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. 

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

Kentucky Connected Educator Day 30

LeRonda Morton

Learning and Innovation Specialist

Fayette County Public Schools

In what ways are you a connected educator?

Being connected is a way of life for me. In addition to using social media and the Internet daily to connect with friends and family, I depend on technology to support my work with administrators, teachers, students, parents, and the community. As a Learning and Innovation Specialist for Fayette County Public Schools, I model effective use of technology constantly. I encourage educators to take advantage of the rich opportunities we each have at our fingertips to virtually connect with people, ideas, and rich learning experiences across the globe. Most recently, I participated in an 8 week Coursera course entitled Creativity, Innovation, and Change. Through this MOOC, I was able to collaborate with over 100,000 other people from all over the world and all different walks of life. This type of extreme collaborative culture opens doors to learning in ways that I never before imagined. Being connected enhances creativity, generates ideas, allows for extreme collaboration, broadens research opportunities and experimentation, and spurs change.
 
How does being connected impact your practice?

Being connected gives me a platform to practice what I preach. The most important part of being an educator to me is being a lifelong learner. With the daily advancements we see in technology and connectivity, I find myself constantly seeking knowledge to stay abreast. I love to see our students, the true digital natives, in the role of teacher when it comes to bridging the technological gap we sometimes see. Some of my best days are when i can sit down with a student at STEAM Academy and partner with him/her to discover new ways to incorporate technology into the student learning experience.
 
How does being connected impact you as a professional?

Being connected allows for ongoing, intensive, relevant professional development. Being connected also eases collaboration that would not otherwise be possible. Through Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and MOOCS, I have learned practical knowledge that I implement immediately to enhance and change my practice. Being connected allows me to grow everyday as a professional and personally.
 

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

-Be creative!
-Use Twitter  to connect with other educators and start conversations about your own interests, needs, and growth.
-Share! Share! Share! Anything you find useful will probably benefit your colleagues in some way. 
-Encourage a culture of sharing resources.
-Keep an open mind. Technology, like us, is always evolving. Allow yourself to test and experiment different platforms to fit your needs.
-Value the learning experiences that result from being connected.
-Watch TED talks in your spare time to spark your own creativity.
-Start a blog.
-Collaborate with a student on a project. Allow the student to take the lead and facilitate the learning process. You'll be surprised how much you learn.

LeRonda is Learning and Innovation Specialist with Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington.  She works with the STEAM Academy and within the district supporting the schools of innovation.  Prior to this position, she taught high school English and served as a literacy coach.  LeRonda has a B.A., M.A., and is pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Cincinnati.

Kentucky Connected Educator Month Day 7

Patrick Goff

Beaumont Middle School

Fayette County

 

In what way (s) are you a connected educator? 

I am using Twitter to reach out to multiple educators and science experts around the globe to help me grow as a professional. I also use Edmodo as a blended learning environment in my classroom. My students use Edmodo as the backbone of the class and are able to access the material anywhere as long as they have wi-fi. Also on Edmodo, I am part of the science community giving me access to thousands of science educators that are also on Edmodo around the world. I also use Facebook as another social media platform to connect with professionals in education and science. Lastly, I use the Remind101 service to help “remind” students/parents of upcoming dates/times/interesting opportunities.

How does being connected impact your practice?

I have worked with teachers to help develop lab activities that I use in my room, bounced ideas off each other to help upgrade lessons, searched out new ideas and to try and help each other. Specifically, I was able to talk with a teacher in NY about an alternative energy activity for dealing with solar energy that helped a great deal. Through discussions with online teachers (twitter/Edmodo/facebook) I have changed how I have students complete their lab reports and have started encouraging my students to use their smart devices to capture images/video of their lab experiments. With that, they are embedding that in their Word documents or using Coaches Eye (app) to narrate what is happening in the lab.

How does being connected impact you as a professional?

It goes back to why reinvent the wheel? If we put our heads together we can make so much more than if we do it alone. Being connected buoys me on bad days and lets me celebrate when good things happen. I love being able to share ideas and ask questions of such a wide array of members (teachers, instructional coaches, principals and science experts). You can have those professional conversations and get so much more input from many more professionals. It is so nice to get help from many experts and just raises the bar everywhere.

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

Jump in!! Go for it!! No point to dip a toe, just cannonball into the pool. It will be an awesome experience. In the same breath, don't let it consume you. Pick and choose, but it is so worth it.

Patrick Goff is an 8th grade science teacher and department chair at Beaumont Middle School in Lexington, Kentucky.  He is National Board Certified.  Follow him on twitter

@BMSscienceteach.

Kentucky Connected Educator Month Day 2

Sherri McPherson 

Lafayette High School

Fayette County

In what way(s) are you a connected educator?

 

I am a connected educator because I develop networks, both digitally and in person, that helps me build my knowledge base and bring back what I learn to my classroom, school, and district. I collaborate with other learners through various online platforms, use social media like Twitter to interact with colleagues across the country, and reflect on my practice and profession through my blog, Finding My Teacher Voice.  I am also a participant in the Common Assignment Study where we are creating units of study (with LDC modules embedded within them) in collaboration with colleagues in Kenton County and colleagues in Colorado.  You can learn more about the units from this newsletter.

How does being connected impact your practice?

 

Being connected, I am able to problem solve in real time with a wider net of professionals than those in my immediate physical space. This summer I read an article about 20% time in education. Curious, I tweeted: Dreaming of incorporating 20% time in my classes next year. Looking to connect w/ other teachers. Any tips? . Within minutes, several colleagues shared resources and their own experiences with 20% time. With the support of my online Professional Learning Network (PLN), I have implemented 20% time or genius hour in my writing class this year.

How does being connected impact you as an educator? 

Being connected means I am not isolated. With a few clicks, I have access to support, feedback, and free resources. I am able to easily connect with the best minds in education. These connections give me freedom and control over my professional development. In turn, connectedness and control allow me to devote more time to innovation and creativity which helps me meet the diverse needs of my students.

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

Start small. Pick one platform and devote some time every week to cultivate connections.. Be reflective and willing to reach out to your new network. 

Sherri McPherson is an English/Language Arts teacher with 13 years' experience teaching grades 9-12. She earned a Bachelor's degree in English and Theater and a Master's degree in English Education from the University of Kentucky. This fall, she began her 14th year of teaching at Lafayette High School with the Fayette County Public Schools. She is currently serving as a member of the Gates Foundation's Teacher Advisory Council. With her passion for literacy and students, Sherri is a vocal advocate for the Common Core State Standards, student choice in their learning, and teacher innovation in the classroom. Her leadership positions have included department chair, Literacy Design Collaborative lead teacher, and literacy coach. Last school year she began working toward her National Board Certification. She currently lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband of 17 years and their three children. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with family, gardening, biking, and reading.