Dear Colleagues,

We were very fortunate to have Rick Tan offer a watercolor painting workshop last Saturday as part of our attempt to make up in some small way for our canceled conference. We hope that these workshops are providing a boost. To date, in addition to Rick last weekend, we have been able to offer storytelling with David Sewell McCann (recordings are available), eurythmy with Mary Ruud (a recording is available), and a legal session on Free Speech on Campus with Cassandra Bridge. 

I had the great pleasure of sitting in on the eurythmy and painting workshops (I was in the air for Free Speech, otherwise I would not have missed it, given the changing and uncertain landscape around this topic right now). The eurythmy and painting sessions reminded me once again of the incredible importance of the arts and of why, as Waldorf educators, we integrate them so fully into our classrooms. Mary and Rick both provided warmth, encouragement, instruction, and ideas for using what they were doing in the classroom. Many thanks to all of our workshop leaders for providing a boost for our schools!

We need to have appropriate language ready to explain to parents or authorizers why we spend “valuable instructional time” on the arts. In addition to providing pleasure and aesthetics, the arts strengthen executive functioning and decision-making skills. They build spatial awareness and help with sensory and bodily integration. They strengthen retention and recall. Rick Tan took us through his “five C’s” of watercolor painting: color, content, control, character, and connection. He described the role of each of these as he led everyone through two glorious paintings, one from Northern California and the other from Yosemite Valley. Enjoy them! As he painted and added detail, he talked about the geography, history, plant life, and people of each scene, showing us how to efficiently use a painting for several purposes at once. This was a Saturday and it was fun to see that several teachers brought their children along to enjoy the experience with them. Ninety minutes passed really quickly! We did not record this session, but you can access Rick’s Five Cs, a free PDF of wet-on-wet painting (pdf of wet on wet), and sample paintings at his Jennifer, his wife’s website: Syrendell.com. 

If you find yourself searching for a good summary of the multifaceted roles of the arts, this article by the late Elliott Eisner is old but still good: we have provided this in the past; I have not yet found a clearer or shorter summary. 

www.arteducators.org/advocacy-policy/articles/116-10-lessons-the-arts-teach. 

We have two more workshops (all at no cost) coming up to help us glide into Spring: Handwork with Elizabeth Seward, March 22, and a second legal webinar for school leaders, Avoiding the Most Common Pitfalls Under the IDEA, with Lisa Corr, March 31st. Please note that the legal sessions are not recorded. Elizabeth has assured us that parents or friends are welcome at her Handwork session. 

In closing, a note on our uncertain times. I was at a large early childhood conference last week in Denver: the theme was the power of play and, along with that, crucial elements of joy and self-care. Our children (and their families) depend on us being there for them and providing a patch of stable, steady ground in turbulent times. We need to care for ourselves in order to provide this security; oxygen masks for the adults before we help the children. Make sure you nurture the nurturer! In this week of clock disruption (for most of us - we see you and envy you, Hawaii and most of Arizona!), when everyone is just slightly off and patience is a bit thinner, I invite and challenge you to add at least one self-care activity to each day. Plus, we can harness the incredible power of gratitude: I find that, yet again, I am truly grateful for my field of work, for feelings of meaning and purposefulness, and for all of you out there in our wonderful schools bringing vitality–and the arts–to children! Thank you so much - know that you are making a difference. 

Warmly,

Liz Beaven

Executive Director

Attention School Leaders!

Please ensure your teachers are receiving our bi-monthly e-newsletters. To sign up, teachers can simply visit this link or email Carly Fedor to be included in our e-news list. Thank you for helping us keep your teachers informed and up to date with all the latest from the Alliance!

Upcoming Virtual Workshops

Please visit our website for more information.

These are offered free of charge: a small consolation in place of our conference.

