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Facing uncertain times in 2021
Dear Friends,
In these challenging times of upheaval and disruption, we are faced with much individual and collective doubt, fear, and anxiety. Time is both speeding us and slowing down simultaneously and we are feeling the effects of how materialistic thinking has affected our lives, our thinking, our social structures, and our culture, often with serious consequences to individuals, communities, and the natural world. At the same time, we are seeing the highest in human beings stepping forward to take courageous initiative to help others.
Rudolf Steiner offered numerous suggestions for facing the challenges that we would meet in our individual and cultural development in these times. He spoke about how to overcome nervousness or anxiety; how to work against fear; how to stay centered; how to work with the light in dark times; how to develop imagination and thinking with the heart.
I have added articles addressing these topics to the resources in hopes they may be of value. You can find them here.
This global crisis provides us with a real opportunity to try to look beyond the immediate disruption, to review our lives, and to regain a sense of order and harmony in our lives - at home, with the family, and in our communities.
We encourage you to take any moment you can to center yourself, remind yourself of what you truly value, and what is important and join with others to engage in courageous initiatives of compassionate service.
I hope you are safe, healthy, and taking care.
Keep in touch,
Michael Soule
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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE (click on issue number for link)
1.1 Collaboration
1.2 Sustainability
1.3 School as Living Entity
1.4 Making Consensus Work
1.5 The Art of Planning Meetings
1.6 Healthy Conversation, Communication and Agreements
1.7 Keys to Healthy Mentoring Programs
2.1 The Art of Being a Mentor
2.2 Exploring Accountability
2.3 Renewing Governance
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Artwork for this website is contributed by Waldorf teacher and artist, Michael Pinchera. Click the image to see more of his work.
CURRENTS: Moving through Winter towards Spring 2021
Finding Strength in Spirit during Challenging Times
Like everyone, we at Leading with Spirit are finding these days to be challenging. The rhythms of our lives been disrupted, and the events unfolding around the world can easily lead us into a kind of despair. It feels at times that there is little we can do to make a difference in the systems we all would like to see changed - deeply embedded racism, economic inequity, a militarized world, and many people with great power continuing to promote negative untruthful narratives that separate people. Through this seeming darkness, it is possible to see new light - A growing light of self-reflection and personal transformation, of empathy for others, of finding small and large groups who share positive values and are working for change. Hope is needed more than ever in these times and it can only come through our own effort. We can see hope in others, and we can be hopeful in ourselves. We have to make hope. Working with our teacher training students at Sound Circle Center, and our Leading with Spirit Administrative training advisees, we are aware of the challenges people are facing, and the ways they are, day by day, meeting them with courage. This continues to be the joy and inspiration in our work. As we continue, please let us know if we can be of help in any way.
Michael Soule
IN FOCUS: Newsletter: Renewing Governance
Check out our other newsletters on Collaboration, Mentoring, Communications, (and 10 others) along with over 200 articles focusing on Leadership, Collaboration and Waldorf School Administration in our resources section.
Renewing GovernanceJuly 9, 2015 - 7:44 amRenewing Governance More and more organizations are seeking to find new governance structures and practices that support a balance between individual creativity and organizational harmony and effectiveness. This was the case 100 years ago when the first Waldorf School was founded. In the past 100 years, we have had the benefit of a great deal […]
Understanding Governance by Michael SouleJuly 9, 2015 - 6:48 amUnderstanding Governance by Michael Soule Every organization struggles with the question of how to establish and maintain good governance. Even the definition of governance can be a challenge. Just like the descriptors “environmental” or “sustainable” can mean different things, so too can the term “governance”. Nevertheless, we as leaders must constantly strive to understand […]
Governance Models, An Essay by Nathan Garber with Reflections by Michael SouleJuly 9, 2015 - 5:07 amReflections on Nathan Garber’s Article on Governance Models The article below by Nathan Garber is a good review and summary of the basic typical models of governance in organizations and the role that boards play in the different models. In Waldorf schools, there are many variations of governance models with most following a variation on […]
Self Administration and Governance in Waldorf Schools, Chris SchaeferJuly 9, 2015 - 4:09 amIII Self-Administration and Governance in Waldorf Schools Seek the real practical life but seek it in a way that does not blind you to the spirit working in it. Seek the spirit but do not seek it out of spiritual egoism, from spiritual greed, but look for it because you want to apply […]
Personal Reflections on Waldorf School Governance and Effective Practices, Lynn KernJuly 9, 2015 - 3:33 amPersonal Reflections on Governance: The Eleven Keys to Success Lynn Kern The research into School Governance is one of the most widely anticipated topics in the long history of the Effective Practices research project. Schools have been struggling with the questions of how best to organize themselves and manage their affairs so […]
Announcing our 2021 In-person leadership intensives
We are pleased to announce our summer leadership intensives will be in-person again. See the flyers below. For more information go to www.leadingwithspirit./org
Michael Soule
The Art of Administration and Leadership in Waldorf Schools
Understanding the Social and Spiritual Foundations of Waldorf School Administration
The School and the Image of the Human Being
The Dynamics of School Governance
Leadership in a Collaborative Spiritual Organization
The Healing Social Life: Working Together
Diversity and Social Justice roots of Waldorf education
Alkion Center, Hawthorne Valley, NY July 11-16
With Mara White and Lisa Mahar
Whidbey Island, WA, July 25-30
With Siân Owen Cruise, and Michael Soulé
Course Tuition: $800 (USD or CDN) plus $50 reg fee. (contact us for multiple participant discount)
New participants are welcome in both weeks.
