Green Valley 3rd grade

On Thursday, January 24th I traveled back home to Watauga County! I was so excited to be back home in the mountains!  While back home I spent the day with Dr. Gill's 3rd grade class at Green Valley.  The students were wonderful!  I realized very quickly how much I miss seeing students every day and teaching!  While I was there each 3rd grade brought me a rose and told me thank you for spending the day with them.  They were so sweet!  They also had a cake made that said TOYNC.  It was a wonderful, special day!  Pictures below.

Beautiful Flowers!

Teacher of the Year North Carolina

Cake for everyone!

UNCG Grad School Class

On January 23rd I had the opportunity to travel to the UNC Greensboro campus to talk with a grad school class about being a teacher leader.  When I entered the room and sat down I could tell right away that the room was full of teachers who truly care and want the best for their students.  As I began to talk with them I could feel the positive energy in the room.  It was wonderful  being around excited, positive educators!  Thank you for allowing me to spend the class with you! 

Digital Learning Day 2013

(From the Race to the Top Weekly Update)

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the NC Technology in Education Society (NCTIES) and the NC School Library Media Assocation (NCSLMA) – in partnership with the Alliance for Excellent Education led by West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise – are pleased to announce the Digital Learning Day campaign. This national campaign is designed to celebrate innovative teaching and highlight practices that make learning more personalized and engaging for students and explore how digital learning can provide all students with the opportunities they deserve – to build the skills needed to succeed in college, career and life. Through this campaign, we hope to build momentum for a wave of innovation that changes policies, shifts attitudes and supports wide-scale adoption of these promising instructional practices.

This year, the NCDPI partnership with NCTIES and NCSLMA includes a contest for submitting videos that highlight what innovative digital learning looks like for North Carolina's students. Please help us spread the word!

MORE INFO: http://it.ncwiseowl.org/resources/digital_learning_day/, or Neill Kimrey, Digital Teaching and Learning, neill.kimrey@dpi.nc.gov.

Dr. Maya Angelou

"We are more alike then we are unlike." - Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou speaks at ASU.

It was amazing being in the same room as Dr. Maya Angelou tonight.  The strength behind each word she speaks is full of knowledge, experience, and hope.  Thank you Appalachian State University for allowing me to opportunity to hear Dr. Maya Angelou speak.

website:  http://mayaangelou.com/

Governor's Inaugural Ball

On January 11th I had the honor to introduce NC Governor Pat McCrory at the Governor's Inaugural Ball that was put on by the Jr. League of Raleigh.  This was an amazing experience!  Not only did I have the opportunity to introduce the Governor in front of almost 4,000 people, but I also had the opportunity to meet North Carolina natives: The Avett Brothers, Parmalee, and the editor of Our State Magazine Elizabeth Hudson.  Thank you again for this opportunity!

You can watch my introduction and the Governor's speech here: http://www.wsoctv.com/videos/news/raw-mccrory-speaks-during-inaugural-ball/vnDMX/

Before the event. 

Show Order List

The Avett Brothers!

Parmalee!

New Hanover Reading Association

On January 14th, I traveled to Wilmington to attend and speak with teachers at the New Hanover Reading Association meeting.  It was wonderful to be around teachers who understand and feel passionately about the importance of reading.  We must inspire life long learners, but also life long READERS! Thank you teachers for inspiring students! 

Thank you for the cake!

Shari Peacock

Inspiration.  Possibilities are endless! 

Lee County Beginning Teachers

I had a wonderful time being able to talk with 100+ beginning teachers in Lee County on January 16th.  We reflected on past teachers and talked about the teacher we want to be for our students.  Below is a picture of two teachers who have been teaching for two years.  Their excitement and enthusiasm for teaching is amazing! Thank you teachers for all that you do!

A'nna Barden and Emily Carrol

New Professional Development Modules for 2012-13

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has released new online modules to provide teachers, administrators and support personnel with flexible, on-demand professional development. 