Past Virtual Workshops Available

Upcoming Professional Development

and Teacher Preparation

Kairos Institute: Healing in a World of Need

Spring & Summer, 2025: Online

bit.ly/Kairos2025te-emergency-pedagogy/

Woodland Star Charter School: Parent Education Series

Mar. 12, 2025: In-Person, Glen Ellen, CA

https://conta.cc/3FlI0gK

WECAN: Parent and Caregiver Events

Spring 2025, Online

https://waldorfearlychildhood.org/news-and-events/parent-and-caregiver-events/

Leading with Spirit: Training programs: The Art of Facilitation, Prepared to Serve, and The River Raft and You

Spring 2025 offerings: Online

leadingwithspirit.org/

Sunbridge Institute: The Art of Storytelling

Apr. 4-5, 2025: Online

https://www.sunbridge.edu/courses-workshops/summer-series/

Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training: Weaving Wonder into Everyday Life with Toddlers

Apr. 27, 2025: Online

https://events.humanitix.com/taster-day-weaving-wonder-into-everyday-life-with-toddlers

Center for Anthroposophy: Waldorf Leadership Development 

May. 10, 2025- April 2026: Hybrid (In-Person & Online)

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/waldorf-administration-and-leadership-development-program/

Gradalis:

Teaching as an Art Week

Jun. 22-27, 2025: In-Person, Boulder, CO

https://gradalis.edu/teaching-as-an-art/

Teacher Training

Jun. 22- Jul. 11, 2025: In-Person, Boulder, CO

https://gradalis.edu/

Sunbridge Institute: Summer Series-

Leadership, Early Childhood & Grades 1-8

Jun. 22-27, 2025: Early Childhood, In-Person, Chesternut Ridge, NY

Jun. & Jul. 2025: Online

https://www.sunbridge.edu/courses-workshops/summer-series/

Center for Anthroposophy: Renewal Summer Course

Jun. 29-Jul. 4, 2025: In-Person

July 7-11, 2025 Online

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/renewal-courses/

Great Lakes Waldorf Institute: High School Summer Professional Development

Jun. 30-Jul. 3, 2025: Online

Jul. 7-11, 2025: In-Person, Milwaukee, WI

https://www.greatlakeswaldorf.org/high-school

Kairos Institute: Healing in a World of Need

July 6-11, 2025: In-Person, Wilton, NH

bit.ly/Kairos2025te-emergency-pedagogy/

Journey School: Summer Renewal 2025- Art of Teaching

Jul. 7-11, 2025: In-Person, Aliso Viejo, CA

rsvpartofteaching2.pdf

Alliance for Public Waldorf Education: Virtual Summer Professional Development

Week #1 July 9-11, 2025: Online

Week #2 July 14-18, 2025: Online

Details coming soon!

Antioch University Waldorf Teacher Education

Jul. 12-27, 2025: In-Person, Wilton, NH

https://www.antioch.edu/academics/education/waldorf-education-med/

Center for Anthroposophy: Waldorf High School Teacher Education Program

Class of 2027 enrolls this summer, July 2025. Online & In-Person

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/waldorf-high-school-teacher-education/whistep/

New Adult Learning Institute: Grounded in Practice: A New Waldorf Foundation Year

Aug 18, 2025 - April 30, 2026: One Week In-Person (Vancouver Island, Canada) & 8 months Online (bi-monthly)

https://haven-wood.ca/nalinstitute

Gradalis: Understanding Waldorf Education Program

Sept. 2025-April 2026: Online

https://gradalis.edu/uwe-mentorship/

Center for Biography & Social Art

In-Person or Online

Awakening Connections; Creating Community

Jennifer Militzer-Kopperl: Renewal of Literacy

On-demand support courses for literacy and language arts in the grades; access for 6 months or 1 year, Online

renewalofliteracy.teachable.com/

Ashley Radzat Consulting: Comprehensive support for educators and school communities

On demand In-Person or Online sessions & workshops

radzatconsulting.com/school-services

Alma Partners: Consulting for Schools

Workshops, Online Courses, Inclusion and Belonging Assessments, Student Leadership Conferences, and more

almapartners.net/services

Kentahten Institute for Waldorf Instruction (KIWI)

Waldorf training for public school teachers tailored for your school -- we come to you

https://www.kiwiky.com/ / Contact Dr. Mary Goral: drmarygoral@gmail.com

Upcoming Conferences:

WECAN Birth to Three Conference: Companionship through Communication: Caressing the Seeds of Self

Apr. 4-5, 2025, In-Person, Seattle, WA

https://web.cvent.com/event/

Please visit our website to find out about job postings at our member schools.

https://www.publicwaldorf.org/job-postings

For more information:

Liz Beaven, Executive Director 

Carly Fedor, Administrative Assistant

Alliance for Public Waldorf Education

1000 River Rock Drive, Suite 218

Folsom, CA 95630

Public Waldorf is a service mark of the Association of Waldorf Schools

of North America and is used pursuant to a license.

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