Kentucky Connected Educator Day 20

James Allen

Library Media Specialist

Oldham County

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

Although we teach in the same building, services like Twitter, Edmodo, and SharePoint help me stay connected to my own OCHS teachers. Facebook, and Instagram help us reach out to our students and parents. I also stay connected at a district level with our other Oldham County librarians and school technology coordinators through daily Lync conversations and monthly face to face meetings. Additionally we have a larger district-level cadre of like-minded educators interested in harnessing the power of educational technology (OCTI). Participating in listservs is another method I use to connect to librarians and teachers, not only in Kentucky, but across the country. Finally, and most powerfully, Twitter has helped me to connect not only to my local PLN, but to educators all over the world.

How does being connected impact your practice? 

Staying connected creates opportunities for learning about new and innovative tools, methods, and lessons, which can ultimately support our students. Smore, a digital flyer creation site, is a recent example where following well-connected and informed educators allowed me to learn about an awesome resource that I was able to immediately use to help our students and teachers. Learning about the creative and innovative uses of Google Drive is another example where connectivity really keeps my educational practice as a school librarian fluid and flexible.

How does being connected impact you as a professional?

My relatively new and growing PLN has offered me new perspectives, renewed my enthusiasm for education in general, and has increased my desire to expand upon my connections. I suspect this increased excitement comes directly from the act of connecting on a new level with colleagues, often strangers, but still colleagues that are tirelessly willing to share their ideas and help. I believe these new connections have also given me added confidence to reach out to others in our field and to take more professional risks. School librarianship can be a truly lonely boat ride at times, but usually right when I need it, my network reminds me I am far from alone in my efforts.

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

I got my start in being “connected” when I opened my Flickr account nearly ten years ago. The feeling of community, shared interest, and a place for free support was awesome to discover. I’ve applied my experiences with Flickr to my more recent social media interactions. First… do not be afraid. Everyone on Twitter was a new user at some point. Start small and follow just a few users that you find interesting and observe their interactions. Become comfortable with the tools and environment by participating in chat sessions. A few of my favorites are #TLChat, #KyLChat, and #KYEdChat. When you are ready for more use Flipboard, Scoop.it!, or another service to organize content that matters to you and your students. Lastly, share your knowledge, your experience, your expertise, and your unique perspective.

James Allen is a Librarian and School Technology Coordinator at Oldham County High School in his eleventh year of teaching. He enjoys computers and technology, but is especially interested in tools that can genuinely support student learning. James also loves promoting reading and believes that the school library should be a haven of student inquiry and discovery. The moments he is not playing, fiddling, reading, or learning on some type of computer-like device… he enjoys time with his family, practicing photography, and making music.

Twitter: @TLJamesA

Blog: http://ochslibrary.wordpress.com/

Kentucky Connected Educator Day 13

Dr. Jim Flynn

Superintendent

Simpson County Schools

 In what ways are you a connected educator?

A wise person advised me long ago that in education, it’s the people, not the programs that make a school…  That advice is deeply ingrained into my leadership vision and work to get our staff, students, parents, and community engaged in advancing the vision and mission of the school system.  Our vision in Simpson County schools is to be a world-class educational system empowering all students to graduate LIFE-READY - academically and socially prepared for college and/or careers! Our mission is to develop each child to their fullest potential and prepare them for the next level of life!  Our mission is driven by five fundamental guiding questions:

• How do we develop positive, professional relationships with our students, their families, and one another?
• How do we ensure all students are taught the standards and skills needed to be college and/or career ready in the 21^st Century?
• How do we measure the progress of our students to these standards and skills?
• How do we provide interventions for students who are struggling to achieve our learning goals?
• How do we enrich and stretch the learning of our students who are meeting or exceeding our learning goals?

In our school system, I have worked hard with our team to create systems, structures, and logistics to bring folks together to learn, collaborate, and work on the guiding questions of our mission.  In addition to our 4 professional development days, we have 4.5 learning community days spread throughout our school year which provides time for professional learning community (PLC) work; follow-up training; vertical teaming and collaboration; and time for other school or district initiatives.  Additionally, our schools are creative with their use of time to create other opportunities for staff collaboration and development.  For example, while the staff works in PLCs from 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM, the Central Office team will come to a school to help with supervision and a school-wide assembly.  Time is a precious asset and we harness it for collaboration and connectedness among our students and staff!

