BCSSA Conference 2012

The Vancouver Conference Centre

On November 15th and 16th, I attended my first BC School Superintendents Association (BCSSA) educational leadership conference as school trustee.  What an event! “Partnerships in Personalization” was a collaborative professional development conference in partnership with other educational partners: BCASBO, BCSTA, BCPVPA, BCCPAC, FNESC, and Ministry of Education.  1200 superintendents, board office staff, school trustees, principals and vice-principals, parents, etc. were represented.  Teachers from the BCTF and Susan Lampert were also present.  Attendees came from different advocacy groups, but we all have one vested interest: our students.  My ‘academic boyfriend’ Ben Levin emphasized in the first plenary that 70% of professional learning occur in informal settings.  This was cited by conference attendees over and over again.  I do not disagree with it.  Seems ironic when we all gathered at the Vancouver Conference Centre to learn in a formal setting.  Some may have criticized the quality of the workshops and plenaries.  But, truthfully?  This traditional way of learning brought us together to learn formally and informally from each other.  We were not passive learners.  Twitter was a flurry.  A tonne of conversations were occurring online as we were in session.  I am guilty of this social media pleasure.  And, I cherished the many conversations I had with colleagues, familiar faces, and new to me folks at the breakfast table, food line up, and workshop setting.  Furthermore, I would not have met my ‘academic boyfriend’ Ben Levin and other plenaries who shared their passion for education with us.  This conference was an excellent way for school districts to celebrate what they do.  I saw workshops facilitated by SD47, SD8, and SD61.  They were all exceptional.  Twitter, blogging, or Facebook cannot express the kind of love and enthusiasm these educators had for student learning.  As you can see, this blog entry itself is trying to express those feelings and doing little justice.  So yes, I can gather information from the internet about new edu-initiatives, but I would not bother.  Personalized learning is the theme.  For me, a conference such as this one allowed me to actively share, collaborate, and provoke my professional learning, formally and informally.  Thank you BCSSA Educational Leadership Conference organizers.  I would do it again… Looking forward.

Think Again!

SFU GSS Professional Development Event

On November 14, 2012, I was peer reviewed and selected to present at the second annual THINK AGAIN! conference at SFU.  This event is organized and sponsored by the SFU Graduate Student Society (GSS).  The intent of Think Again! is to support masters and doctoral students from various faculties by providing them with an opportunity to present, network, and engage in a learning community.  This event is graduate students supporting graduate students.  The topics presented were extremely specific and personalized.  I realized that those who pursue graduate studies are pursuing their passion.  Their excitement and genuine enthusiasm for their research question, methodology, and findings took me a back.  I appreciated seeing familiar faces, meeting new people, and listening to other people’s research.  What I learned is, my research is about my passion and it is unique to me.  It’s not about pleasing others.

Love My Kid

A Sock Monkey My 9-Year Old Daughter Made

One of the things I love about my kid is her creativity.  She loves to sing, dance, and craft.  Last month, she stayed home from school because she was sick.  What does she decide to do?  She decided to craft and made three sock monkeys. She wanted to make one monkey for each member of the family.  In the photo, this is my sock monkey.  I got the first monkey.  I absolutely love it.  Here are few reasons why it’s so awesome.  First, she took my husband’s “single socks” and my sewing kit to craft.  She had no pattern or sewing instructions to follow.  All that she had was a vision.  Second, my monkey has asymmetric eyes, a quirky smile, and removable hat.  The hat even has a hole in it to accommodate for the monkey’s ears (not seen in photo).  Finally, she made it all by herself.  She has never sewn before and did it all on her own.  She got no help from me and she took great pride in her work.  Thanks hun.  I love my sock monkey.

