Reaccreditation at Eagle Rock Former Fellow
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Volume 14, Number 2 News From Summer 2006 Trimester REACCREDITATION AT EAGLE ROCK by Robert Burkhardt, Head of School In January 2005, then Director of Professional De- year cycle, and the process will begin again in 2012 when velopment, Lois Easton, initiated a process that resulted we again prepare a self-study. eighteen months later in the reaccreditation of Eagle Rock The Visiting Team commended Eagle Rock for “out- School and Professional Development Center by the As- standing adherence to its mission that is evident in every sociation of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) and decision, in every nook and cranny of the school. Eagle the North Central Association (NCA). Lois held a series Rock may well be in the top 10 schools in the country of meetings with ERS staff to develop our Self-Study, where the mission is practiced on every level.” Addition- a seventy-page document that appraised all aspects of ally, the Visiting Team remarked on the “strong sense of Eagle Rock and provided the Visiting Team a sense of the joy in awakening students to the natural world, to the school when they arrived for a four-day visit in March arts, to a strong work ethic, to community, to learning 2006. that will last a lifetime.” Finally, the Visiting Team com- By May 2007 the new Director of Professional De- mended Eagle Rock for our “creative, energetic, dedicated velopment (and founding ERS staff member) Michael staff who exemplify best practices in their delivery of cur- Soguero will have led the staff through another process riculum, compassion for and care of the students, work to formulate our First-Year Response to the Visiting Team ethic, and modeling of a strong community culture.” report. Michael will coordinate the staff ’s response to The Visiting Team also made six key recommendations specifi c recommendations from the Visiting Team con- for us to consider, and these will be the focus of Michael’s cerning various aspects of the school program. We will work during the next several months. The recommenda- revisit the recommendations when we submit our third- tions are: a) Directly connect the extensive wilderness year response in 2009. Accreditation occurs on a seven- ________________________________ ...See Reaccreditation - Cont. on Page 8 FORMER FELLOW RECEIVES CHANGE-MAKER AWARD by Dan Condon, Associate Director of Professional Development Public Allies alumni are part of a dynamic and growing national network of diverse young leaders commi� ed to a lifetime of working for community and social change. This year Public Allies recognized outstanding program graduates for their life’s work in social change, and for exemplifying the fi ve Public Allies values of collaboration, diversity and inclusion, a focus on assets, continuous learning, and integrity. Sarah Ballard, from the 2005 Public Allies Fellowship at Eagle Rock School, received her award specifi cally relat- ing to her work with mentoring young people. Sarah explains, “Public Allies got me back on track with social change and activism. Eagle Rock exposed me to the power teaching has on young people.” Sarah is using her Public Allies experiences to develop and highlight the assets of young people in Louisville. Sarah currently develops and oversees a mentoring program in a Louisville housing project through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Her work has enabled hundreds of young people to connect with and have meaningful relationships with thoughtful and caring adult mentors. Sarah a� ributes much of her success to her learning and practice of the values of community participation, inclusion and collaboration. She also has a special interest in using her teaching, youth development, and fi ne arts background to help more women claim their power through art therapy. For more infor- mation about Public Allies, visit www.publicallies.org/eaglerock. Eagle Eyes Page -2- A publication of Eagle Rock School STUDENT LEADERSHIP: HOW TO and Professional Development Center FOSTER POWERFUL STUDENT VOICE Excerpts being reprinted with permission from the Coalition of Editor: Essential Schools. Visit ceschangelab.org for the full text. Dan Condon P.O. Box 1770 2750 Notaiah Road We all know that areas of student en- crowds gives them a self-confi dence needed in __ Estes Park, CO gagement, achievement and school culture many real world environments. Answered by 80517-1770 improve when students are given a voice. Coral S. Oppressing, controlling and silencing stu- Q: Expressing thoughts in writing Phone Number: (970) 586-0600 dents should be a thing of the past. Giving generally (but not always) encourages students voice in the classroom, a say re- some refection about what has been said. Fax Number: garding school policies and a role in reform Also a student may fi nd it diffi cult