Courage to Teach® (CTT) is a program of retreats for the personal and
professional renewal of P-12 teachers. Courage to Teach retreats focus neither on
‘technique’ nor on school reform, but on renewing the inner lives of educators.
Each CTT group consists of twenty to thirty educators who gather for a two or threeday retreat. Ideally this will be done as a series of quarterly retreats over a one or
two-year period, but it may also be offered as an Introductory Retreat. In largegroup, small-group, and solitary settings, the concepts of teacher formation and ‘the
heart of a teacher’ are explored, making use of personal stories, reflections on
classroom practice, and insights from poets, artists, storytellers, and various wisdom
traditions. Each retreat follows a theme, using rich metaphors such as the seasons as
a way of exploring vocational and life questions.
The principle at the heart of this approach is that caring, competent, and energized
teachers are the indispensable ingredient in school success, and that honouring them
and renewing their passion strengthens every effort to improve teaching, learning,
and the human connectedness essential to education.
CTT was developed by Parker J. Palmer, Ph. D. and the Fetzer Institute in Michigan,
USA in 1994. Courage to Teach Facilitators are usuallyprepared in USA by the Center
for Courage & Renewal, however, in 2011 12 facilitators were trained from around
Australia – in Australia. It is two of these facilitators-in-training – Nerida Murray and
Lisa Albion, along with Janet Smith (the first facilitator to offer CTT retreats in
Australia) who are facilitating the first Courage to Teach Retreat in Brisbane in 2013.
Since 1997, a network of over 190 facilitators have provided retreats for over 25,000
people in USA and Canada.
Courage to Teach:

renews heart, mind and spirit through the exploration of the inner landscape
of a teacher’s life

reconnects to one’s identity and integrity—identifying and honouring gifts and
strengths, and acknowledging limits

creates a context for careful listening and deep connection that also honours
diversity in person and profession

helps educators create safe spaces and trusting relationships in their schools,
with their students and colleagues, and within their communities

explores the connection between attending to the inner life of educators and
the renewal of education
An independent evaluation recently
revealed that 100% of participants rated
the CTT series of retreats as the most
valuable professional development they
have experienced; 100% said that it
altered and improved their classroom
practice; 90% said they had developed the
habit of reflective practice (shown by
research to improve quality of teaching
and lead to higher student achievement);
68% said their experience led them to
initiate more collegial relationships at their
school (shown by research to be related to
teacher satisfaction); and 100% believed
that teacher formation could lead to
enduring and vital improvement in
education. Some quotes from teachers
who have participated in CTT retreats are
shown in the box.
I feel a clearer sense of satisfaction and purpose
…Each activity helped me to get to know myself
better. It clears the pathway to be more engaged
with students and colleagues.
I have had an absolute change in my attitude /
mindset towards my teaching profession, and my
gifts as an educator.
I have learned to allow heart into everything I do. To
allow each of my students’ perspectives, lives,
hopes, and interests into everything I do.
CTT has strengthened my resolve, renewed my
confidence, helped center me.
I have learned skills for building trust and
openness… I see positive effects in my classroom
and among staff.
Some Quotes from Parker J. Palmer about Teachers and Teaching
 Good teaching takes myriad forms but good teachers share one trait: they are
authentically present in the classroom, deeply connected with their students
and their subject. These connections are held in the teacher’s heart – the place
where intellect, emotion and spirit emerge in the human self. Good teachers
weave a life-giving web between themselves, their subjects, and their
students, helping their students learn how to weave a world for themselves.

Good teachers possess a capacity for connectedness. They are able to weave a
complex web of connections among themselves, their subjects, and their
students so that students can learn to weave a world for themselves.

Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the
identity and integrity of the teacher.

Many of us became teachers for reasons of the heart, animated by a passion
for some subject and for helping people learn. But many of us lose heart as
the years of teaching go by. How can we take heart in teaching once more so
that we can, as good teachers always do, give heart to our students?
REGISTRATION FORM
INTRODUCTORY COURAGE TO TEACH® RETREAT
WHERE: Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre
http://www.santateresa.org.au(includes map directions)
WHEN: Friday September 19th (5pm) To Sunday 21st September (1pm) 2014
COST:
$600 – GST free (includes single room with ensuite, linen and all meals)
$500 if paid by 30th July
10% Discount for students
NOTE:
Places are limited as we can only accommodate 25 participants
FACILITATORS
Nerida Murray B.Ed.,Dip.T., has worked for the last 35 years in both country and city schools for
Education Queensland. For 28 of those years she has been a Head of Department, mainly in the area of
English. She has a passion for teachers and a deep respect for them in the challenges they face each
day.
Lisa AlbionM.A.,B.Ed., Dip.T.has over 25 years of experience working in the field of early childhood
primary and higher education. She has experience working cross-culturally in schools, training teachers,
developing curriculum and implementing education projects, in the Pacific, SE Asia, the Balkans, Canada
and Australia. She is committed to creating safe and nurturing learning spaces whereby children and
adults are able to listen to their own wisdom.
YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS (please post or email this form to Nerida Murray at address
below)
Name:
Preferred E-mail address:
Home Address:
Work Address:
Phone:
Place of Employment and position:
Please indicate special dietary needs:
Other Needs:
PAYMENT
Registration deadline is 31st August 2014 There are 2 methods of Payment
Either
 A cheque made payable to Nerida Murray and sent to the address below
or
 Payment into NAB account – Mr DM & Mrs NR MURRAY
BSB 084-150/Account number 179741895
For further information please contact:
Nerida MurrayOR
Lisa Albion
29 Redwood Street Stafford Heights 4053 Qld Australia
11 Tanderra Drive Cooran 4569
Ph: +61 (0)7 33595058 + 61 (0)411052292
Ph:+ 61 (0)490346151
Email: neridamurray@me.com
Email: l_albion@yahoo.com