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!

Fall Is Here!

Most folks recognize autumn by the changing colors, but educators are aware it's fall because the "honeymoon" is definitely over in the schools. Children who showed up timid and reserved in August are raring to go in October. And that first workday comes, but it's not long enough to get grades done and lessons planned. Fall in a school...it's a beautiful time of year.

My first grade teacher, Mrs. Warnecke, is a very talented photographer. This past week she sent me a gorgeous picture of fall foliage:

All of those leaves remind me of the countless school bulletin boards I've seen with different colors of leaves and childrens' names written on them. Man, I love a school!!! And I had the opportunity to begin this last week in mine! I worked with National Board candidates again and talked with some new teachers about their Individual Growth Plans. The best part was that I got to eat lunch with some of my favorite students. Jenna is a student I "adopted" last year in our "Adopt a Student" program. Jenna was being raised by her grandparents when her grandmother became sick last year, spent a great deal of time in the hospital, and eventually died in the spring. Jenna's a trooper, though, and her personality and her grades never faltered. I love that child! Another of my special students that I had lunch with is Courtney. She was part of my "lunch bunch." Every Friday four students I didn't teach would come to read to me (and to one of our autistic students) during lunch. Courtney always brought her big smile and bubbly disposition to my room. I miss these girls so much!

I sandwiched myself between Jenna and Courtney. Also with us are Kayla, Lizzy, Stephanie, and the two Samanthas.

After school, I helped facilitate a district level National Board Certification meeting, answering candidate questions. I always enjoy working with others on this process because I remember how many questions I had!

Next I rushed home to meet Trisha Muse, Sandhills/South Central Regional Teacher of the Year, who would be presenting with me in Greenville the next day. Trisha and I have combined our efforts - me...speaking about Teachers As Professionals (TAP) and Trisha...tapping her way into the hearts of the audience by clogging. We presented to the Clinical Teacher Conference in Greenville and had a blast! Then...back home...and I headed to Raleigh for EPFP.

Here I am with Trisha and Sonya Rinehart, Northeast Regional Teacher of the Year, who also presented at the conference. I was so happy to be there with both of them. Ruthann Parker, the Southeast Regional Teacher of the Year, presented also, but we missed her...we had to scoot out early!

Trisha had her red tap shoes on!!!


Trisha had the participants up and clogging!

On Wednesday, I returned to Ragsdale High School in Jamestown, N.C. to do a followup presentation on Marzano's Classroom Instruction that Works. The Assistant Principal is my friend Jean who was a science teacher in my school many years ago. Her new staff is great to work with, and I'll be going back in February!

The next day I had a real treat - I presented to the Teaching Fellows at Western Carolina University. This was my longest trip yet...five hours one way (and up a mountain)...but it was worth it! The students were professional and eager to talk about teaching. I made plans to meet with them when they visit Raleigh in January!

Here are the awesome Teaching Fellows from Western Carolina University!

Well, another busy week has come and gone, and I'm still loving this job. The educators in North Carolina are the best in the world!

Gotta Go to Boone!

My husband and many of my friends attended Appalachian State University. Several of my children's friends headed to "App" although my children all went to school on flat ground (UNCC, UNC-CH, ECU, and UNCG.) I, too, attended school in the Piedmont area of the state, but have heard App Alumni say these words for as long as I can remember - "Gotta go to Boone." It seems as soon as anyone who went to school there comes down the mountain, all they want to do is go back! Trisha Muse, Sandhills/South Central Regional Teacher of the Year, is one of those people! Trisha is the only person I know who was actually born in Boone (her family moved to Moore County later...) She then received her bachelor's and master's degrees there and was a Teaching Fellow and Homecoming Queen! For that reason, there was no way that I was going there to speak to the Teaching Fellows without taking her with me! And we had a grand time! We spoke about being professional educators, then Trisha gave us all a clogging lesson. We are so excited about this presentation that we'll be repeating it next week at the Clinical Teacher's Conference in Greenville...stay tuned!