Technology has become an important tool that allows our folks to connect and grow!  All of our unit plans and pacing guides are posted on our website.  Our teachers are leveraging CIITS for classroom and common assessments, units and lesson resources, along with many other resources including PD360.  The PD360 has been instrumental in our LDC/MDC work for example.  We’ve been able to set up PD Groups to learn and share through this amazing resource.  Also, we use GoogleDoc walkthrough forms that are tailored to specific initiatives and help us provide immediate feedback to our staff as progress checks.  For example, we have “chunked” the learning on the PGES framework with our teachers and then use GoogleDoc walkthroughs aligned to the part of the framework being studied to give our teachers specific feedback.  It’s been a powerful model for rolling out the PGES framework!

I have worked with our principals and teachers to expand on-line learning resources as well.  We have leveraged on-line learning courseware and programming to help students at all levels in our school system to support both struggling students, as well as those who are meeting or exceeding our learning goals.  Programs like Odysseyware, Achieve 3000, Read 180/System 44, Carnegie Learning/Cognitive Tutor, Math Whizz are some examples of resources that have helped our students learn and allow for 24/7 anytime learning!  Other on-line programs like Edmodo, Wikispaces, and Facebook are being used with students and staff to facilitate engagement in learning and collaboration.  Remind 101 is an app staff are using to send text reminders to students, parents and staff to keep them up to date on important activities, dues dates, and assignments.

I have used both Edmodo and Wikispaces to facilitate staff development and to model the use of technology.  Twitter, Zite, and LinkIn are some tremendous resources for keeping abreast of educational news, innovations, and advancements.  Additionally, both KASA and KASS support online professional communities that I can use to learn from and share with other Kentucky superintendents.  Also, I utilize Lync for meetings and collaboration, especially with external partners across the state.  Finally, I have utilized Vimeo for online videos used for training and communication.

Finally, I use tools like Twitter, facebook, our website, OneCall Now and School Reach to communicate with a wide array of stakeholders.  These tools are effective in sharing best practices, student and staff successes, along with events in our schools and districts.  It also helps set the bar for excellence as I am constantly sharing examples of best practice in pictures, videos and words.  People love the pictures and videos!

How does being connected impact your practice? 

Achieving our vision and mission requires the efforts of many people.  All of the tools, structures, and systems in place allow me to be more intentional in leading, serving, and supporting our stakeholders in advancing our vision.  The tools and strategies I shared above help keep me in tune with what’s working, what’s not working, and possible solutions to help us continuously improve.  Again, it’s the people, not the programs that make the school and school system.  My ability to be in tune and engaged with what’s going on is critical to our success.  Using some of these tools allows me to expand my ability to understand and influence what’s going on.  It also lets people know that I am out and about being close and curious with what’s going on in our schools!  This enhances credibility and a level of accessibility that is beneficial.

How does being connected impact you as a professional?

The old adage that it is lonely at the top can be very true.  However, using the resources I have described allows me to connect with other superintendents across the state and nation.  Additionally, I can connect with educators all over the world!  I find it invigorating and empowering to have these connections.  It breaks down isolation and opens a realm of support, collaboration, resources, and learning that was once not possible.  The results we are attaining in Kentucky are not accidental.  Regardless of geographic location, all of us have access to the knowledge, skills, resources, and supports needed to help every child achieve college and/or career readiness by graduation.  We simply need to get connected, roll-up our sleeves and take it!

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

My best advice is just simply start doing something!  Dive in and learn!  For example, I didn’t understand how Twitter could help me as a superintendent.  Now that I started using it, I realize the power this tool has for communication, collaboration, and professional development!  Amazing!

