The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

So I'm thinking...as I sit in the Central Office of my school district (where my Teacher of the Year office is located) that I wish every day in a school could feel like this time of year. Right now there are five cars in the parking lot, and everyone who's here is kind of laid back, chatting with each other. No phones are ringing, and even email seems like snail mail. It makes me think of the last week before winter break in our schools. There is still the sense of urgency, during this time of year, to ensure that students are meeting goals and learning, but there isn't such a sense of PANIC. Somehow we know we have a break coming up, and everyone seems to breathe a little easier and relax. If only schools could be like that every day!

I started this past week (Sunday) working at the Community Literacy Center at my school. We had ten people this time! The adults worked with my colleague Jenny on reading one of my favorite books, Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. I spent time with some of our Hispanic students working on vocabulary and doing some diagnostic testing. Of course, as always, we ended the day with pizza and with everyone saying, "No mas!" We were full of food and fellowship!

On Monday, I worked with the National Board Certification candidates at my school, and I'm excited that they are progressing so well. They have begun videotaping lessons, and are working hard on their writing. It's exciting to watch these teachers growing professionally throughout this process.

On Tuesday, we held our Education Policy Fellowship Program Christmas gathering and had a "White Elephant" gift exchange. Let me just say that some folks were merciless in their gift stealing and trading, but we had a blast! Then...Wednesday was such a treat for me! I was able to return to my students and my school and help chaperone a trip to the NC Shakespeare Festival's production of A Christmas Carol. That message is timeless, and the eighth graders enjoyed it so much. Of course, lunch at the food court didn't hurt either. That night I attended my school's Christmas Dinner, and I was really happy to see all of my colleagues/friends again. I miss them so much and know that without them, I wouldn't have this amazing opportunity to represent them as North Carolina's Teacher of the Year.

After so much fun, I'm ready to settle down for a long winter's nap...well, after I finish shopping and baking and wrapping and decorating.

Happy Holidays, everyone! Enjoy your well-deserved break, and we'll meet again next year!

Desert Learning

Yes, that says "desert" and not "dessert" although someone just came by to announce doughnuts are available in the break room! (Maybe after this post is done...)

So, yes, I just returned from the Arizona desert where I attended the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) Conference entitled "Leadership in Thought and Action." I flew out on Sunday, a five hour flight wedged between two total strangers, but it was worth it. The EPFP Conference was packed with thought provoking discussions about education policy and leadership. We began the week talking about the "Map of Future Forces," the KnowledgeWorks Foundation's contribution to thinking of education in the future in engaging and constructive ways. I have worked with the map before; as a member of the Center for Teaching Quality's Teacher Leaders Network, I am a member of a team of teachers looking at teaching in the future. We actually began our journey by studying the map and presenting to each other on the six "Drivers of Change." It was enriching to hear other perspectives on the map and on teaching in the future.

The three conference days were embedded with learning about "Exploring the Future," "Thinking Strategically across Systems," and "Connecting the Dots." We listened to compelling speakers, discussed with each other, and even participated in a simulation called "Earth II." We had to choose a hypothetical "leader" to move a representative group of us to another planet! A highlight of the trip was meeting and getting to know Jenna Hallman, the South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Jenna and I will be together again next month in Dallas for the National Teacher of the Year Conference. I was so excited to meet Jenna ahead of time so I'll have a friend there. And, of course you know, Carolina girls...the best in the world! (If you aren't from around here...that's a song!)

We on the Teacher of the Year team are aware of what's going on this time of year. Only last year we were waiting to hear the results of Regional Teacher of the Year selections. Well, it's that time again, and two new regional TOYs have been selected in North Carolina. On Monday, Matthew Bristow-Smith was named the North Central Region Teacher of the Year. He represents Edgecome County Schools. Today I had the honor of being present when my successor, the Piedmont/Triad Central Regional Teacher of the Year, was announced at Northwood High School in Chatham County. Phillip Little is the new regional TOY for my region, and this is quite a week for him. He's getting married tomorrow! I was happy to stand on the stage with Mr. Little's family as he accepted this amazing honor. And the best is yet to come...

North Carolina teachers, enjoy your last week before break! I'll be with my students for two days next week, and I can't wait! There's nothing like being around children at Christmas!

Countdown!

Have you ever seen folks as eager for the holidays as teachers? I've heard it about seventeen times today: "Ten more days!!!"

As things wind down in the schools, the speaking engagements have tapered off for the Teacher of the Year, but that gives me some time to catch up on some things I've pushed aside for the past seven months - like finally getting moved into my office (my husband really wants those boxes out of the garage!)

