Eagle Rock’s statement on the events of January 6, 2021

Dear Eagle Rock Community,

Once again, we are angry, saddened, and fiercely determined. Yesterday’s egregious acts in our Nation’s Capitol are part of a predictable pattern of backlash and violence in response to anti-racist and social justice victories. This attempt to disrupt the certification of the Electoral College vote confirming Joe Biden as President-Elect and Kamala Harris as Vice President-Elect was reprehensible. It undermines democracy and upholds racism and other systems of oppression.

While this is disturbing on many levels, the reactions to these events are particularly triggering when set in contrast to the unjust heavy use of police force against the overwhelmingly peaceful BLM protests this summer. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about being “caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” We are all affected, but not equally. Those of us who are members of our BIPOC community have been holding this historic burden, often alone, for far too long. For those of you filled with pain, anger, and hurt, we are sending you love and light. Today, we stand together in calling for justice and building a world aligned with our values of democratic governance and leadership for justice.

As a community we’ve learned from Ibram X. Kendi that there is no neutral; we either act as racists or antiracists. Together, we read Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You this fall. In that book, Jason Reynolds said, “We have to be more than audience members sitting comfortably in the stands of morality, shouting, ‘WRONG!’ That’s too easy. Instead, we must be players on the field, on the court, in our classrooms and communities, trying to do right. Because it takes a whole hand–both hands–to grab hold of hatred. Not just a texting thumb and a scrolling index finger.”

Our organizational priority of diversity, equity, and inclusion is a compass that helps us navigate to our true north. We are not naive to the fact that we are a divided nation and we need to rebuild. This tragedy and threat to democracy goes against everything we stand for. Just as we have done in the past, we stand together to denounce this violence that is unquestionably wrong.

Eagle Rock School is committed to fighting injustice through education, advocacy, and building relationships in beloved community. We stand united in love and an uncompromised commitment to justice. 

Living in respectful harmony means we cannot be silent.

Living in respectful harmony means telling the truth about racist violence.

Living in respectful harmony means healing and supporting each other.

Living in respectful harmony means fighting for justice for all.

Living in respectful harmony means Black Lives Matter.

Love, Light, Leadership, Power, and Freedom, Eagle Rock

Leadership Transitions Announced at Eagle Rock

September 4, 2020

Dear Eagle Rock Community,

I’m writing to share that I will be retiring as head of Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center this school year.  As I enter my 21st year at Eagle Rock and 9th as head, I’ve been reflecting on just what an honor it has been to live and work side by side with such brilliant, courageous, curious, and committed students and staff.  And while it has been an absolutely amazing journey, the time has come and Nannette and I are now looking forward to our next chapter together — our “Life After Eagle Rock.”

It has truly been an honor to evolve the vision that Tom Dean, the late Mr. Makoto Itabashi, and founding Head of School, Robert Burkhardt imagined so many years ago.  I’m certain I’ve learned more than I’ve contributed, and I have been touched deeply and changed permanently by so many over my time.  I want to thank our students, staff, parents and sponsors, and the Board of Directors for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to serve.  It has truly been a life changing experience.

I feel really good about where Eagle Rock now stands and am ready to step aside as the next generation of leadership takes the wheel.  We have a strong team and the Board’s plan is a solid one.  As a society, we are living in a very important time.  The pandemic is calling into question the status quo and the racial awakening is transforming the conversation in this country.  The time is ripe for innovation and transformation and the future is bright for Eagle Rock!

As for me, I will miss life on campus – the laughter, the tears of joy and some of sorrow; the fierce competition of intramurals; the aikido grapples in the dojo, the hours of deep conversation; the elusive challenge of getting engagement just right; and the inspiration that comes from being in the company of people so deeply committed to this work and their own transformation.

Finally, there’s a lot of work to do in this upcoming year and I look forward to supporting a smooth transition.  I’m more optimistic than ever about the promise of Eagle Rock and in these challenging times, our mission is at least as important as the day we were founded.  Thank you all, and I look forward to a great final year.

In gratitude,

Jeff Liddle, Head of School

 

 

September 4, 2020

Dear Eagle Rock Community,

American Honda Education Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan Trudy Rebeiro as Head of School at Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center, in Estes Park, Colorado, effective January 2021. Megan will succeed Jeff Liddle, who is retiring this year after over twenty years of exemplary service.

