Week of September 14

This was the week I have been waiting for since May! We finally started our EPFP (Education Policy Fellowship Program) in Raleigh under the direction of Jo Ann Norris and Kendall Jordan. Jessica Garner had talked about this program so much and often said it was one of her favorite parts of her TOY year. She was right! We spent much of our first day getting to know our fellow classmates. We also participated in a great activity that promoted learning more about our generational differences and helped us to build skills to work better with everyone. I met some amazing people and I am truly looking forward to a great EPFP class this year!

On Wednesday morning, I spoke with the Curriculum and Instruction folks who work in the counties of the Southeast Region. Ms. Linda Lowe with the Southeast Alliance was a wonderful host and her passion for education is remarkable. We talked about the drivers and restrainers in education and ways we can work through the things that restrain us in our profession. We also talked about the push to look at education differently. I once heard a speaker say that if Rip Van Wrinkle were to wake up today, the only thing he would recognize would be education. We talked about pushing toward more facilitative instruction to improve the thinking, analytical and problem solving skills for our students. I was also fortunate to be able to hear a presentation about NC FALCON. I know teachers will find this tool to be a valuable resource to help our students grow academically.

I spent the rest of the week working on a video blog (eventually it will make it to a post!) and researching for the many presentations for the month of October!

The Boys of Fall

Friday nights this time of year mean only one thing....Friday night football!! I don't know about you, but around here, we wait all week for the game on Friday night and stay up late to see if we made it on "Football Friday." As I left the game last night, I could not help but remember the "good old days" of high school. Our team proudly wore their blue and white uniforms to school on Friday and we could hardly wait to cheer on the sidelines. Although there is no way under the sun you will catch me in my old cheerleading uniform, you will hear me cheering just as loudly from the stands.

When I first heard Kenny Chesney's latest, "The Boys of Fall" I could not help but smile. The crisp autumn air, the roar of the crowd and the hellos from old friends make this a perfect time of year. So to my old friends who once carried cleats and wore helmets, enjoy the memories. To my current students who proudly suit up each Friday night, be a solid team! To our future stars, work hard and keep your dreams in sight. To all of my friends who live for a high school football, enjoy the boys of fall.

Week of September 6

It was another exciting week! I enjoyed spending Labor Day with my family and I hope you all had a great day to relax and catch up on some much needed sleep!
On Tuesday, I spent time in the office working on research and tackling mounds of papers to be filed!

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to travel to UNC-Pembroke and speak to their group of Teaching Fellows. I was very impressed with this group! They were exciting, professional and asked some really great questions. Thanks for letting me visit your beautiful campus. I wish you all the bets of luck in this semester!

Thursday was an extra-fun day because it involved eating really well! I enjoyed eating lunch with the Superintendents in the Southeast Alliance. Ms. Linda Lowe hosted us at James Sprunt Community College. Ms. Lowe is so wonderful and is very dedicated to education. We had a great lunch and I enjoyed meeting all of the Superintendents in our region. Thank you all for the beautiful brass bell. I love it and it already has a special place in my office! On Thursday evening, I joined the Lillington Rotary Club for a great BBQ chicken dinner at Howard's BBQ. I enjoyed the great conversation and enjoyed talking with everyone about my exciting year and the ways that community organizations can help support our schools. Needless to say, I did not go to bed hungry Thursday night! I am finding that in true Southern fashion, all meetings involve really great food! I am beginning to think a gym membership may need to be included in the Teacher of the Year prize package!

On Friday Mrs. Simpson at Lakewood High School invited me to help facilitate a seminar. We all read and participated in a seminar on John Steinbeck's story Junius Maltby. What great insight these ninth grade students offered about the short story. From parenting to the institution of education, they brought in new perspectives and did an amazing job digging deeper into the story. I always learn so much from students and this group truly taught me to think about things in a new way!
As we talked about the story I brought up Mark Twain's quote, "I never let my schooling get in the way of my education." I love this quote and the students did a superb job discussing this one! Thanks guys! I look forward to working with you all again soon!

Week of August 30

Finally after what seemed like an eternity, I was able to work with real STUDENTS! How exciting! This was the kick off to a busy week!

On Monday, I spent the morning at Lakewood High School. Anther teacher and I worked on a Socratic Seminar for her English class and then I went to speak to a Career Management class. We had fun talking about why people choose certain careers and did an activity with skittles as a way to think about the important points of consideration when thinking about a career. What a great group of young adults! Thanks for allowing me to visit your class!

On Tuesday we had our second study group meeting with the NC Public Schools Forum. We continued to listen to presentation regarding quality teacher retention. Our presenters were truly amazing! I was so impressed with the work that NCDPI, NCPAPA, and NC State are doing in this area. We spent a great deal of time talking about the important role of strong administrators and leaders in the recruitment and retention of quality teachers. NC State has started a great program in the Northeastern part of NC. They are recruiting the best teachers for administrative roles and placing quality student teachers with this specific teachers. This is such a great example of capacity building and an amazing way to improve the overall quality of education in regions that find it difficult to recruit and retain teachers. I left the meeting wanting more information! I continued to be inspired and amazed at the great work that goes on in education!

