PassageWorks Institute

PassageWorks Institute (PWI), founded in 2001 by Rachael Kessler, supports K-12 educators and families in creating inclusive school communities that foster creative, compassionate, and empowered young people. We envision a world where young learners develop strong social, emotional, and cross-cultural skills and qualities that help them become conscientious stewards of their communities and the world. PassageWorks’ purpose is to facilitate and support collective and sustainable change in school communities. Our implementation model and theory of change are based on a transformative learning approach that increases awareness, knowledge, and empathy which in turn begins to shift attitudes, biases, beliefs, and ultimately mental models and mindsets. These changes in mindsets are the foundation of ongoing relationship-based practices and collaboration that create powerful and inspiring learning communities. The four strands of our approach—Cultural Responsiveness, Social and Emotional Learning, Mindfulness, and Whole Systems Thinking—are the foundation of all of our courses and programs—and we see these strands as inter-related capacities and practices that nourish and invigorate the minds, hearts, and bodies of leaders, teachers, students, and parents. Transformative learning is our uncommon approach to professional learning and capacity building. Most professional development in K-12 education is primarily cognitive and does not produce shifts in fundamental attitudes, beliefs, biases or mindsets. PWI supports school communities to develop leadership capacity, teacher/administrator collaboration, and student and family engagement. These programs work together with curriculum initiatives and policy changes to increase every student’s motivation & sense of belonging and empowerment. We believe that school communities are critical ‘place-based’ hubs of change in community ecosystems.