Professional development for early childhood educators and section heads
In this course we will explore the social life of the early childhood section, illuminating important themes and common obstacles that prevent harmonious collegial work. Through group presentations, break-out discussions, journaling, and film, we will address three main areas of focus:
Lead/assistant relationships:
- Identifying professional expectations
- Defining clarity of roles
- Establishing clear communication
- Exploring the unique experience of working with an assistant—or as an assistant—and the accompanying gifts and challenges
- Ideas for nurturing and strengthening the relationship
Racial diversity:
- Taking active, concrete steps toward recognizing where you are and where you want to be
- Consciously interfacing and communicating with the school community and beyond
- Establishing a foundation for understanding Race as a social construct in America
- Cultivating an active interest in the other
Conflict and collaboration:
- Working with flexibility and creativity
- Recognizing different ways of doing the ârightâ thing
You will come away with:
- Clarity around supporting healthy professional relationships in the early childhood classroom
- Strategies for identifying, communicating, and rectifying challenging relationships
- Helpful strategies toward healthy collaboration
- Increased confidence in being able to discuss issues of Race and Racism
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InstructorÂ
Keelah Helwig is a kindergarten teacher and early childhood chair at The Waldorf School of Garden City, her alma mater. She is also a Garden City Board Trustee and chair of her school’s Diversity Committee. Keelah started her Waldorf early childhood career in Garden City in 2006 as kindergarten assistant in the school’s new early childhood program. A graduate of their Foundation Studies program, she earned her bachelor of arts in drama from Spelman College and her masterâs in Waldorf early childhood education from Sunbridge College.
Your course also includes painting with Brigitte Bley-Swinston of Green Meadow Waldorf School.
An hour is given for lunch, with shorter breaks for morning and afternoon snacks
Fee
$510 (includes all materials and non-refundable $45 registration fee).
Discount Options
10% discounts on subsequent registrations (of equal or lesser value) automatically appear on your registration form when selecting more than one title. (Exception: Waldorf Weekend, which offers an $80 discount when selected as a subsequent registration.)
Currently enrolled Sunbridge program students receive a 30% discount and Sunbridge program graduates receive a 15% discount (not to be combined with any other offering). Discount instructions will appear on the registration form after you answer questions about your Sunbridge background in the Participant Profile section. (Account must be in good standing.)Â
Schools registering 11 participants for any combination of 2, 3 and/or 5-day offerings will be rebated one tuition of the least expensive offering. (Rebate to be issued in August.)
Questions?
Please contact Penelope-Myles Voss, our Admissions, Alumni, and Summer Coordinator, at [email protected] or 845-425-0055 x20
Sunbridge reserves the right to make faculty substitutions when necessary. See registration form for refund policy.