This week I started with yet another interesting night at the Education Policy Fellowship Program. Dr. Robin Dorff, currently with the War College in Maryland, serves as the Executive Director at the Institute of Political Leadership. He spoke to us about being strategic leaders, and we hung on every word! We're all excited about our upcoming trip to the national EPFP Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Fellows from sixteen other states will join us as we leave our loved ones here in the cold on Sunday to fly to the 70 degree desert! We have a packed agenda for three days of learning and fun...

This was a State Board of Education week in NC, and among other things, we discussed the opportunity principals and assistant principals will soon have to participate in the National Board Certification process. As an NBCT myself, I'm aware of the tremendous growth potential when working toward a goal like that. So I'm excited about the opportunity for administrators.

This week I spoke before the Education Oversight Committee of the North Carolina State Legislature. I have to say that I was a little nervous. I was speaking in support of our new Teacher Evaluation Process in North Carolina, and I was eager to talk about the positive changes that are being made. Something about that big room, and those important people who make our laws sitting there listening to me, was very exciting! I hope I represented NC teachers well.

Stay tuned for next week and a report from Arizona! Stay warm...

Welcome to Winter!

This has been an unseasonably cold week...yesterday's Christmas Parade in Raleigh was held in the coldest temperatures in thirty years! And twice on my travels this week I was driving in snow flurries - not dangerous, just pretty!

This week began a little earlier than usual. I started on Sunday at my school working at our Community Literacy Center. It all started two years ago when I asked my class to identify the setting of a novel we were reading. When they couldn't, I prompted them with "it's a state that begins with an "a." The first answer called out? "Australia!" The next? "Africa!" It was at that moment that I thought of a Community Literacy Center to help our students (and their families) build prior knowledge and strengthen literacy skills. Last Sunday, second year teacher Jenny and I worked with a Hispanic family on English skills - and they helped us with our Spanish! My dream for this project is that we will soon offer homework assistance and reading strategies to our students while continuing to work with English Language Learners. We had a great time while eating pizza and getting to know our students' families.

I again had my every other Monday visit to Gravelly Hill Middle School, working with National Board Certification candidates. But I had to scoot out early because I had to the honor of speaking on Monday night at the North Carolina Exceptional Children's Conference. I had an adrenalin rush (fear or excitement?) when I walked in and saw table settings for 1,000 people! Then I looked up at two huge screens on either side of the podium. The thought of my face up on those screens made me a little uneasy, but soon I began talking with teachers and felt more comfortable. I was there to help honor "Teachers of Excellence," one EC teacher from each school district in NC. I was excited to help present plaques and offer congratulations to them. Our EC teachers are so important in our schools, and what they do for our students is beyond amazing!

Each EC Teacher of Excellence saw themselves on that big screen as their pictures scrolled prior to the ceremony.

Tuesday was School Innovation Day in North Carolina. Schools all over the state opened their doors so the public could come in and see the innovative projects that teachers are using to teach our students in this 21st Century world. I visited Smith Elementary in Burlington where students were watching teachers using interactive white boards for instruction and were incorporating the use of iPods in the classroom. Some students I saw in the computer lab were typing away on their own blogs - these were fourth graders! Also, a monitor in the lobby highlights student work, all day, every day! As usual, I enjoyed my time in a school (since I miss my own students so much!)

On Wednesday, I traveled through the SandHills of North Carolina to Richmond County (Hamlet) where I presented to all of the district's Teachers of the Year and the new teachers in the district. Then Thursday, I made it back up the mountain (to Hendersonville) to speak to National Board Certified Teachers who were being honored. Both small North Carolina towns are beautiful and full of friendly people - I'm loving this state!

Friday was so exciting because the Teacher of the Year team got together again. This time we met with LEARN NC, the folks who put together the website that helps teachers with all kinds of resources. As the homepage indicates: "LEARN NC gives you what you need for K–12 teaching and learning, when and where you need it — lesson plans and teaching strategies, classroom text & multimedia, and online courses for teachers and students." We discussed the idea of a virtual platform that will make it easier for us to "meet" as a team, and we were given a "tour" of the site so that we can share the LEARN NC resources with other teachers.

Happy Thanksgiving to all North Carolina teachers! I am so thankful for this opportunity to represent you as I travel around this beautiful state!

Four Day Week But Still Busy!

This week began with another visit to a college campus - this time Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The Teaching Fellows program there is only in its second year of existence so I was speaking to freshmen and sophomores, but they were an excited group of teachers-to-be, and I was very impressed! They were dressed professionally while providing student representatives to introduce me and pronounce me "an honorary Campbell Teaching Fellow." I have to tell you...that felt pretty good!

On Tuesday, schools and offices were closed to acknowledge Veteran's Day. I was happy to keep all veterans in my thoughts, but especially my brother who is a Vietnam Vet. Some of my most traumatizing childhood memories are of our trips to the airport to deliver my brother to the planes that would take him to dangerous places. Thank goodness he always came home safely.

