Beyond the Cohort: Supporting Maine High Schools in Building a Culture of Constructive Dialogue

The Can We? Project, based at Waynflete School, has announced Beyond the Cohort—a yearlong professional learning initiative designed for Maine high schools interested in embedding constructive dialogue as a core part of school culture.

Since 2018, the Can We? Project has supported cohorts of high school students across the state in learning how to engage with differences with respect and empathy. Beyond the Cohort expands this mission by focusing on educators, empowering them with the tools, mindsets, and practices needed to bring constructive dialogue into classrooms and school communities at large.

This new offering provides structured opportunities for teachers to develop and practice the skills of facilitating dialogue across a range of learning environments. The goal is to help schools create environments where students can talk openly and thoughtfully about complex issues that matter to them and their communities.

Beyond the Cohort will be led by veteran educators Derek Pierce and Lowell Libby, both deeply experienced in designing inclusive and responsive school cultures:

• Derek Pierce is the founding principal of Casco Bay High School in Portland and a former English teacher who helped launch Poland Regional High School.
• Lowell Libby served as Upper School Director at Waynflete School from 1991-2021 and co-founded the Can We? Project in 2018. His career began with the Upward Bound program at the University of Maine at Farmington.

This program will be hosted by Mt. Ararat High School, a long-time public school partner of the Can We? Project, and will include collaboration with other participating schools across Maine.

Schools and educators interested in joining this statewide movement toward dialogue-rich education are encouraged to reach out and learn more.

For more information, or to express interest in Beyond the Cohort, please contact
John Holdridge, Director of the Can We? Project, at jholdridge@waynflete.org.