North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching: A Jewel for North Carolina Educators!

   Beginning my journey as the North Carolina Teacher of the Year, I was amazed at how many opportunities were presented to me.  The first of many was the opportunity to attend NCCAT in Ocracoke for a week. I literally loaded up a colleague and left my house at 5:30 A.M. to treck across our great state to spend a week of professional development with educators I knew and many I did not.

     As I am usually transparent, I will continue to be as such with you and let you know that the dread had overtaken me for a season. Worry, fear, and uncertainty gripped me for most of May and June.  I just did not know what to make of this new role. As an English teacher, travel logs and reimbursement forms are things of my nightmares. To think I would be consistently calculating almost had me in hives! However, as the waves found their way onto the Ocracoke Island shore from the Pamlico Sound on June 22, 2015, I began to transform my worry and fear into hope and excitement. The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) at Ocracoke is where I found my rejuvenation and inspiration for the coming year.

     Throughout the week, I formed relationships with educators and learned that we all truly were in the same "boat" whether we were in Raleigh, Asheville, or even Maine! Regardless of where we found ourselves in our professions, one thing rang true for each of us:  our LOVE for our profession.  In working with the United State Coast Guard stationed in Hatteras, we learned that many are doing "less with more" and not being negative about it.  They are fighting for their needs, yet they know their calling is as important today as it will be tomorrow.  I found great comfort in that.  It is amazing how little we realize about our own perspectives until we look closely at others.  The importance of my position as the NC TOY became apparent during our mapping session and tour of the Coast Guard station.  Teachers need a positive voice encouraging us to keep meeting the needs of our students and giving our best every day.  I am that voice this year, and I hope to inspire my colleagues as I was inspired at NCCAT.  

North Carolina Educators:  If you haven't utilized the professional development opportunities at NCCAT, make this year the year you do! It is well worth the sacrifice of your time and travel to be rejuvenated in your profession.

Below is a picture of our group of teacher leaders.  I cannot wait to see where this year takes these incredible educators!

     

"Good seasons start with good beginnings" (Sparky Anderson)

It is still rather surreal and overwhelming to think that I am the one chosen to represent the 95,000 educators in North Carolina.  My emotions range from excitement to utter panic.  I keep asking myself if this is really happening.  I do not feel worthy of this position, yet I know God has called me to this place for a reason.  My desire to make a difference and a positive impact on North Carolina Public Education is great.  Greater than even that, though, is my desire to inspire the teachers of North Carolina to see their potential and the impact they have, regardless of whether they feel their voices are being heard.

Many people have asked me what I look forward to most about the coming year as well as what I dread most.  If I am being honest, I am devastated at the "loss" of my students for a year. If you know me well, you know that my students are my life-blood.  They are the reason I teach, and a year without them every day just feels empty, void, and just plain wrong. However, the excitement of learning more about North Carolina Public Education, spreading hope and affirmation to the teachers of North Carolina, and being able to meet and learn from the fantastic educators of our great state has me so excited I can hardly sleep.  Seriously.  Sleep has evaded me since July 1. My peppy personality is in overdrive, and I cannot help but smile when I think of the possibilities this year holds.  

There are so many experiences that I have already had as the 2015-2016 NC TOY before my "official" start date of July 1, 2015. So, I will recap those for you in the coming month and post about the current happenings as well!  I am going to leave you with a "sneak peak" of my Teacher of the Year office that my high school (Ashe County High School) has so graciously provided for me.  I am most excited that my students can still leave notes for me and drop by to see me when I am there.  I look forward to the coming year and hope you will follow me on this incredible journey!

Please excuse the mess as this office is still "under construction"!! :)