Here are Trisha, Diana Beasley, and me just after the presentation. Diana is a recruiter for ASU and one of my favorite people in the world. As the North Carolina Teacher of the Year in 2006-2007, she is my mentor and friend, and we were delighted she was there.

I headed back down the mountain that night since my week was so packed, but I hope to go back again when I can stay longer. On Tuesday, I spoke to the Hillsborough Kiwanis Club at the Occoneechee Steak House. I had a wonderful audience - full of questions about teaching and the Teacher of the Year program. When I left, they presented me with a Kiwanis Cookbook, which I will put to great use! That night I attended my Tuesday night EPFP meeting where Ann McColl spoke on Constitutional Tales. Her stories of the writing and revising of the North Carolina constitution were riveting, and we hung on every word!

Thursday of this week I spoke to the education students at Peace College. My friend Carolann Wade is the director of teacher education there, but she also is married to a buddy of mine since junior high school...good ol' Robbie Wade (he's now "Rob" but always "Robbie" to me.) Carolann is the National Board Certified teacher leader that I want to be when I grow up, and I appreciate her inviting me to speak to her students!

This coming up week is another big one as I'll go back to Greenville for the third time in a month, I'll work with National Board candidates in my county, I'll return to Ragsdale High School in Guilford County for a Marzano's followup, and then I'll make my longest drive yet - to Western Carolina in Cullowhee! More on that next week..

West to East and Back!

I love beginning the week at my own school working with my best friends! On Monday, I was hanging with the Grizzlies, working on National Board Certification with new applicants and checking in with the new teachers. I had promised them a list of "Tips for Overwhelmed Teachers" which I typed up and emailed to them. Second year teacher Jenny said, "I was too overwhelmed to read them." She promised to get to it soon...

Here I am with Will, the President of the Teaching Fellows Association at NC State.

Monday afternoon I was standing before a sea of red at the North Carolina State University Dean's Reception for their Teaching Fellows. Education majors in their freshman, sophomore, and junior years were there to hear my remarks, and I made many new friends that day. As I drove away, three of them stood on the curb, waving, and yelled out, "We LOVE you!" I love you, too, Wolfpack students!

I left Raleigh and did something I've never done before, and I have to admit that it felt a little weird. I was due on the other side of the state, four hours away, in Asheville. So I drove through my own town to get there and didn't have time to stop and hug my husband or pet my dog. It felt strange, but I kept on driving up that mountain until I reached the Personnel Adminstrators Conference. The next day I was the luncheon speaker, and I spoke about how important these folks are to a school system. I played the theme song from the commercial "Real Men of Genius" and read a list of thank you's as if we were in a commercial, too.

When I left the Personnel Administrators Conference, I headed over to T.C. Roberson High School to see my former student, Echo. I taught Echo as a seventh grader before she moved from Durham to Asheville, and she's now a senior! I surprised her with my visit, and we both were teary-eyed and happy to see each other.

Here I am with ECHO, ECho, Echo....(that's what I always called her.)

The Rock Springs Center in Greenville...

On Friday, I headed to Greenville (second time in as many weeks) to attend the National Board Certified Teachers Regional Summit. This meeting was held at the beautiful Rock Springs Center. Teachers were treated to a celebratory luncheon - white tablecloths, candles, and very special guests including the State Superintendent, Dr. June Atkinson, State Board Member Kathy Taft, and NC Legislator Marian McLawhorn. It was a beautiful day and wrapped up a busy week on a very elegant note.

My message was about NBCT's and Leadership.

Thank you, Pitt County, for a wonderful NBC experience!

Tomorrow I'll team up with Trisha Muse, Sandhills/South Central Region Teacher of the Year and ASU alum, at Appalachian State University. We'll be speaking to the Teaching Fellows there about being professional educators. I'm also speaking to a local Kiwanis Club this week and to education students at Peace College. I have another fun week ahead!

