Meet some of the finest people I know, the Midwest group of the 54 educators who make up the 2012 State Teachers of the Year. We "formed" in January of 2012 for the first of six weeks together as a cohort of teachers representing all teachers in the nation.We took the time to feel each other out and find out who we are as a class. It was magical. It still is. One of the toughest goodbyes of my life happened one year ago in New York City, the last day we would all be together.
We "stormed" DC during recognition week. We celebrated the naming of the National Teacher of the Year, Rebecca from California as a voice to represent us all. We began to understand each other's passions for the work we all do in classrooms and in our communities.
By the time we graduated from Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, we were out "Performing" many of the teams I have belonged to in my teaching career. We started to "storm" about our lives together after our year of service ended.
We "Adjourned" in a poem. We worked on it individually at first and then, collectively we made something beautiful that represented who we were together as we moved on to saying goodbye to one another. I am a big fan of closure. I need to mark goodbyes with hugs and tears and words that matter. I want people who have been important to me to know they have mattered and that we have mattered.
Reference
Abudi, G. (n.d.) The five stages of team development: a case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html
Katy, I love your pictures, nice personal touch to your blog. Thank you for sharing your life experiences. It must have been really interesting to graduate from space camp, was this your first experience in doing something like this?
ReplyDeleteKaty,
ReplyDeleteI love how you document your early childhood education journey. It is clear you have, not only great early childhood experience, but also experiences beyond the classroom. I am interested in creating a similar path. Congratulations on all of your success.
Audra
Hi Katy,
ReplyDeleteCongratulaions to you for being the National Teacher of the Year 2012. Thank you for sharing your life experience. Hope the words from the National Teacher of the Year 2012 be listened, for which something would put in practice and benefit to the teachers of the whole nation. We have met in facebook. I am imaging of meeting you in person sometimes when you make a trip to China, I would be your translator at least.
Katy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful memory and what a wonderful group of people you met and became friends with. I think those opportunities are one of the most memorable. The reason for meeting each other and for becoming a close nit group was to celebrate all those wonderful teachers that were with you for that time. We all need to be appreciated and celebrated for those wonderful accomplishments and dedication. Kudos to you and to all the other teachers. I bet it was very hard to adjourn from that group. Melissa