Kentucky Connected Educator Brison Harvey

Social Studies Teacher  Lafayette High School Fayette County

In what ways are you a connected educator?

When thinking of connectivity, I try to envision myself as a hub on a network of lines. Some of the lines connect with my students, whom I focus my energies on facilitating their growth throughout the year. Other lines connect with other professionals, with whom I respect greatly. I have gotten to know many great educators across the state and the country through the Common Assignment Study, Center for Teaching Quality online collaboratory, and my work with Literacy Design Collaborative. All three have their own inner networks with some overlap, but the primary reason to connect with these groups revolves around their promotion of student learning. These connections exist online through teleconferences, webinars and social media chats. They also have deep roots in offline interactions, including conferences, seminars and work sessions.

How does being connected impact your practice in schools/classroom?

I believe that in order to be a great facilitator of students, a teacher must translate the collective knowledge of the teacher universe and make it usable for their classroom.That is my goal with my involvement with the various groups that I connect with. It has allowed me reflect on my own practices at a deeper level, but also incorporate new ideas that keep the classroom fresh. The amazing part of being connected with amazing teachers is how easily the amazingness of the others becomes part of my own routine. Strategies as simple as political cartoon analysis and as immersive as “Inside-Outside” discussion circles now become part of the learning routine.

How does being connected impact you as a professional?

Finding other teachers, with similar passion and terrific skill, has lit a fire for professional growth within myself. Every session adds fuel to the fire to be the best educator I can be, to try new things and expand the learning opportunities for my students. These connections replenish me on the days where I feel like I am dragging, professionally. It is like an extra bold coffee in the morning; it reaches out of the computer screen and slaps me on the face and gets me ready to get better tomorrow. If I were a teacher on an island, I would find it easy to get discouraged and give up on the profession. Fortunately, I have found paths to plug into, creating a never-ending supply of energy and innovation for professional consumption.

What advice or resources would you recommend to colleagues interested in becoming connected?

1. Find a network outside of your school building. By finding other teachers outside of your world can help you learn about other situations and apply new methods into your classroom.
2. Make an effort to stay connected. It is easy to gain connections, but maintaining your lines of communication are key to remain intellectually fed.
3. Return the favor. While learning and receiving ideas are beneficial, equally as beneficial is throwing your own ideas out into the pond to see if they sink or float. It may turn into a brilliant idea or fall flat but giving back to the educator community keeps the information flowing.

Brison's Bio: After graduating from Asbury University in 2011, Brison received his first teaching job at Lafayette High School. Since then, he has been involved with the Center for Teaching Quality, Common Assignment Study, Literacy Design Collaborative, and is a teacher leader for the Continuous Instructional Improvement Technology System.

Want to participate in Connected Educator Month? Consider:

• Following our blog daily where we will highlight a different educator each day in October
• Adding tips and resources to a shared Google folder

Kentucky Connected Educator Day 31

Representing the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ) and serving as Kentucky's first Teacherpreneur...

Ali Wright

Lafayette High School

Fayette County Public Schools

In what ways are you a connected educator?

Being a connected educator to me means that you are "blowing off the doors of your classroom." When I began teaching 13 years ago In Hampton, Virginia, teacher life was pretty isolating. I taught in one of those 70's- era schools with no walls, and even though I thoroughly enjoyed our shared office/workroom because it provided us the opportunity to collaborate on a daily basis, but it was pretty much a solitary gig. I remember looking forward to the annual district event called "Winter Numberland" that for one afternoon, gave me an opportunity to learn from and interact with all of the math teachers in the district, which was amazing! And now, in 2013, I can have daily interactions with teachers from all over the world! Although I just started blogging this year, Twitter is my main source of connected-ness. I love having a Professional Learning Network that challenges my thinking and provides me with new ideas and  instructional materials.  I also enjoy participating regularly in EdWeek's Teaching Ahead: A Roundtable, which is an awesome discussion forum that focuses on a new topic each month.  (Check out the most recent discussion- about online PD- here.)  Most importantly, I love being a part of CTQ's Collaboratory, which is populated by some of the smartest educators from all over the world.  

How does being a connected educator improve your practice?

Anytime I am able to talk "shop" with other teachers, I learn new things. Being a connected educator means that these conversations go beyond the copy room at my school, which as a result means that my practice is constantly evolving and improving. Just the other day, I saw a Tweet from one of my AP Calculus colleagues from another state that I then used as a warm-up for my class.  

How does being a connected educator impact you as a professional?  

I can't even begin to imagine what my professional life would look like right now if I was not a connected educator. Just three days ago, I participated in a webinar about Common Core Math Standards that allowed me to engage with teachers from all over the country.  Opportunities like this are transformative for me because I feel like I am part of an education movement that is so much bigger than my classroom, school, and district. Working with other teachers- whether from my home office in my pajamas or at a conference halfway around the world in Singapore-inspires me professionally.  Knowing that I am connected virtually to other teachers helps me see the big picture, and gives me the courage to speak up for my profession in any way that I can.  For example, last week I testified to a legislative committee about school funding in our state capitol. Knowing that my PLN had my back was the push I needed to work through my personal anxieties and speak from my heart.

What advice or resources do you recommend for teachers becoming connected?  

Start small.  The virtual educator world can be overwhelming! Try a Twitter chat (#kyedchat is a great one!) or simply start following a few supersmart fellow educators.  Some of my favorites to follow are: @notbradclark, @AkaMsCrowley, @SherriRMc, @TeachingChannel, @KatieNovakUDL, @kastidham, and @WorldLillie.

Think about what it is that you are passionate about as an educator (for me, it's all about math content!) and search for those networks first.  If you are looking for a great virtual community that has lots of great discussions and resources, try the Collaboratory.  (We even have our own teacher-only KY space!)    

Read a few  teacher blogs (there are so many great ones!) and then comment to keep the conversations going.  Two of my go-to's are Bill Ferriter and The JLV.  

Ali Wright is a National Board certified math teacher at Lafayette High School in Lexington, KY who is thrilled to be working in a teacher leadership hybrid role this year as a Center for Teaching Quality teacherpreneur.  Ali also enjoys spending time with her husband of 4 months and their dog and 3 cats, reading novels, playing handbells, and watching reality TV.  

Don't stop reading yet!  There's a fun book giveaway...

In her role as teacherpreneur, Ali works to connect teachers to services from CTQ.  One of the CTQ founders wrote the book Teacherpreneur, and Ali is giving away a copy.  

Enter for a chance to win by answering the question:  

What is the best thing you learned during Connected Educator Month?  

Tweet your answer using the hashtag #cemtaughtme

Tweet by midnight EST November 4, 2013
Ali will choose the best response and notify the winner by November 8, 2013

Ali celebrating Pi day with cake

Let’s see what some of our partners are up to…

 

Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ)-they are working on a webinar series for any and all teachers that would like to get involved. Teachers will have the opportunity to connect with others in sharing their knowledge and expertise as well as receive resources and learn ways to elevate both themselves and their students around the Common Core State Standards. This online “collaboratory” is completely led by teachers, through posts and responses.

You can access this virtual community through the CTQ website.

Hope Street Group-they have developed several trainings focused around the new Professional Growth and Effectiveness System, starting with PGES 101. The State Teacher Fellows will be conducting this training within their Professional Learning Networks across the state. To learn more about Fellows in your area, click here.

Connect with the Teacher Fellow and join their Professional Learning Network (PLN).  Their PLN invites include their local colleagues, building association rep, fellow district teachers, members of their respective subject area organizations, etc.

We look forward to connecting with you and we value you as a teacher leader!!