Welcome Guest Blogger - Trisha Muse!

Okay, so Trisha's not really a guest. This is, after all, the blog for the entire Teacher of the Year Team! But I am excited about hearing from the other Regional Teachers of the Year to see what they've been up to. Today we go on an exciting journey with Trisha (the Sandhills South Central Region Teacher of the Year.) She's been busy! Read the following excerpts from her Teacher of the Year journal!

July 30, 2008
Chatham County Schools
Central Office
Pittsboro

After talking with Ruth Ann Parker (the Southeast Regional Teacher of the Year) once on the phone and on a million emails we had created our first professional development opportunity for lateral entry teachers in Chatham County. We shared ideas and we arranged the perfect schedule and presentation for the new educators. Our participants were going to play a Human Bingo game for an ice breaker and then we were going to use Ruth Ann’s 10 tips for survival “Survive and Thrive” using Gilligan’s Island for the entire group. Afterwards, we were going to have a break out session with elementary school teachers going with me and the high/middle school teachers going with RuthAnn. I planned to share my Wizard of Oz comparison with the educational journey along with classroom management ideas for our young students. Hopefully, inquisitive questions would be asked and we would help these teachers feel at ease. Of course, I was going to use Beth, my sister, and my Daddy as my perfect examples of successful lateral entry educators!

I picked out my new bright red suit (it was short-sleeved too since it was so hot) with my red ballet slippers; it was the perfect match! I was excited about traveling to Chatham County, especially since two of my rival high schools are located in this district (Jordan Matthews Jets and Chatham Central Bears). There were butterflies in my stomach all the way down Hwy 64 East because this was my first Regional Teacher of the Year experience. I had become used to making simple keynote speeches for my county, but providing insightful information to other teachers seemed more overwhelming. I wanted my workshops to be intriguing and not boring and redundant.

I arrived 30 minutes early and was excited to see one of our other Teacher of the Year team members, Wake County’s Paige Elliott, the North Central Region Teacher of the Year. She is always so pretty in pink! She is an extremely busy lady and she amazed me with the stories from her Mexico trip this summer. While we were “catching up”, I discovered that we were only speaking with two teachers! Okay, so I became relieved but felt crazy for being so nervous prior to this session. No need for my 50 copies…haha! Both teachers were high school teachers, one in PE (we shared many connections because he knew many Chatham Central people) at Jordan Matthews and the other one taught Family Consumer Sciences.

RuthAnn arrived and was also very surprised so we did what all teachers do every day, remain flexible and make adjustments. After eating lunch, we talked to the teachers one-on-one about effective strategies we used and we all felt comfortable talking about the joys and challenges of our profession. I was also able to use my Wizard of Oz PowerPoint to emphasize my important points, so I was glad that hours of work were not wasted.

An hour early, we dismissed our participants. I hugged RuthAnn and we laughed about how nervous we had been the night before. I guess some would call this workshop a “flop,” but it definitely gave me a preview of the upcoming year.


August 18, 2008
Stokes County Schools Convocation
West Stokes High School
King

At 4:00am, I eagerly jumped out of bed ready for my first "out of Montgomery County" inspirational keynote speech. I said my speech notes over and over again while I was getting ready before leaving the house at 5:00. It was extremely difficult to come up with the perfect topic to address with teachers on their first day back to school. I know teachers’ minds are racing with a to-do list a mile long, so I wanted to make my speech inspiring and motivational. I had become a master with my Wizard of Oz speech preparing for the state TOY competition, but it is geared more towards new teachers. I constantly would think of what to say in my mind for weeks, but I did not put my thoughts together until Saturday night. I wanted to use my quote by William Arthur Ward “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” I also used this quote in my video, so this was perfect to remind all of us WHY we teach. Of course I added the cute stories of my students because I can’t help but smile when I talk about them.

