We started back to school in mid August. We have stormed and normed and are off to a great start. The loss of my other blog has me feeling disconnected but hopeful that the reinvention will take root and I will ride the transition out seemlessly.  There is a lot of Spam here (on wordpress), I didn’t have that before.  I also don’t have the gritty, grass roots feel of my first words on line.  This is different.

Today, I want to talk about hope, trust, and possibility.  I have to give a speech tomorrow.  It is really a mock speech, I am in the running for my county’s Teacher of the Year honor.  It is not something that I take lightly.  I have only taught here for a little over two years. This is a county with deep roots.  Lots of “who you knows” and “the way it has always been done’s.”  My experience has not been about that.  My school is all about possibilities – for everyone.  It is a place of new horizons and second chances.  I love being there and teaching there every day.

I don’t love giving speeches.  (I love talking to students, any shape, age or size.) I hope that it is ‘ok’ to say that.  Speeches are necessary sometimes.  You know, I have been honored with this Teacher of the Year finalist position because of my teaching.  I can talk to adults, share my expertise, but the speech idea for a mock audience….  It is creating unrest in my home.

For the love of what I do, the confidence of my peers, and the trust placed in me, I am going to forge ahead and get it done.  It has been in process for a week! I have spent countless hours prepping this.  The problem is, I do better when I speak to real people from my heart.

I guess I better get over it.

Thanks to my critical friends and virtual PLN for your support. I go live tomorrow and the ‘winner’ will be announced on the 21st.  As far as I am concerned we are all winners, we teach kids.  We touch the future.  I am honored to be here, but I am more honored to call myself teacher, accolades or not.  You should be too.  I am the same person tonight as I will be next week after they announce their selection.  I teach again tomorrow. Real students, real outcomes.

I have to stop procrastinating and get back to it.  Thanks for reading.