“What I got from the Institute was for more than I hoped for. It was too valuable to have missed. I think of the week in Vermont as the first step in a fantastic adventure. Thank You!” Mary Drexler, Teacher, Hamilton Terrace High School
Shreveport, Louisiana
“The first important lesson I learned from this institute is the value of just rolling up one’s sleeves and starting…. I came away with excellent resources and inspiration from the group. I am motivated, inspired, and rejuvenated and can’t wait to get to work! Kathryn Taylor, Teacher
School of the Holy Child,
Rye, New York
“I loved the week! I enjoyed time to build relationships and friendships with these folks a half a world away. CWI’s Institute allows for personal and professional growth which includes significant reflection time and time for deep conversations. Dan Gaudiano, HS Science Teacher
Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii
“…wonderful! I found it delicious to find so many spirited educators who have a wide and deep understanding of the possibility of what education can be.” Hope Hawkins, Project Manager
Future of Life, Wilmington, Delaware
“This Institute has made me appreciate who I am and who I want to become as an educator and learner…. The whole week was truly inspiring and rewarding—from the people, the information to the food and funn and laughter. Thank you once again for a rewarding week that will stay in my mind and soul forever.” Krista Zielinski, Spanish Teacher
Wells Memorial School, New Hampshire
“I would recommend the Institute to others because it builds deeper knowledge of service-learning while organically establishing a network of support and knowledge.” Sara Pearson
American Youth Policy Forum, Washington, DC
“Amazing faculty—insightful, professional, kind and generous—truly ‘into’ it.”The Institute was respectful of our personal voice, allowed time for all to participate while at the same time keeping it focused and productive. This has been great and I will highly recommend to my collagues. Claire Swaha, Correctional Instructor
Community High School of Vermont
“Facilitators had a very high level (and passionate) understanding and practical application. I will use CWI’s Site Level Plan going forward….I really benefited from the week, and I am excited about developing and implementing the Site Level Plan….Encouraged by the colleagues I met and reenergized to deepen the work through co-constructed evaluation and assessment.”
Monica Ways, Director
Community Engagement & Service
Miami University of Ohio
“It was a highly educational and life-changing experience! Something that will stand out in my mind as a cherished memory! The passion and awareness the faculty (and participants) have for their calling in life was the most significant aspect of the week. The faculty has an excellent and wide range of expertise. They we were tremendously flexible and available. Barbara Huffstutler, Service Learning Facilitator
Polk County School District, FL
“What you are doing is wonderful!. The Institute encompassed community building within itself while presenting the knowledge and understanding of service-learning. Working with the Institute’s best practice study groups I was able to share my vision and acquire input from dynamic individuals. Thank you.” Iyaunna Towery, Director
Empowering Service Through Partnerships, Los Angeles, CA
“This has been the best Institute…everyone involved was interesting with quality characters with great attitudes and skills…. I’m proud to be a small part.” The facilitators were all great—very accomplished and will do anything for you.” I really can’t compare the Institute to anything…. I’m excited to start my 40th year of teaching!” Courtney Van Kleeck, Social Studies Teacher
Colchester High School, Vermont
Testimonials and Reflections by Institute Alumni • 1998-2013
INSTITUTE REFLECTION Vesting Learners,
Facilitating Voice By IYAUNNA TOWERY-AJIDUAH, M.Ed.
I remember the night before the first day of the Institute I could not sleep. I had gotten this anxious feeling, the feeling that one might get when they knew “something” was about to happen. I really did not know exactly what to expect. Honestly, what could really happen in just a week’s time? Well, I can now say that a lot can happen: inspiration; intensity; purpose; and transformation. read more
Voices of Educators
Nicole Whelan
Teacher, Service-Learning Director
American School of the Hague
INSTITUTE REFLECTION
Moving Beyond the Walls in Los Angeles By PAULA COHEN "At CWI's Summer WEST, I met like minded educators who could see beyond the limitations, who thought outside the box, who were willing to ask big questions and delve deep into the answers. It felt like coming home. When we talk about resiliency in young people, feeling like a part of something important and valuable is a crucial piece. Our school has been going through many of the tumultuous transitions that all public schools are going throug." read more
Elijah Silvin, Dean of Students
Poly Prep High School
New York City
“Great opportunity to connect to other professionals…very helpful in forming a clear vision of accomplishments through service-learning. The most significant piece was being able to figure out a vision for a whole school program.” Michael Mackenna,, Dir. of Social Responsibility
Fundacion Educativa Ingalterra
Bogata, Columbia, SA
“Great mix of people to work with. What was most useful was working with everyone to refine my own understanding of the process, the challenges, and the possibilities.” Bart Dankaerts, Grade 6 Social Studies Teacher
American School of The Hague
The Netherlands
“I would recommend the Institute for teachers and administrators interested in bringing service-learning into the classroom. I have decided to incorporate service-learning into the upcoming school year.” Carly Chavez, High School Science Teacher