So why visit Stokes County for such an important event, especially since it isn’t in my region? I would have to thank Cindi for this one because she was over booked and asked all of us if we would help her. I quickly responded and told her that I would do it. Cindi was thrilled and provided Melisa Jessup (the Executive Director for Human Resources) my contact information and also informed her that I was a clogger. Well, the clogging part was intriguing so Ms. Jessup suggested showcasing my clogging. I am out of shape, so I talked to Mr. Kryzalka about taking our SMASH-n-CLOG program on the road. We had initially planned to take our large group of sixth graders, but our middle schools decided to have an orientation the same morning. So we chose some of our best former students and cloggers…all seventh graders and now they are definitely middle school girls: Mary Winston, Cullie, Erynn, and Susanna. Mr. K and I worked on a routine that would be simple to learn, but amazing to watch. We practiced for four days experimenting with a variety of patterns and beats until we came up with a 6 minute “smashing” routine. I even started the program with morocco’s counting 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and…We mastered our parts and Mr. K accompanied us on the drums. We were ready!

So back to today…I arrived to Page Street at 5:35 (5 minutes late for my mother) to meet the other members of my group. Mr. K’s van was loaded to the ceiling and all of the ladies rode with Cullie’s dad, Sam, in the Honda Pilot. Susanna and Cullie in the very back, Mary Winston, Erynn, and Mama in the back, and I was the co-pilot for Sam in the front since I am the car sick one. The girls watched teenage movies, 13 Going on 30 and even Legally Blonde 2. Of course I couldn’t turn around and watch the DVD player, but the best part was listening to the sweet girls giggle and laugh. Then listening to my mom just as tickled as they were…

We stopped at McDonald’s for a quick breakfast and the girls shocked me again how much they had grown up by drinking coffee (the iced kind, but still CAFFEINE)! Mr. Kryzalka of course didn’t eat anything; he is such a health nut! We arrived to King at the perfect time and we were impressed with the beautiful new West Stokes High School. My mom was excited because they were the Wildcats, just like her own mascot in high school in Ellerbe. The girls wanted to run up the stairs the first thing because they had never been in a school that was 2 stories! We reminded them they had to act like ladies, and I did go with them on a quick tour after our performance. We walked into the new gymnasium covered in colors purple and gold and we found our own little corner where we would perform. There was also a stage placed in the center of the floor supposedly where I would make my speech.

As soon as I entered the halls in that school, I could feel the energy and enthusiasm of teachers. Anyone could tell that the 18 schools in this district were a family and everyone had a smile on their faces. I loved how everyone seemed so laid back and just down to earth…welcome to the mountains! I also had never seen so many tall and skinny men! Random…but I did notice…haha! I instantly found Melisa with her beautiful smile and welcoming hug. She told me where we would be and where the girls could sit.

Mr. K and Sam, along with the maintenance staff, set up all of our trash cans, pots, pans, basketballs for our SMASH program. The girls rushed off to the bathroom to get ready (now to put on makeup) and were jumping around since Melisa had just given them Chick-Fil-A and McDonald gift cards. I saw the early bird teachers arriving at least 45 minutes before 9:00 while the others waiting until the last minute after breakfast to enter the gym.

I expected to find my stomach in knots prior to my speech, but I was more excited to share my first day back with such an exceptional school system. Before the convocation began, the distinct school board members, administrators, county Teacher and Principal of the Year, and myself lined up in the hall to march into the gym. I felt so important! There were several of us who sat on the stage, so at that moment I saw hundreds of educators staring straight at me…okay, so maybe I became a little nervous then. However, I became more comfortable after listening to the encouraging words of their county Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year. They even used some of my quotes that I was going to emphasize. After an hour, it was my turn. The best part of my introduction today was when Melisa Jessup said, “Cindi Rigsbee, our NC Teacher of the Year, said that even though Trisha Muse is the youngest TOY of our team, she is one of the most dynamic teachers she has ever seen!” When approaching the podium, I could tell everyone in the audience was hot and restless so I used my teacher voice and asked everyone to stand up and take a stretch break. That was helpful! I sailed through my speech smoothly, only stuttering a few times. I revolved my speech around the reason why I teach (since we already had to create a video for the state TOY process this past April), and of course I talked about my students! I introduced Mr. Troy Kryzalka, my partner in crime, and I made sure that everyone in the gym realized that he deserved the Teacher of the Year recognition.

