Today was like taking one giant deep breath, then slowly exhaling. It's finally Thanksgiving Break. The past two months have been a rush. I have much to be thankful for this holiday, and I am deeply grateful for a chance to relax with family for a few days.
Last week was the first of the many times I will travel the Mountain State this year. That being said, these were already events that I had scheduled to participate in prior to October 9th. They just held greater significance for me now, because they became a part of my year representing the teachers of Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia.
Last Friday I traveled to the Stonewall Resort in Weston for the Instructional Materials Criteria Committee. It is located within the Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park in Lewis County. Although the location was peaceful, my mind was split thinking about my presentations for the West Virginia Reading Association (WVRA) conference that was less than a week away. I stayed up late every evening making sure I had everything ready, because the turnaround time I had to get everything together when I came home was, oh, a day-and-a-half.
Oh, Deer!
Old Sorrel, named after Stonewall Jackson's horse
Beautiful lake at Stonewall
Monday evening I returned home, for, as I said, a day-and-a-half. In between, I was honored by the McDonald's Family Foundation, which I will share in another post (stay tuned). Wednesday afternoon, it was back in the car with some fellow teachers to attend the WVRA Conference at The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs. It was originally built in 1858, and became known as The Greenbrier in 1910. Twenty six U.S. presidents have stayed here. The resort was an army hospital during World War II, and also interred foreign diplomats who were considered a threat to the U.S. during the war. There's also a bunker at The Greenbrier that was designated to house members of Congress in an emergency during the Cold War. It's positively stunning - larger than life. Here are some - some! - of the pictures I took while there.
Hotel Room Hallway
Oh, Christmas Tree...
Main Lobby
Main Lobby
Entry Way
All decorated for Christmas
One of the many beautiful rooms
Chandelier from "Gone with the Wind"
Spring House
Night View
In addition to absorbing the surroundings :-), I also attended the conference and did two presentations, one on integrating "The Great Bridge Building Contest" (a children's book on the building of the Philippi Bridge) into the curriculum, and another on using Web 2.0 tools in reading and writing instruction. I was also honored to be recognized by the First Lady of West Virginia, Joanne Tomblin, during her remarks in the closing general session.
By the time we returned home Friday, I felt like I had accomplished a lot - and my body was paying for it. One thing that I have learned very quickly this year is that I have to, I must, take care of myself. As teachers, we naturally push ourselves to the limit - staying up late, gobbling our lunch in record time (and amazingly not choking)...and holding it to go to the bathroom on numerous occasions. I've been doing this for years, and now...well, it's either put on the breaks or crash.
That being said, I was recharged enough by Monday to interview Rhonda Foreman and Elaine Unnone, teachers at Martinsburg High School, for Be the Difference WV. You can view their episode by clicking on this link.
And now...it's time to rest and give thanks. I have been blessed beyond measure this year, to the point where there is simply no way I can repay what I have received. So when you can't repay it, you pay it forward - and I intend to, in a multitude of ways.
I don't sleep well in hotel rooms, at least on the first night. This could be a long year.
As I try to bring myself to the point where it doesn't matter what the bed feels like or who walks by my room, I'll write about the awesomeness that was Tuesday evening. Why yes, I do use and like the word "awesomeness." It's zippy, peppy, and all encompassing of an experience that is/was completely positive. So, whenever I experience something that blows me away, "awesomeness" it is, no matter who I am or what I become.
On Tuesday, Berkeley County Schools and the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce held a Community Celebration in my honor at the Holiday Inn. A special thanks goes to Margaret Kursey, Elaine Bobo, and the BCS communication department for planning a very thoughtful evening. It is very humbling to have people go out of their way to do very nice, beautiful things for you - and it's quickly risen to a point where there is no way I can make it up to anyone for their generosity. It was a beautiful event with members of the community and many of my closest colleagues and family members.
With Heather and Katie, the best teacher friends ever
My cousins, Kaitlyn and Andrea
My in-laws, Brad, and parents
More teacher friends Nicole and Jessica
Finally! A Lewis picture :-)
My Tomahawk Family
I was honored to have several people speak on my behalf Tuesday night - and to share the stage with Beverly Hoffmaster, the 1992 West Virginia Teacher of the Year, as well as Michael Funkhouser, last year's teacher of the year who made the trek to Martinsburg for the second time in less than a week. I know that Hardy County's not on the other end of the state, but I really appreciate it that he has taken the time to support me over the last month.
2013, 2014, 1992
At the end, I was able to say a few words about my goals for the year and a little about who I am and how I got here. The more I watch myself speak, the more I notice things I need to "fix" - so I guess my documenting of my year serves a dual purpose. Speaking, no matter how you try to spin it positively, is something I have to work at - and I know it. I've come a long way though, and only those that know me best know how far. You can hear my speech by clicking on this link.
...And now, I think I typed my way into a foggy-enough haze that I just might sleep for a few hours. I've got a busy week ahead - I'm definitely going to need it.
The past three weeks have been like the finale of a Fourth of July fireworks display. I've always had multiple events and/or projects going on at once. Sometimes, I wonder why I do it to myself, or why things seem to gravitate in my direction. Now I know why. No words can describe the amount of multitasking you suddenly acquire when you become teacher of the year. If you aren't someone who can concentrate on seemingly hundreds of "to dos" on a list that grows by the minute, you become one fast...and I am eternally grateful for every responsibility, task, and hurdle that has been put in my way in the past eleven years, because without that kind of "boot camp," I wouldn't be prepared for this.
...And, although it's a lot to absorb and navigate, I do feel prepared. It's still surreal that I'm here, but I've accepted that this was meant to happen - and I hope I can do some amazing things with it.
