How a 3-year partnership supports action in the curriculum
Facilitating a PD workshop about the “power of storytelling across all disciplines for deep learning” with educators at Orange Lutheran High School.
by Brian Lavender, Storyteller
Over the past three years, Orange Lutheran High School in California has seen a remarkable transformation in its approach to service learning and global citizenship. This outcome, guided by the school’s leadership vision and enabled by an ongoing collaboration with coach and facilitator LeeAnne Lavender, has been described as "invaluable" by Jessica Heim, a key figure in the school's service initiatives.
LeeAnne’s enthusiasm and expertise in storytelling and active listening have significantly enhanced the educational experiences of both students and faculty, embedding a culture of service that extends beyond the classroom into global communities.
"You can't put a price on what she's taught us and our students," says Jessica, the school’s Missions Program Communication and Curriculum Specialist. This sentiment underscores the depth of LeeAnne’s impact, which has been particularly notable in how service is incorporated into teaching and learning.
Taking a holistic approach to achieve better integration of key concepts, Jessica and LeeAnne work toward giving students a strong understanding of reciprocal partnerships during the run-up to experiential learning weeks.
In particular, Jessica embraces the integration of storytelling techniques that prepare her students for meaningful interactions with community partners.
"LeeAnne’s focus on active listening has been really beneficial for all the students who've gone on our trips and who will go on our trips," Jessica notes, highlighting the long-term benefits of LeeAnne’s influence.
“I strongly align with the assets-based approach,” says LeeAnne. “It opens the minds of students to see value in the communities they’re partnering with.” With her own experience as a classroom teacher as a basis for her methodology, LeeAnne is all too aware of how easy it is for emerging learners to slip into outmoded thought patterns that preserve harmful or unequal power relationships.
Jessica applauds LeeAnne’s focus on active listening. She goes so far as to call it “transformative” as it has changed how students interact with people in the communities they partner with. “They learn what it looks like to not just ask somebody questions but really to get at the heart of who they are and what they believe,” says Jessica. “It has become about fostering a sense of empathy and understanding that is crucial for effective service learning.”
Among the myriad innovations introduced by LeeAnne, the adoption of the Harkness discussion method in Jessica Heim's classroom stands out as a particularly transformative tool. This method has become the cornerstone of summative assessment, replacing traditional tests with dynamic, student-led discussions.
"The Harkness has become our summative assessment at the end of each semester,” explains Jessica. “It's a perfect way to engage in a discussion with our students to see what they've learned." This approach not only assesses students' understanding of the curriculum but also their active listening skills, their ability to engage with peers, and their capacity to probe deeper than surface-level conversations. It's a vivid example of how LeeAnne’s involvement has not just enriched the curriculum with innovative practices but fundamentally altered how students interact with knowledge, making learning a deeply interactive, reflective, and engaging process. This shift underscores a broader move towards active, experiential learning that prepares students for thoughtful, informed engagement with the world around them.
As someone who has seen LeeAnne’s approach take root in two very different school settings, Orange Lutheran High School’s Missions Director Lisa Baermann offers kudos for the growth of the Missions Program through the partnership. One of the specific challenges in her domain at OLu, says Lisa, is the ongoing need to develop new supports around emerging partnerships. “Every year we are essentially working from scratch,” says Lisa. With the Missions team reorienting the program toward evolving needs, having an adaptable framework has proven to be highly beneficial.
“It has been really great to have someone come alongside us,” says Lisa. “She’s been so open in sharing resources; she doesn’t hold back. LeeAnne has shared a lot of practical resources to help us meet our goals.”
One of the most significant outcomes of this partnership is the shift towards a culture of service learning that permeates the Missions Program. Students are encouraged to view service not just as an activity, but as a fundamental aspect of their education, shaping their approach to learning and interaction with the world around them. This holistic approach to service learning, inspired by LeeAnne’s guidance, is preparing students to become active, compassionate global citizens.
Lisa and Jessica agree that the influence of this culture shift seems evident in post-secondary educational paths that their students are pursuing. “A high percentage of our students are very interested in service-related professions,” Lisa points out.
As Orange Lutheran High School looks to the future, the partnership with LeeAnne stands as a testament to the power of collaborative, innovative educational strategies. The school has become a model for how to deeply integrate service learning and global citizenship into the fabric of education, inspiring students to make a tangible difference in the world.
Photos below, clockwise from top left: Leading a workshop with OLu students about deep listening and community partnerships; with Director of Curriculum Jenny Lark and visual art teacher Jeannie Mooney; with students from the Associated Student Body and Missions program; with Executive Director Dr. Mary Scott; with students engaged in a story circle; with the Missions team - Jess, Lisa, and Dri.