Modules are available through NC Education at http://center.ncsu.edu/nc/. The most recent released modules include:

• Connecting with Our 21st Century Learners

• Digital Literacies in the K-12 Classroom

• Introduction to Data Literacy

• Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects

• North Carolina School Executive Standards and Evaluation Process

• Understanding Young Student Behavior in the Classroom

For more information on the modules and suggestions for school or districtwide implementation, including best practices and facilitation strategies, please refer to the 2012-13 Implementation Guide at http://rt3nc.org/pubs/impguide2012/.

Global Education

Today at the State Board of Education meeting the Preparing Students for the World: Final Report of the State Board of Education Task Force on Global Education was presented.  Below is a link to that document.  I think this document will help NC teachers, DPI, and the SBE on our focus to create Globally Competitive Students.

 https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/meetings/TempFolder/Meetings/Task%20Force%20on%20Global%20Education%20Final%20Report_11330tgsix045p0qjbwjmicresz55.pdf

Great Opportunties for Teachers

Below are some wonderful opportunities for teachers.

Apply Now for the Rural Teacher Global Fellowship. The Rural Trust's Global Teacher Fellowship program is now accepting applications for the Summer 2013 Fellowships. The deadline to apply is January 30, 2013. http://www.globalteacherfellowship.ruraledu.org/

I wanted to let all NC K-12 teachers know about a high quality, expenses-paid National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) professional development opportunity called Crafting Freedom: Black Artisans, Entrepreneurs and Abolitionists of the Antebellum Upper South." It is not necessary to be a social studies or art teacher to apply, but they are often especially interested. Administrators and media specialists are also eligible. The offerings are: Session I: June 20– 25, 2013 and Session II: June 27– July 2, 2013.
To learn more or to apply, see: www.thomasday.net/crafting-freedom-workshop

Lexington City Schools

On December 20th, I traveled to speak with the Beginning Teachers and their Mentors in the Lexington City School System.  As soon as I walked in the door of the media center I could feel the energy in the air.  The teachers were very excited to have the opportunity to come together as a group.  Mentors and Beginning Teachers were sitting together excitedly talking about the wonderful things that they have been doing in their classrooms and about their exciting plans for their upcoming winter break.  It was a wonderful energy that all teachers should feel around the holidays.  Thank you so much for inviting me into your school and for giving me some of the energy that each of you felt!

Central Elementary School

On December 19th I had the opportunity to travel to Central Elementary School in Waynesville, NC.  I spent most of my time in Mrs. Fox's first grade classroom.  As soon as I walked in the classroom door, tears came to my eyes because I quickly realized how much I miss being around students each day.  I had a wonderful time working with the first graders and it was very hard to leave at the end of the day.  Thank you Mrs. Fox's students for allowing me to spend the day with you! Thank you  Mrs. Fox for having me and for everything you do for your students each day!

Watauga County Beginning Teachers and Mentors

I had the wonderful opportunity to travel back home to Watauga County on December 12th to speak with the Beginning Teachers and their mentors.  I loved being back home and having the chance to talk with new and veteran teachers.  I told many of the new teachers that I can relate to them very easily because it was only 3 years ago that I was a BT 3 and sitting right where they are now.  I also shared with them that I am only where I am now because of the wonderful mentors and teachers that we have in Watauga County.  Thank you Meredith for inviting me back to spend time with all of you! I enjoyed every minute of it! 

Congratulations Regional TOYs!

I want to say a huge congratulations to the new North Carolina Regional Teacher of the Years.  I have had the opportunity to meet each teacher in person and I must say that it is a very talented group!  Congratulations and thank you for everything you do for your students each day!

Region 1: Mrs.Pam Mills

Region 2: Mrs. Carrie Morris

Region 3: Colonel Thomas McGeachy

Region 4: Mrs. Shannon Godfrey

Region 5: Mrs. Karyn Dickerson

Region 6: Mr. Julian Wilson

Region 7: Mr. Chris Petree

Region 8: Mrs. Jill Francis

Region 9-Charter: Mrs. Jan Adams

(Please see my Darcy Grimes NC Teacher of the Year facebook page for pictures of each teacher.)