Keeping the school community connected

The past several weeks have brought some major changes to our way of life. Many of them have been — and continue to be — challenging. But there are positive things that are happening, too.

In Indiana, schools are closed for the remainder of the year, and the state is presently under a stay-at-home order. And yet, organizations that serve children and young people are being innovative and adapting so that they can continue meeting their needs. We asked Candice Holbrook, head of school at Oak Farm Montessori School, how her staff has adjusted to the changes in how they interact with students and parents, as well as what they’ve learned along the way.

How did the staff work together so that Oak Farm could shift what it was doing and teach students remotely?

Candice: First, I want to share that this really is an evolving process. Everyone is doing the best that they can during this time of disruption. With that being said, we are constantly learning and growing from this experience. Feedback from students, parents, and faculty has been helpful throughout this process so we can reflect on services being provided and make adjustments along the way.

I would like to say that we have been proactive in a lot of ways, however, in unprecedented times such as this, we have had to react and learn from those experiences. What we choose to do with those experiences is up to us, and that has been our approach all along.

First, we had to acknowledge what our reality as a school looked like and then continue to identify what is within our circle of control. We supported one another so that we could personally engage in the situation we all found ourselves in. This teamwork was important to meet the needs of our students and our families. This allowed us to problem-solve barriers and challenges that we might encounter so we could ultimately put a plan into action with our school community.

How did the staff extend the quality learning environments at Oak Farm to their online interactions with students?

Candice: Relationships are so important for learning and even more critical during this time. Without connection and attentiveness to meeting our families where they are at during this pandemic, the likeliness of our children learning and retaining academic content decreases.

Oak Farm is providing an array of opportunities to keep students and parents connected to the school and inspired to continue their learning and follow their interests.

We have focused on building connections with our students and parents so that efforts in providing meaningful distance learning opportunities are accessible and purposeful. As a school, we have provided weekly parent support groups such as Positive Discipline, continued publication of our weekly memo for news and updates, social media activities to stay connected, and a Google school site that puts everything our parents need in one place. Teachers are offering classroom community meeting times, personal opportunities to connect to students one-on-one via FaceTime or Zoom, and games or experiences that build community and keep us connected, such as “Jeopardy,” BINGO, and a camp-out challenge.

As a Montessori school, distance learning has been a huge challenge. In the Montessori classrooms, we believe in the importance of following each individual child in their learning and interests, while also providing choice along the way. It is important for students to learn from, and with, their peers. We have been able to stay true to these beliefs, but the biggest challenge is the prepared environment that our teachers develop to create order for our students.

Since our students are learning from home, our teachers have been creative to provide a sense of order as much as possible during this difficult time. Technology has been a tool to provide lessons, share individualized learning plans, and come together as a community, but learning experiences are so much more than that.

While a traditional lesson might be a worksheet or essay, we look at lessons more organically: outdoor exploration work, cooking for the family, gardening preparation work, sewing masks for your own family or those in need. We truly believe that the world is our classroom and learning can take place anywhere!

How are you still accomplishing your mission in this time of change?

Candice: We are committed to our mission of providing a Montessori environment that inspires children to reach their potential through meaningful work even during this time of distance learning. We also believe that we are accomplishing that goal! However, this looks very different for each of our families, as we serve infants through high school students.

As mentioned previously, it is the prepared environment that is the biggest challenge, but disruption calls for innovation, and that is exactly what we are doing. For example, our infant and toddler teachers have been preparing at-home learning kits that they deliver to their students. They are increasing parent support during this time to help our parents prepare an environment their child can thrive in that also works for their family.

Our elementary students are still continuing their Kids Investigate Natural Disasters (KIND) work, which involves research, persuasive writing, public speaking, and debate to be shared with an authentic audience.

Our secondary students have shared that, while they deeply miss the face-to-face social interactions, they feel their learning has continued on as normal as possible. These young adults are used to having independence and ownership in their learning, so a change to their physical location does not affect their ability to pursue their passions.

What are some of the things your staff is doing to make this situation successful for themselves and for young people?

Candice: In full disclosure, I think this is an ongoing process. We are constantly trying to find that balance of working remotely, supporting our families and students, while also trying to be parents ourselves and support our own children. This is downright hard for everyone. In addition to keeping relationships and community at the heart of our work, we are providing grace to one another during this time.