Mr. K took over the microphone and I quickly tied my clogging shoes and placed a morocco in each hand. SMASH had started...counting 1-2-3-4 my four girls entered their “stage” perfectly and Mr. K played the drums and the keyboard. Yes, it was extremely entertaining when I started clogging and bouncing a basketball at the same time. This sounds like a circus, but the educational aspects are amazing. We received a standing ovation and I immediately hugged my girls for doing such a great job. It took us an hour to leave the gym from the many caring hugs and compliments received from our performance. Can’t forget the offers to also transfer to Stokes County!

After loading the van, we headed home…we still stopped at Olive Garden in Greensboro to eat to celebrate such a wonderful day! Mr. K and I returned back to Page Street on Cloud 9 and even more excited about a new school year. This was the perfect start to a new year.

The same night, I went by my dad’s house to tell him about my exciting day in Stokes County and he jokingly reminded me that the Stokes County was originally Cindi’s gig. Okay, so I was the substitute, but am grateful to have been selected as the second choice today. Thanks Cindi!

August 25, 2008
The FIRST day of school is always a vivid memory for me whether if it was when I entered 2nd grade for the first time with my rose embroidered skirt, to my freshmen year at North Moore High School, or the first time second semester that I trudged in the snow to get my first class at Appalachian State. Now, I have first days every year and I still get nervous (and excited). Being on the teacher side doesn’t make a difference. Daddy still gets anxious and he has taught over 30 years. Teaching is probably one of the few professions that you get to start over after 180 days. If you have a horrible year with a class who can’t get along 5 minutes, you just count down the days. Then pray and hope for the next year to be better. Well, I consider myself blessed this school year because I already knew my students even before they walked in the classroom door. This group is one that made me cry for a week before we left for the summer. I even took them to Washington D.C. during the summer, which made us more attached. I just tell them I graduated to fifth grade, so of course they have already asked if I am going to sixth grade too (which the answer is NO)! The educational term for this is "looping" and research has shown that remaining with the same class over 2-3 years is beneficial to the students’ academic success. So I hope this will prove to be true in our situation. I did lose 3 of my students due to transferring, but I have gained 4 more who will be great additions to our classroom family. It made my life so much easier with writing names on rosters and looking through cumulative folders because I have the same children.

Our Accelerated Reader Theme this year revolves around the Wild West. So our halls look like a corral with cowboy boots and lassos. I can’t wait for the country line dancing and horse riding (even though I am terrified of horses). We also welcomed new administration to Page Street with a new principal and assistant principal. You can now walk in our building and feel the excitement from teachers and students.

Well, this first day was not spent “getting to know” one another; we spent the entire day catching up. Sometimes, there was a little too much chatting about our summer activities but I had to remember how special these kids were and the positive connections that were still evident among each individual student. I did notice how much they had grown over the summer, and they were becoming young adults. My fifth grade team tells me to wait until next year to notice more changes (they are then 6th graders). Even Cesar, who rarely spoke last year, is now a strong leader with group discussions. Garrett, another extremely shy student, has completely come out of his shell and shared stories from his summer. This is the best part about my job--seeing children gain confidence in themselves to excel in academic areas and life in general.

Even though most of the students knew what I expected, it was still important to discuss classroom rules and procedures to ensure a successful school year. I found it funny that the students kept asking if we were going to the same things last year (because we had such a great time with our wax museum, luau, Special Loved Ones Day, ballroom dancing at the nursing home), and I reminded them that we had new curriculum concepts so we would enjoy experiencing new projects and activities that align with the fifth grade.

Even though we know each other very well, I am sure there will be many changes evolving this year to make us have a greater appreciation for one another. I will also grow professionally from another school year along with my Regional Teacher of the Year responsibilities. Change is inevitable in our profession, another reason I love my job!


August 31, 2008
At the end of last school year, I had the opportunity to speak with our Montgomery County NCAE members at our annual breakfast. As usual, it was difficult to know what to say especially to many of my closest friends and colleagues. Plus, the night before Papaw had been rushed to the hospital so it had become a late night to start writing a speech. Therefore, I spoke about the importance of family, emphasizing a family within our classrooms and schools. It was only a 10 minute speech but it obviously inspired our NCAE representative. Now I know that I have made an impact on other teachers to make a difference!

