#2015bestnine

#2015bestnine

Reflecting back on 2015….

One of my #oklaed colleagues @kasnelson reflected on her year by listing her #2015bestnine: 9 photos from 2015 that are significant or sum up that person’s year.  I decided to take the challenge as well.

My superintendent, Mr.Hime, has challenged his leadership group and teachers to reflect more. So, I am taking the challenge and reflecting on this blog. I look forward to growing as an educator each day in 2016.

1. This was an exciting year professionally for me. I was honored as #cpsreds Teacher of the Year. I am thankful to be chosen by my colleagues who I respect and continue to learn each day.
2. I have had a passion for teaching young children the past 27 years. My last class was truly a blessing. I love every one of these precious children and I loved every minute teaching them.
3. I have two sons and a grandson attending Clinton Public Schools. I am excited about the direction our district is going and am thankful they get the opportunity to attend such an exceptional school district. Did I mention how lucky our #cpsreds students are?!
4. My elementary school was awarded the Oklahoma Educational Technology Trust grant this year. It has been rewarding growing professionally and building our MakerSpace for our students through the grant. It has been so beneficiall to learn from Mr.Bridges, my asst. superintendent and Mrs.Taylor, my principal as they continue the vision to lead our school into the 21st century.
5. I am honored to be a part of such a strong PLN at #cpsreds. We attended Edcampokc together. Twitter and Edcamps and my fellow #okaled educators have been a huge PD for me. I am thankful for them!
6. My district has helped me grow professionally. I am thankful to Mr.Hime, my superintendent, for allowing me to grow professionally at conferences. I was fortunate to attend TCEA, a technology conference, SIOP training in Chicago with my colleague Mrs.Hime and also IPad Palooza with my colleague Mrs.Beck. Not only did I learning so much from the conferences, I continue to grow professionally from these two outstanding colleagues as well as the people I met there!
7. Clinton implemented a new program, Footsteps to Brilliance, for our #cpsreds students. I am lucky to be one of the teachers implementing the program. It is a great program. At the same time, I have grown as a teacher as I have had the opportunity to teach with Mrs.Hime. I like to say her energy is contagious!
8. I began a new adventure this year as tech integrationist. I get to help teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. Teachers like  at Nance have made my new job the best one in the district. These teachers are “wow.” I can honestly say, I surround myself with good people!
9. My colleague, Mrs.Ray and I wrote a grant to our #cpsfoundation. We were awarded money to build a Lego wall in our MakerSpace. The students have been so creative in this area and continue to do do amazing things. Mrs.Ray and I taught PK together. She is so innovative and challenges me to dream big for our students.  

So, that’s my #2015bestnine. I would like to end by quoting one of my favorite #cpsreds administrators, Coach Stringer….”It’s a Gr8 day to be a Red Tornado.”

I love my job.