MALI Winter Retreat

Amazing opportunity to learn and exchange

Winter Retreat participants. photo credit: Chris Pinchbeck

Thirty Teacher Leaders and Teaching Artist Leaders met last Saturday for the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) winter retreat. It was a great opportunity to gather with friends and colleagues from across Maine.

PURPOSE

• • To provide an opportunity for the MALI community to come together to listen to and learn from each other
  • To review the work that has taken place during the phase underway
  • To address ideas and the latest topics in education/research and respond to timely issues relevant to Maine teachers
  • To provide information and/or context for participants 
  • To consider topics for the next phase of MALI

We accomplished the above and a whole lot more. There is nothing that compares to coming together with visual and performing arts teachers who have so much in common. So many topics to discuss and listen to what each person has to offer. “Getting off our islands” and coming together with “our community” on a winter day in March is refreshing!

The agenda was filled with art making from the Growth Mindset opening session to the finishing session that concluded with a meditative heart exercise.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Growth Mindset review and revisit with Lindsay Pinchbeck
• MALI This We Believe statements review
• MALI collaboration with art teacher Hope Lord and music teacher Dorie Tripp
• Ukulele’s with music teacher Kate Smith
• Update on Proficiency Based from Department of Education Diana Doiron
• Looking ahead and considering ideas for Phase 8

If you are considering applying to be a Teacher Leader or a Teaching Artist Leader for MALI in Phase 8, please send an email to me – argy.nestor@maine.gov stating your interest. Applications will be available in May 2018.