Fontana Unified School District
Fontana, California
“I would absolutely recommend the Institute! I am thinking that I can do a lot of things like restart the school garden and use the tools we now have in an effective way.” Maria Teresa Lozano, Bilingual Preschool
Fundacion Educativa Ingalterra
Bogata, Columbia, SA
“I found the Institute inspirational, providing me with tools to improve Service-Learning in my school I really appreciated the whole experience. What really made the largest impact was our group working together for five days. It was amazing to be a part of such a dedicated and determined group of educators. I have a feeling that I’ve grown so much in such a short period of time. So many questions answered and some just evolved.” Ligita Stawarz, Service-Learning Coordinator
American School of Warsaw, Poland
“I loved the experience, the participants, the ideas, the thoughtful planning, and the energy and synergy of the group. I am much more conscious now of the deeper and broader vision of service-learning. I also made great friends in the process and know that my new colleagues will provide ongoing support as I try to implement what I learned at CWI. It was an amazing week! Marnie Howell, Chair World Languages
The Out of Door Academy, Sarasota, FL
“The experience was stimulating, invigorating, eye opening, and empowering! The ‘quality’ of participants was way above par and our overall expectations were not only met but exceeded. CWI’s instructors were outstanding, approachable, learned, and flexible.” Valerie Field and Corinne Maron
The Green Vale School, New York
“I would absolutely recommend CWI’s Institute. I hope to bring a whole team next year. I now have a direction in which to take my program. We are moving from a community service model toward service-learning. I’ve gained confidence in my belief that we should move in this direction. The facilitators’ understanding was strong, sensible, and practical.” N. Elijah Sivin, Dean of Student Life,
Poly Prep School, Brooklyn, New York
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has been working closely for several years with the Environmental Center staff to knit our environmental education programs together. Now, after 40 hours of training including 8 workshops, daily work with my incredibly thoughtful peer discussion group, and more daily work with my Best Practices Study Group, I can not only articulate how our environmental education programs use service-learning or why that is important—I now have concrete ideas for how to make our programs better. CWI’s Institute was the perfect chance to practice lifelong learning together, prepare us for another year of our growing environmental education programs, and reaffirm what we all believe—that giving students a chance to not just learn about our local environment but actually improve it, is the key to fostering the park stewards and engaged citizens of the future. Marijke Hecht, Director of Education
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
“The philosophy of community engagement and shared authentic assessment is revolutionary.” Lance Langdon, Literature and Composition
University of California, Irvine
“Thank you for dedicating your time, energy, and passion and providing teachers with the practical tools to be successful. Your work can truly lead to lasting change in the world! The facilitators have a level of understanding and experience tht, when combined with the opportunity for deep on-site collaboration, provides an experience that is incredibly valuable.” Teresa Keller, Executive Director
Round the World with Us
San Francisco, CA
“I feel empowered! Thank you! It was wonderful to see and feel the sincerity of the faculty
for service-learning.” Kathleen Harte, Teacher
The Gillispie School, La Jolla, California
“I will always be grateful for my training at CWI’s Summer Institute. Your team of experts in the field of Service-Learning gave me the foundation, and exemplary Best Practices needed to build sustainability for our program.” Amelia Ross-Hammond, Professor of Music
Coordinator of S-L and Civic Engagement
Norfolk State University, Virginia
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at CWI’s Summer Institute finding it extremely helpful….I found CWI’s manual and templates to be very useful. These will be key tools for making recommendations to my administration in terms of important action steps, and in terms of documenting and evaluation our progress in integrating Service-learning…. I also appreciated the clarity with which place-based education, service-learning and sustainability were linked (as context, strategy, goal).” Jill Stewart, Coordinator of Community Service
Upper Canada College Prep
Toronto, Ontario
“I can't over state the importance of this event to my vision and enthusiasm for taking Community Arts Service-Learning, way beyond its current status on campus….The right blend of new and reinforcing information with time to reflect and integrate into other thinking is very valuable. The time to plan and the supporting activities is a highlight of the week….The organizational support of the Instructional and Site Level Best Guides will make my planning easier and more productive.” Julie Metzler, Director
Career, Community Arts, and Service-Learning
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri
“I have come back to my job, my colleagues and students confident that I will be able to enhance our current service activities by finding entry points for increased learning and relationship building. Thank you—glad to be part of CWI’s Summer Institute. Chris Haupt, Director of Student Life
Santa Catalina School, Monterrey, CA
