Teacher as Whole Person

Great teachers are masters of both content and pedagogy. But there is more! Great teachers are whole human beings—they are open, curious, sensitive, creative, and always growing. Great teachers recognize that teaching, at its heart, is about relationships in four realms: 1) relationship with one self; 2) relationship with the ‘other’, 3) relationship with the more-than-human, and 4) relationship with the mysterium.

This journey to wholeness, open to 12 students each year, consists of a series of four complimentary courses (3 credits each) offered through Continuing Education at Penn State University. Each course coincides with a season of the year and consists of two weekend retreats held in Julian Woods, an intentional community nestled in the mountains of central Pennsylvania. In the intervals between each workshop, participants explore the course themes through reading, journaling, and on-line dialogue with the instructors. In addition, participants apply the insights and skills gained from each course in their classrooms.

Please peruse a more detailed description of this program. See also the online brochure from Penn State Continuing Education.