Tuesday night brought a provocative presentation to the EPFP group by Judge Manning of the Leandro Case. It was certainly thought provoking to hear him speak of the history of the case and the outcomes.

On Thursday I participated in The Celebration of Teaching at UNC-Charlotte. There were 350 audience members, including area high schools represented by their Teacher Cadets, members of the Teaching Fellows program, and as a special treat, my daughter was in attendence. Kelli is a doctoral student at UNCC, and she was on campus and able to hear my presentation.

Here's a picture taken by Kelli from the balcony. She sat up there and clicked nonstop like paparazzi!

I left Charlotte and drove five hours to Brunswick County, where, on Friday, I spoke to principals at the Principal of the Year luncheon. I just may have met the nicest people in the world in Southport! They were all so appreciative of me being there, and even though they were there to celebrate their principals, I felt celebrated, too!

Next week is a long one...I'll be speaking at the Exceptional Children's Conference, visiting Innovative Schools, speaking at a Teacher of the Year announcement and National Board Certified Teachers meeting, and attending a meeting with the Teacher of the Year team at LEARN NC. Wow...I think I'm tired already...

Welcome to November!

As I mentioned in the last entry, I walked my way into November by participating in the Reading Rocks walkathon on Saturday, November 1st in Fayetteville. The bad news is that I lost my camera there so there won't be any original pictures for this entry (the good news is - the nice folks in Cumberland County Schools found it and Fed Exed it back to me - yes, I just made "Fed Ex" a verb...)

The walkathon included 15,000 people who walked a mile and a half route through historic downtown Fayetteville. I had the honor of walking with Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Dr. William Harrison and CCS Teacher of the Year Karen Koonce. It was amazing! High school bands were positioned at check points throughout the walk, and they energized us and kept us inspired along the way. Also, local historians stood streetside and pointed out important sites on the walk. I noticed that several of them made reference to buildings that had once stood there before "the Great Fire." Some of those buildings seemed to be located across the main part of town from each other. I couldn't imagine a fire that would burn the entire city, but here's what I found on wikipedia:

"The "Great Fire" of 1831 was believed to be one of the worst in the nation's history, even though, remarkably, no lives were lost. Hundreds of homes and businesses and most of its best-known public buildings were lost, including the old "State House." Fayetteville leaders moved quickly to help the victims and rebuild the town."

Here's a picture of the old State House "borrowed" from the internet.

More from wikipedia - "The Market House, completed in 1832, became the center of commerce and celebration. The structure was built on the ruins of the old State House. It was a town market until 1906. Slaves were sold there before abolition. It served as Fayetteville Town Hall until 1907. The City Council is considering turning the Market House into a local history museum."

The Walkathon experience was amazing! I was even interviewed (live...yikes!) by a local television station. I've never met so many nice people, and this reading teacher was so excited to be part of raising money for resources for reading in Cumberland County.

I spent the beginning of the week in schools, specifically my school, Gravelly Hill Middle School, and the high school we feed, Cedar Ridge High School. I always enjoy being around teachers and "breathing in" students. At CRHS, I worked with the videography class who taped me for a spot on the Western Carolina University School of Education website. I was reading my Expressions for Excellence in Education. The students were very professional, and I enjoyed the process (although I don't like seeing myself on camera!)

On Wednesday, I participated in the World View Program's board meeting. If you don't know about World View, check it out here. These folks do such a good job of educating teachers on global issues and sharing strategies for teaching students about the world around them.

The first Thursday of the month is always special - it's the day of the State Board of Education meeting. It's incredible to realize how many issues are discussed and voted on that affect teachers and students day-to-day. Among other things, we received a full report on our state's AYP status now that the test scores have been released. You can always find minutes of the Board meetings on the Department of Public Instruction website.

I spent the end of the week and part of the weekend working with the Center for Teaching Quality and teachers from all over the country in a discussion of what teaching will look like in the future. We recognize that we have to stop thinking of brick and mortar schools and figure out ways to work smarter, not harder. Technology may be the key, but there are many issues to consider when we think about the future of teaching. At any rate, I think I'm a wee bit more wise (actually a LOT wiser) having had the opportunity to collaborate with some of our country's best teachers.

And last, this is a shout out to our team member and first ever Charter School Teacher of the Year, Freida Baker, who is spending more time than she would like with an oncologist these days and who will be having surgery soon. We love you, Freida, and your team is here for you! Hang in there, and call us if you need us!

Schools - Where More than Imaginations Run Wild!

Okay, so that title actually comes from the North Carolina Zoo where the Teacher of the Year team met today. Back to that in a minute. First, let me recap a very busy, but fun, week!

