Educator Summit

The inaugural Educator Summit, hosted by Open Mind Africa on July 21, 2018, marked a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to empower educators with the tools and strategies needed to foster growth in their students. Focused on the concept of Growth Mindset, the summit brought together educators from our three affiliated schools to engage in a day of meaningful learning and collaboration.

The core content of the summit, provided by Transforming Education and led by Kathleen Prevost, was designed to introduce and deepen understanding of Growth Mindset among participants. With contributions from Joanne Binns, Joseph Adams, and Andrew Gordon, the program was meticulously crafted to ensure that educators could not only grasp the theoretical aspects of Growth Mindset but also explore its practical applications in the classroom.

Approximately one-third of the attendees were familiar with Growth Mindset before the summit, allowing for a rich exchange of ideas and experiences. Educators shared personal examples of learning and engaged in lively discussions about how to integrate Growth Mindset strategies into their teaching practices, particularly in the use of praise. These discussions culminated in small group activities where participants developed actionable plans for implementing Growth Mindset on their campuses.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback from the summit underscored its success, with all participants expressing a desire to continue the conversation through an online Community of Practice group. Plans are underway to facilitate this exchange via a closed Facebook group, ensuring that the momentum generated at the summit carries forward into the new school year and beyond.

Building on the success of this inaugural event, Open Mind Africa is committed to hosting future Educator Summits, broadening the reach of these invaluable trainings to more educators and schools. These summits are a testament to our belief in the transformative power of education and the critical role that educators play in shaping the minds and futures of the next generation.