Fifty seven teachers, 50+ state coordinators, and an untold number of rotating storytellers, thinkers, policy makers and dreamers came together for a week in February to tell our stories, grow-both personally and professionally and to help elevate our voice in education in an effort to move towards equity in education for all of our students.
We began our journey with celebration--for the work that's been done, for the honor of being Teacher of the Year and to have the opportunity to connect deeply with other educators around the country and begin to connect our work.
Then, we went deep. One on one, knee to knee, we shared our stories. People shared struggles, motivations, and successes. This allowed us to move forward with an atmosphere of trust.
This pattern of personal reflection being a springboard to our roles as educators and spokespersons was repeated throughout our time together. One of these topics was "Lenses Through Which We View the World." Having the opportunity to deeply reflect on how personal definitions and experiences impact my perspective allowed me to consider where my blindspots may be and how these may inhibit my connection to student experience. We were continually invited to be "comfortable with the uncomfortable."
This is what we ask of our students all the time. To be vulnerable. To share ideas. To share their work, with small and large audiences. This was a great reminder of how uncomfortable this sharing can be, but how powerful it is.
One moment of courage came when I shared my story in our storytelling session. Igniting the spark for one student in science. Seeing the transformation of a slow-moving, Eeyore-like attitude for science, to a dancing, drawing leader in class. Being able to see the student, really see him, and offer him the opportunity to use his gift of drawing shifted his perspective in science and his social relationships in class.
This breakthrough of trust and awareness is what happened over and over again at our first NTOY cohort meeting
In addition to deep personal reflection, we had speakers, panels, and presentations to learn from.
Hadi Parvoti, founder of Code.org, was among these. What an inspiration to hear "Teachers do the most important job in this country" from someone whose work I have been using for years in the classroom. A true affirmation of the work we are doing around Computer Science in RI, with our CS4RI inititiative. Parvoti noted that RI and Arkansas are ahead of the curve in implementing computer science in public schools.
On our last day, we had breakfast with Mandy Manning, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year. She shared her passion on teaching ALL students and told her story of how Teachers Against Childhood Detention began and the nation-wide actions being taken. This came as a result of her idea and using her cohort as a guide and driving force of action.
I have a new source of information, encouragement, and place of understanding. Thank you to CCSSO for hosting and making possible the connections with the 57 Teachers of the Year!
I continue my journey-- motivated, overwhelmed, full of hope.