Massive Awesomeness!

To borrow a phrase from James Bell, the 2007-2008 North Carolina Teacher of the Year, our new accountability plan, an answer to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Testing and Accountability's Framework for Change, is "massively awesome!" Including "essential standards" and formative, benchmark, and summative assessments, the program was developed by over 300 people at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. As Angela Quick, Chief Academic Officer at DPI, made the presentation at the State Board of Education this week, it was apparent that everyone in the room was thrilled with the plan. New standards will be written that will narrow and deepen the curriculum, and new assessments will be developed that relate to those essential standards. Communication and professional development are two key parts of the new plan so stay tuned for more information in your school districts.

Prior to the Board meeting this past week, I attended the Licensure Appeals Panel in Chapel Hill and the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) in Raleigh. John Dornan, the President and Executive Director of the Public School Forum, spoke to the Fellows about education policy. It was a stimulating presentation in light of the upcoming election.

In addition, this week I had the opportunity to make two presentations - in Greenville I spoke to an auditorium full of Teacher Cadets at East Carolina University. These future teachers were eager to hear my answers to the question Why Teach? Today in Granville County, I presented an overview of Marzano's Classroom Instruction that Works. I had two sessions during Granville's Professional Development Day, and these teachers were some of the nicest folks in the state!

Next week I'll be speaking to Teaching Fellows at NC State, Personnel Administrators in Asheville, and then heading back to Greenville to the Eastern Regional National Board Summit. More miles on the state car = more North Carolina educators to meet! I'm loving this job!

What a Week!

I put some miles on the State car this week but not so many miles on my own pillow in my own bed. I began on Monday, spending the day in my school with the Grizzlies. I worked with some National Board candidates on applying for the process while others needed some "getting started" ideas. In between I ran from new teacher room to new teacher room sharing some vocabulary activities that we received last year during our Marzano's strategies workshops. And of course there was time for student hugs all around and some Bojangle's for Rahkeesh who is back from the hospital after being air-lifted from the practice field last week. He spent a few days in Pediatric Intensive Care and scared us all to death, but a bacon biscuit and a Sprite brought that never-ending smile back - I was so glad to see him (I went to the hospital, but they wouldn't let me in!)

After the day at school, I jumped in the car to head to the other side of the county to UNC-Chapel Hill. After a fun dinner at Top of the Hill, I spoke to the student group of the North Carolina Association of Educators, UNC Teaching Fellows, and other education majors. These guys were an enthusiastic audience, asking questions and staying engaged for over an hour (even though it was getting late.) I enjoyed my time at my alma mater!

The next day I attended the second installment of EPFP (the Education Policy Fellowship Program) sponsored by the Public School Forum. At this meeting, each Fellow had 2 1/2 minutes to tell about themselves. It was indeed a treat to learn about everyone. I headed home, another late night arrival, and prepared myself for the next day - three stops in one day.

Wednesday started at the Department of Public Instruction, where I attended the first Mentor Task Force meeting. Our legislature has appropriated money for Full Time Mentors in our school systems, and our group brainstormed around issues of accountability and purpose. I left early to travel to UNC-Pembroke and speak to another group of Teaching Fellows. Here I found an eager group of future teachers, and I enjoyed speaking before the overflowing classroom.

They made me a beautiful, welcoming bulletin board!

Here I am with Morgan, a freshman education major at Pembroke.

My last endeavor on that Wednesday included driving to Southern Pines to attend the Public School Forum's Board Meeting to take place on Thursday and Friday. I was honored to share the room with so many experienced educators and businessmen and women. This year's board will be participating in Study Group XIII which will concentrate on two issues - building a seamless system of education from Pre-K to graduate school and devising recommendations that will strengthen the state's ability to identify and train prospective leaders in our schools.

