Kentucky Connected Educator Sherri McPherson

Sherri McPherson Fayette County Schools

Since October 2013 when you were featured as one of Kentucky’s Connected Educators, in what way has your connectedness continued to grow?

In November 2013, I earned my National Board Certification and joined the almost 3,000 Kentucky teachers who are NBCTs. Nationally, there are over 100,000 National Board Certified Teachers. That’s a large group of amazing teachers that I am now connected with. This year I am a 2014 Hope Street Group Kentucky Teacher Fellow. The fellowship provides both the opportunity and the platform to speak for teachers’ ideas and perspectives in our state. This year’s work revolves around our new teacher evaluation system, teacher leadership, and the use of teacher time. I have learned that the more connections I make the more I want to make. Being connected fuels my desire to learn about my content and profession. The more connected I become, the more I realize I still have a lot to learn. 

How is your practice enhanced by being connected?

By being connected, face-to-face and virtually, I am able to find mentors, explore ideas, and keep up-to-date on our ever-changing profession. I no longer have to wait for professional development to come to my school or district. Now, professional development comes to me and it’s personalized based on my needs and interests. I can chat with a colleague online, read a blog, or explore new teaching strategies and then implement what I learned the next day in class.

How are you connected beyond Kentucky?

Through Hope Street Group and my work on the Bill and Melinda Gates Teacher Advisory Council, I am connected to teachers across the state, but also nationally. We connect mostly through Twitter, but try to connect face-to-face at state and national convenings. This year is the second year I am involved in the Common Assignment Study which pairs teachers in Kentucky and Colorado together to work on common units in social studies, English, and science.

How does your connectedness flow over into your work with students?

My connectedness flows into my work with students because often I use my connections to improve my content knowledge or teaching strategies. This year, I am trying Ariel Sacks Whole Novels approach with my students. I discovered the approach through my connections on Twitter. Last year, I implemented Genius Hour after learning about it through my connections. I call on my connections to bring in community members to serve on panels for my students. One panel is made up of alumni from our school, for a school research project the students do at the end of the school year. Another panel serves as an authentic audience for when my students present their Genius Hour presentations. Many of the technology programs and tools my students and I use,  I found through my online connections.