Here is the email received:

Dear Trisha,Thank you again for speaking at the MCAE End-of-Year Breakfast. Over the summer, I thought a lot about your remarks about creating family with our students, and I wanted you to know that as I begin a new year, I am on the lookout to do just that at my school with my students. It is a bit more challenging at high school, but some felllow teachers and I are discussing starting a Ladies of Distinction group, with some of the girls who so desperately need positive attention and role models at school. Wish us luck, and know that your message inspired us to put finally plan and proceed with something we had been talking about someone else doing, and do it ourselves! I wish for you a positive and productive year, and hope that our paths will cross again. Thanks for the inspiration!

As you can see, Trisha has been extremely busy making a difference in our state. Thanks, Trisha, for sharing, and keep up the journaling. We'll want to hear more!

Finally...Children!

Okay, I was patient. I wanted to go bouncing into a school on the first day! (But I waited for things to settle a bit.) Finally, today, I was able to feel the energy that only a school full of children can emit. I visited Mr. Everett's AIG class at Belville Elementary in Leland, N.C. What a great group of kids!

The classroom is in a brand new wing of the school; it's beautiful, and they're still putting finishing touches on everything. This school is big, over 800 students, so the new wing will definitely come in handy. As I walked in, the students were intently working. As soon as Mr. Everett told them to return to work after my presentation, they were immediately quiet and all business. But in between, these fifth graders looked at me with such enthusiasm - they really were listening to every word.

We talked about the fact that this is a special day - on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech. We, of course, talked about dreams, as I am prone to do on almost any occasion, and I shared some student stories and some stories about my personal children and me.

As we finished up, I prepared to give out some prizes I had brought - some pens, stickers, and super cool squishy pencil grippers. But I was suddenly surprised! The class had gifts for me: a beautiful plant, a Belville Sharks notepad, and a Belville Elementary tee shirt! I was so excited!

Here are Gabby and Ke'Andre' presenting me with gifts. Thanks so much, guys!

Thank you to Mrs. Coston, the principal at Belville, for allowing me to visit during the first week of school. And thanks to Mr. Everett and his wonderful students. Have a great year, Sharks! Hopefully, I'll be back soon!

I Do Solemnly Swear...

Following are some words that I never in my wildest dreams thought I would read on an email - "You are going to be receiving a call from the Governor's office." Then, in my dream, the phone rings, and I hear "You will soon be receiving a letter from the Governor." The next thing I know I have the envelope in my hand, and I'm reading:

"It gives me great pleasure to appoint you to serve as a member of the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards Commission. Pursuant to General Statute 115C-295...."

I am so honored, I can't believe it. Only a few months ago, I couldn't even get Li'l D to sit in his seat! And to make this dream even dreamier, I have to get someone to execute the oath. A list of dignitaries is included in the letter - the mayor, a judge, a legislator. I know in a heartbeat who to call...my buddy Jimmy.

The Honorable James E. Hardin, Jr. is a Superior Court Judge in North Carolina. He also was the prosecuting District Attorney in the highly publicized Michael Peterson trial. But to me, he's Jim, one of the smartest, nicest guys around. President of my senior class and captain of the football team, Jim has been my friend since, as he put it yesterday, we were twelve. The ceremony couldn't have meant any more to me! I was moved to tears at the opportunity and by the fact that a man highly respected by so many was able to take the time out of his (very important) day to be a part of mine.



Jim administers the oath and signs the paperwork. Then David and I pose with the judge.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

There's a song around Christmas time that refutes my claim, but to educators this is the most wonderful time. Imagine having a job that is brand new and different every August...new faces to look at, new ideas to try, new children to love. Such it is with those of us who teach. I have loved feeling the electric buzz of energy in schools this past week: teachers are reading over class lists and imagining what those names represent: will they be happy, challenging, bright, struggling...just who are these people that we'll spend the next 180 days with?

After beginning the week in Hickory on Monday, I had the honor (and emotional opportunity) to work with the new teachers in my own school. I presented kind of a "this is the culture of Gravelly Hill Middle School" speech to acclimate them to the expectations of our school and to answer any questions they have had. It was hard, though, to not be able to run to my classroom and check an email here and there; I don't have one of those this year, and that felt very strange! The new teachers were wonderful, though...so full of energy and ready to try ANYTHING! To add to the emotion, I attended Open House the next night and watched from the wings as the staff was introduced. My students from last year, or course, were all hugs and "we wish you were here!" and I was so happy to see them. My principal excused the teachers to their classrooms and then introduced me, and for the third time in as many days, I got a little weepy. But now I'm just excited about the year to come and looking forward to meeting teachers all over the state and, hopefully, making a difference.

On Thursday, I presented an overview of Marzano's Classroom Instruction that Works to 120 teachers at Ragsdale High School in Jamestown, N.C. This was a treat on so many levels! First of all, my sister lives right down the street from the school. I was able to spend the night with her and catch up on "sister stuff." The next morning I bounced down the stairs to find breakfast made and a little treat bag for me to take to the high school. I was so proud I showed it to the teachers! Another reason I was excited to be at Ragsdale is because my friend and former teaching buddy Jean Ransom is the Assistant Principal. Jean and I taught for seven years together (in two different schools) and she taught science to two of my children! We had time to catch up with each other during lunch between sessions. And last, Ragsdale is simply a very special school. The current principal, Dr. Rogers, has been there for 17 years, and she is only the third principal ever in the school's 50 year history. This school has been the "place to be" in terms of athletics and academics for as long as I can remember. So to think that I had the opportunity to work with the staff is a real thrill!

The RHS teachers perform a non-linguistic representation of how carbohydrates turn to fat in the body. Good stuff!

And later, I was so excited to visit my old high school...

I cheered many nights on this gym floor - some of the happiest times of my life!!!

On Friday, I visited the Gorman Learning Academy Preschool. Believe me, if you want to see classroom management at its finest, watch three teachers facilitate lunch for 30 two-year-olds. And I thought seventh graders were wiggly! Next, I visited my alma mater, Northern High School, in Durham, N.C. (Go Knights!) I love the place (I was voted Most School Spirited in 1975!) And I was so excited to see that nothing had changed. My locker looked the same, the gym floor was just as shiny, and the cafeteria that made the best vegetable soup, homemade rolls, and cinnamon buns looked like I could just sit down and eat lunch with my friends.

As it was, I was there to see friends! I met with Blake Rahn, who I taught with last year, and who moved to my former school to be a high school teacher. I also had the chance to see the excited faces of three members of the Duke MAT program, who I had spoken with back in June. They are interns this year at Northern and had already met Blake and exchanged stories about me. (Yikes!) In addition, I was happy to chat with NHS Principal John Colclough, a colleague from several years back. I interviewed with him when he was a middle school principal, but now he's a Knight!

My last trip of the day was to visit a middle school in Wake County, but, alas, I never found it! (I did find several others, though...) My husband is getting me a GPS system for my birthday next week, and I can't wait. These first two Teacher of the Year months have been a little stressful as I have traveled through unfamiliar terrain. But after next week, no school is safe! I'll be everywhere!

Have a great first week, everyone. I'm there with you in spirit!

Back to School

Catawba County Schools has many Hmong students, and they delighted us with a dance performance this morning!

If you've never visited the lovely Catawba County in the foothills of North Carolina, you're missing beautiful landscape and some of the friendliest people you ever want to meet. This morning I had the opportunity to speak to new teachers, their administrators, Central Office staff, and the Catawba County School Board. My message was one that I repeat to new teachers often - that every child is someone's "dream come true." I described my "First Day of School Motivational Dream Speech" and shared a few stories about students who have really touched me as a teacher.


