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Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Week of May 30
Is it really time for EOC and end-of-the-year checklists?
I spent Memorial Day with my family and friends and enjoyed the opportunity to relax, at least a little! I know many school districts were using Memorial Day as a make-up day and I was thankful we did not have to be in school! I leave for China in just a couple of weeks and I was glad to have the day with my children!
On Tuesday, I met with a few of my summer co-workers for the Global Initiative Program with the FuHsing School in Taipei. I am saddened that my schedule will not be flexible enough this summer to teach English for this truly amazing program. I know the students will have a great summer at Meredith College!
On Wednesday and Thursday I was in Raleigh for the June State Board of Education Meeting. I had missed the May meeting as I was in DC and it was good to be back with such a dedicated focused group! Wednesday was full of good discussion, big issues and lots of information. The Board listened to presentations including an update from the Blue RibbonTask Force on Compulsory Attendance Age, a new program to increase the number of High School Graduates in Haywood County, and the new World Language initiative in Lee County Schools. North Carolina Public Schools are doing some amazing things! We also had the opportunity to hear from the Teacher Effectiveness workgroup. There was lots of good information to think about and discuss.
On Thursday, the State Board recognized three outgoing advisors. I will miss all three of these very dedicated, passionate and insightful folks next year. Jessica and Jan, you guys have not only been my mentors and co-advisors, but you have become friends I admire and respect. I will miss seeing you guys at every meeting. Dr. Hoke, I will miss your perspective and humor. I am so grateful to have met you.
The SBE also heard updates around Race to the Top and ACRE. The meeting was concluded by a very powerful, passionate and articulate speech by Chairman Dr. Bill Harrison. I cannot do justice to his words in summary and I have posted the video below. I encourage you to watch.
Here are some of the photos from Thursday's meeting as we said good-bye to three advisors.
(Jessica Garner, 2009-2010 NC Teacher of the Year)
(Jan King, 2010-2011 NC Principal of the Year)
(Dr. Jack Hoke, 2009 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year)
(Jan King, Kevin Howell (SBE member), me, and Jessica Garner at the end of Thursday's SBE meeting)
For more information regarding the June SBE meeting, please click the link on the right.
To read Dr. Harrison's blog following Thursday's meeting, please click here.
Following the SBE meeting on Thursday, I attended the Teachers and Leaders Subcommittee meeting of the Governor's Education Transformation Commission. During our meeting, we engaged in rich dialogue about IHEs, Teacher Corps, and began talking about Teacher Effectiveness.
On Friday, I was in the office and on the computer! My eyes hurt by the end of the day!
I spent Memorial Day with my family and friends and enjoyed the opportunity to relax, at least a little! I know many school districts were using Memorial Day as a make-up day and I was thankful we did not have to be in school! I leave for China in just a couple of weeks and I was glad to have the day with my children!
On Tuesday, I met with a few of my summer co-workers for the Global Initiative Program with the FuHsing School in Taipei. I am saddened that my schedule will not be flexible enough this summer to teach English for this truly amazing program. I know the students will have a great summer at Meredith College!
On Wednesday and Thursday I was in Raleigh for the June State Board of Education Meeting. I had missed the May meeting as I was in DC and it was good to be back with such a dedicated focused group! Wednesday was full of good discussion, big issues and lots of information. The Board listened to presentations including an update from the Blue RibbonTask Force on Compulsory Attendance Age, a new program to increase the number of High School Graduates in Haywood County, and the new World Language initiative in Lee County Schools. North Carolina Public Schools are doing some amazing things! We also had the opportunity to hear from the Teacher Effectiveness workgroup. There was lots of good information to think about and discuss.
On Thursday, the State Board recognized three outgoing advisors. I will miss all three of these very dedicated, passionate and insightful folks next year. Jessica and Jan, you guys have not only been my mentors and co-advisors, but you have become friends I admire and respect. I will miss seeing you guys at every meeting. Dr. Hoke, I will miss your perspective and humor. I am so grateful to have met you.
The SBE also heard updates around Race to the Top and ACRE. The meeting was concluded by a very powerful, passionate and articulate speech by Chairman Dr. Bill Harrison. I cannot do justice to his words in summary and I have posted the video below. I encourage you to watch.
Here are some of the photos from Thursday's meeting as we said good-bye to three advisors.
(Jessica Garner, 2009-2010 NC Teacher of the Year)
(Jan King, 2010-2011 NC Principal of the Year)
(Dr. Jack Hoke, 2009 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year)
(Jan King, Kevin Howell (SBE member), me, and Jessica Garner at the end of Thursday's SBE meeting)For more information regarding the June SBE meeting, please click the link on the right.
