Shelburne Farms’ Professional Learning Philosophy

At its core, the Northeast Farm to School Institute is a means to a larger goal of creating a sustainable future. One leverage point that Shelburne Farms has identified for achieving this goal is supporting adults in the education system who play a critical role in shaping the culture of schools and communities.

Grounded in over forty years of experience delivering impactful professional learning through the Institute for Sustainable Schools, Shelburne Farms utilizes a research-based professional learning philosophy that underpins the design of all its adult education programs and describes its approach to professional learning. The Northeast Farm to School Institute embodies the key principles of Shelburne Farms' professional learning philosophy to ensure participants have a transformative experience that develops and deepens their practice and that they gain increased leadership, agency, and collaborative capacity to make change. The following section provides details on how the Institute's core components align with research-backed elements of effective adult education.