The goals for the retreat were certainly met, as attendees were provided learning opportunities that share Corwin’s evolution from a publisher to a full service provider. Consultants realized how valuable they are to the Corwin organization by participating in additional learning experiences that allow participants to grow in the art of creating and delivering presentations, and in successful practices in the education industry.
I was not able to attend every session and it was difficult to decide which breakouts to visit. The overall offering of professional learning opportunities exceeded my own expectations. I did, however attend four sessions that inspired me.
In their book, Student Voice: The Instrument of Change, Dr. Russ Quaglia and Dr. Michael Corso state that when students have a voice, they are meaningfully engaged in the decision-making and improvement-related processes in their schools. I attended Dr. Quaglia’s session and I was impressed with his commitment to share the truth of what students think about school with educators who want to make a difference. Despite the challenges in today’s schools, Dr. Quaglia reminds us that students and teachers are learners together, where adults do things with students—not at, to, or for them.