2025 Building the School

Year Two of the School for Leadership started the previous November at the residential colloquium in Northern Ireland and continued through November 2025. In Year Two, the focus of the curriculum shifts to developing the leadership of others in the communities one serves. This focus was apparent in the conversation and practice of school participants as well as throughout our community of volunteers.

The regional Mid-Year Residential Clinics in April and May marked the half-way point of the year. As in the previous year, these residential clinics were all led by local volunteers committed to the ongoing development their own leadership. Unlike the more formal program-based format of the Colloquium, these regional clinics are designed to allow participants ample space and support to work on issues they are facing in their practicums and their leadership. For those volunteers serving as faculty, the clinic provides practice not only for program leading, but also real-time coaching and working with a small group.

There were two Leadership Dialogues on the distinctions Listening and Speech Acts. These two-and-a-half hour zoom calls are an opportunity for the entire cohort to come together to discuss and work more deeply on each distinction. These calls offer a development for volunteers as well. Serving as part of the faculty team offers the opportunity to learn and practice together.

Three one-hour Audio Offerings on the distinctions Transformational Leadership, Choice, and Community were part of this year's curriculum. The Fifth Cohort's Third Colloquium, which marks the start of Year Three was held on zoom in November. The focus of the curriculum shifts again in year three, but the commitment to empowering and developing the leadership of those around us remains ever-present in our community of school builders.