Looking Ahead...

This is the time of year when everyone's looking forward...there are graduations and weddings galore in May and June, and we all move ahead with excitement and anticipation.

That was the theme this week as I traveled to Yancey County to speak to new teachers and National Board Certification candidates in the historic city of Burnsville. I was honored to be the speaker for such a beautiful event; Yancey County Schools celebrates Beginning Teachers of the Year! There were five finalists for the award, and they all made presentations to the audience, highlighting classroom activities that ranged from PowerPoint slides developed by second graders to a high school digital newspaper. These teachers were definitely thinking ahead to their careers in teaching as they celebrated their first years.

And budget cuts didn't keep the Yancey County folks from having beautiful decorations: they just went mountainside and cut gorgeous rhododendron. The Burnsville Community Center was festive and celebratory, and I was happy to be a part of it!

Here I am with Patricia Fender, the Beginning Teacher Coordinator in Yancey County.

I spent the remainder of the week involved in testing at my school. "Involved" = walking in circles around a room of testing eighth graders for four hours straight. But I was happy to be back amongst my students who are about to leave for high school; it'll be bittersweet to say goodbye to them.

Speaking of bittersweet, I had the opportunity to watch 10 of my former students graduate on Friday. In 2005, I worked with all 63 of my eighth graders on the rigorous application process for the Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School housed on the campus of North Carolina Central University. These students had the opportunity to take high school and college courses simultaneously and graduate with a high school diploma and an associate's degree. Of the original 50 who were accepted, 10 of them made it through the entire program, and I was delighted to watch them walk across that stage this week.

Congratulations to Antonio, Keiara, Alejandra, DeAntwon, Dwayne, Christina, Iesha, Victoria, Alexis, and Kia!

The first three to burst through the doors as graduates: Antonio, Alejandra, and Keiara!

Here I am with beautiful Kia. She was one of several students who came to visit with my family at the funeral home after my father died in 2004. That visit was more special than ever because it was Kia's 13th birthday. She begged me to go with her family to Denny's to eat, but I had to stay with my mother. It was such a sweet gesture, though.

Gifted Students and Another New TOY

I started this week speaking to a group I really know (and I told them that!) I spoke to almost 300 seventh graders who have been invited to participate in the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP), a program that identifies gifted students and then sends them to take the SAT, a test, of course, designed for high school juniors.

The students I spoke to had scored better than 90% of the nation's 11th graders on at least one part of the SAT. I looked out at that sea of prepubescent adolescents and couldn't believe they were able to perform like that on a test that still causes me anxiety every time I think about that Saturday, years ago, that I sat in my high school's cafeteria with a number 2 pencil. I knew my entire future lay on the line.

But I spoke to these students from a different perspective - through the lens of being a teacher who has taught gifted children and the lens of being a parent of children identified as gifted. I talked to them, first of all, about dreams, and then I gave them a charge: DON'T SETTLE. I asked them not to settle for doing less than they can to achieve their dreams, not to settle for doing the best they can on their work; in other words, I asked them to use the gifts that they have been given to make a difference in our world.

My afternoon at Campbell University's TIP celebration was wonderful!

A Sea of Seventh Graders!

Also, this week I was onhand when another new Teacher of the Year was named. I was on the program to give remarks as my own school system chose a new TOY for 2009-2010. Kara Coleman, a second grade teacher in only her fourth year of teaching, was given the exciting news at the Cedar Grove Ruritan Club dinner last night. A special treat was that Phillip Little, the current Piedmont/Triad Regional Teacher of the Year, was the keynote speaker. Phillip is an inspirational speaker, talents he brings to us from his history classroom at Northwood High School in Chatham County.

Piedmont/Triad Central Regional Teacher of the Year Phillip Little speaks to the group.

My remarks included a few pictures of my amazing time in Washington, D.C., photos shared by the Teacher of the Year from Minnesota, Derek Olson. Derek stood on the row right behind me at the Rose Garden and rested his camera on his hip for these examples of creative photography.

One reason these pictures are so meaningful to the State Teachers of the Year who were in the Rose Garden that day is because this is how we saw it. Thanks, Derek, for preserving these memories for us.

And, finally, the announcement: here I am with Kara Coleman, the Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010.

A New TOY Year...

The North Carolina Teacher of the Year Team for 2008-2009

This is my first entire weekend home in awhile, and I'm pretty exhausted! It's worth it, though, because of the many opportunities I've had as North Carolina's Teacher of the Year for 08-09, the wonderful educators I've met, and the relationships that have grown over the year.

I started the week last Sunday, meeting with the new Teacher of the Year team as they began the festivities to select a new NC Teacher of the Year for 09-10. We had dinner together, and I shared a little about my experiences, my year traveling, and some of the activities they could look forward to.

