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I love talking to leadership groups, as I truly believe that teachers can effect change more than they think.   Today I talked to a group of around 100 teachers from all around the area about things that I have done in my classroom and things that our Instructional Leadership Team have implemented in...

My second TV opportunity in a week!  Today I was on Maranda’s show talking about the Teacher of the Year for Teacher Appreciation week.  She was awesome! I will get a link to the segment on my VIDEOS section soon      

  Today I was on WZZM 13’s Take Five talking about being Teacher of the Year and the video that Education First did.  My first live TV!    

I cannot begin to put this experience into words!   I am just going to highlight some of the main things I did in Washington as there is so much to say! The Teachers of the Year were welcomed at the Ritz Carlton in DC by Target with a gift bag.  They sponsored a dinner for us on the first night on...

Last month, I had a wonderful opportunity to be videotaped for the beginning of the “Education First” series led by Colleen Pierson and Dan Salas.  It was so much fun to work with both of them as they interviewed me, colleagues  and my  students as well as  me teaching.  Today I received the...

Today I spoke at the Kent Intermediate School District to a group of educators interested in teacher leadership.  This topic is definitely an area of passion for me as it plays a big role in where I am today.  I started out sharing my story about how I was always doing my own thing in my own classroom,...

This Saturday I was invited to present at Kappa Delta Pi’s “I am a Teacher” Expo.  I was the keynote speaker and presented on my story and background, then I told about the 5 things that I believe all teachers must do to be successful.  I love presenting to pre-service teachers and...

I was invited to speak at Alger Middle School for March Reading Month.  Principal Brown, whom I worked with at Ottawa for many years, planned an open house where parents, students, and teachers could come in to reflect on reading.  I will have to admit, when I was first asked to present on this topic...

I was asked by my Superintendent to deliver a message at the State of the Schools address on Saturday.  I was so excited, as I wanted  to remind teachers in our district how wonderful they are, however I had a commitment to speak at MSU on the same day.  So we decided to videotape my address.  I...

Yesterday I was the keynote speaker at GVSU for their Fire Up Conference which is for all West Michigan student teachers.  What a great opportunity to share and learn!  I spoke to the group of around 450 students in the Field House – telling them a little of my story and then 3 things that they...