Art of Administration Leadership Training

The Art of Administration Training Program and Summer Intensives

Summer 2025

on Whidbey Island, in Freeport, Maine,

and online

Artwork by Michael Pinchera

Dear Friends,

We still have spaces open for our summer courses. Come join us.

Here is some of what participants said about last summer:

"When people ask me how it went, my response was simple: LIFE CHANGING! It may sound like an overstatement, but it is truly how I felt. The experience of learning in a beautiful and reflective setting, and engaging deeply with fellow administrators was transforming!"

"The experience was invaluable, providing me with essential knowledge and practical skills that have significantly contributed to my effectiveness as an administrator. I am eager to attend the second year."

2 year Program in Administration, Leadership and School Development

Leading with Spirit is a professional development program designed to support administrative leadership in Waldorf Schools and Collaborative Institutions across the continent. It includes three one-week summer intensives that can be taken separately or as part of a two-year part-time program with monthly mentoring, research projects, independent study, and participation in online collegial seminars.

“Without the experience, resources and ongoing support, I have had from this program,

I don’t think I would have survived the last six months.

In so many ways, personally and professionally,

it has helped me learn, grow and be successful.”

Program participant 2017

Waldorf Schools work with a new pedagogy based on a holistic, age-appropriate image of child development. They also practice a new form of community life in which teachers, administrative staff, and parents are partners in developing the community of the school. The working together of these three groups in the life of the school requires insight, social sensitivity, and competence so that the school can be healthy and best serve the needs of the children. This new professional development course offers teachers, administrators, board members and parents an opportunity to reflect on and work with the challenges of building a Waldorf School Community that is vibrant, innovative and effective while honoring the unique contributions of each member of the community.

The summer intensives are based on the successful certificate and Master’s Program in Waldorf School Administration and Community Development offered at Sunbridge College between 1991 and 2008.

Each summer seminar can be taken on its own but, when taken in sequence, the seminars will build a deeper capacity for serving the community of Waldorf education.

Program Description and Content

FULL PROGRAM: Three summer sessions, monthly class calls to explore emerging topics, four weekend workshops, Mentoring, Independent Research, Online Cohort Support

Understanding the Social and Spiritual Foundations

School and the Image of the Human Being
The Dynamics of School Governance
Leadership in a Collaborative Spiritual Organization
The Healing Social Life: Working Together

Working Together in Community

Dialogue in Human Encounter
Group Roles and Team Development
Decision-making, Consensus and Facilitation
Understanding Conflict
Developing Community Dialogue over Time

Deepening Principles, Roles and Practices

Self-Administration and Collaboration
Phases of Administrative Development and Administrative Leadership
Our Dialogue with the World: Marketing, Enrollment, Finance and Development
A New Imagination for Partnership: Administration, Board and Faculty Relationships

____________________________________________________

TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE

Each day will consist of presentations, case work, artistic work and a seminar on inner development.

8:30-10:30 Singing, Verse and Morning Presentation

10:30-11:00 Morning Break

11:00-12:00 Case Study Work in Groups

12:00-12:30 Biography Conversations

12:30-1:45 Lunch Break

1:45-2:30 Case Study and Group work – session 2

2:30- 3:30 Painting and Observation or other arts.

3:30-4:00 Afternoon Break

4:00-5:00 Inner Development Seminar

5:00-5:30 Singing and Review of the Day

Core Faculty

(see about us page for more background)

Marti Stewart

Administrative Director, City of Lakes Waldorf School

Sian Owen-Cruise, Ph.D.

School Administrator, Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor

Michael Soule, MA

Administrator (retired), Whidbey Island Waldorf School

Lisa Mahar, MA,

Administrator (retired), Monadnock Waldorf School

Program Advisor

Christopher Schaefer, Ph.D.

Author, Consultant, Past President of Sunbridge College

Full Program Option and Cost

The full program runs over two years with a week-long intensive each of three summers, a requirement to attend two-weekend courses each year (paid for separately), an independent study and research project, mentoring from program faculty and professionals in the field and ongoing online contact with a cohort group. Participation in the full program provides the participant with the widest range of course experience and personal support.

Completion of the full program leads to a Certificate in Administrative Leadership.

The cost of the full program is $5550

and includes the three summers

and two years of coaching

and monthly seminars

Partial Program Option Available

The program may also be taken in parts. Summers intensives, weekend seminars, and professional mentoring support are available separately.