My last activity of the week was an exciting experience as I attended the UNC School of Education's Alumni Awards Luncheon. I was humbled to receive the Excellence in Teaching Award and told the group that I vow to spend the remainder of my career trying to live up to the honor.

Here I am with my fellow language arts teachers from Gravelly Hill Middle School. They were so nice to attend the luncheon on a Saturday when they could have been grading papers!

Here's my nephew, Cole, who's a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill.

With a busy week behind me, I'm gearing up for the State Board of Education meetings next week and presentations to the Teacher Cadets in Greenville and teachers in Granville County. This has been an amazing couple of months!

Week End!

After visiting two new teachers yesterday at Efland-Cheeks Elementary School in Efland, N.C. I was inspired while speaking to the NC-ACTE 26th Annual Teacher Education Forum today. Those teacher educators, after all, are responsible for preparing our future colleagues to teach. While preparing for my presentation, I asked fifty 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year teachers if they felt they were well prepared to enter their schools. There was a most resounding "Yes!" I shared some new teacher quotes with the forum participants and closed with my favorite - a second year teacher shared this: "I have nothing but high praise for them. They pushed us to be great." Thank you to our teacher educators for instilling greatness in our new teachers!




Here I am with Dr. Randy Kohlenberg, Co-Chair of the Forum Planning Committee and Dr. Debra Morris, the Wachovia North Carolina Principal of the Year (and a motivational luncheon speaker!)

Congratulations to the planning committee - "Multiple Realities: Implementing Quality in Teacher Education" was a great success!

BFF Classroom #2!

When the 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year Team was announced last spring, we met (by email) and I immediately pronounced us BFF's! (And, yes, I teach middle school, and I recognize that I have adopted some examples of 12-year-old lingo, but, unfortunately, that kind of thing just happens.) Anyway, one of my goals this year as I travel the state is to visit every member of the TOY team in their classrooms! Last month, I found myself in Janice Raper's neighborhood (Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year) and was able to visit her school during the teacher workdays. Today I visited Trisha Muse (Sandhills/South Central Regional Teacher of the Year) and her wonderful students and colleagues at Page St. Elementary School in Montgomery County.

It was Constitution Day, and the festivities had already begun when I arrived. Representative Melanie Goodwin (Democrat, Montgomery County) and the students were engaged in an interactive conversation about our founding fathers, the Constitution, and how government works in our country. At the end of the assembly, Trisha introduced me to the group, and I shared a little about a trip I had taken to Philadelphia to see some historic sites relative to the writing of the Constitution. Next, I toured the school, meeting teachers and students and admiring the beautiful hall decorations! There was an energy of happiness at Page Street Elementary School that I hope all schools feel. I have to believe that one fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Muse, has something to do with that!

I visited Trisha's students in the classroom, and they introduced themselves and shared their favorite things about last year (they had Mrs. Muse last year, too - she's looping!) Listening to them describe their fourth grade experience made me want to be in that class - tales of Polar Express parties (at Trisha's house) and Halloween characters in costume (Trisha was Snow White in a wig!) and trips to the mountains and Washington, D.C. and wax museums, and on and on. Those are some lucky kids!

And after meeting those students, I can truly say Trisha's pretty lucky, too! I ended my stay eating in the school cafeteria - I love school cafeteria food!

Thanks Page Street Elementary! Today was a special day for me!

Homecoming

My parents moved us to Durham from Sanford when I was four years old. For that reason, I spent my entire life meeting adults in Durham who would say, "Now who are your parents?" And no one would ever know them. And although I call the Bull City my home, I have always been aware that I have been missing a certain connection. Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak to the staff of Bullock Elementary School in Sanford, and I was somewhat emotional on my drive to my birthplace. I associate the "brick capital of the world" with my Daddy who died exactly four years ago, in September of 2004. Shortly after my Daddy's death, we lost two uncles and an aunt in the next five months. Now, of the original nine, only one is left - my lovely aunt Betty Jean in Chickamaugua, Georgia. So as I drove toward a city that holds memories of family reunions and a packed house of grandchildren (my grandmother's small house on Bracken Street), I felt a little sadness. But I was excited about speaking to the faculty about the relationships that we have with students!

