Elephants on Parade
"Inviting The Elephants In The Room To Tea" is more than a motto for Jen, it is her mission. Too often what is not being said is the most influential part of a conversation. Jen seeks to not only name the elephants in the room but to invite them into the conversation allowing all participants to be authentic and honest.
Jen is delighted when individuals and groups she works with highlight this part of her mission.
 When Johnnie Foreman invited Jen to work with the faculty and staff, she said 'yes' before he finished the request. Jen was happy to see on a return visit the elephant paperclip thank you gifts, now new accessories, used to remind each other of the discussion. |  That incredible moment when a webinar attendees sent a piece of original artwork because it reminded her of the message conveyed. |  When your best friend sends you a tin of tea and an elephant teapot, you know are seen. |
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 Debby Irving, anti-racist educator, and author of "Waking Up White" models for Jen "I love this gift so much I’ve turned it into my everyday necklace." |  When your daughter, founder of Not In Our Town (a program focusing on anti-racism and anti-bullying) helps you make gift bags and forms a statement in support of the LGBTQ++ community. |  Receiving this original work by John Regan of Friends Academy moved Jen to speechlessness and now hangs in her office in a position where all zoom calls can see it. |
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 Lawrence Alexander of Carney Sandoe shows Jen the elephant keychain sent as a 'thank you' for being on Third Space. |  The hosts of the National Small Schools Conference, Crefeld School giving a shoutout with a bookmark given as a thank you for inviting Jen to speak! |  A teacher attending Jen's "Intersection between Quakerism and Diversity Workshop" sent this with a thank you note. |
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 Penny Evins and Cynthia Garland of St. Paul's School for Girls gifted Jen with these mugs. One had arrived with a chip in it so they ordered another and gave both with a note 'one for your pencils and one for your tea'. |  St. Elizabeth High School gave all participants of the leadership evening these hand stamped bags filled with tea. |  When Jen was a principal, the administrative team gave her this note and mug describing how she reminded them of an elephant. She keeps both in her office to remind her to strive to be strong, gentle, and steady. |
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 Last day of school. The elephant bag (one of Jen's gifts to Heads of Schools) is used to bring home the work produced! |  Green Acres School counselor and Diversity Coordinator, Ann Danner uses an elephant phone stand. |  A friend dropped off this shirt as a token of support. |
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 Understanding the complexity of elephants, this video was sent to Jen by a student who is working on a paper about how we are like elephants. |  Gift from a Head of School with the message "First, you might have to serve as a ringmaster of a three ring circus but I know you will get the elephants to join you for tea" |  This participant of several workshops wore the elephant paperclips Jen gave him to every session stating "to remind me to invite the elephants in the room to tea." |
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 Jen's son sent her this picture of Howard Stevenson's book, "Promoting Race Literacy in Schools", a must read! |  Jen's daughter carrying a Jen Cort Educational Consulting bag after attending the National Science Conference in Washington, DC. |  Lauren Brownlee shows off her Jen Cort Educational Consulting bag. |
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 In the classroom where the Affinity Group Facilitation Training sessions are held |  Designed, and sent to Jen by a student. |  National Elephant Day was a new one for Jen, but (thanks to Erin Scott) not one she will forget! |
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 St. Elizabeth High School lead our leadership evening with this prayer for balance. Note the "TEA" on the bottom. |  Head of St. Paul's School for Girls, Penny Evins, wears an elephant patterned shirt to introduce Jen to the faculty. |  Thank you Bea, faculty member at Friends Meeting School for sending this lovely thank you note! |
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 Stand for protecting the elephants. Several of Jen's student sent her this image. |  Jen's brother drew the logo for her. Jen asked a middle school group, 'What is needed to have the elephants on the other side of the table?" One student responded "You need to continue to work with us to create safe spaces". |  Potomac School's art piece pointed out by a student while walking with me to our affinity group. |
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 Jen has given her children "Be Braves" (small tokens to remind them of her when facing a challenge). One of her children gave Jen this elephant as a "Be Brave" before a presentation. |  Left in Jen's workbag by her daughter. |  Shared with Jen by a teacher at Pennington School |
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 Many people have tagged Jen on social media with this video. |  Head of School, Mara Nicastro, shared a picture of one of Jen's gifts of an elephant bookmark. |
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