The Right Direction

Paddling in the Dolphin Spirit at Porpoise Bay in the fog

Being at the right place with the right people at the right time having the right conversations to receive the right messages to know that you’re going in the right direction.  Has this happened to you?  Magic happens.  A perfect alignment.  Things happen for the right reasons at the right time.  On the one hand, it seems like a fluke.  On the other hand, it was meant to happen.  There is no good or bad.  It just is.  Friends will come and go.  Opportunities will present themselves or not.  In the end, timing is everything.  It is like paddling in the fog.  You’re not quite sure where you are going but you feel guided.  Listen, learn, and be patient.  Friends are around you to help.  Look around you and see who you are attracting.  This is a crude litmus to see if you are moving in the right direction.  Are you surrounded by people who are absolutely phenomenal or in pain?  Personally, I am surrounded by totally awesome people and I am grateful.

I Am Outstanding

What a whirlwind last few days… I’m not sure what the hell is happening, but what I know is… I am in the midst of change.  What do I mean by this?  No idea.  For the past few weeks, I’ve been having conversations with various people that seem to have a common theme.  I may have mentioned this phenomenon in a previous blog entry, but it struck me in the face last weekend.  I had another conversation with a friend… and BOOM.  WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?  This was a rude awakening.  I thought I was helping my friend, but in return my friend helped me.  You’re a leader… you’re a great teacher… you inspired me... blah, blah, blah.  Are you serious?  I did not realize that people felt this way about me.  I’ve always been striving and never arriving.  Apparently, I have.  If anyone tried to tell me all these good things before, I never heard you.  I guess I wasn’t ready.  Now, I hear you and I have been feeling overwhelmed for the past few days.  I’m a little excited and scared.  I’ve realized, to move towards my goal I have to LET GO of the old ideas of myself.  It’s like saying goodbye to the ‘old’ ME and hello to a ‘new’ ME.  In doing this, I think about Spencer West at WEday.  He has half a body and walks on his hands.  His mantra: REDEFINE POSSIBLE.  So what does he do?  He climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.  If he can do that, I can do anything.  I will not limit myself.  My new mantra: I am outstanding.

SD46 Band Camp

Band Camp 2012 @YMCA Camp Elphinstone

A tribute to the music teachers of School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast)… THANK YOU… for all of the work you do to make MUSIC HAPPEN for our students.  I had the pleasure of attending the annual BAND CAMP at Camp Elphinstone with Trustee Lori Pratt.  The Music Local Specialist Association (LSA) orchestrates a band camp for secondary band students from all schools to learn from and work with each other, other musicians, and other music teachers.  I appreciate this community oriented event in partnership with SD46.  Students stay overnight at the YMCA camp, work in specialized groups, learn new music, and socialize with a big dance.  Family, friends, and community members are invited to attend this final event where school groups and the entire camp perform to celebrate their accomplishments.  This photo is the entire band camp and community musicians playing together a piece the students just learned during the camp.  The musicians who joined the band camp finale at the last minute were sight reading the piece.  I was so impressed.  The performance was absolutely amazing.  What a wonderful metaphor for teamwork, expertise, mentoring, and celebration.  I was deeply moved. 

Music teachers make music programs happen in public schools.  The love and passion expressed by the SD46 music teachers remind me that our students will love and feel passionate about music as much as our teachers do.  I feel fortunate that my daughter is and can be a part of this rich learning experience.  Not only does SD46 have both secondary and elementary band programs, choir groups are making a revival at both levels.  Let’s take it further, one of the SD46 music teachers informed me with genuine enthusiasm and pride that there are K-7 MUSIC PROGRAMS for all of our elementary students in all of our elementary schools taught by music subject specialists.  These subject specialty teachers are few and far between.  To have our students in SD46 to be taught by a music subject specialist in all of our elementary schools as prep time teachers impresses me even more.  This is not an easy job assignment. 

Thank you SD46 music teachers, the Music LSA, and community members for making band camp possible for our students and keeping music programs alive in our school district.  This is not an easy feat.  There are no words that can best express my gratitude.  Great job SD46 Band Camp participants.  I look forward to next year’s event.