I began my conversation with the teachers by telling them that I'm a Sanford native. I mentioned my parents and my brief stay in Lee County before I moved to Durham, and then I continued on with my presentation. As I closed my remarks, a few teachers came up to speak to me, and I was so surprised to recognize one - my cousin!!! I hadn't even noticed her sitting in the back of that media center. Little red haired Tamra has grown up to be Tammy Strickland, second grade teacher at Bullock Elementary! (Her grandmother, who is my great aunt, had told me that she was a teacher, but I didn't know which school!) As I talked to Tammy, an older gentleman waited patiently behind me. I turned to read his name badge - Jimmy Bridges - Instructional Assistant. He said, "I'm 80 years old! Which Cole are you? I knew Tom, Charlie, Harold...he had a twin brother..." I gasped out loud! This man was standing there naming all of my uncles and my Daddy! (Evidently they spent some time in the pool hall together as teenagers...) Needless to say, I had a wonderful, albeit emotional, time at Bullock Elementary. I hope to return to visit Tammy's classroom one day!

Tammy and I reunite in the Media Center at Bullock Elementary.

Earlier in the week, I had the honor of representing NC teachers at King's Park International Church's Education Day. Hundreds of area teachers turned out on Sunday to receive goodie bags full of teacher treats, including glue sticks, pens, and even an apple! One lucky teacher walked out with another kind of Apple - a laptop computer!!! The folks at King's Park made all of us as educators feel honored and valued, and I appreciate the opportunity they gave me to speak to a very large crowd - the church holds 2,000!

Today I'm excited to begin participating in a program that I've heard so much about - the Education Policy Fellowship Program starts today at the Public School Forum office. We have 35 members in this cohort, the largest ever! Every Tuesday we'll meet to hear about how education policy decisions are made in North Carolina. But I've heard we'll also make lasting relationships as we meet together as North Carolina educators.

Talking to Teachers

I love that school is finally up and running because many of my presentations now include teachers. Yesterday, in fact, I stood before 420 of them and talked about their opportunity to be the "one" who makes a difference in the life of a child. The North Carolina Model Teacher Education Consortium held an Instructional Institute for Lateral Entry and Inexperienced Teachers in Chapel Hill which included break-out sessions and a presentation by none other than Dr. Harry Wong (of The First Days of School fame.) I spoke before him so I jokingly referred to myself as "the warmup pitcher."

My long time friend, Dr. Catherine Allen, always gives me treats when I present to the Consortium. Here she presents me with a book written and illustrated by her mother-in-law, Katherine Allen.

Here I am with Lynn Meyers, Warren County Schools Teacher of the Year and Dr. Shirley Arrington, Executive Director of the North Carolina Model Teacher Education Consortium.

Today I had the pleasure again to see policy-making in action at the September State Board of Education meeting. These meetings can be listened to live on the internet so if you're not in a classroom full of kids, you should check it out. It's inspirational! My leadership role model Barnett Berry, of the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ), along with Bill Shore from Glaxo Smith Kline, shared information about an exciting program in North Carolina. CTQ will be utilizing the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers to mentor new teachers virtually - online mentoring! This is an example of teacher leadership gone 21st century. The State Board was very excited about this possibility!

Tomorrow I'll be talking about National Board Certification and Teacher Leadership with the school district NBC Coordinators. I had the opportunity to attend this meeting last year, and this is a great group of people! Our own Teacher of the Year leader, Dan Holloman, will also be presenting. I'm always excited to learn from him!

As we continue on through the first full month of school, the Teacher of the Year team continues to represent the best and the brightest - North Carolina teachers!