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Download/play
Audio Interview |
In our 50th year of gathering teachers and other educators together we look forward to continuing the work of creating better relationships with students. In the half century of the Institute, much has changed in the world and in your schools. But the core of our mission and our work is the same: we focus on how to listen deeply to students, to understand what they are thinking and feeling and to provide support as they navigate an increasingly complex world during their adolescence. Whether we are their advisors, their classroom teachers, or we connect with them through deaning, sports, arts, learning support, technology or health, as well as the library or dormitories; we find students have a thirst for real relationships with adults who care about them.
At a number of teacher in-service workshops we have held at your schools during the school year, we hear feedback from teachers and administrators that taking the time to listen has become increasingly important. Students feel new pressures and anxieties from world and election news, the volatile economy, and the Occupy movement. Many have become aware in new ways of the choices and sacrifices their parents are making for them to attend an independent school. Schools in turn feel a pressing need to make whole their commitment to provide close relationships and on-going student support.
The digital world has increased student breadth of contact with friends and others but diminished depth of contact. Some students feel more awkward in face-to-face relationships, both with their peers and with adults. Only experience and opportunity can change this dynamic. The work of the Institute is designed to help enhance your confidence and competence in providing students with these experiences.
One of the most successful strategies for schools has been to send a cluster of class deans, or a group of grade advisory leaders to the Institute; the shared experience builds a wonderful rapport among the team. We welcome this approach and hope if you are putting together new advising structures or refreshing your programs you might consider doing this. I can provide the names of schools that have tried this model and have felt it added solid momentum to their program.
We feel what we offer is a wonderful and productive time together; however, we never take your trust for granted. We always include comments from participants on our website; they really are the best way for you to find out about the Institute. Although we do select posted comments based on enthusiasm, they are representative of most of the feedback we receive. Attendees give us their highest rating, with many talking about the meaningful ways the Institute has changed how they see their role and relationship with students. We encourage you to talk with Institute alumni from your school, as they will be able to share their sense of how attending might be particularly helpful to your work. On behalf of the entire Institute faculty, I can safely say we will be sure to provide the very best experience possible for those of you choosing to attend. We believe you and your school will reap great benefit from your time with us, and look forward to working together this summer.
All my best,
Ellen Porter Honnet, Ed.D.
Director