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I’m not the first to say it, and I won’t be the last: “the future is here.” That phrase echoed throughout the Schools of the Future Conference in Honolulu last week, where more than 1,500 educators from public, charter, and independent schools gathered to explore what’s next for teaching and learning. With the pace of…

I finally met Captain Kirk at a fan event this past summer in the Bay Area. To me, William Shatner was more than an actor—he was the embodiment of a childhood imagination that dared to chart galaxies. The Captain’s hunger to explore, his willingness to consult Spock, his readiness to push boundaries—these qualities shaped how…

The impact of AI on the field of education and how we can best support teachers and administrators has been a strong focus at CATDC this spring and summer, leading us to develop a new AI learning path. My own learning about AI as a powerful disrupter and enabler grows not only from my work…

A few weekends ago, my colleagues and I took thirty students out to a farm in Pescadero for 24 hours of deep listening, solo reflection, and council practice around a fire. We prioritized being present with ourselves and each other. The patterns of activities, classes, social media, and homework were for a moment paused to…

With deep gratitude for the part you play as a member of this unique learning organization, I am looking back with pride at another year of challenge and change. Our new CATDC team hit the ground running last August, and I cannot imagine a better group of individuals to help create and manage the professional…

Participating in CATDC’s Leadership Fellows cohort this year has impacted me deeply, both personally and professionally, in ways I could not have foreseen. The essential question of this fellowship is, “Who am I as a Leader?” and this is indeed a question that needs to be asked and deeply reflected upon at every stage of…

I spent much of the summer immersed in professional development with California educators as Executive Director of CATDC. I reveled in the opportunity to be a participant observer, witnessing months of planning come to exuberant life, soaking up what I could from the facilitators as well as the teachers and administrators in the room or…

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the newest member of the CATDC team, stepping into the role of Program Manager. The opportunity to join this organization dedicated to empowering educators and fostering professional growth truly excites me.  I have long been passionate about education and have had a hand in it for the last…

Ramadan Mubarak!  This translates as “Have a blessed Ramadan,” and in the vernacular it can be taken as “Happy Ramadan.” Take from this greeting the following three truths: Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic Calendar. Muslims who are able to do so fast during this month from pre-dawn to sunset. Ramadan is on…

How can you tell if your organization’s DEIB work is performative or transformative? For some organizations, especially those new to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work, there can be an urgency to “arrive.” DEIB statement? Check. Employee resource or affinity groups? Check. Recruiting for diversity? Check. Training on microaggressions and implicit bias? Check. Donate to…

I live and work two blocks away from a large public high school and two doors down from a preschool. Often the sound of children squealing or teenagers shouting floats up to my home office. Usually, I relish the noise; it has been five years since I left the classroom, and I still miss being…

I am truly honored to join the CATDC community and energized to continue evolving dynamic programs in partnership with CATDC’s forward-thinking team. As a participant in diverse CATDC workshops over the years, I continue to be impressed by their relevance to educators’ experiences and the resulting impact these programs can have in our schools. I…

In the summer of 2001, two hundred educators gathered to partake in our first ever Summer Institute, a deeply collaborative effort, held in various spaces at the Town School for Boys, Schools of the Sacred Heart and San Francisco University High School. Buses circulated the area to transport participants to presentations and break out room…