Education Committees

It’s almost the end of my first year as school trustee.  I cannot believe how fast time has flown by.  I cannot believe how much I have been enjoying my work on the SD46 (school district) Board of Education.  What I have been enjoying the most is my involvement on the Education Committee.  I’m on two.  First, I am appointed to the SD46 Education Committee and elected committee chair.  Second, I am an elected representative from the South Coast Branch on the BCSTA (school trustee association) Education Committee.  Both committees talk about education, make recommendations to the Board, and change happens.  I love the rich dialogue, the potpourri of ideas, and making things happen for kids to benefit student learning.  Educational leadership as school trustee has exceeded my expectations.  Thank you Silas White, the SD46 Board Chair, for believing in me.

Endless Potential

Davis Bay, Sunshine Coast

What do you see when you look at this picture?  Do you see the ocean?  the clouds?  the island?  Personally, I see the light.  The light makes me hopeful.  I often wonder… what’s beyond the horizon?  Sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me and I try to imagine what could be over there.  Is it more water? a tropical island? a shopping mall?  At this point in time, I don’t know.  The only way I can know is to go there.  But, I can’t.  When I’m stuck on old ideas… old beliefs… old ways of being… I’m anchored to the same spot.  Nothing changes.  Things may change around me, but so what?  I cannot realize what’s beyond the horizon until I let go… take risks… and trust that things will be OK.  Any fear, self-doubt, or uncertainty I have will hold me back.  Letting go requires releasing what is to embrace what could be.  Today, I’m letting go.  I’m a little excited and a little scared… but it feels good.  Letting go is the right thing to do.  I’ll let you know what’s beyond the horizon… soon.  There is endless potential.

Everyone Has a Story

Lots of Learning in Victoria, BC.  Got the chills standing here.

This weekend I left my little family to head out to the Northwest Math Conference in Victoria, BC.  I had a beautiful room at the Fairmont Empress Hotel and enjoyed my learning experiences at the conference.  For me, provincial professional development day is more like a reunion than a conference.  I see so many familiar faces and connect with those who are like minded.  MATH IS FUN.  I love it, a lot.  However, professional learning is not always about what’s to be learned in the workshop or keynote.  Many times, I find informal conversations with colleagues the most meaningful.  I chatted with those on the BCAMT executive, in my workshop, and friends of friends.  What I learned is, everyone has a story.  First impressions do not tell the story.  Loved listening to people’s stories.  All I can say is, there are good times and bad… struggles and victories… success and failure.  Thank you to all those who shared a bit of their stories with me.  I feel inspired, awakened, and honoured.

Northwest Math Conference 2012

Mathematics in Bloom 2012 – Victoria, BC

What can I say but… ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING… or AFL for short.  Once again, I am out and about presenting what I know and understand about AFL and how it dramatically changed my secondary mathematics teaching practice for the better.  This year’s mathematics teachers conference was held in Victoria on October 18-20th.  This was the Northwest Conference.  It’s a joint venture with Oregon State and Washington State teachers.  There were more than 800 attendees.  I must admit, I am a professional development junkie.  I like learning about mathematics education and what I can do to make mathematics fun for everyone.  The underlying theme I got this year was… MAKE MATH ENGAGING.  Makes sense to me.  Obviously, my entry point to engagement is with AFL.  Although I spent much of my time at the event volunteering with the BCAMT (BC Association of Mathematics Teachers) to help with the conference, I managed to see two keynote speakers… Dan Meyer and Jerry Johnson… both from the United States.  Their entry point to engagement is problem solving and heart/courage/brains, respectively.  What was clear to me is… it doesn’t matter how you go about getting students engaged in mathematics… what does matter is your passion for the subject area and what you believe is most important to learning mathematics.  When students feel the vibe that you actually care about learning and teaching mathematics, students will feel exactly the same way.  This is social learning theory at its finest.  Much enjoyed the keynote speakers and much enjoyed the Northwest Math Conference 2012.  http://www.nwmc2012.com/