When Mark and I hosted the first Edjacent meeting via Zoom in January of 2021, we had modest expectations. We hoped to get a few educators we admire together to talk about issues that mattered to us. We were just discovering the language of self-authorship. Helping us on our journey was the magnificent Jennifer Abrams, who hosted a small workshop for our team ahead of the publication of her book, Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) At Work.
Fast forward six months and we’re getting ready to host our first live event! Located in the Virginia Museum of Contemporary of Art (MOCA), we knew wanted to celebrate educators as artists in a space that reflected the respect and awe with which we feel educators deserve to be treated. The event will be a chance for educators to learn more about Edjacent as an organization, but more importantly, we also hope they’ll learn more about themselves as emerging self-authors. Since the event is in partnership with our friends at Read Books (and because we are a group of voracious readers), we also wanted to feature an author.
Edjacent proudly presents Educators as Artists: An Evening With Author Jennifer Abrams on Thursday, August 19, 2021 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Attendees are welcome to shop at the bookstore, schedule a museum tour, or speak with Edjacent designers from 5:30-6:00, when doors open to the theater. After hearing opening words from Edjacent Chief Design Officer Meghan Raftery, Assistant Chief Design Officer Mark Diacopoulos and Designer Jethro Jones will host a virtual talk with Jennifer, which will be broadcast to our in-person audience. We’ll end with some information about the mission of Edjacent and best wishes for an amazing and transformative school year.
In many ways, the 2021-2022 school year could prove to be the most challenging yet for self-authoring educators. We see opportunity for massive improvement and also face the potential for a “return to normal” that emphasizes some of the most standardized and stifling aspects of public education. When we hosted that first meeting in January, our long-term intention was clear: help educators develop their sense of self-authorship so they would be armed with the strength and courage it takes to lead change in schools. That intention remains consistent and evermore important as the school year looms ahead.
Our kids need self-authoring educators now more than ever. We believe you have the potential to be the self-author they need. We believe together, we can make this school year the best of our careers.
Please join us on August 19, virtually or in person, for this free event. We can’t wait to meet you!
(When you register, you will be added to a mailing list. Registrants will receive detailed information about the event and periodic updates and reminders leading up to August 19.)
