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Flourishing Schools: Exploring Compassion, Self-Compassion, and Awe for the Greater Good (Spring 2027)

Join us in building happier, kinder schools where everyone belongs.

Date: Spring 2027
Venue/Type: Online
Price: $149

Overview

“I think the feeling of community and support helped me the most. It helped me to be bold, to be true to me, and take action.”—2025 Greater Good Educator

 

Greater Good Educators is a research-based professional development experience designed to support educators in fostering personal and collective well-being. In this supportive community of practice (CoP), educators from around the world learn with and from each other to build kinder, happier schools where everyone belongs.

 

The community of practice meets for 90 minutes three times per month for three months. Each session is grounded in cutting-edge science and built to support real-world application to help educators care for themselves and the students, colleagues, and communities they serve. In addition, CoP members receive access to digital content hubs that provide videos, resources, and practices describing the science-based “what, why, and how” of each topic.

 

Come ready to connect, reflect, and grow with fellow educators as we build kinder, happier classrooms where everyone belongs!

Registration for this program will open on April 13, 2026!

 

Logistics & Cost

What’s Included?

  • Three 90-minute facilitated sessions per month, for three months (nine sessions total), with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley
  • Flexible meeting times, with sessions happening four different times each week, so you can attend a time that fits within your schedule.
  • A digital content hub with articles, videos, and practices curated specifically for each month’s theme, including takeaways that can be applied immediately in your context
  • A space for community building and belonging to nurture your spirit and reconnect you with your purpose in education

 

When and Where Will We Meet?

  • Each community of practice meets three times per month over three months (for a total of 9 Zoom sessions).
  • We offer flexible meeting times, with sessions happening four different times each week, so you can attend a time that fits within your schedule.
  • Meeting Dates:
    • February 9-25, 2026
    • March 9-25, 2026
    • April 6-22, 2026
  • Meeting Time Options (all meeting times listed in U.S. Pacific Time, use a time zone converter to find the times for your time zone):
    • Tuesdays: 4:30 – 6:00 pm PT
    • Wednesdays: 2:00 – 3:30 pm PT
    • Thursdays: 9:00 – 10:30 am PT
    • A fourth option will also be added, appropriate for participants in Asia/Australia

 

What is the cost?

  • The program cost is $149.
    • We offer a sliding scale for registration ($99 – $209). Visit the CoP registration page for more details about the sliding scale.
    • 30% discount for teams of 5 or more who join together. Please reach out to us at ggsceducation@berkeley.edu for more information on group discounts.

 

Do you offer course credits or CEUs?

  • After completing this CoP, you will receive a certificate with 15 clock hours from UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center.
    You will also be eligible to earn one unit of graduate-level credit from the University of the Pacific through Courses4Teachers (additional fees apply). For more information about this option, visit Courses4Teachers and review their process for registration.

 

Registration for this program will open on April 13, 2026!

 

Monthly Themes

February 2027: Kindness-Compassion

In February, we will explore how to encourage and practice kindness and compassion in our schools and classrooms.

Kindness and compassion are deeply rooted in human nature–our first impulse is to cooperate rather than compete. When we really listen to one another, and react with compassion and kindness, creativity and problem-solving flourish. This month will support educators in fostering a school and/or classroom culture in which compassion and kindness create an environment where everyone feels a deep sense of belonging.

 

March 2027: Self-compassion

In March, we will learn how to practice self-compassion and encourage self-compassion in our schools and classrooms.

Self-compassion–extending kindness and compassion to ourselves as educators—reduces stress, improves emotional regulation, and promotes teaching practices that lead to more autonomy and motivation in students. When students practice self-compassion, not only do they feel better, but they also show more motivation to improve. When adults practice self-compassion, they feel a greater sense of agency and are more protected from burnout.

 

April 2027: Awe

In April, we will dig into research and practices that help us to envision awe-filled schools and classrooms.

Awe experiences shift our attention away from ourselves, make us feel like we are part of something greater, and promote generosity toward others. Research has shown that awe inducing experiences are good for us physically, socially, and emotionally. Throughout April we will learn how awe benefits our brains and bodies and connects us to greater meaning, and begin to create awe-filled learning environments filled with curiosity, discovery, and connection.

Instructors & Speakers

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Margaret Golden, Ed.D.

Margaret Golden, Ed.D., plans and facilitates GGSC communities of practice to provide educators with transformative explorations in the science of well-being and social-emotional learning. Margaret is passionate about educational equity and the creation of trustworthy spaces for engaging in heartfelt, often difficult, conversations. More about Margaret Golden.

“Participation in this program allowed for me to pause and reconnect with a very important part of my work. It acted as time for self-care and connection with a community that is truly important to me.”
–2025 Greater Good Educator