Experiential Experiential EducationEducation

Economic and Economic and Leadership Leadership ConcernsConcernsA Head’s PerspectiveA Head’s Perspective

Sarah’s story – Sarah’s story – What do heads of school have to do to What do heads of school have to do to

ensure that faculty and students have ensure that faculty and students have voice?voice?

Classroom implications and cultural Classroom implications and cultural shiftshift

Three reasons for speakingThree reasons for speaking Headmasters’ normsHeadmasters’ norms Generational desire to change the worldGenerational desire to change the world Teacher as studentTeacher as student

The creative tension implied by The creative tension implied by changechange

Reaching all our studentsReaching all our students When we add programs, what goes? When we add programs, what goes?

Is anyone disenfranchised?Is anyone disenfranchised?

LEAPSLEAPS

Experiential Education Experiential Education PrinciplesPrinciples

MotivationMotivation OwnershipOwnership Active hands-on engagementActive hands-on engagement Responsibility for self and othersResponsibility for self and others Learners constructing knowledgeLearners constructing knowledge RelevanceRelevance Personal ChallengePersonal Challenge ReflectionReflection

Internal Economic Internal Economic ConcernsConcerns

Enrollment and affordabilityEnrollment and affordability Faculty and staff professional Faculty and staff professional

development and compensationdevelopment and compensation Financial aid and accessFinancial aid and access Facility adequacy and maintenanceFacility adequacy and maintenance Program costProgram cost Fund-raisingFund-raising Cash flowCash flow

Leadership challengesLeadership challenges

Leader’s vision vs. school cultureLeader’s vision vs. school culture Big picture and long-term vs. micro-Big picture and long-term vs. micro-

managing and short-termmanaging and short-term Ensuring the team is in placeEnsuring the team is in place Applying democratic principlesApplying democratic principles Making decisions and providing Making decisions and providing

direction direction Can’t please everyone but integrate Can’t please everyone but integrate

priorities of all constituentspriorities of all constituents

Keys to survival of the Keys to survival of the experientialexperiential

Centrality to missionCentrality to mission Is the faculty involved and committed?Is the faculty involved and committed? Are the students involved and Are the students involved and

committed?committed? What would the school look like without What would the school look like without

it?it? How does it resonate with other internal How does it resonate with other internal

programs and the external culture?programs and the external culture? How is it communicated?How is it communicated? How is it funded?How is it funded?

ReflectionsReflections

Oak Valley -- PDS ’68-’72Oak Valley -- PDS ’68-’72 Interlocken ’61-’09Interlocken ’61-’09 Lawrence Academy…Lawrence Academy…