To read Dr. Harrison's blog following Thursday's meeting, please click here.
Following the SBE meeting on Thursday, I attended the Teachers and Leaders Subcommittee meeting of the Governor's Education Transformation Commission. During our meeting, we engaged in rich dialogue about IHEs, Teacher Corps, and began talking about Teacher Effectiveness.
On Friday, I was in the office and on the computer! My eyes hurt by the end of the day!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Week of May 23
I can hardly believe that my year is quickly coming to a close. This week means there is only one month left before I hand over the duties to Tyronna Hooker, 2011-2012NC Teacher of the Year. I have truly enjoyed every moment of the amazing, crazy ride!
This week gave me some time to get some research for an upcoming PD session finished and to work on my preparations for China and the final weeks of my TOY year. On Monday I spent time in the office and with some of my amazing co-workers at Midway High School. Whether I am overwhelmed or balanced, stressed or relaxed, my friends and school family offer me more inspiration than words can say! Thank you all for always welcoming me back home as though I never left. I love you guys so much!
On Tuesday morning, I met with Meredith Henderson from the Center for International Understanding for my orientation for our trip to China! How exciting! I could hardly pay attention. I just wanted to cheer every other sentence! Thanks Meredith for all of the work you put into making our trip successful. We leave on June 16 and I will do my best to post photographs regularly!
I then traveled to Stokes County to attend and speak at their Teacher of the Year Banquet. I also experienced the most terrifying storm I have ever driven through. It was a pretty scary hail storm! Crystal Folger-Hawks is so amazing. I had the opportunity to get to know Crystal at NCCAT last summer. Crystal was in charge of the TOY banquet and it was truly fabulous! From Mardi Gras Beads and decorations to great food, it was a wonderful night! Congratulations to James Kirkpatrick, Principal of the Year for Stokes County Schools and to Jennifer Via, Teacher of the Year for Stokes County Schools.
(With Jennifer Via, the newly named Stokes County Teacher of the Year)
(With Crystal Folger-Hawks)
On Wednesday, I was office bound....sigh. I realize that I would not do well in an office type job with no interaction with people! Long day of isolated research, reading, and filing....oh my!
Thursday I was so excited to attend the Midway High School Senior Awards night. It was with mixed emotions that I gave the welcome to the Class of 2011. This was the last group that I taught almost every single student in this class. I am so proud of each of them but sad to in a sense say good-bye to such truly amazing young adults. I will be one proud "Mama Fatch" to see each of you graduate!
On Friday I continued to work on office "stuff" and enjoyed an afternoon with my two children!
This week gave me some time to get some research for an upcoming PD session finished and to work on my preparations for China and the final weeks of my TOY year. On Monday I spent time in the office and with some of my amazing co-workers at Midway High School. Whether I am overwhelmed or balanced, stressed or relaxed, my friends and school family offer me more inspiration than words can say! Thank you all for always welcoming me back home as though I never left. I love you guys so much!
On Tuesday morning, I met with Meredith Henderson from the Center for International Understanding for my orientation for our trip to China! How exciting! I could hardly pay attention. I just wanted to cheer every other sentence! Thanks Meredith for all of the work you put into making our trip successful. We leave on June 16 and I will do my best to post photographs regularly!
I then traveled to Stokes County to attend and speak at their Teacher of the Year Banquet. I also experienced the most terrifying storm I have ever driven through. It was a pretty scary hail storm! Crystal Folger-Hawks is so amazing. I had the opportunity to get to know Crystal at NCCAT last summer. Crystal was in charge of the TOY banquet and it was truly fabulous! From Mardi Gras Beads and decorations to great food, it was a wonderful night! Congratulations to James Kirkpatrick, Principal of the Year for Stokes County Schools and to Jennifer Via, Teacher of the Year for Stokes County Schools.
(With Jennifer Via, the newly named Stokes County Teacher of the Year)
(With Crystal Folger-Hawks)On Wednesday, I was office bound....sigh. I realize that I would not do well in an office type job with no interaction with people! Long day of isolated research, reading, and filing....oh my!
Thursday I was so excited to attend the Midway High School Senior Awards night. It was with mixed emotions that I gave the welcome to the Class of 2011. This was the last group that I taught almost every single student in this class. I am so proud of each of them but sad to in a sense say good-bye to such truly amazing young adults. I will be one proud "Mama Fatch" to see each of you graduate!
On Friday I continued to work on office "stuff" and enjoyed an afternoon with my two children!
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