"CSEE's institute excelled where many others stumble: bridging the gap
between academic/education research and classroom application. I
attended with a general understanding of the importance of this work. I
left with strategies for implementation at the school level and a sense
of urgency for its purpose. I want to thank CSEE staff for creating a
challenging, enlightening and most importantly deeply practical three
day institute."
—Chase Davenport
Director of School Assessment & Evaluation
California Charter School
Association
"As a Youth Development Manager in the NYC DOE, I have had the opportunity
to attend many institutes and conferences but CSEE's Summer Institute ranks
as the best one that I have attended. It was an educationally wonderful,
falling event that helped our team think concretely and productively about a
range of instructional and systemic school improvement issues. I drove in
every day with colleagues and we would discuss topics that came up the day
before. In the afternoon, after we left, we would discuss topics that came
up during that day's session. The last day of the Institute, it was very
emotional as we shared things that we had learned and then said goodbye to
people that we had never met but we had now connected so closely with. I
plan to return next summer and I will be sure to invite more colleagues."
—Paul Forbes
Youth Development Manager, Integrated Service Center
Manhattan, New York
City Department of Eduation
"CSEE's 2007 Summer Institute was an opportunity to become immersed in the
knowledge, experience and commitment of a diverse, enthusiastic and wise
celebration of national and international educators. At the end of the week,
I felt refreshed, excited and inspired. It is such a rich and rewarding
opportunity. It is an honor and a privilege to enjoy a summer experience in
which we can meet together, feast at the banquet that is Summer Institute,
and leave each other feeling enriched and enlivened by our engagement. What
a wonderful tonic with which to refresh ourselves for the brilliant, yet
sometimes bruising work we are all so deeply committed to doing. Bravo!"
—Daughn Lee
School Social Worker
Central Park East Middle School, NYC Department of Education
"CSEE's 2007 summer institute , Educating Minds and Hearts, provided me an
opportunity to network and learn from the presenters as well as the
participants. The format of the institute allowed for a wealth of
knowledge to be shared, discussed and reflected upon. Of particular
interest to me was CSEE's school climate survey (CSCI) because it reflects
the increasingly large body of research about the impact of school climate
on academic achievement and social competency, but the scope of the
institute allowed me to explore many other related topics. I look forward
to next year!"
—Holly Blum
"I came to the Summer Institute curious to learn what Social Emotional
Learning (SEL) was all about and how the Arts and creative expression fit
into the philosophy. I left feeling inspired and enriched with a greater
understanding of how all aspects of a child's environment and education are
opportunities for nurturing support and growth. The staff and faculty were
engaging, knowledgeable and truly interested in being sure each attendee was
getting what they needed out of the Institute. To top it off, the other
attendees, fellow teachers, administrators and educators, were equally
inspiring, intelligent and insightful. I highly recommend attending the CSEE
Summer Institute, especially if you are interested in building community and
enlivening your approach to students and teaching."
—Aline Gittleman
Upper School Art Department, The Baldwin School
"I attended CSEE's FIRST Summer Institute in 1996. I found the week an
incredible learning experience, and cannot tell you how many times I have
"returned to the well" of that institute. The presentations and workshops
helped me to re-frame my own vision of theological and religious education
with a social AND emotional perspective, and conversely to look at many of
the new discoveries in the neurosciences and clinical psychology through a
theological prism. Over the years it has allowed me to create all kinds of
new conversations with theologians, K-12 educators, and several religious
publishing houses, not to mention a host of academics with little use for
the traditions of historical religions. I am very grateful to CSEE for the
work they developing this area. Many of the so-called "faith-science"
debates would find more fruitful areas of discussion if participants on both
sides of the debates took a serious look at the social and emotional
learning insights disseminated so effectively for educators by CSEE.
"
—Mark S. Markuly, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle University