Profiles of Roothbert: James Heinegg

“I’m a little embarrassed to admit this,” began James Heinegg, “but when I received the fellowship, I thought to myself, ‘Ugh...I have to go to a Pendle Hill retreat?’” A current board member, chair of the Fund’s Fellowship Committee, James originally became a Roothbert Fellow in 1999 while completing an Ed.D. at Columbia University’s Teachers College. 

“Regardless, I went to Pendle Hill with my family, and that was the big eye-opening experience for me.” James’s first Pendle Hill Retreat was facilitated by Steven Wilder ‘85 and centered on the relationship between spirituality and work. 

“I loved the discussions at Pendle Hill. It’s such a wonderful experience to be in a room with everybody and to have thoughtful discussions,” reflected James. “Steven incorporated a ‘working in silence’ component into the retreat, assigning us each different tasks to do around campus. We spoke only when it was absolutely necessary, cooking the day’s meal, moving furniture, clearing out rooms.” 

After a weekend of getting acquainted with other fellows, “sharing thoughts and sharing meals”, James decided to continue attending Pendle Hill retreats, eventually leading a retreat of his own. “One of my passions is juggling. I led a Pendle Hill retreat on holy folly, foolishness and play relating to spirituality. Sometimes, what the world deems foolishness carries spiritual depth.” 

James’ involvement with the Roothbert Fund eventually resulted in the establishment of legacy. “My daughter Claire eventually became a Roothbert Fellow too. Lately, we’ve been co-hosting Pendle Hill retreats.” 

Whether through interviews of Pendle Hill retreats, James noticed a common “growth mindset” within the fellowship. “One of the reasons that the Pendle Hill experience is so exciting is that you get a whole bunch of people with this growth mindset in the same space. They are open to continued growth, but also see this as important for all of us.” 

“Secondly, I would say Roothbert fellows share an openness. While perhaps having very committed spiritual beliefs, fellows have an openness to the experience of others. As Roothbert Fellows, we do not just tolerate difference; we see beauty in it.”

James applies his commitment to growth within the educational system, starting as an elementary school philosophy teacher through Philosophy for Children and later serving as a superintendent. “I decided I wanted to go into public school teaching, and, in addition to my work in the classroom, I really enjoyed working with other teachers. I enjoy working with educators, and this brought me into administration. Overall, I see my role as providing the necessary support for teaching in the classroom to continue.” 

“Education is not just about preparing people for the future, but helping them open their minds to their own possibilities, instilling that idea of a growth mindset,” commented James. “Education is a matter of helping people understand and work toward their potential, forming a community of inquiry.” Within the Roothbert community or in his profession, James commits to providing others with the necessary conditions for introspection and community building. “The idea of a community of inquiry is almost always foremost in my mind with respect to education.”