The most important component of my experience at CWI’s Institute was how it presented a new view for future service and service-learning..... with tangible examples of how easily that knowledge can translate into a more responsible approach to each program and project we do. Jini Loos, Service-Learning Coordinator
The Haverford School, Pennsylvania
“Thank you for working through this process with us. I look forward to the opportunities our staff has for a new level of collaboration. The most significant point was having time to problem solve with colleagues about a collaborative focus/vision for our campus.” Robin Hawley, Teacher
Ashland School District, Oregon The Institute will change not only my own metacognition about myself as an educator but it will change my teaching practices as well.” Melissa Pierce, 4/5 Teacher
Union Elementary
Montpelier, Vermont
“I came expecting knowledge and I am leaving with passion! Ray Dumais, Service-Learning Director
Goffstown High School, New Hampshire
“It inspired and motivated me while also providing some very useful and valuable resources to help build our service-learning work. It was logical and very practical, user friendly and not overwhelming.” Edgar Miranda, Principal
American School of Sofia
“Excellent! This has motivated me to get to the next level Thank you so much for the best professional development I’ve ever had!” Marc LaVoie, Dean of Students
American School of Budapest
“I feel like I’m coming away with a much deeper understanding of what service-learning is. It has been excellent to connect with a wide variety of likeminded educators.” Taylor Johnson, English Teacher
Desert View High School, Tucson, AZ
“Transformative work during the week. I will use this process and knowledge to change how our school gets students involved in their community. I found myself becoming even more determined about the role that service-learning can have in our school. I had a chance to really think through service-learning and better understand what teachers are dealing with. The instructors were really tuned into the group’s mastery of the concepts. Thank you for taking a leadership role.” Vernita Vallez, Principal
Inter-American Magnet School, Chicago, Illinois
“Thank you so much for the thought provoking, inspiring, supportive and transformative conference. What a week to digest! Inspiring and transformative. The Institute changed and deepened my understanding of service-learning, creating another educational community for me to be a part of. I learned and grew a great deal as an educator.” Sheridan Edley, 6th Grade Teacher
Carlthorp School, Santa Monica, CA
“Our week at CWI’s Summer East was an opportunity to begin a transformation. It was not until I stepped away, that I was able to see the roots that had been forming during the week. I really did need the understanding of the best practices for service-learning, and a better understanding of place based learning and sustainability. With this understanding, I am now able to collaborate with my PLC, and to incorporate the new learning into our practice.” Susan Koch, K-1 Teacher
Union Elementary
Montpelier, Vermont
Great Connections! The facilitators’ level of understanding was stellar! Patrice Bryan, Reading Specialist
Maplewood Richmond Heights Schools
Maplewood, Missouri
“Great learning and sharing experience…it clarified and reinforced my grasp of service-learning. The small group setting was essential in viewing service-learning at a micro level.” José Luis Martinez, Waste Action Director
EarthTeam, Berkeley, California
“We were all able to effectively mesh our service-learning frame of reference with each other in order to help create a ‘bigger picture’. During the Institute, I experienced the importance of working professionally with ‘study group’ networks. CWI gives participants a solid base in understanding service-learning as an approach to arrive at more sustainable communities. The instructors really made quality time for participants. This team approach kept us focused, invigorated, intrinsically motivated and energized,” Nicole Whelan, IB/CAS and S-L Coordinator
American School of the Hague
The Netherlands
“I have to say that this was probably the nicest group of people I have ever encountered at a formal conference. I now know that I am not alone....This gives me a lot of confidence for the coming year, especially as I work with my colleagues to bring some structure to our existing programs and to push for more service-learning projects in our curriculum. I found it very refreshing to be part of such a caring group that really wanted to collaborate and help one another. I think both facilitators did a wonderful job of facilitating discussions and making sure that everyone had a chance to speak his/her mind.” Nancy Richardson
German and Women’s Studies
Mary Institute/St. Louis Country Day School
St. Louis, Missouri
"I am embarking on an exciting adventure, armed with new strategies and a refreshed viewpoint of education.CWI’s Institute has helped me refine and strengthen my teaching skills. A wonderful experience!" Margot Glenos, East Park Elementary Teacher
Moss Point, Mississippi
“I truly enjoyed myself on many levels .The setting was perfect, the food and fellowship were awesome. The outstanding group of teaching peers were so passionate about their work—inspiring the best in their students, faculty, staff, and community. What a blessing they were to me! I left knowing that I can and should be an agent for change at our academy.” Mike Street, Teacher
Franklin Road Academy, Nashville, Tennessee
“CWI gave me the opportunity to go deep in my understanding of service-learning and the way it can transform education. The Institute had an important balance of speakers, workshops, and opportunities to learn from the wisdom of my colleagues. This Institute has given me a framework with which to return to my community with concrete ideas on how to implement service-learning.” Elizabeth Ferguson, Educator
