Oregon Courage Community

Society demands much of educators but rewards little in terms of encouragement and support. The Courage to Lead® program for school and district administrators is designed to help leaders sustain and renew their passion, enthusiasm and commitment to their leadership and the communities they serve.

What is Courage to Lead?

Courage to Lead focuses neither on leadership techniques nor on school reform; instead, we focus on renewing something much more personal: the inner life of the administrator. The Courage to Lead program invites leaders to speak honestly about their lives as educators, and to listen and respond to each other with encouragement and compassion. 

We offer yearly retreat sessions and individualized programs for district teams. Throughout the retreat, participants explore the heart of their profession and passion through sharing stories from their own journeys, reflecting on their practice, drawing upon the insights of poets, storytellers, and diverse cultural traditions. Continuing Administrator Licensing credits are available.

View All Upcoming Courage to Lead Retreat Sessions

Courage to Lead brought our administrative team together during tough times. We learned more about ourselves and why we do the hard work that we do with passion and excellence. Courage to Lead taught us how to connect who we are with the work that we do. It was about discovering our identity, showcasing our integrity and participating in deep self reflection. These powerful components of solid leadership helped us design a shared vision for the future of our school district.

– Karen Gray
Superintendent, Parkrose School District

Current and Upcoming Retreat Sessions

More Information

Center for Courage and Renewal
Leading from Within by Parker J. Palmer

Contact Us

For more information please contact:

Dawn Montgomery  |  503-768-6090  |  dawnm@lclark.edu

Courage to Lead Program
Center for Community Engagement, MSC 85
Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling
0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd
Portland, OR 97219