Educators Exchange Ideas at Teacher’s Institute

On Friday, October 11, 2013, the School welcomed nearly 100 visiting teachers from three different states to campus for the St. Mark’s Teacher’s Institute. This biennial event offers both public and private school teachers the opportunity to attend workshops at which our faculty shares the innovative techniques and methods used in St. Mark’s English and humanities classes.

 

Some of the workshops this year included “The Spectre of Nihilism in Heart of Darkness” led by Malcolm K. and Minda Brachman Master Teacher Dr. Martin Stegemoeller, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Using Rock and Roll to Teach Writing,” led by Tim Mank, and “Who’s Afraid of Postmodern Deconstructionism… and Why We Shouldn’t Be” led by Dr. Marta Napiorkowska. Other presenters included Trustee Master Teacher Lynne Weber, GayMarie Kurdi, Karan Windham, Tinsley Silcox, Ken Owens, Bobbi Mailer, Kathryn Schoeberlien, Nick Sberna, Curtis Smith, Geoff Stanbury, and David Brown, Victor F. White Master Teaching Chair in English.

 

The visitors were also invited to visit classrooms to see our teachers and students in action, an activity they greatly enjoy.  In the late afternoon, Dr. Larry Allums, Director of The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, delivered an inspirational keynote speech titled “Remembering the Soul of Education through Classic Literature.” Post-institute interviews with and emails from the participating teachers were extraordinarily complimentary both of the Institute and of our faculty, student body, and facilities in general.

 

The Institute is planned and directed by Lynne Weber and humanities teacher Rebecca Jenkins.