March Madness, Part 3: The End of the Beginning

That sonic thud you heard the week before last was me coming to a screeching halt.

I crashed. Not the Prius, but physically. It happens every year, because I tend to load myself down with anything and everything I can shove into my schedule, and then I pay for it. Spring is a new, fresh start, and is more than welcome this year after the Winter with No End in Sight...and I'm hoping, after recharging and taking care of myself, that I'm geared up for the next few months. At least, I hope I'm ready for April, which is looking to have a lot of travel across the state and beyond.

I feel like it is also the end of the beginning of this journey. This role is no longer new. The shock and awe of being the teacher of the year, while still humbling, has diminished. It's who I am, kind of like an extra appendage that I just had to learn how to use properly (if that makes no sense please take into consideration that it's 11:45 at night and I've just driven 4 1/2 hours home from Charleston. I get a free pass.). I've spoken to schools, community groups, teachers, and students; I don't so much as flinch when someone asks me to stand up and say a few words.  I have found my "groove" regarding my platform and issues of interest. Best of all, I have developed a rhythm and routine to what, how, and when I prepare for travel. I can have clothes picked out, equipment charged and packed, snacks, water, and fuel in an hour. I have adapted  to and embraced this journey.

The last part of the month had me slowing down a bit, or more so me going in slower motion. I held a workshop at Shepherd University on grant writing and Web 2.0 tools (albeit for a very small audience...I'll spare my dignity and not share how few people showed up). While I didn't tape any more interviews (yet) for Be the DifferenceWV, I did finish editing and uploading all of the ones I recorded in March. I also helped present awards at the RESA 8 Regional Social Studies Fair (I had planned on judging as well, but by Saturday morning my body was screaming for a break - or at least some sleep). On Sunday, my church family, Otterbein United Methodist, recognized me during the church service and with a reception afterwards.

The super cute flyer I was so excited to give "all" my audience for my workshop...things happen :-S

Regional Social Studies Fair...A Tomahawk student is going to the state competition!

Thank you, OUMC, for my beautiful cake and reception!

Back Creek Valley Elementary Interview with Erin Butler

From church I headed to Charleston for the Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards. I was honored as a recipient last year and was given the opportunity to speak to this year's teachers receiving the award. The Arch Coal foundation recognizes 12 teachers in West Virginia each year for their accomplishments in the classroom. I was especially proud of the two teachers from Berkeley County receiving the award, Sonya Shockey and Candi Smith - you can watch both of their interviews for Be the DifferenceWV in Hedgesville High School's and Tuscarora Elementary's episodes.

We meet again, Clay Center...

With Sonya and Candi

Speaking to the recipients

After I spoke at the award ceremony at the Clay Center (hard to believe I was just there in October...), I went to the University of Charleston to speak to their student teachers. I was warmly received and I am extremely thankful to Dr. Lockhart for organizing this event and the following reception. I love speaking to and working with beginning teachers; if "this" was supposed to happen for any reason at all, it is because there are young people preparing for this profession that I was destined to meet. I feel like I have found a second calling working with students in this capacity.

University of Charleson

Speaking to the student teachers in Riggleman Hall

Gorgeous view of the Capitol from the school!

Photo-op with some of the student teachers and Dr. Lockhart (bottom right)

Now I am home, my heart is full, and my car is approaching the 4,000 mile mark. Maybe I didn't crash this month, after all, just skidded a little out of control. This time next month, I will be in Washington, D.C., preparing to meet the President of the United States. Mike Funkhouser, the 2013 West Virginia Teacher of the Year, just sent me a "gentle reminder" e-mail to take care of myself and enjoy the journey. He's right. You can't do everything, all the time, for everyone. I have been blessed with the opportunity to experience this state and its people through the lens of a teacher - and when it's over, I need to have the energy and the joy to share this adventure with others. Everything happens for a reason and a purpose that is yet unseen. In October, I felt like I was living someone else's life. It's almost April, and I can confirm that this crazy, rewarding, and life changing journey belongs to me, at least for the time being. This is for real, but it's not forever.

Rewind Wednesday: Wonders of West Virginia Celebration

As the song goes, "Oh, what a night!"

I sit here this evening exhausted after a day of school. My school bag is full of papers and projects to grade from when I was out last week. There's a colorful assortment of thank you cards at my feet (I sit on the floor to do just about everything) to deliver to all of those who have expressed their love and congratulations to me over the past few days. I have video to upload from my interviews for my "Be the DifferenceWV" episode I taped this afternoon at Marlowe Elementary. In my head I'm starting to "write" out my lesson plans for next week.

I'm just a teacher, who just found out I represent a lot of other teachers. My head isn't just swimming; it's doing the Olympic backstroke.

For the record, I never expected it to be my name called last week. There are no guarantees in life, and although I wanted this opportunity, I realized that it was just an honor to be there celebrating with those who have supported me immensely throughout my career in Berkeley County Schools. The Clay Center is a beautiful facility, and the Wonders of West Virginia Celebration was a well planned event that recognized the county teachers of the year, Schools of Excellence, and other educators who have received awards in the last school year.

With my parents, Scott and Debbie Lloyd

My husband, Brad

With my principal, Beth McCoy, and the best teacher friend ever, Heather McCain

My former assistant principal at Tomahawk, Lewis Mullenax, also attended, along with our superintendent, Manny Arvon, deputy superintendent, Don Dellinger, and assistant superintendent, Margaret Kursey. Although one of our schools, Hedgesville Elementary, was also being honored that evening as a School of Excellence, that's a lot of people to travel nearly five hours from the Eastern Panhandle. Silly as it may seem, I started to feel very wobbly and shaky once we all sat down and the ceremony began. It was made very clear to me beforehand to prepare a speech "just in case." It all started to sink in that maybe that wasn't "just in case" but "just because."

The food looked absolutely delicious but I hardly ate anything - and I love ooey, gooey deserts. Didn't even touch them. Someone said at one point I looked so white she thought I was going to pass out. I walked up once to be recognized for being the Berkeley County Teacher of the Year, then once more for being one of the four finalists.

And then this happened:

Thank you so much for taking this, Lewis

West Virginia is a state that doesn't always get a lot of positive press. Teachers everyday use their talents and dedication to the profession to do their best to educate our students, regardless of the misconceptions that exist in public opinion. There are thousands of teachers in our state that do incredible things, greater things than I'll ever achieve. It has been a long road for me personally to become the teacher and individual I am today. I wish my aunt Dawn was here to see this.

That's pretty much everything that went through my mind in the following 30 seconds after my name was called out as the West Virginia Teacher of the Year.  

After a quick picture with a banner emblazoned with my name and a beautiful clock handcrafted in Huntington (it's ticking quietly in the background as I type). I gave my prepared "just in case" speech. Standing in front of my peers, some of which were standing themselves, watching from the second floor balcony of the Benedum Grand Lobby, I had a lot of emotion, but also a lot of peace and resolve. I had never met most of the people gathered there that evening, and this was my chance, in the next few minutes, to introduce myself.  Click on this link to go to my acceptance speech. I'm so glad my husband was able to tape it in its entirety.

Needless to say, there were a lot of excited people once the ceremony was over with. Lots of hugs and hurrahs :-) It's the first time in 21 years that the West Virginia Teacher of the Year is from Berkeley County, the first being Beverly Hoffmaster in 1992. I don't quite feel worthy yet, and don't know if I ever will. Right now, I'm swimming my own version of the Olympic backstroke in my head. I can't see where I'm going, but I'm navigating the waters as fast as I can. Here's hoping in the next few days I can say I've touched the shore.

- Erin