We have some updates on the development of ISEEN’s new program: ISEEN Catalyst Institute. Yes, you heard it first here, we have an official name! The Save the Date email announcing the location and dates is coming later this month. 

We will be launching the application process in April, with early access for folks who expressed a keen interest in the new program and ISEEN Member Schools. Here is a short description of the Institute to pique your interest:

Catalyst is an inspiring and intimate retreat where school leaders move through a journey designed to unite, empower, and activate.  While participants will gather around fires and beneath the stars, they will also roll up their sleeves around case studies, action plans, and strategic change management tools tailored for their institutional needs and goals.  We’ll build a strong community of leaders who are empowered, connected, and prepared to return home with a vision for innovation that moves experiential pedagogy from the periphery to the core of their schools.  The retreat will launch small coaching cohorts that will partner for 6 months of continued work, providing both accountability and support for a successful enactment of each individual’s action plan for their school.  Through immersive, real-world applications and investigations into effective leadership, we will empower school leaders to embrace new approaches that transform their schools, themselves, and their students’ experiences ensuring our schools deliver education that is engaging, relevant, and transformative.

The Design Team and ISEEN Staff have been engaging in design sprints and meeting twice per week. Additionally, we hosted an online ISEEN community Feedback Protocol session in January to hear your thoughts on the direction of this exciting new initiative. Y’all showed up! 43 people tuned into the Design Team’s presentation on the “Why? What? How?” of the Catalyst Institute before we divided into three smaller groups for interactive feedback on specific questions. We've incorporated the learnings to reflect what you’re needing in your next stage of professional development and support. If you missed it, you’re welcome to watch the recording of the presentation and the Q&A at the end; the feedback breakout group portion was not recorded. 

The Catalyst Institute Planning Team: Shoshanna Sumka, ISEEN Executive Director; Whitney Hofacker, Project Manager; Lauren Kelley, Head of Upper School, Cascades Academy; Dr. Barret Fabris, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Lincoln School; Cris Harris, Dean of Experiential Education, Hawken School

While it’s a wild and bumpy ride to build the plane as we fly it, I cannot say enough what a joy it is to work with such a passionate, brilliant, hardworking team. #DreamTeam