Weekend Homework and Back to Almost Normal: Levy Rally, Mineral County, and Shepherd University Teacher Pinning

I wanted to squish the past two weeks into one post. It's just not possible.

Keep in mind that I am a very introverted person. I love to speak to groups, and teach, and be in public for professional purposes, but I value and need time to be alone and recharge. Many people thrive off of crowds and socializing, and I'm not one of them. I use to think that meant there was something wrong with me, but after reading Susan Cain's book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, I see the value in just being myself.

This year I put who I am aside and go, go, go. It's kind of like when you need to charge your phone, but don't have time to leave it plugged in, so you charge it just enough to get by, even though the warning light is still on to connect your charger.

Warnings aside, the Sunday after returning from D.C. I was back at it, speaking at the Morgan County Levy Rally at Berkeley Spring State Park. The future of levies across the state this year depended on how things would go in Morgan County. The next morning I interviewed Michael Wilder, an alternative education teacher at Berkeley Springs High School, on the impact of the school levy You can watch the interview at this link. I'm relieved for the teachers and students of Morgan County that the levy passed this week. I'm sure it is a relief to many families employed and with children in the school system.

Beautiful Day!

Superintendent David Banks in the dunk tank :-)

Interviewing Mike Wilder 

Tuesday I was inducted into our local chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa. I speak at their regional conference later in July. On Thursday I headed to Mineral County to speak with fifth graders at Frankfort Middle School about Control Your S.E.L.F. and to celebrate the 2014-15 Mineral County Teacher of the Year, Angie Shanholtz. I also interviewed two former Mineral County teachers of the year for Be the DifferenceWV while I was there in Keyser. As new county teachers of the year are named, I realize this is the beginning of end. The school year is almost over, and while there may be a few events over the summer, this journey is coming to a close - or at least about to go in another direction.

Frankfort Middle School

Interviewing Jeanne Clites

Former Mineral County Teachers of the Year

With 2014-15 Mineral County
Teacher of the Year Angie Shanholtz

...So my "battery" was critically low by Saturday morning. I had to power through it, because I was the keynote speaker at Shepherd University's teacher pinning ceremony. I wish I would have had more time and energy to put into that speech, but you can't live life in reverse. After the ceremony, one of the graduates introduced herself. She was in my Aunt Dawn's last first grade class at Williamsport Elementary and will be a first grade teacher herself in the fall. That was just as special as meeting the president. You can hear my speech at this link.

With Cara Jeffries, Kappa Delta Pi and SESA President, after my speech.
She has been wonderful this year arranging my visits at Shepherd.

Hannah Cole, one of Dawn's last students

From Sunday to Saturday, I was a part of a lot of other's milestones and celebrations. I'm looking forward to having the next few weekends to recharge and wrap up my eleventh year of teaching - a year that has encompassed more experiences and people than I ever could have imagined.

Weekend Homework: EPAC Jazz Brunch, JCRA Literacy Conference, and the Last 6 Miles

My week that started in Parkersburg and stopped in Brooke County in the Northern Panhandle in the middle ended close to home for two Jefferson County events on Saturday. I did not realize I had the amount of stamina that I have until the last few months. When I'm home, I go into "power down" mode, but for the most part I've managed to be upbeat and articulate when I'm doing events, regardless of what I've had scheduled that week or how few hours I've had of sleep. I have never been a procrastinator, and that has been my saving grace this year. That last minute stuff doesn't fly when there are so many things on your schedule to present and speak at - and with a few exceptions, it's never the same speech or presentation twice. When you represent a lot of people, the expectations are that you will be ready to roll and exceptional when it's "showtime." Maybe that's just the expectation I have of myself, but all of those years of being overly detailed and prepared have made this year run a lot smoother.

I split last Saturday between the Jefferson County Reading Association's "Leaders of Literacy" Conference at Shepherd University and the Eastern Panhandle Alumni Chapter (EPAC) of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, where I received the Educator Award at their annual Jazz Brunch. I thought after being named teacher of the year that would be the end of any more recognition ("maxed out," in other words), but between this and PBS Digital Innovators I guess not. I went down to Shepherd to speak at the opening of the literacy conference, then went to the Jazz Brunch to meet with the members of Delta Sigma Theta and accept my award, then back to Shepherd to do my presentation on integrating bridges and West Virginia history with "The Great Bridge Building Contest" at the end of the day.

