Education Team Retreat

Annual Retreat Gives Education Team Time to Reflect, Reconnect and Review Program

BY DR. PEGGY PERRY (9) AND DR. ROBERT FLORES, CALF INTERIM CO-DIRECTORS OF EDUCATION

WHAT DO THE U.S. FLAG, THE CRUCIFIX, A MICROPHONE, A MOTORCYCLE, A CAMERA, PHOTOS, A COPY OF THE TAO TE CHING AND SHEET MUSIC HAVE IN COMMON? THERE IS A STORY BEHIND EACH OF THE ITEMS. THIS PARTIAL LISTING OF ITEMS REPRESENTS THE DIVERSITY OF THE CALF EDUCATION TEAM (ED TEAM). EACH ITEM REPRESENTS A BIT OF THE PERSONAL STORY FOR EACH MEMBER. THE ED TEAM IS A COHESIVE GROUP, FULL OF STORIES THAT ADD TO THE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF EACH PERSON.

The Ed Team was a concept that emerged for CALF in the late 1980s. It began when Tim LaSalle (6), then president and CEO of the foundation, invited core faculty from each of the campuses to meet together in Templeton, the site of the foundation’s office at the time. Since those early years, the Ed Team has grown to include alumni who provide a direct link to major stakeholders for the program. Along the way, the working relationships have become a significant source of vitality for the educational program and have allowed it to flourish through changes and challenges.

Over three days at the end of June 2021, the Ed Team came together to undertake a thorough examination of the Ag Leadership Program’s curriculum. The most recent full revision took place in 2012. The group consists of the core faculty from each campus, alumni liaisons, the board of directors and foundation staff. The following were in attendance: · Core faculty: Dr. Alex Alexandrou, Fresno State; Dr. Louise

Ferguson (30), UC Davis; Dr. Robert Flores, Cal Poly San Luis

Obispo and Dr. Peggy Perry (9), Cal Poly Pomona. The core faculty has expanded to include two new members who are in transition to take over the responsibilities at their respective campuses: Dr.

Amanda Crump, UC Davis and Ben Lehan, Cal Poly Pomona.

· Alumni Council representatives: Serving as liaisons to the Ed Team are Manpreet Bains (43) and Salvador Parra (46).

· Staff: Supporting the work of the Ed Team are CALF Executive

Vice President Abby Taylor-Silva (45) and Programs Manager Judy

Sparacino.

The setting for the retreat could not have been more inviting. Past Board Chair Loren Booth (27) hosted the group, as she’s done in the past. The venue provided space to work in a relaxed setting and opportunities to prepare meals together.

An additional bonus this year was having Dr. Pat Lattore spend an entire morning with the group. He provided background on the curriculum from his soon-to-be-published book, “How We Grow Leaders.” Lattore was one of the architects of the current framework for the program’s curriculum. He was present in the mid-1990s when the curriculum was undergoing a transformation. Lattore presented a helpful reiteration of concepts to the seasoned members of the Ed Team and he delivered an insightful introduction to the Diamond Model of Leadership for those new to the team. He gave advice on how to effectively teach some of these topics and addressed the manner in which the stages of learner readiness are matched with appropriate content at just the right time.

The other important endeavor at the retreat was the deep review of individual seminars with the aim of incorporating strategies outlined in the new CALF strategic plan. Reviewing the curriculum

is something we do constantly. During regularly scheduled Ed Team meetings we unpack how the most recent seminars went, review the seminar evaluations and discuss any questions or issues that have arisen. We also address overarching curriculum issues each year at our retreat – it is an annual affair. Sometimes there are minor adjustments, sometimes there are some major changes that take place. The process is ongoing.

“The curriculum is a living, breathing process that needs work, revision and change much like our own lives, and I really enjoyed working through it,” said Parra. “The process of curriculum review requires looking at it with a lens of intentionality and purpose that I feel the whole group brought to the table.”

This year, the revision process was somewhat different. The CALF strategic plan directed the Ed Team to undertake a comprehensive curriculum plan and to consider potential areas of adjustment. In preparation for the retreat, the core faculty members examined their own seminars and indicated areas for further development with an eye toward incorporating themes from the strategic plan. This included topics of social and environmental justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, systemic racism and others. Special attention was focused on the impact on leaders surrounding these issues in today’s world. In addition, the learning objectives for each seminar were strengthened and the team brainstormed about readings, experiences and seminar content that reinforce and enhance the curriculum as a whole. This type of review is intensive. As much as the Ed Team wanted to review all 12 seminars, this kind of “heavy lifting” did not allow for a complete review of all the seminars. However, the retreat provided time to create a template to follow in revising all seminars. The complete revision will be documented in time for upcoming meetings of the Ed Team this fall.

Much of the purpose of a three-day face-to-face gathering for the Ed Team is an opportunity to build relationships. As many fellows will tell you, leadership is about relationships. Members of the Ed Team shared items that represent aspects of their life that are important beyond the Ag Leadership work – sharing things about themselves that might not have been disclosed before. One theme seemed to be found among many in the group – music! Either singing, performing, dancing or listening to music was a common thread throughout the team.

The annual Ed Team retreat is an important artifact of this relationship that allows time to reconnect, do reflective work together, integrate newer members and relax and enjoy each other’s company. The year 2021 has been an unusual one, but it is gratifying to know that the team’s working relationships are as strong as ever. Coreen Davis summed it up: “The energy of the group was everything – inspiring, thoughtful, forward-thinking and inclusive. What an honor to be a part of this team!”