The Lawrenceville School, New Jersey
“This was the best Institute or conference that I have ever attended! I am newly inspired! I will start the school year with many ideas that I am excited to share and try. I also feel I can be clearer in promoting service-learning in my school. Thank you all for your thoughtfulness in planning out such a well rounded and stimulating program. Terry Yamamoto-Edwards, Science Teacher
Asst. Director, Luke Center for Public Service
Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii
“This week has been exhausting and rewarding.....The exchange of ideas has been motivating and encouraging. I will leave with high hopes for making our program one of the best in the southeast.” Marsha Lucas, Env. Science/Chemistry Teacher
Savannah Country Day School
Savannah, Georgia
“Really a fantastic experience….Just being in a room of likeminded people is helpful. It’s given me a roadmap for recreating our program. It’s also given me new language for communicating with stakeholders.” Ann Petit, Director of Service Learning
Vistamar School, El Segundo, CA
“This was truly an example of people who love and understand learning. How special to have been a part of it. Thank you!” Erin Ruegg, Teacher
Colegio Jorge Washington
Columbia, South America
“You make the five day commitment worth it” The professional level and organization/preparation certainly distinguish you from other experiences I’ve had. This Institute is a sustainability model in itself. I really thought you hit the mix dead on.” Leitzel Schoen, Service-Learning Coordinator
The Glenn Institute/Westminster School
Atlanta, GA
"It was a fantastic week on so many levels. I was humbled and energized at the same time. I am already passionate about service and this will help me to support others, get specific support from administrators, and do a better job myself. I feel more “credible” in my support of others and in reaching out to the community. I am passionate about Service Learning. The Institute inspired me. It made me look deeper into how and why Service Learning can be meaningful in any classroom.” Karen Shorr, Primary Teacher
Brookwood School, Massachusetts
“We had a chance to work on our own ‘stuff’ and get feedback from wise professionals. Thank you for a great week! I look forward to working with you again soon!” Megan Webster, High School Service-Learning Coordinator
St. George's School of Montreal
Montreal, Quebec
NEW 6 month PAYMENT OPTION
Knowing that reimbursement can be an issue, we have arranged for special terms with Paypal allowing you to register for the Summer Institute with a 6 month payment option. learn more
Institute Sponsors and Partners
SPARC, Los Angeles
Shelburne Farms Orion Magazine Texas Campus to Community Coalition
Loyola Marymount University
The Sustainable Schools Project
Antioch University NE
Johnson State College
CalServe K-12 Initiative
California Department of Education
ExcelYouthZone
Whittier College
Overview of CWI Institutes
Participants attending a CWI Summer Institute will enhance and deepen their practice and thinking around sustainability, service-learning, and place-based education. learn more
“I have been telling everyone that the Community Works Institute was the PERFECT professional development for me. It’s true. This Institute was the best example I have yet seen of going from theory to actual practice. You have given us the theory but also real tools , time, and advice on how to make the ideas actually work back in our home environments. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Jennifer Sertel, Outreach Coord.
Robert College, Istanbul, Turkey
“My thinking changed drastically over the course of the conference; I am now more confident that implementing a service-learning program is feasible for Brearley. I will take what we learned and get teachers at my school on board!” Stacey Duchak, Director of Community Service
The Brearley School, New York
“I did want to let you know how much I appreciated the thought and work that went into the Institute. I learned more than I ever anticipated and look forward to moving ahead in my own program and in my school. I have been truly enriched by the experience. The week I spent with CWI was both affirming and transformative for me. I would absolutely recommend the Institute as an open and accepting forum for educators to learn. THANK YOU !!!!” Susan Kirkland, Vocal/Choral Teacher
New Providence High School
New Jersey
“A wonderful opportunity to create a plan with a group of experienced people to assist you.” Erin Randall-Mullins
Health Educator
South Burlington High School
Vermont
“Working with people from all over the country provided me with a unique and valuable perspective. Great resources and use of participant knowledge. The biggest change occurring through the week of the Institute was my attitude and understanding of what’s possible through service learning and the lens of sustainability. Don Taylor, L. Arts/Social Studies
Main St. Middle School
Montpelier, Vermont
CWI PARTNER
SHELBURNE FARMS Cultivating a Conservation Ethic
for a Sustainable Future
“Every one of you is experienced, accomplished, articulate and eager to share with others….very flexible and patient despite great demands on your time and energy. I recommend the Institute. Anyone interested in employing service-learning as a tool would benefit from the theoretical framework, practical applications, examples and individual discussions of project plans.” Pieranna Pieroni
College Now Director
Brooklyn College, NYC
"I LOVED this Institute! As important as the formal teaching was, I learned at least as much from colleagues. I was impressed with the caliber of participant colleagues. The amount and depth of information delivered is outstanding.” Lori Easterlin, S-L Coordinator
Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, Durham, NC