On Monday, I served as the hostess while the interviews were taking place, and I really enjoyed getting to know each regional finalist as they entered (and exited) their interviews. The next morning I was there again, as they went in for a shorter meeting with the selection committee, speaking briefly about education topics.

That day our current team began arriving, and it was so exciting to see these teachers, who although spread out geographically, continue to be close and communicate often. We'll also be traveling with the Center for International Understanding to Denmark next month. We're so excited!

Tuesday night we attended the always celebratory and beautiful evening that is the dinner for the naming of the new Teacher of the Year. The night began with Governor Perdue speaking to us and continued with remarks from Dr. Bill Harrison, CEO of the Department of Public Instruction and Chair of the State Board. Then Cynthia Marshall, President of at&t, sponsor of the NC Teacher of the Year program, shared her truly inspirational story.

Here I am with Valonda Calloway, the beautiful Mistress of Ceremonies for the Teacher of the Year dinner. Not only is she a local celebrity who works at our CBS affiliate, WRAL, she's a former Washington Redskins cheerleader!

Another local celebrity, David Heid, set the tone for the evening - classy and elegant.

Governor Bev Perdue opened up the evening by thanking teachers for all they do.

Near the end of the night, I stepped on the stage to deliver my parting remarks. But how can you sum up in a few minutes what has been a life changing experience? I've met the President, the First Lady, the Vice President's wife, and the Secretary of Education. I've traveled the state meeting the best teachers and teachers-to-be in the country. It was so hard that I knew I would struggle. So after a few introductory remarks, thanking my husband and the Teacher of the Year Team, as well as Danny Holloman, who is the TOY Coordinator, I played a video/movie that highlighted my year and thanked as many folks as I could. (A special thanks to Trisha Muse, Sandhills/South Central Regional Teacher of the Year for working so hard on my movie!) Then I sat down and waited to hear the name of the teacher who would take my place.

It was a strange feeling. Dr. June Atkinson, Superintendent of NC schools, said a few introductory remarks and then said, "The North Carolina Teacher of the Year is..." and I thought "Me. It's me. I'm the North Carolina Teacher of the Year." I joked that at the last minute they wouldn't select someone else. They'd say, "We're just going to let her do it for another year." And of course I was kidding. It's time for me to head back to my school, and I'm excited about that.

I'm also looking forward to working with our new North Carolina Teacher of the Year - Jessica Garner, a Spanish teacher from Union County Schools. Jessica will do a wonderful job and will be an ambassador for global education as she is a world traveler who has so much to share with our state's teachers and students.

Here I am with Jessica, the newly named North Carolina Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010.

But my job's not over yet. I'll be serving in this capacity until June 30, 2009.

So after Wednesday's State Board of Education meeting, I headed to High Point University to speak to student teachers who would be graduating the next day. And I was happy for the opportunity to do this job for a couple of months more.

Here I am with graduating seniors who will be in elementary classrooms next year!

High Point University is right beside the preschool where my sister Lisa works with three year olds. I just had to stop by and visit...

I'm so happy that Jessica Garner will have this amazing experience. A year from now, she'll look back just as I did, as she says goodbye, and will realize that she's had "the time of her life" just as I have. Thank you again, North Carolina!

Rose Garden Ceremony - Yes, That's THE Rose Garden

I don't think there are words to describe such a surreal experience, but I'll try.

Today I was the last teacher on the bus headed for the White House because I spent some time emailing my colleagues at Gravelly Hill Middle School, and I was running a little late. I wanted to make sure, before the press release came out, to tell them that my friend and fellow finalist Tony Mullen would soon be named the 2009 National Teacher of the Year. I also wanted to thank them for their unwavering support this year as I have traveled the state on behalf of teachers. But, oops, the time got away from me...so I hustled out to the bus, and off we went!

Once we arrived, the security check began...actually, it started months ago when we sent in the names of our visitors along with our names and social security numbers...background checks, I guess. CIA clearance? Who knows?

Here I am, looking distressed...

At any rate, when they checked, my name wasn't on the list. I could feel the tears coming while I waited with two other teachers who were also missing from the list and the kind Teacher of the Year from Alaska, who was on the list, but who refused to enter without us. Magically, someone produced an updated list, and we were all allowed in.

By the way, two guests actually were not allowed in: the husband of Virginia Teacher of the Year Stephanie Doyle and the son-in-law of Missouri TOY Margaret Williams. Stephanie was seen pictured shaking the President's hand on many newspapers the next day, and I told her that kind of helped to make up for it, but not enough. I can't imagine how I would have felt if I had looked out over that crowd and seen no one familiar, no one there for me. As it was, my husband was an obnoxious photographer and can be seen on some publicity photos hovering over Michelle Obama's head.

