Friday, August 15, 2014

Technology and Leadership, Challenge Accepted



August 14, 2014 is Leadership Day in Technology and Education.  What better day to celebrate Leadership day then just before many educators embark on a new school year.  Many of you have either just begun school or will be starting in the last few weeks.

I am taking on the challenge to blog about Technology and Leadership in the P-12 school system and want to talk specifically about some of the changes we have faced in our community of Pleasant Hill.

Roughly about 2 1/2 years ago, on a cold snow day, I received an email informing me that my district would be partaking in a Connect ME Grant opportunity, in which several teachers across the district would be given 15 iPads for their classroom.  In addition to the iPad grant, we would partake in professional development related to the iPads, and then transfer our learning not only to our classroom, but to our building teachers as well.  My prayers were answered that following May and I was able to take on the challenge of iPads in education.  As I continued through my journey last year, I definitely got frustrated, excited, nervous, and scared and various points on my journey, but definitely feel that all of those experiences allowed me to become a more innovative teacher and leader within my building.

I owe this opportunity to the leadership in my district.  I am fortunate to be a part of a district that allows teachers a voice and an opportunity to grow professionally.  More specifically, it was our Assistant Superintendent and our Technology Director who made these changes across the district happen.  They have put technology in the hands of their teachers, which in turn put technology into our learners hands.

Unfortunately, I feel that our administration faces challenges on this journey. Those challenges are our teachers.  While I don't mean to call anyone out or put anyone down, I feel that in Pleasant Hill, our administrators are supportive and eager to allow technology into our students hands, but many of our teachers feel nervous, scared, or unable to find ways to incorporate these devices into classroom instruction.

I hope as we continue on this journey with the rest of the country, that I can help my district administrators inspire other teachers throughout our district.  More specifically, in my building, I hope to be a reference and a leader for teachers to use technology within their classroom instruction.

Again, I am lucky to be a part of a wonderful community and supportive administration that allows teachers to do whats best for students. 

Monday, August 11, 2014

A Letter From Your Teacher



Every year teachers spend their summers lounging by the pool, reading a book (that isn't required by their school district) and researching (or should I say pinteresting) new and exciting ideas to begin a new year.  Let's be honest, even though we have the summers off, our brains are always searching for the cute bulletin board idea or developing new lesson ideas to start the next year off perfectly.

I must admit that once August 1st hits (sometimes even before) I am pulling long hours in my classroom crafting, organizing and preparing for a new school year.  I always get so excited to get a new group of third graders to spend nine months with.  Every year, typically right around this time I also like to send out a friendly letter to my students.  I send a post card welcoming them to third grade, telling them how much fun we are going to have, and expressing my excitement to meet them at Meet the Teacher night in a few days.   But this year, my letter was crafted a little differently.

This past July, I had the opportunity to attend Podstock (read more about that here) and was honored to listen to the keynote speaker (Todd Nesloney).  In his powerful and inspiring speech he talked specifically about his students and the letter that he sent out prior to meeting his class.  He, like many teachers, also sent out a letter to his students before Meet the Teacher, but his was different.  Instead of welcoming them to 5th grade, he wrote about what he knew they could do, dream, and accomplish that year together.   "I know I haven't met you yet, but I know you can accomplish anything."  Wow.  How powerful.  To think, some of those students probably have never heard that, had the encouragement to do anything they want to do, and this teacher, never to have met them, believed in them.  Todd continued on with his story, ending with one specific student coming back to him at the end of the year with this same note in his hand saying, Thank you.  He told Mr. Nesloney, you believed in me, and you didn't even know me.  That meant something to me.

As I sat there (of course bawling) I thought about the impact that short note had on that one student in Mr. Nesloney's class and knew immediately that I wanted to have that same impact on my students this coming year.  So three days ago, I wrote.  I wrote 23 notes that went something like this....


                               "I know I haven't met you yet, but I already know how amazing you are.  I know you can accomplish anything, learn anything and be anything.  I can't wait to help you on your educational journey.  You are awesome!   We are going to have a great year of learning and growing together!  See you soon. - Mrs. Pickett"

I hope that this note will help inspire that student who needs a little extra love and encourage my struggling students to keep going this year.  I hope to make the same impact that Todd made on that one student, that one year.

My challenge to you and other teachers is to do the same thing.  If every teacher across the country was able to write a letter like this.  Think about the impact we would have on kids.  The inspiration and culture that we could create allowing children to accomplish ANYTHING they want to... Amazing!

I know this time of year is hectic, stressful, and overwhelming, but instead of organizing that cabinet, or crafting that project, write a letter to your students.  Even if  you have already met them, it will still mean the world to them.

Thank you Todd Nesloney, for helping me inspire others.