National Teacher of the Year Recognition Week in Washington, DC: A Photo Blog

During the National Teacher of the Year Recognition Week in Washington, DC, I had a chance to reconnect with the other inspiring State Teachers of the Year; engage in learning sessions sponsored by the People to People Ambassador Program, the Smithsonian, and SMART Technology; discuss education at the United States Department of Education; attend a gala event at the United States Institute of Peace; visit the home of the Vice President of the United States; and attend a ceremony at the White House to recognize the new National Teacher of the Year, Sean McComb (Vice President's House and White House photographs will be in a separate blog post). 

 It was a week to remember...

Monument Tour Hosted by the People to People Ambassador Program:

Smithsonian Breakout Sessions:

Life Imitates Art

SMART Technology Training:

United States Department of Education:

The Gala:

With My Husband, Jade

With Other Teachers of the Year

With Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education

April: A Photo Blog!

April proved to be another very busy month with travel throughout the state and travel to the National Teacher of the Year Conference in Washington, DC.  The DC pictures will be in a separate post, but I want to share some of the educator learning sessions, district meetings, exciting events, and moments to remember from April.

Educator Learning Sessions:

People Learn Best by Seeing and Doing: a Demonstration on Grade-Level Appropriate Strategies for More Rigorous Standards

A Great Conference to Support Beginning Teachers from Several Different Districts

Some of the Beginning Teachers Learning Ways to Engage Students in Learning

Delivering the Keynote at the End of the Collaborative

I Co-Chaired a Summit for Regional Teachers of the Year Where We Focused on Education Issues and Needs

 Great Conversations at the Summit

 Honoring Teachers with 50+ Years in Education at the Summit

District Meetings:

Speaking with Beginning Teachers in Person County--This Seal Was Designed by My Father-in-Law!

At the Ceremony to Award the New Person County Teacher of the Year

Orange County

Exciting Events:

At the NC Teacher of the Year 2015 Announcement

With Darcy Grimes, NC TOY 2013, and Jo Ann Norris, NC TOY 1979

With James Ford, NC TOY 2015!

A Pleasant Surprise--Former Student and Future Amazing Teacher, Hannah Orr, Introduced Me at the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society Initiation at Meredith College!

Learning about the Center for International Understanding's Global Teachers Program

Moments to Remember:

February, March, and April were incredibly busy, but there were moments where I got to take a breath, smile, and enjoy the journey.  Here are some of those moments:

There was a moment at the beginning of the month when I was road weary, stressed out, and frustrated.  After delivering two speeches in two different cities in the span of a couple of hours (and navigating rush hour traffic), I saw this beautiful rainbow over a building at UNC-Asheville's campus.  It was such a wonderful moment that reminded me to savor this experience.

Sometimes there is free time in the late afternoon at a conference.  I enjoyed a trip to Fort Fisher after attending the Collaborative Conference.

Midway during the month my husband and I ran the Raleigh Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon.  It was a perfect way for me to reflect on my year as I ran 13.1 miles through downtown Raleigh, a city I have visited many times as NC Teacher of the Year.