I have been very lucky to witness Cathy in action, running sessions with groups of 50+ High School students in two different international schools. She possesses the (very rare) ability to use her tireless dynamism to engage students of all kinds and foster a deep understanding of Service Learning in a fun, well-paced and meaningful way, and over sustained periods of time. As an IB teacher, it has been inspirational to observe how Cathy effortlessly challenges students to collaborate, communicate, think critically and reflect, all skills that are fundamental for all IB learners. Quite simply, Cathy is a legend.”
– Simon Scoones, Assistant Principal/MYP Coordinator, International School Ho Chi Minh City
One practice that sets CBK Associates apart, we hear, is our direct work with young people in all grade levels whose engagement and learning we prize, along with the adults upon whom they depend. We rarely consult with teachers and other staff without also leading workshops for students. Their young energy inspires us, particularly their eagerness and willingness to dive in and participate. We also model the approaches we hope staff will assume after we leave: under-directing to allow for youth voice and choice; how to apply our MISO Method of Action Research across the curriculum; and how we engage one hundred percent of the youth in an advisory learning experience to exemplify meaningful conversations and reflection.
We are used to “Wow!” moments. “I’ve rarely seen my students so engaged and collaborative, so competent,” one teacher told us. “I want to stimulate more leadership opportunities in my classroom,” said another.
Sometimes, our workshops with young people are not intended as illustrative but as full-on training experiences. In our work with EarthEcho International, for example, Cathryn led two-day youth workshops in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana to promote young people as Citizen Journalists, becoming their community’s eyes and ears on environmental issues in their own backyard. In Beijing, Cathryn led five cohorts of high school students in a day-long service learning professional development that enabled youth to teach faculty in their schools.