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Alan Vann Gardner - A martial artist making a difference
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Alan Vann Gardner is a martial artist making a difference.
Alan, a 4th degree black belt in Aikido, has been instrumental in integrating the principles of Aikido into K-12 education. Beginning in 1984, he has approached the educational curriculum as an opportunity to instill the qualities of leadership, ethics and values. While teaching at the West Marin School, he took the 7th grade unit on Japan and molded it to reflect the positive values of the Japanese code of honor. He created a bi-lingual program in the 4th and 5th grades explored how people of different cultures could get along with other by stressing the ideas of blending and harmonizing.
Alan is also a Certified Instructor of "The Samurai Game,” a leadership and team building intensive. He has adapted the game to use in instilling leadership qualities in his students.
As an administrator, Alan has continually been guided by the question “What does it mean to be an educated citizen?” He sees his role as one where he challenges students, teachers and parents to engage in conversations where they wed the smaller stories of their own lives with the larger stories of literature, history and culture, a theme inspired by Parker Palmer in his book, The Courage to Teach. Alan has worked tirelessly to successfully address these questions in the area of education:
How do we create a community? How do we develop our own leadership? How do we work together through research and shared decision-making How do we organize community service projects that make a difference? And how do we express a quality of presence that is respectful and inspiring?
Alan has taught adult and children’s Aikido classes for over thirty years. In 2003, he was awarded a Ed.D. from the University of San Francisco. His Doctoral Thesis was titled, “Students as Apprentices in Caring – I/Thou Relationships as Experienced by Early Adolescence in School.” His Master’s Thesis focused on Aikido, “The Aikido Way: Inner Approach Movement Education with Children.” In both of these papers, he addressed how to integrate the principles of Aikido into his profession as an educator.
Alan is currently the Assistant Principal at the Del Mar Middle School, part of the Reed Union School District. He sees his role as “promoting a culture of inclusion, kindness and caring.” Working on developing a Professional Learning Community at school, the focus is not only on bottom line results, but on how adults work together to build trust. For Alan, Aikido is more than a metaphor how to listen or respond to conflict; it is an embodied practice that helps him keep focused on the bigger picture, the larger context and continually return to a poised, positive and more peaceful presence.”
Alan teaches and trains at Two Rock Aikido. He can be reached at avanngardner@marin.k12.ca.us
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