We have created a school version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs based on the principles of Maria Montessori to support families (faculty and students included) during this time. The purpose was to reassure families that we are prepared to meet them wherever they might fall on the hierarchy and that they are doing enough. For example, some of our families may be trying to figure out how to manage the pandemic crisis and the impact it has on their family. They really need to focus on meeting their spiritual and safety needs before they can start engaging in the lessons, and that is OK.

Is there something in particular that’s working for Oak Farm that others may want to try?

Candice: Honestly, I think schools are doing everything they know how to do to serve their school community. According to the New York Times, people need a schedule, a distraction, and a community to remain positive. A focus for us has been keeping our community connected as much as possible.

On its Facebook page, Oak Farm is engaging students and parents with weekly “Jeopardy” games where they learn about the school.

We have a weekly OFMS “Jeopardy” Night that families can participate in and learn more about our school. Some of the topics include Montessori Materials, Staff 101, Classroom Pets, etc. We also have weekly virtual escape rooms, “Then and Now,” “Where’s Oakey?” (our school version of “Where’s Waldo”), and virtual cooking lessons with our school chef Noah.

When the stay-at-home order is lifted, we have other exciting opportunities planned, including a school parade and scavenger hunt on campus. In addition to the individual classroom sessions, we are offering live Zoom sessions in art, music, Spanish, theater, eco-literacy, and science. This is an opportunity for our related arts teachers to connect with the students as well as an opportunity for students to connect with their peers.

What are some of the positive things you’re hearing from students?

Candice: Students feel supported by the teachers and on multiple occasions have expressed gratitude for the strong community we have maintained. They feel that they are equipped with the tools that they need and that learning is individualized to them as much as possible. Based on the way eyes light up on our younger students when they see their friends and teachers during a Zoom meeting, it is evident that they are excited and enjoy the connection.

Now that you’ve been doing this for a while, is there a particular challenge that’s come up that you’re working to solve?

Candice: Feedback is so important during this time, enabling us to make adjustments along the way. For example, we are a school that does not use devices as part of the everyday curriculum for our younger students. This meant that we needed to contact them to ensure that all of our families had access. Similarly, not all of our students had access to a printer, so we needed to come up with a way to get them what they needed to engage in the learning.

Moving forward, the biggest challenge is scenario building during a time of uncertainty. It is not an impossible task, but it is daunting and exhausting to create multiple plans that you hope you never need to implement. However, having a long-term plan puts us in a position to be proactive and better meet the needs of our students and our school community.

Although this situation is not ideal, what are some of the positive things you and your staff have taken from the experience?

Candice: Being a lifelong learner is a characteristic that we value, not only for our students in our Portrait of a Graduate, but also for our faculty. This time of disruption has accelerated learning in many unexpected ways.

From the beginning of this endeavor, over half of our faculty reported that they found themselves being innovative and trying new things. It feels like overnight we had to problem-solve and think critically in order to continue learning to meet the needs of our students and families. With the right mindset, we have been using this as an opportunity while also being mindful of the lessons we are learning along the way.

Our school environment is rooted in principles that have allowed us to be proactive and take action. Together.

Dekko Foundation office remains closed to public

Our office, like other workplaces in Indiana, has begun the process of reopening. It continues, however, to be closed to the public. Our team is still working, but scheduled meetings will be conducted by phone or virtually to help safeguard our staff members’ and grantseekers’ health.

If you need to reach us, please call 260-347-1278 or email dekko@dekkofoundation.org.

Dekko Foundation to move to Community Learning Center

The Dekko Foundation, a private family foundation started in 1981 in Kendallville, Indiana, by the late businessman and philanthropist Chester E. Dekko, will move its offices to the Community Learning Center this year.

The Dekko Foundation’s board of directors, comprising members of Mr. Dekko’s family, has endorsed the move because of its potential to advance the foundation’s mission of fostering economic freedom through education. The spirit of collaboration that lies at the heart of the Community Learning Center and the proximity to organizations that work directly with young people will allow the foundation to be more effective in carrying out Mr. Dekko’s vision.

“We are excited that residents of Kendallville and Noble County have come together to support the Community Learning Center as it endeavors to assist individuals of all ages through lifelong learning and skill development,” said Thomas Leedy, president of the Dekko Foundation. “Working alongside agencies at the CLC that are striving to remove barriers to economic freedom will make us a stronger foundation.”

The new office, which will be on the third floor of the Community Learning Center, will accommodate the foundation’s nine-person staff and have spaces that can be shared with other community organizations.

