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.

March: A Photo Blog in Two Parts--Part 2

The rest of March was full of interviews for the new North Carolina Teacher of the Year, meetings with other educators to talk about leadership in education, and visits to schools.

NC Teacher of the Year Interviews:

With Cindi Rigsbee, NC TOY 2009

 Education Leadership:

Education Policy Fellowship Program

Speaking about Teacher Leadership and National Board Certification

National Board Certified Teachers at the NCAE Convention

With a Future Elementary School Teacher and "Flat Stanley"

Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society Initiation at Greensboro College

With the Kappa Delta Pi Initiates

More School Visits:

An Innovative Regional STEM School

At UNC-Pembroke

A Bulletin Board at UNC-Pembroke

March: A Photo Blog in Two Parts--Part 1

March was an exceptionally busy month with conversations about educational content, a focus on literacy initiatives, and a visit to a very special school, Haynes-Inman Education Center.  

Conversations about Educational Content:

Hands-on Learning at the North Carolina English Teacher Spring Symposium (I delivered the keynote and a breakout session.  I also enjoyed visiting other breakout sessions.)

With My 3-D Poem

The Joint Legislative Committee Public Hearing on Common Core State Standards

An Impressive Presentation at the State Board Meeting by Libby Bowes, a High School Student Who Partnered with Her Youth Group to Donate Books to Elementary School Students with the Read 5, Give 5 Program
READ MORE HERE

More Literacy Initiatives:

With EPFP Fellow and VIF Leader, Kevin Smith, at the Rockingham County "Catch the Reading Bug" Festival

With Pete the Cat

The Cozy Reading Corner at the Reading Festival--Hundreds of People Showed up

Interactive Reading Tables for Children

Another Table

I Enjoyed Giving Free Books to Children!

Haynes-Inman Education Center--A School Full of Love and Learning:

Their Welcoming Media Center

We Enjoyed a Lovely Breakfast Reception

With Thurman Haynes, Volunteer Extraordinaire 

A Moment of Joy During the Greensboro Symphony Assembly 

With Cheryl Cobb, an Outstanding Teacher

Enjoying the Milk Jug Igloo with My New Friend

A Great Reminder for All of Us