By Jim Klar, Communications Officer      

Have you ever wondered if you’re really saying what you think you’re saying? Do your words match your non-verbal communication? Is your goal in conversation a better group understanding or a decision on a shared issue? Does the effect of your comments contribute to your group’s goals as collaborators and leaders in their journey?   

If you were lucky enough to participate in any of the workshops and discussions led by author, educational consultant, and keynote speaker Kendall Zoller during his recent visit to TAS. In that case, you might have already discovered the answers to those questions and more. TAS faculty, staff, administrators, parents, and guardians all benefitted from Zoller’s wisdom in workshops tailored to their group’s needs.   

Recently 60 TAS faculty and administrators participated in the 4-day Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar led by Dr. Kendall Zoller.  The goal of Adaptive Schools Seminars “is to develop the collective identity and capacity of organization members as collaborators, inquirers, and leaders.” 

During this four-day workshop, participants had the opportunity to develop: 

• An increased capacity to initiate, develop and sustain high functioning groups. 
• A new lens for diagnosing the stages and phases of group development. 
• An expanded repertoire of practical facilitation tools. 
• Understandings of when and how to engage groups in dialogue and discussion, the limitations, forms, and values of each. 
• Skills to move groups beyond consensus to common focus. 
• Ways to value and use dissension, argument, and conflict. 
• Strategies for keeping group members on track, on topic, energized and resourceful. 

Zoller’s Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminars’ goal is to help educators develop collaborative groups and equip the professional community with knowledge and skills to foster academic excellence and the social success of all students. TAS Parents had a short introduction session with Zoller, faculty & administrators participated in an extensive 4 days of training. The training equips participants with the keys to developing a collective identity. It all leads to an increase in the capacity of members to be good collaborators, inquirers, and leaders.  

Deputy Head of School Dr. Liz Gale said, "Eventually, our hope is to provide all TAS faculty with the opportunity to participate in the Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar Training as a way to ensure consistency in our approach to collaboration across divisions and departments, and further develop ourselves as a community of collaborators, inquirers, and leaders."   

At this time, the next Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar training cohort is tentatively scheduled for mid-November 2023. If you are interested in participating in this professional development opportunity please connect with your Divisional Principal.    

The relationship between the Adaptive Schools Foundation and professional staff leads to increased student learning in an environment where children feel known, loved, and safe in ways that bring the principles to life here at TAS. We hope to allow all TAS faculty to participate in the Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar Training to ensure consistency in our collaboration across divisions and departments. And we’re grateful to be part of an institution that always strives for excellence in every way with many outstanding professional and personal development opportunities. 

Should you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Divisional Principal, Amanda Jacob, Dean of Teaching and Learning or Liz Gale, Deputy Head of School.