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Courage and Renewal Work:

• Rona is a Courage and Renewal Facilitator, leading retreats and programs based on the work of Parker Palmer. These programs provide opportunities for educators to explore their identity, purpose, and calling in the teaching profession. A key aspect of this work is fostering "Circles of Trust," which are safe and supportive environments for personal and professional growth. Rona offers a range of Courage and Renewal opportunities, including:

  • Courage to Teach retreats: These retreats focus on personal exploration and the development of a Circle of Trust. Rona offers various formats for these retreats, including weekend retreats at retreat centers, introductory Zoom sessions, and a 4-5 weekend retreat series.

  • Leading Together programs: This in-school professional development program focuses on building adult relational trust within school cultures. Options for Leading Together programs include introductory staff meetings, school culture pre-assessments, full-day professional development sessions, and year-long professional development series.

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Leadership in Career Technical Education:

• Rona works as a leader in career technical education (CTE) in the San Francisco Bay region. She has held various positions related to CTE, including:

  • K12 Pathway Coordinator: In this role, she directs and manages career pathway development for K12 schools and community colleges within the Peralta Community College District region.

  • Career Pathways and Grants Manager: Rona has held a variety of positions where she strategically, developed K14 CTE programs, secured and managed grant funding, and created important partnerships with  industry. 

  • Work-Based Learning Coordinator: While working for the Association of Manufacturing Bay Area, Earn & Learn and Pilot City, Rona served as the connector linking educators and students with guest speakers from various industry sectors. 

  • College and Career Teacher on Special Assignment: Rona designed and implemented seven career pathways and work-based learning experiences for the Martinez Unified School District.

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Learning With Young People:

• Rona has extensive experience working with young people, particularly with at-risk youth and in career exploration. Here are some examples of her award-winning work with youth:

  • Co-founding of the Environmental Studies Academy and New Leaf Leadership Academy: These innovative high school programs emphasized hands-on, project-based learning, integrating environmental studies and mental health into the curriculum. The programs provided opportunities for students to engage in community service, environmental stewardship, career mentoring, and social-emotional reflective practices.

  • Ecoliteracy Peer Mentoring Project: Rona designed and facilitated a service-learning project where high school students taught hands-on eco-literacy lessons to over 800 elementary school students each year.

  • Alhambra Creek Restoration Projects: Rona coordinated a team of professionals to work with alternative youth on riparian restoration projects, linking professional job skill development to the high school curriculum.

  • Emphasis on Transformative Learning: Throughout her work with young people, Rona prioritizes transformative learning experiences that engage students' whole selves and inspire them to connect with their communities and the planet. She believes that students learn best when in environments where everyone is still learning.