There's David, fourth row, gray hair, camera in hand...just behind the First Lady and Jill Biden.

Since we had been detained, the rest of the group had made it to the Rose Garden, but our little group had to wait for a military escort. So we hung out in the Presidential library until our time to meet the others.

Next we lined up, in order of height (we had already practiced) and waited for the President to come out of a press conference - Senator Specter had just announced that he would be changing parties, so all of the press that had arrived for the TOY celebration had run inside to see what the President would say.

There I am on the right in the white suit.

Michelle Obama and Jill Biden were introduced first.

The President entered, saying "Hello, everybody!"

The President greeted the guests.

After the Rose Garden ceremony, I was interviewed by the sponsor of the National Teacher of the Year Program, ING.

The view from the Rose Garden - it was an amazing day!

Thank you, North Carolina, for giving me this unforgettable opportunity..

P.S. You can view the event here.

Teacher of the Year, Recognition Week!

I'm sure my life has never been as chaotic as last week as I prepared for my trip to Washington, D.C. I spoke in three different cities, all while trying to pack for the biggest events of my professional life and while attempting to complete, print, and mail a draft of my book entitled Finding Mrs. Warnecke.

Suffice it to say that I haven't cleaned my house in three weeks - can't wait to do that! So...I finally starting packing, and my husband could barely lift the suitcase. I took a pile of stuff out and put some things in the car (I was flying, but David would be driving up later...) Meanwhile I dropped my gown for the ball right in the driveway and just generally made a mess of things while trying to get out of town. Then I got to the airport and my luggage was still too heavy! But I whined and told the check-in attendant "But I'm going to meet the President!" and she let me go without charging me the $50 she had mentioned. Thanks!

In the terminal I bought UNC championship t-shirts for the President (he picked us to win on his brackets) and Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education and a former professional basketball player. Then I saw former UNC star Eric Montross come out of the gate I was headed in to. I felt like that was an omen of the famous people I would see in the days to come...

Once I arrived in D.C. on Sunday night, I was so excited to see the other State Teachers of the Year - we all met in January in Dallas and have communicated in the months since, all what I call "kindred spirits in education." My first fun event was to jump in a limousine and participate in a beautiful nighttime tour of Washington, D.C.

Here I am with Tony Mullen, the Teacher of the Year from Connecticut and the newly named National Teacher of the Year, and the State Teachers of the Year from Minnesota, Louisiana, Maine, Colorado, and California.


Here I am at the World War II Memorial - I'm proud of the veterans from North Carolina, including many of my uncles and my husband's uncle Riddick who died during the Battle of the Bulge.

Monday we boarded buses and headed for a day at the Smithsonian as we are now "Smithsonian Ambassadors." We met briefly at the Castle, the Smithsonian's first building, before breaking into groups and visiting different museums. My group spent a few hours in the Museum of National History, and although we were able to see exhibits like The Star Spangled Banner, Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, and an exhibit depicting the life of Abraham Lincoln (including his top hat), most of the time we were in the repository, digging through artifacts in an extremely secure area. We were all given a box from our own states, and we were able to look through diaries, postcards, and letters and feel connected to home.

The Castle

My Smithsonian Group

The Climate-controlled Area for Artifact Collections, including Duke Ellington's Sheet Music

Artifacts from North Carolina from the 30's to the 50's

I brought sixteen pairs of shoes to Washington, but none as famous as these!

The best was yet to come, though, as we hopped on the buses again and headed to Vice President Biden's residence. We were so excited while the security guards were checking our identification - I watched the dog sniffing for bombs under the bus in front of us and realized that this visit was a very big deal!

Dr. Jill Biden was our hostess, and she was so sweet and gracious. A teacher herself, Dr. Biden spoke to each State Teacher of the Year individually, smiling for pictures, and thanking each of us for what we do. Our visit to the Vice President's residence was definitely something I'll never forget!

The VP's Home

When I first met Jill Biden, I talked to her about being a reading teacher (she's one, too!) and about being a stepmother, another thing we have in common. I told her that I've always admired her for the way she helped raise those two boys after they tragically lost their mother and sister.

The Vice-Puppy is named Champ - a name the Vice President's father called him as a child.

Finally my travel weary husband showed up and we walked to Luigi's, an authentic Italian restaurant, to have dinner before our big day Tuesday. Stay tuned for my experiences as I meet the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary of Education. Not exactly my usual audience of seventh graders!

Mountain Girl?

My return trip to Hendersonville this week has made me question my usual choice of beach over mountains. As you may remember, I was in Henderson County in the fall, speaking at a National Board Certified Teachers' recognition. I returned to visit the neighboring town, Saluda, during the Principal of the Year site visits in February. But it was this third time heading west that inspired this poem:

Competition

Gazing with amusement
at a mountain scene,

being an ocean girl myself,

I challenged

the degree of beauty

I would find there.

