Our Guest: Kathy Minardi
Show Notes
Kathy Minardi joins us to talk about applying the Bowen Theory of family systems to create a healthy school community. Edwin Friedman, author of A Failure of Nerve, was the first to apply Bowen’s family systems theory to professional organizations, which he argued have personalities, just like families. Friedman’s approach focuses on the importance of leaders being self-differentiated, being non-anxious, and being present with those one is leading. According to Friedman, self-differentiated leadership involves:
- the capacity to separate oneself from surrounding emotional processes
- the capacity to obtain clarity about one’s principles and vision
- the willingness to be exposed and be vulnerable
- the persistence to face inertial resistance
- the self-regulation of emotions in the face of reactive sabotage
Kathy provides an overview of how Bowen Theory can apply to a school community, providing specific examples of how she did this in her own school community.
About our Guest
Kathy Minardi
Based in Washington, DC, Kathy Minardi continues to leverage her extensive career as an educational leader providing guidance and training to school leaders through Whole School Leadership’s Institute throughout the world. She contributes her expertise as a Montessorian with extensive training in transformational leadership and organizational development. Kathy has been a school leader for over 40 years, including 17 years at Aidan Montessori School, one of the oldest Montessori schools in the US.
Kathy holds a BA and MA in Education with executive certificates from Georgetown University, Harvard, Yale and MIT in areas of leadership, adult development and emotional intelligence. She served as a trainer for NAMTA’s Tier I and II courses for administrators, on the founding board of Montessori Administrators Association and the board of the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools. She holds a background in family systems theory and practices, sustainable community building practices, and is a trained peace and conflict resolution facilitator. She is a Margaret Wheatley Warrior for the Human Spirit and a sought-after speaker and retreat and workshop presenter.
She has been busy giving a TED talk, being a frequent lecturer throughout the world, and co-founding Prague-based Lead Montessori. She dedicates her life to supporting the work of child advocacy, equity and inclusion, and social justice and public policy on behalf of children. She is a member of Whole School Leadership Institute’s core teaching faculty for the acclaimed Montessori Leadership master course, “Transforming Self, Community & Society.” She sincerely hopes, however, that her most important work will be helping you.
Resources
Whole School Leadership Institute
https://www.wholeschoolleadership.org/
A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix by Edwin H. Friedman
https://www.amazon.com/Failure-Nerve-Leadership-Age-Quick/dp/159627042X
Learn more about Bowen Theory of Family Systems
https://www.thebowencenter.org/core-concepts-diagrams
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