“At the Community Learning Center, we have the opportunity to learn from agencies working hard every day to support young people as they build the skills, knowledge, and character that are fundamental to them growing up to become self-sufficient adults and ultimately capable of achieving economic freedom,” Leedy said. “That knowledge will help inform our role as a funder and benefit our mission.”

The Dekko Foundation has been among the community members and organizations that for more than a year have been collaborating to make the Community Learning Center project a reality. Recent milestones have included the announcement of the first seven agencies that will offer programs and occupy space inside the facility, and the transfer of ownership of the property from the City of Kendallville to The Community Learning Center, Inc. Earlier this month, the Community Learning Center hosted an open house that provided a first look at the improvements that have been made to the facility and allowed individuals to connect with program providers.

The Dekko Foundation is providing financial support for the Community Learning Center’s ongoing renovations and operations. Leedy sits on the board of directors of The Community Learning Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2019 to oversee the facility and surrounding grounds.

“Kendallville, Noble County, and Northeast Indiana have recognized the incredible opportunity the Community Learning Center has to be a catalyst for lifelong learning, building skills, expressing creativity, and improving well-being through its multigenerational offerings,” Leedy said. “It’s because of that enthusiasm for the CLC’s mission — Connecting Communities. Strengthening Lives. Securing Futures. — that our board has chosen to support this project, and it’s why they’re confident this move will help carry on Mr. Dekko’s legacy.”

That legacy extends back to 1925 when Chester E. Dekko was born in Ada, Minnesota. Growing up during the Great Depression helped instill in Mr. Dekko a strong work ethic, a deep appreciation for how education can improve one’s standing in life, and a bold entrepreneurial spirit. Mr. Dekko and his business partner, Lyall Morrill, devised an innovative wiring harness for refrigerators and started Lyall Electric in 1952. Under Mr. Dekko’s leadership, the business grew to have a significant presence in several manufacturing sectors and was renamed Group Dekko, with more than 2,500 employees in four states and Canada. Following Mr. Dekko’s passing in 1992, his entire estate was transferred to the foundation.

The Dekko Foundation supports communities where Mr. Dekko had business and personal interests. That includes six counties in Northeast Indiana, five counties in south-central Iowa, Norman County, Minnesota, and Limestone County, Alabama.

“Our commitment to these communities remains as strong as ever,” Leedy said. “The men and women who worked for Mr. Dekko helped make Group Dekko successful, and the foundation will continue to support young people in these communities so they can be successful in becoming self-sufficient and economically free. In addition, we hope that what we’ve learned by being involved in the Community Learning Center project can be a resource for these communities as they advance themselves.”

Moving to the Community Learning Center will mark the start of an exciting new chapter for the Dekko Foundation as it prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2021.

“It’s remarkable to reflect on the impact Mr. Dekko’s vision of economic freedom has had over nearly 40 years in the communities that meant so much to him,” Leedy said. “Moving the foundation to the Community Learning Center will help ensure that vision carries on for another 40 years — and beyond.”

Program boosts training in principle-based learning

A new program will help undergraduate students and veteran educators receive training and credentials in creating principle-based learning environments for young people. Our board has chosen to support this effort because if there are more high-quality, principle-based learning environments, then there will be more young people building skills, knowledge, and character that will help them grow up to be economically free.

 

From Trine University:

Building on the strength and growth of its Franks School of Education, Trine University will launch Indiana’s first Montessori teacher education degree program to help meet the growing need for teachers with Montessori credentials.

Trine’s Montessori teacher education program will be one of only a few undergraduate programs in the nation offered at the university level, and will provide training that leads toward state-recognized Montessori licensure for both undergraduate students and teachers already in the field.

“While Montessori schools continue to grow, there is a state and nationwide shortage of credentialed teachers,” said Anthony Kline, Ph.D., dean of the Franks School of Education. “In addition, teachers who lack Montessori credentials must complete rigorous training during the summer. This can place a financial strain on schools and the educators receiving the training.”

“Trine University’s Montessori teacher education program will ensure a pipeline of high-quality teachers trained through a Montessori lens to focus on whole-child development. We strongly believe that Montessori training will enhance graduates who teach in traditional school settings as well.”

“We look forward to the impact this new program will have, not only on our university, but on future generations of children who will benefit from a Montessori education and educators trained in the Montessori Method,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine University president.

The Montessori Method of education was developed in Italy by Maria Montessori in the early 20th century and is designed to build on the way children inherently learn. Now practiced worldwide, Montessori education is known for individually paced learning and fostering independence, and encouraging empathy, social justice and joy in lifelong learning, according to the American Montessori Society.

