POSTPONED: Ellie Drago-Severson offers four educational leadership institutes

NOTE (March 12, 2020): Due to ongoing concerns about the coronavirus, the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development has cancelled the April 3 and April 8 institutes with Ellie Drago-Severson. The college hopes to reschedule them at a later date. For more information, please contact Richard Ackerman, richard.ackerman@maine.edu.

Ellie Drago-Severson, College of Education and Human Development Shibles Distinguished Visiting Professor, will offer four institute-style workshops during the spring semester.

Drago-Severson is a professor of educational leadership and adult education and learning at Teachers College, Columbia University. A developmental psychologist, she teaches, conducts research and consults for school and district leaders, teacher leaders, and other organizations on professional and personal growth and learning.

Her work focuses on supporting leadership development for principals, teachers and schools, as well as coaching and mentoring in PreK–12 schools, university settings and other adult education contexts. She is inspired by the idea that schools should be places where adults and children can grow, and she is dedicated to creating conditions to achieve this and to help leaders and educators of all kinds do the same on behalf of supporting adults and youth.

Drago-Severson has written several books, including “Helping Teachers Learn: Principal Leadership for Adult Growth and Development”; “Leading Adult Learning: Supporting Adult Development in Our Schools”; “Becoming Adult Learners: Principles and Practices for Effective Development”; and “Helping Educators Grow: Practices and Strategies for Supporting Leadership Development.” She also has co-authored “Learning for Leadership; Learning Designs”; “Tell Me So I Can Hear You”; and “Leading Change Together.”

All four free, public institutes will be in the McIntire Room at Buchanan Alumni House. Seating is limited to 100 participants.

• Thursday, Feb. 27, 4–8 p.m. “Engaging in Immunity to Change Exercise: A Tool for Professional and Personal Growth”
• Friday, April 3, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. “Tell Me So I Can Hear You: A Developmental Approach to Feedback”
• Wednesday, April 8, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. “Leading Adult Learning: The Promise of a Developmental Approach to Teaming and Engaging in Difficult Conversations”
• Wednesday, April 22, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. “Leading Change Together: Building Capacity in Schools and Systems”

For registration information, contact Richard Ackerman, professor of educational leadership, richard.ackerman@maine.edu. Or download the event flier:

The Shibles Distinguished Visiting Professorship is named for Mark R. Shibles, who served as dean of the University of Maine College of Education from 1947–71. Recipients are recognized experts in various fields of education and serve as consultants to the college in its statewide work to provide professional teaching and leadership training, applicable research and direct services to Maine schools and communities. Shibles professors bring intellectual and professional stimulation to students and faculty, and provide a national perspective and expertise pertinent to improvement of the college’s professional programs, as well as to its response to state educational issues and needs.