Well, here it is two weeks after leaving Dallas and I finally have caught my breath enough to sit and write. Being away from class always leaves me feeling so far behind and this time I had so many other things on my plate to catch up on. It was actually hard transitioning back to reality from the experience in Dallas. I think I needed a whole extra day off just to reflect on all that I had learned and all the amazing people that I had met. Instead I have been grading papers and planning away each night looking woefully at my notes I took at the last sessions on Saturday. So here I go, back to Saturday...
We had one of the most amazing speakers on Saturday morning. His name was Rick Melmer and he grabbed our attention and emotions. He presentation was titled: Teachers, Learners, Leaders: Working with Policy Makers. I know this sounds like it wouldn't be an exciting topic to listen to, but he was an incredible presenter! He gave us succinct advice on not only how to bring our message back to our state policy makers, but also how to deliver an effective message period. One of my favorite parts of his speech was about where we are facing in life as individuals. We stand at any point with the option of facing our death or facing our birth. If we face our birth then we are staring at hard concrete. How many people live their lives or professional careers facing this side. Ahead of us is death, but also a lot of wet concrete. We can make of it what we choose. I know which way I am facing!
Our last speakers in the morning were a dynamic duo that spoke to us about the "Media Inside and Out!" It was entertaining and enlightening. The presenter Doug Dooner's message to us was "find our message" and "use our voice." It made me realize you don't just have to be speaking to the media or the legislator to need and use your voice and message, that it could be used locally just as powerfully.
After a wonderful lunch, we had an afternoon with all of us together hosted by 4 National Teachers of the Year who have been our facilitators in our homeroom meetings over the past week. They are all so unique in their style and had so much to share with us. We were broken up into groups called pinwheels to role play scenarios, such as dealing with teacher evaluation changes and funding issues. We each represented different perspectives, such as parents, school board members, policy makers and teachers. It was a fantastic experience to be part of and learn from. So often we are stuck in our one perspective, especially when faced with issues that demand change. Some of my colleagues are pretty amazing actors too - there was a lot of laughter in the reality of the characters that we played. We walked away reminding ourselves of the importance of an open mind in working for reform. I also walked away with an awesome tool to use in the classroom for my students - pinwheels!
The last thing that left quite an impression on my were the closing words by Mike Geisen. He showed us a quote by Shumryu Suzuki - "In the mind of the beginner there are many possibilities. In the mind of the expert there are few." Which should we be? In our role as Teachers of the Year we have to choose between humility and boldness and we should choose both. We are given a chance to be speakers and leaders for our profession with this amazing title. He reminded us that we are only experts when we have a beginners mind and that this is a message we can share with our colleagues, our students and others!
We closed the conference with a fantastic dinner and a moving speech by Michelle Shearer the current National Teacher of the Year. It turns out we have very similar paths. She went to undergrad with an interest in pursuing medicine and found her calling in teaching. She currently teaches Chemistry in Maryland. She was bold and confident and reminded us to be proud that we are in the very best profession.
Before leaving for Dallas I was told by many people that this year would be life changing and that I would make life long friends. I was honestly skeptical of the loftiness of all of it. Well, I left feeling that I met not only outstanding teachers but outstanding individuals who I am confident will be a part of my life for a long time. I am already anxious for D.C. to arrive, until then I have a lot to accomplish in my classroom and in my state. I need to find my message and use my voice.