Megan’s experience with Eagle Rock is rich, deep, and diverse, starting in the mid-90’s when she graduated from the school. Since then, Megan has been a sponsor of many Eagle Rock students, has been a guest instructor, and has taken the lessons she learned here and applied those to numerous educational and leadership positions she has held across the country.  Megan returned to Eagle Rock in 2016 to serve as the Director of Students.  During that time, she restructured Student Services to better facilitate a 360˚ approach to student support. Megan was also responsible for the strategic implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work and in that capacity, she has provided transformational leadership.  In her current role as Associate Head of School, Megan has been working closely with the Board of Directors and Jeff Liddle on completion of  organizational priorities such as the Vision 2020 plan and the launch of our current focus areas. Megan brings boundless energy and an embodied commitment to young people.

With over 15 years in educational leadership, Megan is well-positioned to assume the Headship.  She started working in education in San Francisco in 1999 as an AmeriCorps Fellow, and continued her work in schools, non-profits, local community programs, and some of the largest, and well-respected youth programs across the country. Megan has served young people in roles ranging from teacher and coach to curriculum designer and school leader.  Megan holds a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Massachusetts and a Master’s Degree from Boston University.

Megan lives on campus with her partner, Tara, their 16-year-old daughter, Keeilah, and their two dogs, Olive and KuMi. Megan’s journey proves that Eagle Rock graduates are prepared to make a difference in the world, and we are thrilled to now call her our next Head of School!

Sincerely,

Rich Richardson, Board President, American Honda Education Corporation

 

Three Eagle Rock Employees Departing after Half a Century of Service

Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center is saying goodbye to three of its staff members in the coming months — a group that represents more than 54 years of service to our progressive learning community.

All three of these employees have invested double-digit years at Eagle Rock, with two of them working behind the scenes and one educator. From supervisor to receptionist, their job titles all had one purpose top of mind: a successful education for high school students who are interested in taking control of their lives and learning. Each has plans for life after Eagle Rock, ranging from settling down closer to family, to reading books and seeing the country in a new RV.

Below, we honor these three veteran Eagle Rock community members, beginning with the longest-serving employee to the most “recent.” In each case, we asked them to describe their job responsibilities, their education and past professional experiences, their memories of the school, and future plans.

Terry Tierney, Facilities and Maintenance Assistant (arrived at Eagle Rock in 2001): For 19 years, Terry has addressed Eagle Rock’s maintenance and facilities’ needs. A graduate of Kean University in Union, NJ, Terry holds an undergraduate degree in public administration/criminal justice, along with a collateral degree in environmental studies. He also received an associate of arts degree in criminal justice from Union County College in Cranford, NJ.

Terry and his wife Kerri make their home in nearby Estes Valley. Terry said Eagle Rock’s students inspire him when they follow their hearts and dreams. He’s proudest of a legacy of fulfilling the servant principle by contributing a small part to the greater good. A favorite memory includes his Bear Gatherings, which enabled him to express his awe and appreciation for resident neighbors while advocating for their respect and protection. He learned that there’s the potential for a miracle in everyone, and we should all count our blessings,

His greatest hope for Eagle Rock is that it continues well into the future, offering opportunity and hope to underserved youth, adding it has made a difference and has been a privilege. Terry will be staying in Estes Park and plans on catching up on a pile of books and resting his body.

Cindy Elkins, Art Instructional Specialist (arrived at Eagle Rock in 2002): Cindy is an artist, a mom, and for 18 years, has been an instructional specialist at Eagle Rock, where she says she was passionate about working with others to find, nurture, and develop their skills as visual artists and effective communicators. She grew up in an artistic family in Virginia.

Cindy participated in many creative projects for Eagle Rock and the local community, including several service projects with the Town of Estes Park. Having painted with watercolors and oils and worked with ceramics since childhood, Cindy studied two- and three-dimensional art forms, including glass and quilting. As a part of the Eagle Rock School Restorative Action Support Team, Cindy has a passion for working with youth.

