The JEC Lower and Middle School faculty enjoyed a transformative day of professional development with Dr. John D’Auria. In a series of workshops, Dr. D’Auria shared powerful tools that enable teachers and administrators to engage in effective conversations about important topics. Through role-play and conversation, faculty members explored topics such as recognizing the value of emotion, recognizing what hasn’t been said and finding common ground. One of the main takeaways was recognizing that everyone experiences the world in his/her own way and therefore brings a unique perspective to every conversation that needs to be considered. The faculty is excited to be able to apply their newly learned knowledge to relationships within the school building and beyond.