Episode 19- Merle Winston-Transitions: Lemons into Lemonade

Creativity Consultant Nellie Jacobs chats with Merle Winston, pedagogical/educational consultant, teacher of gifted children, lifelong learner and educator, workshop developer & facilitator and counsellor. Always willing to take risks, in her first foray into teaching Merle Winston successfully organized the female staff in her school (which included the librarian wife of the Principal) to protest the rule against women wearing pants to work. Merle's vision of a role as an educator is to create a team with a common goal, always considering the students' needs every step of the way. Merle was among the first educators to integrate technology, film, art and music in projects,thus allowing her students to individualize their own learning. Merle shares remarkable details of her life growing up, the decisions and ramifications of her divorce, how she was able to apply the lessons of her tough experiences as stepping stones leading to a new career path, her philosophy of education, how to take advantage of negative life experiences, and eleven ways to work towards achieving personal potential. Hear Merle's particular sense of humour as she discusses the meaning of her workshop titles such as "Getting to Know Yourself", "Minders, Finders and Grinders", "Hopers, Copers and Mopers", and "How to Get Along with Difficult People".