Community Conversation: Sharing Insights and Affirming Core Values Post Election
Nov 14, 2024 12:00PM—1:00PM
Location
Virtual
Cost FREE FOR CATDC AND CAIS MEMBER SCHOOLS
Categories Community Conversation, Leadership, Online, School Leaders, Social & Emotional Learning, Staff, Teachers
ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
With the national election one week behind us, many of us will find it valuable to connect and discuss how we are experiencing its impact on our school communities. This is an ideal moment to come together to share experiences and insights, reaffirming your school’s mission and core values. CATDC and CAIS invite school leaders and educators to this free gathering, offering a space for peer-group conversations. We hope you’ll join us.
Participants will:
- Connect with peers from different schools to share experiences about the election and its impact
- Reflect on how core values can be the foundation of trust within communities post election
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools)
CATDC and CAIS are excited to announce another collaboration post election. We are thrilled to extend an invitation to CAIS Member Schools to participate in this free community conversation.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Cheryl Adenekan spent her youth in Lakewood, Colorado, before embarking on a journey that took her from Mozambique with the Peace Corps to teaching English and Theater in Phoenix, AZ. After four years, Cheryl expanded her horizons in Chengdu, China, and later in Shanghai, where she taught English and eventually became the Language Learning Director. Returning to Colorado, she taught at a Charter School in Aurora, fostering a love for theater. This passion led her to Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew, where she spent some time as a theater teacher before becoming the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Currently, Cheryl is the Director of Equity and Learning for the California Association of Independent Schools. Since 2007, she has been an active member of SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Inclusion), serving on the National SEED staff for four years. Additionally, she is the secretary of the Board of Northern California PoCIS and a board member of Canamac Productions, an Equity and Learning virtual platform/experience/consulting team. In these roles, Cheryl is dedicated to understanding the positionality and politics of the spaces she enters, driven by a passion for fostering just relationships. She lives in San Mateo, CA, with her husband and 17-year-old twins.
Lauren Benjamin has cultivated a thriving career as a multidisciplinary artist and educator for over 20 years. Lauren earned her BFA in painting and photography and holds a Master’s in Education. She is an alum of dance epicenter Jacob’s Pillow and CATDC’s Leadership Fellows. She worked as a supervisor to student teachers at Mills College Graduate School of Education, where she was able to mentor and coach new teachers as well as experienced professionals new to the field of education. Lauren believes in sharing the power of identity development through the lens of the arts and has published her curriculum with Frameline Organization and presented at educational conferences, including conferences held by the Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE) and Project Zero of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. During Lauren's eight-year tenure at Sacred Heart Schools Atherton, she held multiple roles including Dance Program Director and Fine Arts Department Chair. Her most recent position was Assistant Principal of Mission & Culture, where she centered belonging in the school’s adult onboarding and school-wide student programs. In 2023, Lauren joined the CATDC team as the Northern California Director, bringing her extensive experience in education and leadership to facilitate professional growth and collaboration among teachers in the region. She identifies as a love practitioner who aims to build community through her teaching practice and leadership.
As Executive Director of the California Association of Independent Schools, Dr. Deborah Dowling oversees the accreditation of independent schools in California, and supports professional development opportunities for the heads and trustees of member schools.
Previously, Deborah held the roles of Assistant Head at Chadwick School, Upper School Director at Bridges Academy, and Director of Studies at Harvard-Westlake School. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Deborah holds a bachelor's degree in physics and a doctorate in the history and philosophy of science. She has taught a variety of subjects from kindergarten through undergraduate. Deborah lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Andrew, and two large dogs, Buffy and Willow.
A lifelong educator of youth and adults, Lisa Haney believes deeply in the transformative power of education. She began her career focused on international and multicultural education, teaching in Japan, Mexico and Martinique before landing at the Athenian School in Danville, California. In her 25 years at Athenian she served in many roles, including international program director, literature teacher, and humanities department chair, before becoming dean of faculty development and a member of the leadership team. Beyond Athenian, Lisa has engaged in teacher education through UC Berkeley Extension, as well as the Berkeley and San Francisco Unified School Districts, and was selected for a year-long fellowship by the US State Department to support teacher development in Tanzania. Lisa holds a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley and a M.A.T. from the School for International Training, Vermont. She is board chair at the Berkeley School and an enrolled student in a Masters/PhD program in community psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Cancellation Policy
Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for. We strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible when things out of your control happen. Please visit our FAQ page for detailed information about our cancellation policy and answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment and membership.