For more information about course, leaders and fees, and to register go to www.leadingwithspirit.org or email mhsoule@gmail.com or lisamahar5@gmail.com
ONLINE Course Offering
For those unable to join us in person, we are offering a shortened course during the week of July 19-26 led by Marti Stewart and Michael Soule for a Tuition of $500.
PRESS RELEASE
Leading with Spirit announces new
Summer 2021 INPERSON Intensives in
Waldorf School Administration and Leadership
One-week intensives are being offered on Whidbey Island, Washington: July 25-30, and at Alkion Center, Hawthorne Valley, New York: July 11-16 plus a shortened online offering July 19-26.
Come join fellow administrators, staff, teachers, and board members in a unique professional development program designed specifically to help participants deepen an understanding of the nature of Waldorf education and Waldorf schools, strengthen an inner connection to the education, enhance cooperative and administrative skills and help build more cohesive, innovative and effective educational communities.
Each summer intensive is its own experience, providing in-depth exploration of administrative philosophy, principles, social development activities, individual social and group artistic work and inner development, all based on Rudolf Steiner’s understanding of the human being and social life. The weeks are led by experienced teams. Participants also can take the weeks as part of a two-year program – which includes one-on-one professional coaching/mentoring, participation in independent ongoing study and research projects, and membership in a cohort of colleagues online over the two-year period resulting in a Certificate in Waldorf Administration.
This summer we are including perspectives on questions of diversity, inclusion and social justice in our schools.
Here is what students are saying:
“The training and support I have received from Leading with Spirit’s training and support have given me the skills and insight to take on my school roles with more confidence and joy. As a result, I feel more connected to the Waldorf movement, have found a circle of support, have come to a deeper understanding of Steiner's social ideas, and better know how I can help fulfill that in my organization. I would encourage this course for anyone working in an administrative capacity in a Waldorf school.”
“Monthly mentoring and group calls allow the learning to continue as I apply the insights gained to my work on the ground. Just as the teachers need to cultivate pedagogical understanding, administrators need to grow in their understanding of how to nurture the school organism. Coursework provides the focus to ensure that this important work is not neglected and helps develop healthy habits of thinking and healthy processes.”
“The Leading with Spirit program is an incredible environment of learning, inspiration and support for anyone interested in the administrative functioning of a Waldorf school and growing in their work, personally and professionally. Plus, the work throughout the year has guided my learning in the areas where I need to learn and grow. The leaders are intelligent, helpful, attentive and insightful.”
Course Leaders:
- Mara D. White: Administrator, Waldorf High School of Massachusetts Bay (retired); Co-founder of DANA; Past Leadership Representative for AWSNA; Core faculty member of Sunbridge College Administrative Training Program; and school advisor.
- Siân Owen Cruise: Administrator, RS School of Ann Arbor; Co-director, Leading with Spirit; Regional ANA Coordinator; AWSNA consultant; Director, Waldorf Institute SE Michigan.
- Marti Stewart: Administrator, City of Lakes Waldorf School; Great Lakes Regional ANA Coordinator; Graduate of Sunbridge Administration Training.
- Michael Soule, MA: Current Co-Director, Leading with Spirit; former AWSNA executive; School consultant; and coordinator of the online center LeadTogether.
- Lisa Mahar: School Administrator (retired), Monadnock Waldorf School; Co-Director, Leading with Spirit; Board Chair, Center for Anthroposophy; School advisor and consultant. Co-founder of DANA