to, (970) 586-4805 initiatives make schools more democratic, for example, be critical about an aspect Website: less autocratic and certainly more learner of policy in a traditional group meeting. www.EagleRockSchool.org centered. But what does meaningful stu- John An initiative of the dent voice look like? This panel was mod- A: John---initially, it may be true that the American Honda erated by Eagle Rock School Head Robert refl ection is on what has been said. Developing Education Corporation Burkhardt, Director of Students Philbert critical thought is like building muscle, it has to Smith, Associate Director of Professional be exercise. Through regular ongoing conversa- American Honda Development Dan Condon, and student tions, pushing students to go below the surface, Education Coral Ann S. students begin to go beyond what has been said Corporation Q: I have been trying to engage the before. It is wonderful to watch this transforma- Sheri Bullock students in the process of developing tion. As they do it orally, it will begin to refl ect Secretary/Treasurer “voice,” however, there seems to be a lack in their writing. As students become comfort- Marc Burt of buy in by the students. How can I con- able with “their voice” they have no problem Board Member vince them that the school wants them to refl ecting on policy issues. With policy issues be part of the policy making process, that guidance is needed to help students understand Gary Kessler President & Chairman their voice will not simply be “window the merits of reaching a consensus and to un- of the Board dressing?” derstand that having a voice does not mean that A: As a student at Eagle Rock I remember you will always get your way. Student voice Cathy McEvilly the fi rst time I spoke was in a situation where I works best when adults value student voice. __ Board Member was comfortable. I knew the topic, I knew what Answered by Philbert Smith Kaz Odaka to address and I felt comfortable in my answer. I Q: Is authentic “student voice” really Vice President think the fear of speaking from your mind holds possible in large comprehensive schools? many students back. Give them a head start. We fi nd working with small teams of Eagle Rock School and Professional Pu� ing out other ideas by other students and students to be very powerful but almost Development Center opening a discussion up. Then they won’t feel impossible to spread the bounty school- as though the words they speak will be taken wide or district-wide. When it becomes Donnie Adams drastically; it will just become a typical con- to the whole school and beyond it is sort Society and Cultures versation. A lot of times when they are voicing of like an undemocratic “corporation” Jon Anderson opinions, the opinions don’t go anywhere. Make where “roles” are assigned, expectations Human Performance a valid statement that what is said is really go- rose, but there is very li� le authentic stu- Burt Bowles ing to aff ect the school. Make sure they know dent voice that is not ruled by infl exible Facilities & Maintenance this is their chance to have a say in the system. rules established for the sake of safety __ Robert Burkhardt Answered by Coral S. and routine. Is authentic student voice Head of School Q: What do you see as the relation- really possible in large and poor public Margre� e Castro ship between voice in the classroom and schools? Public Allies in policy, and developing ‘voice’ in writ- A: I think this is a leadership and culture ing? question. From my viewpoint it is possible to so Dan Condon A: I think that through writing the stu- arrange a school that voices are used and heard. Associate Director of Professional Development dents get the time to put in enough thought It takes time and patience, but if the school lead- process to write a true opinion. Though voicing ers want to “hear,” they will. And they will set Susan D’Amico opinions at Eagle Rock does a lot of good as well. ______________________________ Administrative Assistant Having students speak their own words in large ...See Leadership - Cont. on Page 9 Eagle Eyes Page -3- Mark Dougherty ANOTHER GRADUATE TAKES FLIGHT Sous Chef by Janice Lee, Registrar Cynthia Elkins Arts At the beginning of each trimester, Beth Ellis excitement and anticipation builds as the Learning Resources and Information Eagle Rock community looks forward Eric Farmer to learning who our next prospective Language and Literature graduates will be. Throughout the Jacques Fournet trimester, students who have applied for Wilderness & Outdoor graduation become even more immersed Education in their learning, personal growth, and Jimmy Frickey Mathematics fi nal academic achievements at Eagle Mike Glowacki Rock. It is an intense, but rewarding Head Cook time in all of our lives. John Guff ey On August 4, 2006, Sevi Donnelly Service Learning Foreman was the 114th student to Dick Herb graduate from Eagle Rock School.