Catalog 2007-2008
Graduate School of Education and Counseling

Please Note: This is the 2007-2008 catalog. It is now out of date, and included here only for archival purposes. Please use the current edition. Thank you.

The Courage to Teach Program for Inservice Teachers

The Courage to Teach is a yearlong program for the personal and professional renewal of K-12 teachers. The program focuses neither on teaching techniques nor on school reform; instead, it focuses on renewing something much more personal, the inner life of the teacher.

In large groups, small groups, and solitary settings, participants explore "the heart of the teacher." Teachers share stories from their own journeys; reflect on classroom practice; and draw upon the insights of poets, storytellers, and diverse cultural traditions. The program invites teachers to speak honestly about their lives as educators, and to listen and respond to each other with encouragement and compassion.

Because inner work takes time, participants in the Courage to Teach Program are asked to commit themselves to faithful attendance at four seasonal retreats, scheduled from Thursday evening through Saturday lunch. Starting in September and ending in July, these sessions are held at retreat centers throughout the Northwest. Between retreats, participants are offered opportunities to stay in contact with each other and to continue their inner growth. Participation is limited to 24 teachers. (Participants must be practicing teachers or have worked as educators within the past three years.)

Application Procedures

1. Contact Ruth Shagoury at 503-768-6110 or Andie Cunningham at 503-768-6129 for a Courage to Teach application form and current program dates and costs.
2. Submit your completed application form to Courage to Teach, c/o Ruth Shagoury, Lewis & Clark College, 0615 S.W. Palatine Hill Road, Portland, Oregon 97219-7899. Be sure to include these supporting materials:
   • A professional vitae/resume outlining relevant academic and/or professional experience
   • A personal statement briefly explaining how you envision your future as a teacher, your reasons for seeking participation in this program, and how you expect to benefit from the program