At first, I was not about social media. My long time friend and colleague encouraged me to use Twitter as a source of information. To post all the great exciting happenings in class and to create a #PLN I really did not need another electronic format that may or may not be here in a few years (ok, I was wrong about that but more and more social media type sites are popping up everywhere). For all you younger folks out there... I was born into a non-digital age and grew up using a dot matrix printer with a computer screen that had a blinking dot. Social media excited only through dial up and it was for chatting, meeting people (how awkward now that I think about it), and playing online games. Now look at where we are today.
So if it wasn't for Maggie, I would not have gone to What Great Educators Do Differently in Illinois back in 2015 (I continue to bug Jeff Zoul, Jimmy Cassas, Todd Whitetaker to come back to Illinois in the summer so I can attend again). So my twitter followers and followings continue to grow like Kudzu. But in a good way. These are just a few of the educators that I have met in person (I've met more but haven't take pics with them; I am
planning on changing that as soon as I can meet up with them). If you do not know who these educators are.... you should! Each and everyone has his/her own style, structure, and commitment to education. I could write a blog about each and everyone of the people shown. Who knows...during my surgery recovery time, I just might..... after all, they each deserved to be credited for their hand in my life. BTW: I do have a picture with Michael Mantera but he still hasn't sent it to me (maybe mentioning him here, I will get the photo) :) These educators do not know how much life they have given me. There are a countless others that I have not yet met but continue to support me no matter how much I push back.
Find your people or person. They know what you are going through and they know how
you feel. Continue to follow them, let them encourage you, let them be your mentor. Because as Dr. Seuss said, "Teacher of all things." DISCLAIMER: Not sure if he really said that but I have a shirt that says he did :)
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