Stephen Hurley

I have been involved in public education for 29 years, and am passionately committed to the idea of effective, powerful learning experiences for all participants. A musician, technology-watcher, father, husband, I find life in the world of education, even when the conversations get a little contentious. If I were to be doing anything else right now, it would be hosting my own syndicated radio program on--you guessed it--education. I blog in a few spots. My personal blog can be found at http://teachingoutloud.org. I can also be found hanging around http://www.cea-ace.ca and, most recently, http://voicEd.ca I can be found on twitter as @stephen_hurley

Stephen Hurley has written 24 posts for Cooperative Catalyst

Not Reformation…Not Transformation, but Restoration

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ May 5, 2013 ⋅ 1 Comment

I just posted this over at the Canadian Education Association blogspace! I have a bucket list, but it’s not the one derived from the movie of the same name. No, my bucket list is a compilation of all the household chores that I’m unable to complete in a cursory manner. The things on my bucket … Continue reading »

The Job of Teaching vs. The Role of Teacher: Daddy, I Need to Hear the Rhythm

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ March 23, 2013 ⋅ 4 Comments

Context: This past week, I was invited to be part of a panel discussion on a TVOntario public affairs program—The Agenda with Steven Paikin. The plan for the show was to discuss the job of teacher against the backdrop of recent tension with many of Ontario’s teachers around a legislated/imposed set of contracts. The response … Continue reading »

One One Condition: Time Is Limited

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ March 7, 2013 ⋅ 1 Comment

This post also appears as a recent addition to the Canadian Education Association website. You’re walking along the beach—possibly on your spring break—and you happen upon a rather odd-looking object that was left behind by the receding tide. As you pull the object from the moist sand, releasing it from its net of seaweed and … Continue reading »

Before There Was TED, There Was…PBS

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ February 24, 2013 ⋅ 1 Comment

My respected colleague, Paul W. Bennett, recently posted a rather sharp, pointed entry about the value of the TED movement. In particular, Paul focused a much-needed critical lens on the love affair that many of us seem to be nurturing with the TED franchise. In a very real way, the TED brand has become a … Continue reading »

ChoppEd: The Artistry of Teaching

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ January 12, 2013 ⋅ 1 Comment

For most of my friends, it’s the high-energy music that gets them through their regular gym workouts. For me, its the podcasts and, specifically, the podcasts about education. Lately, I’ve been filling my iPod with the recordings that having been coming out Stanford University over the past couple of years. I find them to be … Continue reading »

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…Or Perhaps We Should!

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ December 24, 2012 ⋅ 2 Comments

It’s been way too long since I’ve posted here, but I thought that I would wade back into the provocative (and supportive) waters of the Cooperative Catalyst with this piece that I wrote over at Teaching Out Loud this morning. Happy Holidays and here’s to renewed cross-border connections in 2013! I saved up all of … Continue reading »

Early Learning: Changing The Rules of Engagement

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ March 18, 2012 ⋅ 5 Comments

This is a cross-post of a piece that I submitted to the newly-established website voicEd.ca. Inspired by the work that the Cooperative Catalyst has been doing, and dismayed by the polarization that sometimes characterizes online conversations about education, we had the idea that the time might be right for a collaborative working space dedicated to schooling … Continue reading »

In the year 2012, I will strive to become a student of…

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ January 9, 2012 ⋅ 3 Comments

I’ve had it with New Year’s resolutions. I’m sure I’m not alone in that sentiment, am I? Oh, I still welcome the New Year as an opportunity to look back, look ahead, and to think about how my life might be just a little better. But after 53 years of life on this planet, I … Continue reading »

Please leave a light on—I’m comin’ home!

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ December 26, 2011 ⋅ 6 Comments

It’s the day after Christmas–Boxing Day here in Canada. The kids are down for an afternoon nap, and the house is relatively quiet. I’ve put some Rosemary Shortbread in the oven in anticipation of a second family gathering this afternoon, and I’ve poured myself a glass of red wine to help hold open this wonderful … Continue reading »

Sunday afternoons, Slow Cooking and Modern Schooling

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ May 30, 2011 ⋅ 6 Comments

If you ever want to catch me at my most relaxed and “tuned in”, drop over on a Sunday afternoon. At about 1:30, you’ll find me in the kitchen, working at preparing an inviting, comfortable family dinner. If you catch me in the early stages of the process, the counters will be clean, the sink … Continue reading »

Teaching as Improvisation

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ May 11, 2011 ⋅ 18 Comments

After years of faking it, I recently decided that it was time to give myself over to the study of jazz piano. In particular, I want to develop a greater sense of confidence in the area of improvisation. I can read music quite effectively, and I was taught at a very young age that it … Continue reading »

Excuse me, I would like to talk to you about my son’s chick!

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ April 24, 2011 ⋅ 14 Comments

I wanted to let you know that I haven’t given up on the work of the Co-op. The past few weeks have been wonderfully hectic as I try to draw some threads together before the end of June. The following entry is also posted on my personal blog space, but I was always get different … Continue reading »

Images of Reform: If a Picture Paints a Thousand Words

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ March 21, 2011 ⋅ 10 Comments

This is the second of three reflections written after reading the recently released McKinsey report, How the World’s Most Improved School Systems Keep Getting Better. The first of these reflections can be found on my personal blogsite, Teaching Out Loud, and the final excerpt will be posted on the Canadian Education Association website later this … Continue reading »

Nurturing Wonder and Awe in our Schools: A Placeholder

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ March 11, 2011 ⋅ 1 Comment

I wanted to check-in and let you know that I’m still around and plan on posting again in the next couple of days. Although I’ve been devoting most of my energy to a few of the other projects in which I’m involved (!), I wanted to let you know that I miss the unique energy … Continue reading »

Community-based Schools–Really!

Posted by Stephen Hurley ⋅ February 18, 2011 ⋅ 12 Comments

I need to keep my finger on a couple of the conversations going on in other posts here. To me, we’re getting at some of the important philosophical foundations of what it means to be in school. But I woke up this morning thinking about an issue that I tackled last week around mental health … Continue reading »

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