Be intentional in leading and supporting school system stakeholders in becoming connected themselves.  Besides being a role model – remember that actions speak louder than words – plan and implement the systems, resources, structures, and logistics that bring people together…

Finally, have fun with it!  Learning is stimulating and often fun!  Take the challenge and learn something new that will allow you to be a more connected educator!  It will benefit you and the folks you serve!

Dr. Jim Flynn is in his 11th year as superintendent. During his tenure, Simpson County Schools has successfully implemented a common vision that focuses on empowering all students to graduate life ready – prepared socially and academically for college and/or careers. 

Dr. Flynn is the President of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents. The Kentucky General Assembly appointed him to serve on the Local Superintendents Advisory Committee. He also serves on the Superintendents Advisory Committee to the Commissioner of Education. 

Twitter handle, links to blog, website, etc: Twitter - @jflynnfswildcat; website – www.simpson.kyschools.us; facebook page – Simpson County Schools; LinkedIn – Jim Flynn, Ed.D.; Vimeo – James Flynn

Kentucky Connected Educator Month Day 5

 

 Nannette Johnston and team

Hardin County Schools

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

I really view myself more as a life-long learner that uses technology as the means to stay in touch and grow personally and professionally.  I am currently connected through Twitter, Facebook (district only) LinkedIn and other professional onboarding tools. 

 

How does being connected impact your practice?  

Being connected has really become a necessity in keeping up with constant change in education.  I am definitely not a “techy” person but I enjoy learning.  I know that in order to learn I must be entrenched and actively involved in my own learning.  Through reading and research I have learned that the level of implementation in a school and district (especially in the area of technology) depends on the leader.  The best way to raise the “technology leadership lid” of our administrators is to use technology as a tool in our work.  I believe technology should not be a stand-alone novelty.  It should be a natural part of “how” we do our work.  It is important for me to model this belief through my work with the administrators in our district. 

Last year, we embraced this philosophy beginning with paperless meetings.  We have a Wikispace that we use for all of our administrative leadership meetings.  We house all notes and support articles on this site for use during our meetings.  Throughout the meeting we also use Today’s Meet so our administrators can comment and ask questions.  Each month we have a section on our agenda called “techy tips”.  One of our principals that has attended several technology trainings shares various apps that are useful.  She also shares ways to use technology as a means of organizational efficiency and personal learning.  Last year, one of our “techy tips” was on how to set up a Twitter page.  At follow-up meetings, our administrators share examples of how they have used the tip from the prior month.  This year, we have added a hash tag (#hcsisd) site to share pictures and ideas that are occurring in classrooms across our district.  Our “techy tip” during the month of March and April last year was an introduction to Lync. We used March to introduce this tool and April to practice the implementation with hands-on opportunities.  Our May administrative meeting was held remotely with each person remaining in their school and work station throughout the district.  Our last meeting this year will be another Lync meeting.  We are also beginning to have “mini meetings” throughout the district via Lync.  In addition, many of my staff messages are recorded and then video-streamed to our staff. 

How does being connected impact you as a professional?

Being connected has helped me to continue to grow as a professional but modeling the act of continuous learning through technology has helped others grow as well.  As the district leader, it is rewarding to see what is modeled in our monthly meetings being replicated at the school level with principals and teachers.  Now, several of our principals rely on a Wikispace within their school as a way to organize, connect and share with their staff.  As far as my personal professional growth, I have moved from the stage of exploration to a stage of exploring and sharing.  I have set a personal goal to share what I have read or ideas I’ve seen in the classroom through Twitter.  I enjoy this mode of learning because I can access information it in small chunks.  My time is very limited; therefore, when I do have a free moment, I feel like I must manage the down time.  Being connected has helped me make the most of every single minute by being a continuous learner anytime and anywhere.  

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

Start with exploring.  Set up a Twitter account, connect to people that will help you grow and set a goal to read the posts several times a week.  Move from reading to re-tweeting articles and ideas of professional interest.  The ultimate goal is to increase the depth of use by creating and sharing with others.  As you become connected on Twitter, you will naturally grow and increase the number of professional connections.   

 Nannette Johnston is the superintendent of Hardin County Schools.