I am so thankful to the folks in Catawba County for helping me through what turned out to be an emotional day. As I was speaking, I was well aware that my colleagues at Gravelly Hill Middle School had reported for the first teacher workday without me. I could feel the energy, the buzz of excitement in the halls, as my colleagues welcomed each other back from summer break. I was aware that there would be no bulletin board designing for me, and even though I was across the state, I felt a little sad that the Grizzlies had started a new year. But the hospitality of the Catawba County educators eased my sadness...I brought home beautiful pottery from Hickory potter Tammy Leigh Brooks and a basket full of bathroom goodies (and a teacher fairy!) Thank you, Catawba County Schools! I hope to visit again soon...








On my way home I had a real treat! I took a right in Rowan County and ended up at Janice Raper's school! Janice is the Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year, and she and her school family, with bandanas still secured around their necks, had just returned from a morning of team building out at the ranch. Their new motto - "Saddle up for Success: Lasso Your Learning" can be seen at the entrance to the school and hanging in the halls. I was so excited to meet Janice's colleagues; we literally walked hand in hand around the school so that I could meet everyone! And I loved Janice's classroom - I want to be her student! I told her that I'm coming back when the students get there - Hurley Elementary School is a warm inviting place, and Janice Raper's classroom is one reason why!




Here's Janice (second from right, in green) with a few of her teaching buddies (minus the bandanas!) That's Tiffany Smith (far left), Tish Hatley (second from left), Janice, and Glenda Brooks (far right.) All of these friends of Janice's are teaching some lucky fourth graders in Rowan County. Have a great year, guys!!!

Welcome to Teaching!

(Chatham County's new teachers participate in "Musical Riddles!")

Imagine this: you step behind a podium and look out at a sea of faces. Those faces are happy, excited, hopeful, and intent. They have a job to do, and they have come to do it. These are our newest colleagues, and they have reported for duty. I have had the opportunity this week to meet some of North Carolina's new teachers, and I am thrilled to have had that honor.

The teachers in the Alamance/Burlington school system are spending their first three days focusing on "Poets and Pirates," the theme for their Beginning Teacher Induction. For my presentation, I chose to focus on poetry and the way that teaching involves sharing "pieces of ourselves" just as poets share when they write. The new Alamance teachers endured my attempts at Dr. Seuss-i-ness, and I explained my five tips for teachers that were recently printed on Teacher Magazine online. They were a refreshing group, all smiles and energy, and the students of Alamance County will be lucky to have these new teachers.

Next I traveled to my home county of Orange to do a presentation on "The Professional Educator." I had an exciting plan, and I had a partner in crime (Jenny, my mentee from last year), but I just couldn't do it. Here's what we had planned: I was to walk in (late), on my cell phone, wearing jeans, flip flops, and a wrinkled t-shirt. While Jenny introduced herself and talked to the teachers about her first year, I had planned to be the frazzled presenter, disorganized and stressed out. After a few minutes, I would apologize for my dress, saying I had been working in my classroom (I don't have one of those this year) and then I would excuse myself to change clothes. I would return in a somewhat inappropriate dress, one more suited for "clubbing" than teaching. After a few more minutes I would slip out and return in appropriate professional dress, ready to get the reactions of the participants.

But...I just couldn't do it! Oh, I wore the jeans and wrinkled t-shirt. I chomped on gum like it was the last piece on earth. But about three minutes after I arrived, I had to confess to this roomful of shocked educators. I was just too scared that they would really think I was like that! I was shaking all over; I felt physically sick. I realized, after the fact, that being considered "professional" just means too much to me. So much that I can't even fake it.

So I explained the idea to the new teachers, excused myself to change clothes, and then returned to continue my presentation about dressing as a professional, marketing ourselves as professional educators, becoming involved in our professional organizations, and speaking positively about our profession. These new teachers were eager to learn everything they could so they asked provocative questions, and we had stimulating conversations.

I was excited to return the next day to discuss Classroom Management. Many times student discipline is the most difficult skill for new teachers to acquire. As I have said before, some things just take experience. As I have learned along the way, many problems I have encountered in my career were problems that I had seen before...maybe the students had different names, but as years went by, I knew what had worked and what hadn't, and I "tweaked" as I learned. The new teachers in Orange County shared their classroom management experiences from their student teaching, and they were impressive as they wrote out their management plans. I can't wait to visit them in their classrooms!