Join the program in one of our locations this Summer and further your journey

Next course: Summer 2025

Click here to register

These courses will be held in person

and in a shortened online course. These intensives can be taken alone or as part of a 3-summer 2 -year certificate program in Waldorf Administration

The Art of Administration and Evolving Waldorf Schools:

Working Together in Community

Dialogue in Human Encounter

Group Roles and Team Development

Decision-making, Consensus and Facilitation

Understanding Conflict

Developing Community Dialogue over Time

Presentations, Case Studies, Discussion Groups, Inner Development, Artistic Work, Group Work

Whidbey Island, WA

July 13-18

with

Michael Soule, Marti Stewart, & Guests

$850 US or CDN plus

$50 registration fee

---------------------------------------------

The Art of Administration and Evolving Waldorf Schools:

Deepening Principles, Roles, and Practices

Self-Administration and Collaboration

Phases of Administrative Development and Administrative Leadership

Our Dialogue with the World:

Marketing, Enrollment, Finance and Development

A New Imagination for Partnership:

Administration, Board and Faculty Relationships

Presentations, Case Studies, Discussion Groups, Inner Development, Artistic Work, Group Work

Maine Coast Waldorf School

July 20-25

with Lisa Mahar, Michael Soule, and Guests

$850 US or CDN

$50 registration fee

---------------------------------------------

ALSO OFFERING

Online course Summer 2025

July 7-11

Working Together in Community

(content same as Whidbey

in condensed format )

with Lisa Mahar and Christine Scherding

$550 USD or CDN

plus $50 registration

--------------------------------------

Tuition for In-person Intensives

$850 (US or Canadian dollars)

plus $50 registration

Discounts available for multiple

participants from a single school

Tuition for Online Intensives

$550 (US or Canadian dollars)

plus $50 registration

Discounts available for multiple

participants from a single school

LWS partners with

the Regeneration Foundation

to provide small tuition support grants

to people of color.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Registration Application Process

(registration form here)

You may register to participate in one of this summer’s intensives or you may decide to register for the whole two-year program which includes ongoing class meetings and professional mentoring, research projects and a certificate in Waldorf School Administration. Participants in the one-week summer intensive may still join the full program after the first week.

For the summer program only, please submit a letter including the information below with a $50 application fee made out to SCC to Lisa Mahar, lisamahar5@gmail.com

For the full two-year program, please submit a letter including the information below with a $100 application fee made out to SCC plus the following documents to Lisa Mahar, lisamahar5@gmail.com

Application should include: Name Address City State Zip Email Phone Current School or organizational affiliation Position

Location you are applying for: East Coast - West Coast - Online

For new students:

A brief one page description of your experience with and relationship

to Waldorf education and Anthroposophy

A short statement about why you would like to join this course

A resume

For returning students (summer sessions only):

A brief description of the major successes and challenges of your year, along with burning questions you are holding.

---------------------------------------------

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Agreements

Course Registration:

To register for a single week or the full program, send a check to

Sound Circle Center

PO Box 15279 • Seattle WA • 98115

or contact us for online payment options

Single week program fee:

$850 tuition plus $50 registration fee

due with application.

Discounts available for additional participants from your school each plus $50 registration fee

Full 2-year program fee is $1500/year in addition to the three summer intensives ($850 each)

plus $100 registration due with the application

Total cost $5550

Payment options available

Tuition for the first summer week-long intensive may be applied to the whole program if a student decides to join the program after completing the first week.

Refunds:

The registration fee is non-refundable.

Course fees cannot be refunded within two weeks of the start date of the course. A $100 fee (in addition to the registration fee) will be charged and the tuition may be applied to the following year.

If a student is not able to continue in the full program, tuition will be refunded on a pro-rated basis.

Discounts: We have made every attempt to offer this program at the least possible cost. No scholarships are currently available.

We partner with The Regeneration Foundation that offers small tuition support grants for persons of color.

Other financial questions may be directed to Lisa Mahar at lisamahar5@gmail.com

“Seek the real practical life but seek it in a way that does not blind you to the spirit working in it. Seek the spirit, but do not seek it from spiritual egoism, from spiritual greed but look for it because you want to apply it unselfishly in practical life, in the material world. Make use of the ancient principle: spirit is never without matter, matter never without spirit.” – Rudolf Steiner

Leading with Spirit Art of Administration training program is a collaboration with Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy in Seattle. Sound Circle is a recognized teacher training institute with the Association of Waldorf Schools of N. America. For more information about Sound Circle and its programs please visit them at www.soundcirclecenter.org

Google Sites

Report abuse