The world listens.

The world connects.

The world waits.

 

Yesterday, I had the humble honor of presenting at the 2nd Annual WATAC Spring Conference. The theme for the conference was Vision and Voice: The Future Is Now. Along with Lynne Olmos from Mossyrock, I was asked to present on the power that social media can play in elevating our voices as educators. I began with sharing the “why,” and Lynne provided the “what” and the “how.” Below is my believed “why of it” that I shared with award-winning educational leaders from across the state.

I stand among visionaries.

Giants.

Redwoods.

The tallest trees in our forest.

Those who sought the sun.

Those who grew because you had to.

You had no choice.

Your vision compelled your climb.

And as I look across the canopy,

I am inspired by the the hope each of you bring to education in our great state.

I am honored to be in your presence.

I am humbled to brush branches and wrap roots with you.

We need your vision.

But…

Vision without Voice is just…well, vision.

We have to release our vision to the wind,

so it may carry our voice.

We have to share our brightness,

so it may help light the way.

And so, I believe…

As visionaries, we have if not a responsibility, then an opportunity to share our voices.

We are not here by accident.

There is something in us, each of us, that placed us at this conference this weekend, in this room today.

We did not receive our awards, we did not assume our roles as leaders for doing things the same as others.

We are here because we believed better was possible–always possible–and we have all, in our own ways, big and small, made an impact in education.

Someone caught our voices on the wind. And they listened.

And so then, when we share our voices, we make possible our vision. We have to share. We have to.

Because when we do…

Our voices make real our vision, our work, and work wants witness.

And when our work has witness it has the potential, it has the power to better the world.

And just as the book bears no meaning until its words are lifted by the eyes of the reader.

Our work, our vision cannot better the world until it reaches the world.

It is not real until it is received.

And so we have to deliver it.

And we can.

Today, we have opportunities to share our work in ways we could not have imagined then. Tomorrow,we will have opportunities to share our work in ways we cannot imagine now.

I never imagined. And it all started with a dare.

The world listens.

The world connects.

The world waits.

It really was a great experience to share a bit of my why, and some of the Project 180 story. I hope more educators will elevate their own why’s through social media. I want to give a big shout out to readers Elise Foster, Abe Moore (Paige, Amber, and Lynton), Mary Wade, and Melissa Turenne for providing me with your testimonials about my work. Thank you. Always. Thank you.

I also want to thank my co-presenter Lynne Olmos for shouldering the what and how of our presentation. I am so glad we finally met. And finally I want to thank Alecia Sing and the rest of the WATAC leadership for giving me the opportunity to present. Thank you.

It was a great weekend. I got to hang out with some awesome educators, including National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning, along with other ESD 101 eduheroes Alecia Sing and Jeff Wehr. Humbling.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns

…write, conference, and revise speeches or Passion Papers.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Monday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.