“Over the last three years, a number of our teachers have worked with Chris to develop their democratic classroom practices. Every single teacher has returned from Chris’ institute saying it was the best professional development they had ever experienced. The opportunity for educators to learn about empowering students and giving them a voice in the classroom has been transformative for our teachers.” 

Allison Darke
International Studies Coordinator
Fort Vancouver School District

“I have sponsored a number of Dual language immersion and World Language teachers to attend workshops led by Chris Fontana because the democratic classroom is the best way I know to get students to actually communicate and use the language they’re learning in school for real purposes. For teachers working with students coming from other countries and other cultures, the democratic classroom gives them an experiential window into core concepts of democracy in America, so it’s great for any teacher who wants to empower their English Language Learner students to feel at home in America and to engage in their school and community.” 

Michele Aoki
International Education Administrator
Seattle Public Schools

“The instructional model is a simple but profound shift that puts teachers into a shared leadership role with their students, fostering their self-respect for others and moving these students from passive to active change agents using their knowledge to change the world. Today more than ever with the turmoil and lack of thinking and problem solving being modeled in our society, we need this kind of learning in our schools. These young leaders will build a better world. And teaching this way will keep wonderful teachers in those schools, helping make it happen.”  

Terry Bergeson
Former Superintendent of Public Instruction of
Washington State
Interim Dean of the School of Education and
Kinesiology at Pacific Lutheran University

“I have had the pleasure to work and facilitate with Christopher, as well as invite him to lead work at our company. He has the unique ability to create safe spaces for people to listen and share while pushing them a step beyond their comfort zone to really see change happen. His experience across corporate and public sectors provides the groups with many examples on how to put his work into practice. Christopher is an experienced leader and facilitator that I am always looking forward to working with.”

Justin Lehmann
DEI – Business Consulting
Equitable, Charlotte, NC  

“Full Circle Leadership has been an invaluable partner in fostering growth, connection, and empathy at Bellevue College. Through the skillful facilitations of Christopher and Genae, our employees have gained insight and skills that continue to shape our community. Their commitment to equity and transformative change has left a profound impact, inspiring us to move with purpose and care. Because of the wonderful feedback we’ve received each time they are with us, we have proudly considered them lasting partners year after year.”

Consuelo A. Grier, Ed.D.  
Vice President , Community Care and Institutional Transformation
Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA

“After a long process of investigating organizations, we knew we wanted to work with Full Circle and no one else. And they delivered. Christopher and Ganae are those rare facilitators who can understand the true essence of the group AND what make each person tick within that group. From there, they can push both the group and individuals to peel back the onions and get at the core of what exists and how to build from that. Yet, they don’t just uncover and step back; rather, they find ways to help both groups and the individuals within that group build structures, strategies, and reflective tools to make the working relationships thrive.”

Steve Newman  
Executive Director
Evanston Scholars, Evanston, IL

“We’ve been working with FCL to democratize our school culture since the school’s inception in the fall of 2021. It’s been a game-changer for teachers who are brand new to the profession– Instead of replicating the traditional teacher-centered classroom, our teachers are creating more restorative, student centered environments and having weekly class circles facilitated by scholars. The progress we’ve made would simply not have been possible without the support, guidance and mentorship of Christopher, Genae and Abdel! Thank you for your devotion to the anti-oppression work that is critical right now.”

Jill Fineis
CEO & Principal
Pinnacles Prep Charter School, Wenatchee, WA