Mr. Connell Attends Prestigious Summer Institute
By Suzanne Morrissey
Students aren’t the only people learning at Brewster. Science faculty member Justin Connell attended the Independent Schools Experiential Education Network (ISEEN) Summer Teaching Institute in Colorado earlier this summer, building on his almost 25 years of teaching and educational leadership experience. “I was very grateful to have the opportunity to attend this conference, as I was able to collaborate with colleagues from around the country in both science-focused groups and with educators from other disciplines,” the veteran teacher said.
The ISEEN Summer Teacher Institute combines rigorous academic disciplines with deep thinking about the cognitive learning process. Teachers delve deeper into experiential education and reflective teaching practices while immersed in experiential and place-based learning activities themselves: The group explored the history and geography of their location, the “front range” of Colorado in Lafayette (near Boulder). Place-based learning (or “PBL”) is an important and growing aspect of a Brewster education.
ISEEN offers a Winter Institute for administrators to dive into current thinking on experiential education practices and trends, but the Summer Institute brings experiential education to the classroom in a practical, curriculum-based, and supportive environment led by master teacher facilitators from schools around North America. Mr. Connell (lower left in photo) was part of a cohort of science teachers from across the country.
“Although I was most excited to bring what I have learned back to my physics classroom, specifically to support struggling learners, I found that experiential education is far more broad, and has applications all over campus, from classrooms to dorm and community life. I can’t wait to share what I learned with my colleagues!” said Mr. Connell, who holds Masters of Education degrees in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction. For the 2025-26 school year, Mr. Connell is teaching physics and coaching JV Boys’ Soccer in the fall and JV Boys’ Lacrosse in the spring.
The ISEEN Summer Institute is the premier and founding experiential education professional development for teachers that focuses on elements of place, skills and knowledge development, curriculum design, assessment, and building community and belonging while reflecting and connecting with other attendees. The facilitators often hear from participants that it is truly a transformative and restorative experience.
