National Teacher of the Year Conference Day 3

Thursday January 31, 2013

Today started with a wonderful breakfast buffet.  (I have already eaten way to much wonderful food!)  Our first session gave us the opportunity to hear from many of the CCSSO Educator-in-Residences.  It was really neat to be able to hear the different view points and what the CCSSO is doing.

We then went to lunch which was sponsored by Target.  Target sponsors the National Teacher of the Year program and teachers across our country.  They truly believe in education and want to help teachers and students.  Below is picture of the Target dog and the wonderful dessert!

After lunch we participated in Policy Makers, Media, and Practice sessions by Carolyn Warner (Founder and President of Corporate Education Consulting Inc) and David Bolger (Partner and COO of Corporate Education Consulting Inc.)  They shared with us great information about dealing with the media.

At night, all of the coordinators and TOYs traveled to the Desert Botanical Gardens for dinner.  The cacti, flowers, and plants were really neat looking!  I have never seen a cactus as big as the cacti in the garden.  It was beautiful!

Really cool cactus!

State TOYs and National TOY Michelle!

 

North Carolina and Virgina

Cacti at night.

Another Cactus

During the dinner at the Desert Botanical Gardens, The University of Phoenix announced the greatest gift anyone could ever give.  They announced that for all 54 Teachers of the Year we were being given the gift to Pay it Forward.  (I still can't believe this!)  The University of Phoenix is allowing all of us to give the gift of college to someone!  We couldn't believe our ears!  We were given the gift to change someone's life forever!

All of our gifts

The group!