At home, Cindy enjoys hanging out with her dogs and making art, including the art of cooking. She graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins with a BFA in painting and worked in public and private schools for 13 years prior to joining the Eagle Rock team in 2002, where she has memories of 18 years as a community member.

Among those memories are constant blessings, inspirational realizations, and emotions. She said she’ll remember The Lodge Hearth at the heart of the school, and acknowledged that the art building will forever be her home away from home.

Cindy will relocate near Richmond, Va., to reinvent herself and be close to her parents. But she admitted that Estes Park is her home, and she’ll be here when she can, eventually returning as a retired snowbird making tons of art. An RV is in her future, so when you least expect it, Cindy might just be in your neighborhood hoping to check-in.

Susan D’Amico, Administrative Assistant and Receptionist (arrived at Eagle Rock in 2003): For the past 17 years, Susie has kept Eagle Rock’s schedules up to date, has assisted our Leadership Team with projects and collaborated with our nurse and the Health and Wellness department in obtaining medical care for students.

Susan works with our Public Allies Fellows to provide logistics for student health appointments off-campus, and she assists teacher licensure candidates to navigate the Colorado Department of Education for their teaching licenses.

She said she is most proud of her relationships with “people of unparalleled compassion, smarts, and skill” who let her in and helped her to grow. No favorite memory; just a thousand acts of compassion and love from staff, students, and visitors. Her greatest hope for Eagle Rock is to continue its work on becoming an anti-racist social justice school that will not only change staff and students but help change the world.

Susan is staying in nearby Allenspark, Colo., and has accepted a task force position (focused on access and diversity) with the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA).

 

 

Eagle Rock Continues Partnership With The Robert R. McCormick Foundation’s Democracy Schools

The Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock will continue education renewal work in Illinois in collaboration with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation’s Democracy Schools.  On November 21, Eagle Rock will facilitate Instructional Rounds with Democracy Schools at West Aurora School District 129 in Aurora, Illinois

Instructional rounds are a disciplined way for educators to work together to improve practice.  This combines three common elements of improvement: observations, an improvement strategy, and a network of educators.  Many educators currently use one or more of these elements, often with some success. It’s the combination of elements that are most powerful.  It’s hard to dislodge familiar habits and behaviors that serve different purposes, the most ingrained of which are supervision and evaluation.

Instructional rounds contrast with supervision and evaluation on a number of dimensions, the first of which is learning.  Rounds are an inquiry process. People doing round should expect to learn something themselves. In supervision and evaluation, only the person being observed is expected to learn.  Participants in rounds emphasize the learning they do as observers. Rounds are NOT about “fixing” individual teachers. Rounds are about understanding what’s happening in schools, how we as a system produce those effects, and how we can move closer to producing the learning we want to see.

Rounds are fundamentally descriptive and analysis, not evaluative.  At no point in rounds do we declare what we see to be “good” or “bad” or something we “like” or “don’t like.”  Observers don’t tell the observed what to do next to improve. However, observers do think about the “next level of work” or what the school could do to make progress toward solving their problem of practice.

Eagle Rock Continues Partnership With The Robert R. McCormick Foundation’s Democracy Schools

The Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock will continue education renewal work in Illinois in collaboration with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation’s Democracy Schools.  On April 17th, Eagle Rock will facilitate Instructional Rounds with Democracy Schools at Huntley High School in Huntley, IL

Instructional rounds are a disciplined way for educators to work together to improve practice.  This combines three common elements of improvement: observations, an improvement strategy, and a network of educators.  Many educators currently use one or more of these elements, often with some success. It’s the combination of elements that are most powerful.  It’s hard to dislodge familiar habits and behaviors that serve different purposes, the most ingrained of which are supervision and evaluation.

Instructional rounds contrast with supervision and evaluation on a number of dimensions, the first of which is learning.  Rounds are an inquiry process. People doing round should expect to learn something themselves. In supervision and evaluation, only the person being observed is expected to learn.  Participants in rounds emphasize the learning they do as observers. Rounds are NOT about “fixing” individual teachers. Rounds are about understanding what’s happening in schools, how we as a system produce those effects, and how we can move closer to producing the learning we want to see.

