Thank you for wanting to know more about the Institute and how it was founded.  These texts on the origins of the Boothby Institute were written by the Institute founder, Bill Cumming.

The Planting of Seeds

The Boothby Institute is named for Al and Alice Boothby. It is difficult to say how my life might have turned out without their influence. Albert C. Boothby was an extremely quiet man. He taught history in a small independent school, nestled in the rolling hills of central New York State. During the late 50’s and early sixties, he realized that education was the most important issue in the process… Read more…

The Work We Do

The kind of violence that was unleashed in New York, Washington and in a field in Pennsylvania is no different than any other violence. Those who feel honored to do damage to others do not value themselves. Acting as if there were a difference in this situation is to miss the point entirely. The school shootings in Colorado and Georgia (and the hundreds of copycat threats throughout the United… Read more…

Inspired Teaching

To end the myth that we do not know how to create inspired, soaring, nurturing, result producing educational environments. In education, our interest is not simply in understanding the current morass in public education around the world, but to provide vehicles for its dramatic transformation. There is considerable evidence that we can now define inspired teaching. If we are able to define it, why… Read more…

Michael Neill: “There are times in everyone’s life where we ask ourselves if our work is worthwhile and if we will ever make a real and tangible difference in the world. Ten years ago, I heard about the work of Bill Cumming and without knowing why, knew I needed to learn more. I worked with him every week for the next 2 1/2 years, and his influence on my coaching and on my life continues on unabated. If you ever get the chance to spend any time at all with Bill – on a phone call, at a seminar, or if you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet him in person – do whatever it takes to do it. You will be struck by the man, by his message, and by the reality of your own potential to change the world.”