Educational Retreats in Italy
Where professional development and authentic  l ocal experiences  
converge to create a dynamic cultural exchange

Learning Together in a Special Place:
Perspectives on Leadership

Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy
June 2017
Organized by Angela Ferrario
International Study Tours,  LLC

2017 Educational Retreats
Professional development for small groups of educational leaders,  complemented by sightseeing excursions  and encounters with local artisans and townspeople,  taking you inside village life.  The charming town of Mercatello sul Metauro, with a population of 1500, is located in the Marche region in east-central Italy. In the 3rd year of this series, two programs are being offered.  Arrival & Departure

Series Organizer: Angela Ferrario is Manager of International Study Tours, LLC, which she established in 2005 for the  creation of educational travel initiatives in collaboration with U.S. and International colleagues. About Angela

June 17 - 22 
Early Childhood Leadership: Strategies to Ignite Passion and Possibilities
Facilitator:  Susan MacDonald, Founder of Inspiring New Perspectives, Waltham, MA,  www.inspiringnewperspectives.com  and author of recently published, Inspiring
Early Childhood Leadership: Eight Strategies to Ignite Passion and Transform 
Program Quality

June 24 - 29 
Expanding Our Leadership Capabilities Through Collaboration, Exploration and Reflection  

Facilitators:  Raymond Isola, Program Director for Green Schoolyards America Principals' Institute and Jim Cummins, Professor Emeritus at the  Ontario Institute for Studies in Education,  University of Toronto,  co-authors of soon to be published, Shared Leadership and Urban Education Reform: The Story of Sanchez School 
 
Palazzo Donati 
Our accommodations overlook Mercatello's main square where we will have exclusive occupancy at Palazzo Donati, a family owned historic residence with modern amenities.  www.lemarcheholidayvilla.com

Local Partners
Access to local places, artisans and regional cuisine is possible through a partnership with Nicoletta Amicizia, resident and tour guide along with local expert Luisa Donati, whose family owns Palazzo Donati. They are available to make sure our days run  smoothly while introducing us to everyday life of the town and  the surrounding area's hidden treasures.  Daily Itinerary


 June 2016 group
Learning becomes a travel journey where:
  • Sharing ideas, challenges and experience is encouraged 
  • Synchronicity with the environment brings energy to the dialogue
  • Leisure time interweaves with physical activity
  • Collaborative engagement engenders new friendships and collegial relationships

Educational travel for:

- Emerging to seasoned leaders, who work or have worked in the field of education
- Travelers who appreciate the slower rhythm of small Italian towns

QUOTES from past participants . . .

"I want to thank all of you for the connections we made!!"
"I wouldn't be the educator/ administrator/ human I am today without the serendipitous life lessons you facilitated during our time together in Mercatello."
"I am deeply grateful to all of you for all I have received - for being open to the experiences and giving so much of yourselves to our retreat. The whole is clearly more than the sum of its parts."
"I would like to join the chorus in praise of the wonderful people, setting, food and wine that enhanced our learning together in a special place."


 Palazzo Donati outdoor garden area
Join us ! 
Small group size - limited spaces. R eserve your space now by sending Registration Form and Deposit.   

Cost: US$1,975  per program
Based on shared accommodations
in double rooms.  S ingle room supplement available.

For more information contact:
aferrario@comcast.net