The university has begun the search process for hiring a director for Montessori education at Trine, and will announce a timeline for program launch once that person is in place.

Undergraduate students at Trine will receive training to earn Indiana Department of Education licenses in Elementary Generalist (K-6) and Montessori within four years. Through Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) accreditation and American Montessori Society (AMS) affiliation, graduates also will earn credentials to teach students ages 6-9 in Montessori settings.

Current teachers will be able to earn Montessori credentials through summer training programs at Trine and at Oak Farm Montessori School in Avilla. The program could include graduate-level credit that would lead to a Master in Montessori Education degree.

Oak Farm Montessori School, founded in 2000 by Lorene Dekko Salsbery, also will serve as Trine’s primary partner for observation, practicum and student teaching opportunities for students. A variety of local Montessori education settings also may provide clinical opportunities.

Trine’s new Montessori teacher education program is made possible in part through a grant from the Dekko Foundation. The foundation, which seeks to foster economic freedom through education, will provide $385,000 toward startup costs, which include salary for a program director and redesigning a classroom on the Trine campus to mirror a best-practice Montessori environment for elementary-age learners.

“As Trine University prepares its students to succeed, lead and serve, and also looks for new ways to enhance the quality of life in Indiana, we are grateful for generous partners like the Dekko Foundation,” said Brooks.

“The educators who complete this program will be grounded in the principles of child development and how to provide high-quality learning environments for young people that will assist them in building knowledge, skills and character so that they can grow up to be self-sufficient and ultimately economically free,” said Tom Leedy, president of the Dekko Foundation.

The Dekko Foundation is hiring!

The Dekko Foundation has an opening on its staff for a program officer. The details of the position are explained below.

PROGRAM OFFICER

SUMMARY

The Dekko Foundation seeks a full-time Program Officer. The Program Officer is responsible for reviewing grant proposals and managing relationships with grantees. The ideal candidate has strong interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and a heart for working with nonprofit organizations. The Program Officer works with staff, grantseekers, committees, and grantees to ensure that the Dekko Foundation’s mission of fostering economic freedom through education is carried out through effective grantmaking.

EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of five years of experience working in the nonprofit sector or related field. Knowledge of professional philanthropy is a plus. See additional details listed below.

EDUCATION

The Dekko Foundation values education, through both formal institutions and life experiences. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an appropriate level of education for this position through a certification, degree, or real work experience related to the work of a Program Officer.

EXPECTATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES

Supports the Foundation’s mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence, competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, commitment to our community, accountability, and ownership. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Program Officer plays a key role at the Dekko Foundation. As a consistent representative of the Dekko Foundation, a Program Officer embodies the values and mission of the Foundation. This position requires out-of-state travel, and on occasion meetings outside of normal business hours. The Program Officer is responsible to the Vice President of Programs to carry out all of the responsibilities related to a responsive grant portfolio.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Complete a portfolio of grant proposals that requires making site visits, managing relationships with grantees, developing grant outcomes and milestones, and monitoring grant progress and impact.

  • Review grant proposals. Draft and edit grant proposal summaries and recommendations for staff, committee, and board review.
  • Participate in, and sometimes lead, multi-disciplinary teams addressing current and emerging Foundation priorities.
  • Provide high-quality customer service to colleagues, grantseekers, and grantees by responding promptly and respectfully to a variety of inquiries.
  • Contribute to the ongoing process of developing systems to measure, learn from, and improve impact.
  • Be an active and supportive member of the program team.
  • Create, implement, and/or lead special projects as assigned.
  • Maintain collegial working relationships with colleagues and constituents.
  • Any other responsibilities as assigned.

CHARACTER

The Program Officer is best described as a servant leader. They are professional, personable, upbeat, approachable, flexible, respectful, motivated, and passionate about the mission of the Foundation.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Ability to make sound decisions that align with organizational priorities.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to identify and solve problems individually and as a team.
  • Effective presentation skills.
  • Proven creativity.
  • Strong critical thinking skills.
  • Basic Microsoft Office knowledge.
  • Appreciation for self-directed learning.

CONTACT AND QUESTIONS

Contact Jenna Ott, Vice President of Programs, at 260-347-1278 or jott@dekkofoundation.org with any questions related to the Program Officer position.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, professional resume, and two references to Jenna Ott at the email address above on or before Monday, December 9, 2019.