Margaret Davis: Transformational

The Art of Leadership provided nine amazing days of learning! Each day ended with an hour of group time. I was a member of Group 10.


Our group included educators from 5 states and 1 foreign country, from elementary, middle, and high schools, and from public and private schools. Our schools ranged in size from 200 students to 2000 students. Our locations stretched from New York City to rural Oklahoma to New South Wales, Australia. We were, needless to say, very diverse! From our diversity came the most amazing strength. During Tuesday’s Project Adventure team building exercises, we learned to listen to each other and developed efficiency in our solutions to mutual challenges. I am proud to share that we solved the fulcrum challenge in world record time. We amazed our Project Adventure Leader, Leslie, by only touching the ground one time. We accomplished the task by listening to the expert in our group, the principal with a degree in physics.

As the week progressed, we shared deeply by listening to our Harvard experts and reflecting on how we could apply the learning We focused on both the practical applications, such as having children read their writing out loud, to the deeply philosophical questions, such as our personal mission statement. During our last session, we had to write a word or short phrase that summarized the week. Without collaboration, we used the same language:

• Transformational


• Opportunity of a lifetime


• Passion for children


• Passion, time, focus


• The world depends on what we do.
  

I came to think of the exterior of the magnificent stone churches in Cambridge as a metaphor for our group and for the institute. Churches formed by hundreds of unique stones joined together to create a holy place. I saw us as unique educators joined together to create a holy place where unique children learn and grow.

Thanks to Raise Your Hand Texas, Harvard, and Group 10 for making these last 9 days transformational for me.

Margaret Davis