The Inner Work of Teaching
Teaching and leading are deeply human acts. Yet, the demands of modern education can leave little space for reflection, renewal, and connection to purpose.
Reconnection & Renewal: Cultivating the Heart of Teaching is a six-part professional development series designed to nourish the inner life of educators — offering time, space, and compassionate witnessing for reflection, creativity, and honest self-inquiry.
In a world where Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is more vital than ever, educators are often tasked with cultivating emotional intelligence in students while having few opportunities to tend to their own.
This series recognizes that sustainable, authentic SEL begins with the adults who model it. Educators who are given space for their own emotional processing, self-awareness, and identity exploration become better equipped to guide students toward emotional skillfulness and connection.
Reconnection & Renewal is not about how to teach SEL — it is about receiving it. Through journaling, expressive arts, and dialogue-based learning, participants are invited to explore their inner lives as a means of:
*Understanding their personal and professional identity
*Aligning with integrity and purpose in their work
*Reactivating their “why”
*Building trust within themselves and their communities
*Repairing connection when it becomes ruptured
*Strengthening resilience in the day-to-day demands of holding space for young learners
Inspired by Parker Palmer’s The Courage to Teach and Elena Aguilar’s Onward, this series reimagines professional development as a regenerative process — one that honors the humanity of educators and the heart-centered work they do every day.
Workshop Themes
Two Formats to Meet the Needs of Your Team
In-Person Format
Length: 3–3.5 hours per session
Structure: Full, immersive workshops with grounding practices, guided reflection, small-group dialogue, and whole-group activities.
Ideal For: Teams who can dedicate half a day for deeper, embodied, and collaborative work.
Outcome: A rich, retreat-style experience that balances inner renewal with collective growth.
Virtual Format
Length: 2–2.5 hours per session-
Structure: Focused sessions with reflection, breakout discussions, and interactive practices adapted for online learning.
Ideal For: Teams spread across locations or with limited scheduling capacity.
Outcome: A streamlined, accessible way to build identity awareness, resilience, and connection — without losing the depth of the series.
At its heart, Reconnection & Renewal offers more than professional development — it is a pause for breath, a chance to come home to oneself amid the demands of teaching and leading. Each session leaves participants feeling more centered, seen, and resourced to navigate their work with integrity and compassion. By tending to their inner lives, educators rediscover not only their “why,” but also the collective strength that emerges when we gather to reflect, witness, and renew together.
Program Options & Next Steps
Designed for schools, districts, and organizations seeking meaningful, reflective professional learning experiences. Offerings can be tailored through a Discovery Call to best meet your community’s needs.
*Full six-session series (recommended for cohesive learning and community building)
*Single-session workshops for PD days
*Custom packages for schools or organizations
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Typical sessions run 3–3.5 hours for in-person facilitation and 2–2.5 hours for virtual formats, though session length can be modified for custom offerings.
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Available for in-person facilitation in the Sacramento area and virtually worldwide.
Let’s bring heart back into the center of education.