2024-26 Cohort

The Program & Application Process

Application Deadline: Monday, April 8, 2024

The Friends Council's Spirited Practice and Renewed Courage (SPARC) program is a leadership development program based on principles from Parker Palmer's "Courage to Teach" work.
A group of twenty teachers from Friends schools are selected to take part in this collaborative community, using reflective tools for self-directed professional development.

Together, over a two-year cycle, the group explores the art and calling of teaching through critical reflection, dialogue, and feedback. Teachers and administrators are selected to take part in this learning community and use collaborative inquiry and reflective tools for self-directed personal and professional development.

SPARC is in its eleventh cycle, and the ripple effects of this spiritual leadership program are gaining strength. Over 170 Friends school educators have now experienced this unique program, with many schools sending teams of two or more faculty members to participate. Schools report experiencing a deeper engagement of the Quaker dimension in their schools and classrooms as SPARCers return to share reflective tools with their colleagues. SPARC participants emerge as confident faculty leaders contributing to collegial professional development in their schools through MRP and accreditation processes, sharing clearness protocols as a tool to connect with teenagers, co-leading a school's Quaker self-study process, and more.

Selection Criteria:

We are seeking Friends school teachers, administrators, counselors, and others in all roles and stages in their careers. . . Educators who:

• Care deeply and will take leadership in nurturing the Quaker dimension of the school;
• Engage Quaker values in the classroom;
• Realize personal and professional growth through critical reflection, dialogue, and feedback;
• Are interested in the personal work necessary to restore and energize themselves in order to lead students and colleagues in activities that spark spiritual grounding and collaborative decision-making.  
• Contribute to collegial faculty development in the school.

Selection Process:

• Interested participants will submit an application,
• A short response describing how the applicant engages with Quaker values in her or his school and classroom.
• A brief endorsement note from their division director or head of school. 
  NOTE: Heads of school have seen benefit from sending more than one teacher from one school. 
  An ad hoc committee selects each cohort from the nominations, seeking a balanced and diverse group.

2024-26 Retreats:

[Wallingford, PA and/or Cape May, MD]
October 2024, April 2025, October 2025, April 2026
+ four 1/2 day virtual support sessions
Each retreat begins with settling in at 4 pm on day one and ends at 12noon on day three.

Participant Agreement:
Participants in the SPARC program commit to be part of a two-year cycle of deepening reflection and interconnection; all members are responsible to each other in this learning community. Our policy for this residential program is that we expect full attendance and full participation in each program retreat (two retreats each school year).

This residential expectation for each retreat serves to build community, deepen levels of communication and trust, and provide ample time for reflective work. Participants make the necessary arrangements to arrive on time and stay the entire length of the program. Participants and their school heads/division heads take responsibility for knowing the retreat dates, anticipate and resolve any conflicts between SPARC dates and school/personal responsibilities, and make every effort to fulfill the commitment to the program.

Fee 2024-26: $1,550 per person per year - for all four retreats & sessions, fees include food and lodging where applicable.

The application season for the 2026-28 cohort will open in the fall of 2025.