Traveling to New Jersey was lovely…the flight was on-time, my luggage was there waiting for me and the car ride with two of the dearest teachers from North Carolina and Wisconsin was filled with laughter and gorgeous views of Princeton.  We stayed at the stunningly lavish Chauncey Center http://www.ahl-chauncey.com/gallery/index.cfm is owned by ETS. (Educational Testing Service) This generous organization along with the CCSSO/National Teacher of the Year Program helped sponsor all of the State Teachers of the Year who attended this conference.  We were provided with a beautiful facility to use during our thoughtful discussions and presentations.  Thank you ETS and CCSSO!!!  Our guest rooms were splendid as well.  I’m starting to get used to being pampered like this… a different state every two months…maids cleaning my room… gourmet meals… lavish affairs… maybe this conference should be called… Back to Reality Steps to Avoid Severe Depression.

Our time in Princeton was full of rich learning opportunities to discuss and ponder what it means to be a S.T.o.Y, and what we will do with this life changing experience.  We were fortunate to hear from several speakers, five of whom were former National Teachers of the Year… Mary Beth Blegen (1996), Betsy Rogers (2003), Kimberly Oliver Burnim (2006), Andrea Peterson (2007) and Mike Geisen (2008).  It was so interesting to hear what each N.T.o.Y. has done since their year as a state teacher and as a national teacher. Some have stayed in the classroom, while a few have gone into consulting type roles.  We also had home room sessions facilitated by the past N.T.o.Y.s.  I happened to be in the New England + group (we also had a few other states that are regionally near us) facilitated by Kimberly Oliver Burnim.  I don’t care what anyone says, New Englanders rock!!!  In all seriousness, we are a very close group and I foresee us reuniting frequently.  We even had the National Teacher of the Year, Anthony “Tony” Mullen, from Connecticut in our group.  You should check out his blog on the Teacher Magazine website: http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_of_the_year/ He has such a gift for writing and for provoking a deep and insightful way to view the things he witnesses on his own journey, as the 2009 National Teacher of the Year.

New England S.T.o.Y. 2009 Group

Some of the questions we processed over the three days were: Who was I in Dallas? (That was our first conference as state teachers)  What did I learn?  What did I teach?  Who and how do I lead? and Where do I go from here?  It was a great way to finalize our year.  Listening to everyone respond to these questions, as well as writing down and sharing my thoughts…made me realize that my Teacher of the Year journey isn’t ending, it is actually just beginning.  I have done so many cool things this year… things that have opened my mind and challenged my teaching soul.  I’ve been inspired to use my voice and I’m not afraid to lead should I need to.  I am a changed person for the better.