Positive Conversations

I have had the honor of being involved in several positive events over the last two weeks.  All of them center around positive conversations vital to student and school success.

1st Annual NC Teacher of the Year Summit
Our current NC TOY, Darcy Grimes, and her predecessor, Tyronna Hooker, organized the first ever statewide meeting of all school district Teachers of the Year.  The Summit was supported by district Superintendents and Dr. June Atkinson.  This was a powerful gathering of over 150 first-rate teachers from across the state.  We enjoyed collaborating with each other to form connections for positive change in our schools.  Professional development presentations empowered us to develop our teacher leadership skills and inspired us with words from our State Superintendent and no less than THREE State Teachers of the Year.  Plans have been made to continue the connections made at this summit through online PLC's.

State Teacher Advisory Council
Following our incredible TOY Summit, the Regional TOY's met with June Atkinson to further discuss issues facing public education.  As a team, we worked to refine a set of "This is What We Believe" statements generated by teachers at the Summit.  Hopefully, these statements will be utilized in future publications to inspire and unify teachers as well as inform the public of our beliefs about public schools in NC.  We also brainstormed ways that DPI can continue to support educators and provide them with a voice in education reform.  Plans are being made to take advantage of future opportunities for teachers to directly speak to legislators

Stop and Listen 
Both of these events highlighted the need for teachers and schools to reach out to our state legislators so that we can collaboratively do the best for our students.  We need to have positive conversations about ways to address accountability based on student growth and to measure teacher performance in a way that promotes collaboration not competition.  One of our TOY's, Laura Hunter of Brunswick County, has started a red ribbon campaign to encourage the community and our legislators to "Stop and Listen" to professional educators.  We have insight and ideas! We can make a difference!

Check out the Facebook page below for more information
www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-and-Listen-NC/360721864036763

Autism Parent Symposium
On the local level, our district and Barton College hosted an Autism Parent Symposium in honor of Autism Awareness Month.  Parents and families were able to come together for an evening of information and connections.  They were able to see that the community cares about their children and that we can ALL work together. Hopefully, this will just be the first of a series of events.  In particular, we encouraged parents to come together to support each other through a formal group.  I look forward to sharing more information as these connections develop through more POSITIVE CONVERSATIONS!

April 15th

I had hoped to write this entry wishing that everyone had a restful break, but similar to our winter break, the time is marred by serious news.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families of the Boston Marathon tragedy.  As teachers we will once again be called upon to use our counseling skills to help children cope with grave incidents that we wish they never had to think about.  I wish all of you strength...may you find the words to reassure your students that they are safe and secure in your room today.