I finished out the week with the Chatham County Schools' new teachers, and they were a delightful group of first time educators! I shared my Expressions for Excellence in Education and my First Day of School Motivational Dream Speech, and we threw a couple of "move around" activities into the mix. Something unexpected happened at the end, though. I was saying, as I do to every teacher group, that I would love to visit their classrooms this year since I won't have a class of my own. Before I knew it, I had gotten a little weepy, and I had taken a couple of Chatham County teachers along for the ride.

Now that the teacher workdays are coming up, and many "early birds" are already in the schools, I'm starting to fully understand that I will not have a classroom this year. So watch out, North Carolina teachers, I'm going to need some classrooms to visit so that I can "breathe in children." Hopefully, I'll be coming your way!

This is definitely the time of year that veteran educators like me get excited about the new energy in our schools. Welcome to teaching!

My First State Board of Education Experience

One of the roles of the North Carolina Teacher of the Year is to serve as a Teacher Advisor to the State Board. This week I had the honor of representing North Carolina teachers by sitting on the Twenty-first Century Professionals Committee (TCP) and by participating in the activities of the full Board meeting. The Board has determined that their work is determined by five priorities: TCP; Globally Competitive Students (GCS); Healthy, Responsible Students (HRS); Twenty-first Century Systems (TCS); and Leadership for Innovation (LFI). These committees meet prior to the Thursday Board meeting which includes remarks from the Chair, the Superintendent, and the Deputy Superintendent.

Let me begin by saying that the individuals who are in place to make decisions impacting teachers really do "get it." They are well aware of what is happening in the classrooms across our state and are committed to do what's right for educators and students. At the same time they are knowledgeable on the mandates of public school law and are bound to uphold those laws during their decision making. It is apparent that they take their duties very seriously, while also being a warm, open group of professionals who made me feel welcomed from the minute I arrived.

I'd like to take a minute to mention just a few of the decisions that were made. First, there have been changes approved for the North Carolina Writing Assessment. Directed by "A Framework for Change: The Next Generation of Assessments and Accountability," the NC Department of Public Instruction was given the charge to develop a new writing assessment system that would replace the annual on-demand writing tests of the past. During this meeting, the Board approved paper and pencil products for 4th grade and electronic submissions of writing products for 7th and 10th grades. Be on the lookout for details of the new writing assessment as it is piloted this year. Professional development online modules will be available in September.

In other news, the legislature passed (and the Board approved) the use of mentor funds for full time mentors in school systems. Teachers who have achieved National Board Certification may apply to become full time mentors without penalty of losing the 12% pay differential. DPI will be organizing a committee of stakeholders to discuss the training module for full time mentors.

I'd like to end on a personal note: as I mentioned, the Board made me feel a part of their community immediately. I was presented with a State Board pin, mug, bag, and plaque, and treated warmly by everyone I encountered. I did, however, leave exhausted from a great deal of mental activity and in pain from the seven blisters my shoes left on my feet (this teacher does not wear heels often!)

It was definitely a positive experience, and I'm looking forward to meeting with the State Board on a monthly basis.

Love is in the air...

As promised, members of the 2008-2009 North Carolina Teacher of the Year Team showed up to celebrate the marriage of Kelly and Jason in Salisbury on Saturday. Kelly is the daughter of Janice Raper, Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year (and a beautiful "Mother of the Bride.") Trisha Muse, Bernard Waugh (and his lovely wife Kristen) and I (along with my daughter, Kelli) joined the festivities at St. John's Lutheran Church in historic Salisbury, N.C. The wedding was beautiful, and I got extremely choked up when I saw the tears in the groom's eyes when the bride began down the aisle on the arm of her dad, Janice's handsome husband Ronald. What a fabulous reception! My daughter was especially partial to the macaroni and cheese (that went along with the good ol' Southern barbeque!) Many enjoyed the Lebanese cuisine, too, a tribute to the groom's heritage. We, as the NC Teacher of the Year Team, are grateful for the new friendships we have made and are happy to be able to share some of our most important moments with each other!