Strengthening What’s Strong: Inside Our Social Learning Team Retreat
A few of our Social Learning coaches with Eagle Hill faculty and students on campus — celebrating collaboration, connection, and growth.
Great Programs Don’t Stand Still
At Frankenberger Associates, our Social Learning team is committed to pushing boundaries, finding new ways to support students and families, and investing in our own growth. That commitment is what led us to Eagle Hill School in Hardwick, MA, for our SEL team retreat.
Nestled on a hill overlooking sparkling water and rolling hills, we spent several days immersed in collaboration, training, and connection, all with one shared purpose: to strengthen our Social Learning Program, which already transforms lives, and to ensure it continues to evolve for the families we serve.
Why a Retreat?
The Social Learning Program at FA is unlike any other. Each 14-week program is fully individualized, built around a student’s life curriculum — the real-world challenges and social experiences they’re navigating every day. This unique approach ensures that no two programs look the same, and that every child’s growth is authentic, measurable, and lasting.
To sustain a program this dynamic, our coaches need the same opportunities we give our students: to connect, reflect, and grow together. The retreat gave us space to:
Share expertise through in-house trainings led by our own coaches.
Engage in curriculum building to refine strategies and tools.
Strengthen team bonds by living and learning together under one roof.
Reignite our vision for how social learning can transform lives.
As one team member reflected:
“This retreat was such a gift — from the planning and collaboration to the meaningful conversations and laughter we shared. It reminded me how blessed I feel to be part of FA and to work alongside such incredible people. Our time together affirmed the joy of being on this team and left me excited to keep growing with each of you, both personally and professionally.”
The Power of Eagle Hill School
Our retreat was made even more meaningful by where it took place. Eagle Hill School isn’t just a school, it’s a community deeply committed to empowering students with independence, advocacy, and confidence.
Another team member shared:
“Eagle Hill staff have an innate desire to be collaborative with parents and caregivers to not only address each student’s academic needs, but also to ignite a fire within their children to be self-driven and confident in their ability to be independent upon graduation.”
The alignment between Eagle Hill’s mission and our own philosophy of social learning was inspiring. It reminded us that we are part of a larger movement: helping students discover who they are, build confidence, and create a path toward independence.
More Than Productivity — Connection
Yes, the retreat was productive. Our curriculum grew sharper, and our strategies more refined. But what stood out just as much was the human connection. Sharing meals, laughing together, and reflecting under one roof gave us the kind of team closeness that can’t happen in day-to-day Google Meets, calls, or office hours.
That connection fuels innovation. It ensures that when our coaches return to working one-on-one with students, they bring not only new ideas but also a deeper sense of unity, creativity, and purpose.
Looking Ahead
As we return to our students and families, we carry with us both practical tools and renewed energy. The retreat reminded us that growth doesn’t just happen in isolation, it happens when dedicated people come together with a shared vision.
We are deeply grateful to Eagle Hill School for welcoming us so warmly and giving us the space to reflect, connect, and innovate. This retreat was a milestone for our team — and it’s only the beginning of what’s ahead.
Learn more about our Social Learning Program and how we’re helping students build lifelong skills in confidence, independence, and connection.
Ben Backes, LCSW, LADC
Assistant Executive Director