing teacher practice and to support learning for all students.
It’s important to come with colleagues so that you can process what you’re learning with others who know your context and share accountability for taking next steps. The impact on the team will be greater and the ability to convey enthusiasm about our work will be amplified.
A deep dive in our content makes a difference. When you viscerally experience Facing History (on an intellectual, ethical, or emotional level), your conversations about the impact of Facing History on your school, students, and staff are more concrete and less theoretical.
Leaders, educators, and support teams from a single institution have varying priorities and goals. Bringing members from different groups from within the same school or district will help the full team grasp the breadth and depth of impact that a partnership with Facing History makes possible.
Helping You Lead for Change
Transforming school culture and climate and impacting district-wide pedagogical practices always starts with the adults in schools and districts. These seminars provide attendees with a chance to learn Facing History’s approach and get insight into how we can help you support social-emotional and academic learning (both with staff and students), and get familiar with some of our curricular resources.
An understanding of truth and power and how they connect is crucial for leadership. By teaching difficult evidence-based history, we ask people to think about what it means to teach difficult truths and speak to their “Why?”.
Getting to know Facing History, and letting us get to know you in return, is the most effective way to begin your relationship with us. School and district teams who participate in residential seminars are paired with a Facing History staff member and are eligible for a planning grant to work collaboratively with us and determine the best way to bring Facing History to your entire school or district community.