Rounds are fundamentally descriptive and analysis, not evaluative.  At no point in rounds do we declare what we see to be “good” or “bad” or something we “like” or “don’t like.”  Observers don’t tell the observed what to do next to improve. However, observers do think about the “next level of work” or what the school could do to make progress toward solving their problem of practice.

Save the Date – Eagle Rock is Turning 25

Friends & Family of Eagle Rock,

Next year marks the 25th anniversary of Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center — a quarter century of engagement with students and PDC partners! We ask that you please save the date and join us in Estes Park on Saturday, June 30, 2018, to commemorate this exciting milestone.

Since school will be in session, this will be a great opportunity to tour campus, meet current students and staff, and see what we’re up to.

If you wish to stay nearby, lodging discounts will be available at Best Western Plus Silver Saddle — just mention Eagle Rock.

Additional lodging, event details and other logistics will be shared in the coming months at EagleRock25th.com.

Use the sign-up form below to be notified of updates and additional information regarding the 25th Anniversary celebration.

We hope you’ll join us to celebrate the past, experience today and engage in our future. We look forward to seeing you next summer!

In celebration,

Team Eagle Rock

Estes Park Trail Gazette – For Immediate Release: Estes Park Youth Day of Action and Service Learning

Laurie Dale Marshall EVICS – For the Trail Gazette

This Friday, January 20, the energy in Estes Park will be fueled by over one hundred local youth as they participate in Estes Park Youth Day of Action and Service Learning.  This day of community service is a collaborative effort of the Estes Valley Library, Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center (EPNRC), Eagle Rock School, and Estes Thrives.  The event highlights the Youth In Action program of the Estes Valley Library Teen Zone.

The youth of Estes Park will give back by performing service projects at ten sites throughout the community.   The youth will not only be helping by getting their hands dirty, but will also engage with local nonprofits and civic groups to learn more about the work they do and the decision-making process of the organizations.

Youth In Action promotes strong community ties and involvement among youth, striving to foster a lifelong engagement in civic and philanthropic service.  This Friday’s day of service learning will act as a launch pad, igniting an ongoing relationship between the Estes Park community and local youth.  The format for the day builds upon the service component that is an essential part of Eagle Rock School.

After a day of service work and learning, youth will lead a debriefing session from 2:00 to 3:00pm in the Town Hall.  This will be a time for all participating organizations, youth, and interested community members to come together to reflect on the day.  Youth will share experiences and organization representatives will reflect on the involvement of youth as a community resource.  Community members are invited to join us for this reflection time to learn how they might be encouraged to support the engagement of youth as influencers in our community.

To help us celebrate the unique knowledge, experiences, and perspective of local youth, our Mayor will proclaim Friday, January 20 as Estes Park Youth Day of Action and Service Learning at a breakfast for participating youth and organizations.   Help us extend the energy of this day by encouraging the engagement of local youth toward inspired growth of Estes Park.  For more information on Youth In Action or this Friday’s event, contact Teen Librarian Laurie Dale Marshall at ldalemarshall@estesvalleylibray.org.

Eagle Rock Continues Collaboration in Santa Fe

The Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock will be supporting planning for the 2015 Youth Summit during the week of September 14, 2015.  Eagle Rock plays a key role in supporting and co-sponsoring the 2015 Youth Summit in Santa Fe. The summit is focused on improving youth engagement during the high school years. Eagle Rock gathers and trains youth in the Santa Fe area to help plan this summit likely to draw hundreds of young people. Sessions at the summits will generate recommendations and an action plan to support youth in and out of school. The summit is run on behalf of Santa Fe’s Children and Youth Commission and the youth recommendations will be a source for an upcoming position paper to be drafted by the Santa Fe mayor’s office.

Eagle Rock Supports Innovations High School

The Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock will be supporting Innovations High School in Reno, NV on Thursday, September 10 & Friday, September 11, 2015 revolving around an asset inventory about project-based learning curriculum and instruction.  Innovations High School is part of the Big Picture Learning Network.  Big Picture Learning’s mission is the education of a nation, one student at a time.  As a non-profit organization dedicated to a fundamental redesign of education in the United States, Big Picture Learning’s (BPL) vision is to catalyze vital changes in K-Adult education by generating and sustaining innovative, personalized learning environments that work in tandem with the real world of their greater community.