But I looked

across that early spring range

and saw varied shades of green –

mint to forest to hunter –

and thought
those mountain leaves,

watercolor on parchment,

an autumn reversal

of leaf tone,

with clouds sitting

hilltop,

resting in the splendor,
the very portrayal of beauty,

I guess -

a challenge to those

flat-sand beaches

of the coast.

************************************

On this trip I developed a newly found affection for these hills of our state, no doubt thanks to the fine folks in Henderson County. I stayed in the Waverly Inn, a beautiful bed and breakfast inn, located in historic Hendersonville. I was impressed by the history of the building and even more impressed by the unending cake slices and homebaked cookies, not to mention the free flowing Coca-Cola machine (my favorite thing.)

After speaking to new teachers from the district at West Henderson High School, we all gathered in the school's cafeteria for a reception complete with cheesecake. It was there that I experienced a first. Moriah, an adorable little girl, asked me for my autograph!

Here I am with cutie-patootie Moriah, who said she wanted my autograph because "You're famous, and you know Hannah Montana!"

Later, a wonderful group of teacher leaders took me to dinner at Mezzaluna, and I enjoyed pizza and fellowship with teachers from the mountains of our state.

On Tuesday at EPFP, we celebrated our wonderful leader's birthday. Jo Ann Norris has been in education over 35 years, and she deserves more than a song and cake! We presented her with a picture of the group; however the photo was taken last week when everyone was in Washington for a conference that I couldn't attend. So I brought Jo Ann my Glamourshots picture (c. 1987). We all had a good laugh about that.

Here I am with Jo Ann and a picture of my 80's hair!

Wednesday I returned to Greensboro, this time to visit the MSA class at UNC-G. I spoke to them about developing teacher leaders in their schools and about what a teacher thinks makes a principal great. They were a wonderful, attentive group (they meet after school, well into the night) and I enjoyed my time there.

Next I traveled to Fayetteville State University to participate in the Excellence in Teaching Institute. Ruth Ann Parker, Southeast Regional Teacher of the Year, and I presented, together for the first time this year, to pre-service teachers. The Capel Arena held a class act of hospitality from the food to the student musical performers to the HUGE gift basket Ruth Ann and I were presented with. Thanks, Broncos!

Here I am with Ruth Ann earlier in the year at the NCCAT Gala!

Next week is one of the biggest weeks ever. I travel to Washington, D.C. for the naming of the National Teacher of the Year and HOPEFULLY we'll all get to meet the President, as former State TOYs have done.

Stay tuned to this blogsite - I'll be updating daily...

Winding Down the Year...

A personalized gift basket of thanks for National Board Certification work...

This week ended about the same time as the next one is about to start...but I'm not worried about being tired...because all too soon there will be a new North Carolina Teacher of the Year, and I'll be saying that this year went by too fast!

I started this past week at Gravelly Hill Middle School with a more relaxed National Board candidate-in-waiting. My friend Kelly had mailed her portfolio weeks ago, and we were beginning preparations for her assessment center exercises. But first, she presented me with a huge basket that held gift cards and gifts galore...all of my favorite things! Now you know why Kelly is one of my GHMS BFFs.

On Tuesday, I served on the selection committee for the next Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year. It was a wonderful day, but a difficult one as we selected two finalists for the 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year. Of course, the teachers are some of the best you'll find, and it was an honor to sit and listen to them talk about their teaching. The new OCS TOY won't be named until May...so more on that later.

On Wednesday, I served on another committee. I was part of a group of OCS teachers who participated in the Title II audits. I was so excited to hear all of us sharing positive stories about what's going on in our schools.

Thursday was a day to get prepared for the National Teacher of the Year announcement next week. There were clothes and essentials to gather, and it took me all day to do it. More on those events next week!

Denmark native Sofus Simenson tells us all about his native country.

But Friday I was back on the road - but not far - I drove to Chapel Hill to meet with the Center for International Understanding and a group of participants from across the state. We'll all be going to Copenhagen, Denmark in June! We'll also visit a school and stay with a host family in Odense, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. I grew up listening to my great grandmother telling me the story of "The Little Match Girl" so I'm so excited to learn more about the author in Denmark. I'll also visit Kronborg Castle in Helsinore, the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet. I can't wait to get to Denmark!

Panel members Jacob, Trina, and Anne talk about life in Denmark.

Saturday morning we ate breakfast in the hotel while watching some hungry ducks beg to come in.

The group met Friday and Saturday and made plans for our lessons we'll teach when we return. I hope my students are ready to learn more about Andersen's fairy tales, Hamlet, and Denmark. It won't be long before I'm back in that school doing what I love best - teaching middle school!