From the FREEP

The Symposium - Fall Summary

The fall conference of the Symposium was a smashing success. 175 educators from across the country gathered at SRV to talk, think, and envision progressive education in the 21st century. Participants were wowed by the design of the conference, the warmth and professionalism of SRV’s staff, the depth of the speakers, and charm of our facilities.

It was very affirming to be surrounded by other educators who are committed to stretch, challenge and question assumptions about the current educational landscape. In his speech Alfie Kohn challenged us to keep pushing, creating, and nurturing schools with sound educational and developmental practices – schools, such as SRV, that value children’s ideas, voices, purposeful learning and democratic ideals.

The Symposium provided a powerful vehicle for professional development for our staff. In preparation for the conference, the faculty immersed themselves in some best progressive practices such as descriptive reviews, reflection, and peer mentoring. It has been a powerful collegial journey of risk taking, collaboration and growth. Many staff members have commented on how connected they feel to each other, how reinvigorated they are about progressive practices, and how moved they are to be part of a school that made such a commitment to educators and children. Enriched and energized teachers make for happy, engaged classrooms. I suggest you talk to your child’s teachers about their experience; it will help you better understand just how positive and profound the Symposium was for the staff.

It is clear that the Symposium’s impact will be felt well beyond our campus.We clearly helped reenergize a network of progressive educators who will carry their Symposium experience forward as they return to their schools. Educators from all over the country are talking about our little school and what a BIG inspiration we provided. A note from the head of the lower school at the University of Chicago Lab Schools is indicative of the feedback:

Congratulations on such an outstanding symposium – or I should say the outstanding start to the year long symposium. Thank you for having invited us to participate. The amount of work that you all must have put into taking this idea from vision to execution is impressive and inspiring. The organization of time, space, and ideas was carefully and respectfully done, I found the balance of presentations and a chance to “talk to learn” very useful. I have returned home with new ideas, with a renewed commitment to progressive education, and with a gratitude to all of you for making this possible. Please pass on to all of your staff my thanks and appreciation. Being at your beautiful school where children’s work is so lovingly displayed was a great pleasure.

I have never been so proud to be a part of SRV. This was a sensational celebration of our school’s past, present and future. I want to thank everyone who made this event so successful; we could not have done it without the tremendous support of parent volunteers. It does indeed take a village to put on a Symposium.

In Partnership,
Carlye

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