Because some of the fields of knowledge we teach at Avalon are not yet fully developed as academic disciplines, there is no ready pool of Ph.D. graduates to draw upon. As a result, we invite persons of diverse educational and professional backgrounds to teach with us. We hope to create a community of teachers here who can nurture each other and help each other to improve as teachers and as practitioners of their various arts. It is also expected that teachers at ACDS will always also be students. There is always more to learn and Druidry comprises a broad range of practices and possibilities in the 21st Century. It is our hope that we can offer workshops and symposia for teachers as well as for students and that our own instructors may seek to complete Avalon's magister and ollamh program certifications.
This said, it is not the policy of Avalon Center to encourage elitism or credentialism. Wisdom is not measured by titles and academic degrees, but by thought, experience, and a compassionate heart. Many now practicing and writing in the fields of magical arts do not have extensive formal training. Some have been trained in magical or druidic orders or worked with wise and experienced teachers. Witchcraft is almost always passed on from mentor to student through close-knit covens. Thus it would be a mistake to expect all of our faculty to hold advanced academic degrees, or even to have attained exalted rank in a magical lodge.
It has often been said that teaching is the best way to learn a subject thoroughly. The act of teaching others and the responsibility of setting knowledge in order so that it can be clearly articulated lead one to a deeper understanding of any subject. So, if you feel that you lack "proper" academic credentials, but have a love of sharing your knowledge, and a strong desire to delve deeply into a subject that you have always wanted to study further, consider teaching with us.
Finally, one caveat should be made. In the field of psychism, paranormal phenomena, and New Age self-help generally, we must acknowledge there is a certain amount of self-delusion, charlatanism, and downright fraud. There are even persons who assume the role of teacher and mentor only to lure naive young people into abusive situations or cults. We must strongly state that this kind of behavior is absolutely forbidden at Avalon College and will not be tolerated. Claims of supernatural powers will be met with skepticism and are not a particularly desirable quality in our faculty.
Druidry is a path of nature and science, not a path that embraces naively any particular notion of supernaturalism. The magical arts, healing, and dealings with the spiritual otherworlds are to be discussed and rigorously examined, not simply accepted as articles of faith. Most certainly such ideas and practices are not to be accepted as "ancient" or "hidden" knowledge without clear demonstration of their place in history.
Although our faculty are offered great license and academic freedom to pursue their own investigations into spiritual or paranormal phenomena, it is true that we tend to seek out scholars who examine their beliefs and experiences critically and include psychology and science among the tools they bring to their quest for understanding.