I spent Wednesday and Thursday attending the State Board of Education meeting. I always learn so much at these meetings. Dr. Garland, Ms. Quick and Dr. Ashley always have such great information and research to present to us. When I leave these meetings, I go home and research until my head hurts! I truly wish everyone could have the opportunity to attend a SBE meeting and listen to the information. For minutes from the meeting, please click the State Board of Education link on the right.

On Friday, I returned to Lakewood High School to attend an advisory board meeting for their new TAPPS program. This program is so on target. It focuses on counties/schools in eastern NC that face staffing challenges. This program works to incorporate Teacher Cadet and supportive, educational opportunities to expose students to the profession of teaching. Students get to work with a variety of schools and have such amazing opportunities through ECU. This helps hard to staff places in eastern NC to "grow their own" teachers! So exciting!! I learned so much from Dr. Grady and look forward to seeing her present in the future!

Learning from the past and looking toward the future

Over the last 24 hours, I have seen two former students who made the choice to drop out of school. Matt dropped out a couple of years ago. I almost did not recognize him because he had "grown up" so much. He came over to sit next to another of his former teachers and me at our school's JV game. He talked about dropping out and how it was his biggest regret. Although he has a job and a beautiful family, he wished he had finished school. He said if he knew then, what he knows now he might have made some different choices. We talked for a while and both of us teachers and moms reminded him that it was never to late to go back to school. Although we all hated to see Matt make that choice a few years ago, we are proud of his maturity and good choices now. Good Luck Matt!

The very next day, I was running errands and I heard "Hey Mrs. Fatch" across the parking lot. It was a student from last semester who had also made the choice to drop out. He was dressed in a tie and going to work. He proudly said that he was back in school and doing well. He was back in U.S. History and was making good grades. I am so proud of him and his choice to return to school this year and graduate in June. I will applaud loudly when his name is called at graduation this June.

We all make mistakes in our lives....some big and others minor. We make choices in our youth often in an attempt to prove we are growing into adulthood and can make decisions for ourselves. The great thing about mistakes is that we can learn from them. The great thing about the past is that it is over and the future is before us. Seeing these two students really made me think about learning from mistakes and moving in the right direction.

Week of August 23

(photo from left to right: Tonya Colwell, MES principal; Mary Lynn Warren, SCS technology; Katie Butler, MES teacher; Margaret Simonetti, MES teacher; JB, Rachel's Challenge presenter)


This has been a great week! On Monday, I had the opportunity to visit New Hanover County Schools and share some strategies to help teachers with facilitative instruction and Socratic seminar (one of my favorite topics!). With the hectic nature of the start of the school year, this group was especially dedicated to make the time to participate in a workshop two days before the students arrive! Some of the teachers had some amazing ideas to share with our group!

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I spent time in the office doing some research and in a couple of schools visiting with some beginning teachers. On Thursday afternoon I had the opportunity to hear a presentation from Rachel's Challenge. This inspiring presentation focused on the life and goals of Columbine victim, Rachel Scott. Three Sampson County teachers (Mrs. Margaret Simonetti, Mrs. Katie Butler, and Mrs. Brandi Hayes) wrote a grant to bring an anti-bullying campaign to Sampson County Schools. This program was the kick-off of that campaign.

The presentation focused on a code of ethics that Rachel had written in a class a few months prior to the Columbine shootings. She challenged her readers to make a difference in the world.Rachels Challenge consist's of 5 goals.
1. Eliminate Prejudice by looking for the best in others.
2. Dare to Dream, write down your goals and keep a journal.
3. Choose Your Influences, input determines output
4. Kind Words, small acts of kindness = BIG impact.
5. Start a chain reaction with family & friends.

It was truly an inspiring and emotional afternoon. Our middle and high school students had the opportunity to hear similar presentations during the school day and the community was invited to an evening presentation. I think all who attended will have some things to think about as we go through this school year. How will you make a difference?
For more information visit www.rachelschallenge.org

Today I am spending the day organizing and completing paperwork and preparing for a busy week next week. Have a great Friday!

3...2...1...Happy School Year!

The buses are rolling down the highways. Our students are dressed for success (okay...maybe a few for fashion). The excitement of the new school year helps the teachers who tossed and turned all last night make it through today with a smile on his face and a bounce in her step.

I was watching a commercial the other day and it made me smile! The frosted mini-wheats were counting down….3….2…1…happy school year! Though we have notebooks instead of party hats and students instead of noise-makers (at least in some cases☺), we have the same excitement, anticipation, and desire to improve on the first day of school as we do on New Year’s Day. We get a new start and a clean slate. A new group of students who have each made resolutions to study, to improve and to graduate have entered our schools and classrooms.

Hopefully, each of you has enjoyed a renewing summer and is ready to embrace the many rewards and challenges before you this year. Happy School Year!