Educators
Professional Development for Educators & Administrators
We design workshops for schools seeking professional development and training that explores concepts of implicit bias, race, intersectionality, power and systems of oppression which impact students, staff and the school community.
democratic Classroom Leadership (dCL)
Strategies include:
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Restorative Relationships Building & Problem-Solving Practices
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Class Agreements
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Class Meeting
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Community Building
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Class Roles
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Understanding Behavior from Social Justice Frame
Navigating Real Life Diversity in your Classroom
K-12 Educators will:
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Explore personal narratives and biases.
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Analyze experiences around social identity and marginalization that impact professional behavior and student achievement.
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Identify strategies to interrupt systems that perpetuate disparities in your respective learning environments.
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Gain hands-on tools to build a positive classroom culture that leads to more self-confident and resilient students.
Custom and co-designed workshops for your school
When designing or co-designing a custom workshop, we consider the following variables:
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Strategies & Tools: select focus areas
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Scope & Sequence: from a 1 hour introduction to a year-long commitment
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Social Justice Context: degree to which diversity, equity and inclusion issues are integrated
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Global Citizenship & Civic Engagement Context: degree to which globally interdependent framework is integrated
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Follow-up: ongoing individual and/or group coaching, observations, and support
Previous Custom Workshop Themes have included:
Preparing Engaged Global Citizens through democratic Classroom Leadership
Building Equity & Inclusion and Appreciation for Diversity
Integrated Global and/or Social Justice Curriculum Design
Professional Development Workshops
What they're saying
"The instructional model is a simple but profound shift that puts teachers into a shared leadership role with their students, fostering their self-respect for others and moving these students from passive to active change agents using their knowledge to change the world. Today more than ever with the turmoil and lack of thinking and problem solving being modeled in our society, we need this kind of learning in our schools. These young leaders will build a better world. And teaching this way will keep wonderful teachers in those schools, helping make it happen."
Terry Bergeson
Former Superintendent of Public Instruction of Washington State
Interim Dean of the School of Education and Kinesiology at Pacific Lutheran University
"Over the last three years, a number of our teachers have worked with Chris to develop their democratic classroom practices. Every single teacher has returned from Chris' institute saying it was the best professional development they had ever experienced. The opportunity for educators to learn about empowering students and giving them a voice in the classroom has been transformative for our teachers."
Allison Darke
International Studies Coordinator
Fort Vancouver School District
“We've been working with FCL to democratize our school culture since the school's inception in the fall of 2021. It's been a game-changer for teachers who are brand new to the profession-- Instead of replicating the traditional teacher-centered classroom, our teachers are creating more restorative, student centered environments and having weekly class circles facilitated by scholars. The progress we've made would simply not have been possible without the support, guidance and mentorship of Christopher, Ganae and Abdel! Thank you for your devotion to the anti-oppression work that is critical right now.”
Jill Fineis
CEO & Principal,
Pinnacles Prep Charter School
Wenatchee, WA