After a much needed office day on Monday, I attended the Education Policy Fellowship Program Graduation on Tuesday. This gala event honored the Fellows from last year's EPFP group, among them the NC Teacher of the Year for 07-08, James Bell. The event was held in the Cardinal Club, a beautiful venue with a breathtaking view of Wake County (from the 28th floor). The food was amazing, and the program was entertaining...including our education Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. as the speaker. Of course he needed no introduction, this signer of the Excellent Schools Act and former Chair of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and he delighted the audience with his ideas about education and his occasional reference to the upcoming election and the candidates. I made my way across the room to shake his hand, as did a couple of dozen others, and when I told him that I'm a teacher, he said, "Well, let me hug your neck!" And he did. This man really cares about educators, as was apparent during the many years he held office in NC.

On Wednesday, my State Car was rolling..starting the day in Johnston County at the announcement of the Milken Educator award. This honor, bestowed upon Teaching Fellow alum and fourth year teacher Bryan Holley, is a always a complete surprise to the recipient and the school. They only knew that there would be an "announcement." There were camera crews everywhere; also, congressmen, commissioners, school board members, State Superintendent June Atkinson, and other dignitaries were present. But the most fun to watch were the students of Corinth Holders Elementary School who sat patiently and waited, not even knowing why...until the announcement came that one of their teachers would be given a check for $25,000! Of course Bryan was humbled beyond words, and I do believe the tears were genuine. We were all crying!


Here the third graders at Corinth Holders sing for the audience. They were precious!



Superintendent Atkinson speaks to the students, congratulating them on their math scores.

Congressman Bob Etheridge announces the Milken recepient. The students hold up the "numbers" to show the prize, and the new Milken Educator holds the "check."


I skeedaddled out of Johnston County to make it to a conference seven counties away - I was the scheduled luncheon speaker for the NC Alternative Schools Conference! I made it just in time to eat a lovely meal, speak to the group about the important jobs that Alternative Schools do by giving students a "chance," and then the best part of all happened: a teacher from my very own school system, Stan Farrington, was named the Alternative School Teacher of the Year. Of course, Stan teaches some of my former students who are now at the Alternative School so I was extremely excited for him!

Here he is, Stan Farrington, the North Carolina Alternative School Teacher of the Year.


On Thursday, I met with the Public School Forum Board as we continued our Study Group work. This group, which is working like a legislative committee, has been charged with determining ways to ensure that education is seamless in NC - from P-12 and between the university system, the community college system, and the P-12 community. My hope is that I will be as bright as the veteran educators on this committee one day in my future.


The highlight of the week was yet to come - the Teacher of the Year team held a sleepover at Trisha Muse's house on Thursday night. Trisha lives a stone's throw from the zoo - I told her that I believed I saw an elephant in her backyard! After the fun sleepover, we met at the zoo to plan our 2009 Teacher of the Year Symposium. But first...we were able to witness some fun Halloween festivities. The gorillas were given paper mache pumpkins filled with treats - carrots, apples, cheese, etc. and they were so cute digging into them. The elephants were also given real pumpkins which they stomped and lifted with their trunks. There were news crews around and cameras everywhere. We were excited to be a part of this event.




Bernard models our shirts, a gift from Paige. The front reads "North Carolina Teacher of the Year Team, and the back says, "What's Your Superpower? I Teach." Awesome.




Bernard hangs out with our team mascot, Alvin, who was adorable in his pumpkin costume (Alvin, not Bernard.)



Paige and RuthAnn relax before our big day at the zoo!


There's Sonya, RuthAnn, Janice (with husband Ron) as we take the tram to the gorillas!



This gorilla was pretty curious about the paper pumpkin. Later, he noticed another one in a tree.



Another exciting part of our visit to the zoo was the fact that we were able to tour Zoo School. The Zoo School is part of Asheboro High School and is a hands-on, authentic learning environment that enables students to focus on science studies in an outdoors environment. Every child should be able to learn this way!



Here we are, the North Carolina Teacher of the Year Team (but we were missing Renee and Freida who couldn't be with us.)




This has to be the coolest note I've ever seen left for a class!!!



This was another awesome week in TOY-land, but it's not over yet! Tomorrow I'll be walking in the Reading Rocks Walkathon in Fayetteville. Over 20,000 people participate in this event, from babies in strollers to wheelchair participants to rest home residents who "rock" in rocking chairs. The walk raises over $150,000, all for literacy materials for Cumberland County Schools. As a reading teacher, I can tell you that nothing excites me more! Now as for the walking part...well, I guess I'll make it the whole mile and a half. Hmmm...maybe the rocking chair would be a good idea for me, too!