Howard Burns' Band

With the other awardees

Accepting the Educator Award

After my presentation, I was in dire need of being recharged. It was a beautiful day in Shepherdstown, so I took a walk around Shepherd's campus to enjoy the warm Spring weather before heading home to recharge for Spring Break.

McMurran Hall (and Berkeley)

Some of the pedagogy projects at the literacy conference

My husband's a runner. They say that the last six miles of a marathon are the most demanding because your body and mind have reached their limits, regardless of how much you've trained. As you progress to the finish line, it gets harder to stay focused and hang on to what little energy you have reserved (now I'm just speaking about what I've heard, because I don't run and have no interest in being involved in it aside from cheering from the sidelines...and occasionally reprimanding Brad for overdoing it). April is my last six miles. Oh, this experience and my role are nowhere near over after this month (2014 is 2014, after all), but between now and May 1 when the state teachers of the year are recognized at the White House is when the travel and the expectations are the most intense. Every week this month I feel like I've sprinted up another staircase that the week before seemed impossible to climb. I plan, drive, appear, present, and repeat. It's a time consuming workout that has taught me more about myself and even more about my state. I'm proud, focused, and prepared, but I sure am glad the finish line is in sight.

Weekend Homework: WV DAR, WV PTA, and Ohio Valley University

Let me start this out by acknowledging that all teachers have weekend homework. Maybe it's grading papers, or surfing Pinterest, or just thinking about how you ended a week with a certain student, but when you are a teacher, your job always comes home with you.

This year, I've taken my job on the road. I have several weekends over the next two months where I will be out and about, in addition to my responsibilities during the week. It's a lot, and I'm feeling it. April is going to be a big month in regards to travel, events, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. That being said...I just got home from my "weekend homework assignment," and I'm beat. I haven't gotten up from the couch yet.

My weekend began at the Holiday Inn in Martinsburg to address the West Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) conference. Much of the behind the scenes work as teacher of the year is logistics. I stayed for lunch and to speak to the WV DAR members, but had to time it so that I left in time to get across the state to Parkersburg by 6:30 (that's a four hour drive from Martinsburg, if you don't make any stops). It was tight, but I made it work! I was also honored to receive the Golden Apple Award from the WV DAR and state regent, Barby Frankenberry (also a Berkeley County Teacher of the Year).

WV DAR Annual Conference

With President General Lynne Young and State Regent Barby Frankenberry

Seeds of Learning Centerpieces :-)

Addressing the DAR members

Receiving the Golden Apple Award

I made it to Parkersburg with an hour to spare and spoke to the West Virginia Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that evening. It was great to have so many PTA members from Berkeley County there in attendance. I am very appreciative to Justin Raber, WV PTA president, for asking me to give the keynote at their awards ceremony. He was the first person to contact me about doing a speaking engagement back in October.

With a student member of the Musselman Middle PTSA

With National PTA Board Member Melissa Nehrbass and WV PTA president Justin Raber

On Sunday, I set out to do a little exploring. It was a gorgeous Sunday, but unfortunately Blennerhasset Island is not open until May 1. It's a beautiful state park in Parkersburg with a lot of history, and I was really hoping to see it while I was in town. No such luck - guess it means I need to come back! After taking a little walk, I prepared to speak to the education majors at Ohio Valley University that evening. They were a wonderful audience, and I'm glad I was able to coordinate my Parkersburg visit to include their school.

Stand-in picture until I visit Blennerhasset Island...someday...

Education majors at Ohio Valley University

This morning I headed home to take a breather before I visit the Northern Panhandle this week. I could have done without the dense fog (absolutely no visibility) between Finzel and Cumberland, but I made it home in one (frazzled) piece. The press release for this years PBS Digital Innovators was also released, so I'm excited to share that with you now as something that I will be doing during the 2014-15 school year. 100 educators were selected to work with and learn from PBS LearningMedia. You can read the bios of the selected educators at this link.

Heads up -  there are going to be a lot of blog posts this month. Writing relaxes me, and right now I need that as I pick up and travel to several school systems and colleges over the next few weeks. I've got some reflection pieces I'm working on as well that I also want to share with you. Traveling by yourself is grueling, especially when you are lugging your own equipment and traveling long distances (and so far this year, through perilous weather). I wouldn't trade in any experience I've had, but I miss just being Mrs. Sponaugle. When you are away from home a lot, you miss the things often taken for granted - especially family members. I will never just be Mrs. Sponaugle again - and that's a good thing. I needed this year to grow and become what I was meant to be (more on that in another post). However, those moments when I am with students, as "just a teacher" will forever be greatly appreciated.