So what's been up? Well, three weeks ago (unbelievable it's been that long), I was actually having a fairly normal school week. I was back in the classroom with my students, just being Mrs. Sponaugle. Then Tuesday evening the phone rang. Richard Belisle from the Herald-Mail (a newspaper in Hagerstown, Maryland, that covers our bordering Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia) was calling to arrange a time to not only interview me, but also my students and see my classroom. He wanted to know if he could come Thursday or Friday, so of course I said Thursday (because if you have ever been in a school on a Friday you perfectly understand why). As soon as I hung up, I gasped.
Thursday was Halloween - and if you have ever been in a school on Halloween, you also perfectly understand why.
I'm human. I'm a teacher, with flaws and positives like everyone else. So the immediate thought of having a reporter AND photographer come to my classroom on the most sugar-infested, crazy behavior inducing holiday of the year was a little, shall we say, spooky. However, it all went just fine. In fact, I think it took the focus off of "What are going to dress up as tonight?" and put it on to "Did he take your picture? Did he ask you a question? He took MY PICTURE!! He asked me LOTS of questions!!" My students loved getting to talk to a reporter and being photographed. Although not every picture or quote they gave made it in the paper (we had to have a discussion about how writing a newspaper article and editing works), they clearly enjoyed being celebrities. You can read the article at this link.
The following Thursday, we had a special visit from Michael Funkhouser, the 2013 West Virginia Teacher of the Year. Michael is an instructional coach at East Hardy High School. I appreciate that he took time to come up to our school on a rainy day to meet with my class and let them ask him questions. They all remarked what a very nice man he was after he left - and I would have to agree. He is a wonderful, sincere person - and it's pretty remarkable when a classroom of ten-year-olds picks that up in a matter of minutes.
Mr. Funkhouser
In between, I also taped some interviews for Be the Difference WV at Eagle School Intermediate and Opequon Elementary. I am trying to double up and get as many schools in Martinsburg covered by the end of December, because my schedule for January is almost solid. December, not so much at this point. Then again, I haven't checked my e-mail today yet.
It's strange being out of the classroom so much. In past years, I am hardly ever out - and then, it's only been for school business with two or three exceptions. Being a teacher is part of my identity, my daily routine. I'm getting ready to leave for the Stonewall Resort in Walkersville to work on the instructional criteria for English Language Arts, then next Thursday and Friday I'm at the West Virginia Reading Conference. Those are things I had planned to take on before this happened, but it's very much a preview of what's to come. I have wonderful, capable people who can step up and take over for me, but "fading" out of my role at Tomahawk, although temporary, makes me a little sad. I mean, I love teaching there - and suddenly I'm everyone's teacher, with a much larger classroom. Which means my role in my own classroom, my little spot on Earth, takes a back seat.
Right now, I'm a little sleepy. Alex, my big, orange, kitty, is keeping me awake by grunting at me whenever I stop scratching behind his ears (which makes typing a little difficult).
It's been a busy seven days.
Last Saturday, I rode in the Apple Harvest Parade, an event of the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival in Martinsburg. If you remember in my last post, I was quite tickled they asked me to be in it, shortly after the school year began. And it was absolutely, purely fun to get to wave at my family, friends, and students ("There's Mrs. Sponaugle!!! There's Mrs. Sponaugle!!!") along the parade route. As I said previously, every teacher should get to feel so special.
Thanks, Jim, for driving me in your car!
Ready to roll!
Driving up Queen Street
I taped an episode at Potomack Intermediate on Monday for Be the DifferenceWV. A big thanks to Lauren Mongada and Cathy Stickel for letting me interview them. I hope to get it up on my YouTube channel tomorrow - there's been so much else going on I haven't had time yet to put the segments together. My head is still swimming (remember the Olympic backstroke?) with how to balance my classroom with my new responsibilities. Which is why I am catching myself nodding off to sleep as I write this - except Alex, the big orange kitty, has now proceeded to the kitchen to yowl like Tarzan for a late night snack.
On Tuesday, I attended the New Teacher Mixer at the Purple Iris. There were about 70 new teachers from Berkeley County Schools, as well as some of our school business partners. This was actually my second event for new teachers in our area, as I spoke to the 200+ newly hired teachers in our school system this year at a breakfast at the start of the school year. It was a nice event to introduce the new teachers in our county to one another, as well as to some of the resources for young professionals in our area.
With some of the new teachers from Tomahawk
New Teacher Mixer
Purple Iris
I spoke at this event as well about how I began my teaching career, the importance of community, and my three A's for new teachers. You can watch my speech at this link.
Today, I presented at the National Board Certification cohort in Berkeley County. I am a candidate support provider for those pursuing National Board Certification in our school system. My sweet, fellow CSPs, some of which mentored me when I was going through National Board certification, presented me with an NBCT pin to wear during my travels this year. I strongly support the National Board process and introducing teachers to the benefits of achieving certification. In an era of monumental education reform, we need quality teachers who remain in our school systems throughout their careers. The incentives of National Board Certification provide a link to that - but I'll have to expand on that in another post.
Tomorrow is my day off. I will spend it preparing this upcoming week for my students, as well as planning what I want to accomplish this year as the West Virginia Teacher of the Year. I have many ideas, goals for communicating to the rest of the country all the good that occurs in our public school system. I want to be the same "go-getter" that I've been in the classroom - while still maintaining a presence in my own classroom this year.
My entire message is centered around being the difference, breaking away from the norm in order to move forward. I want to redefine, "reimagine" (my new, favorite un-word) what it means to be a representative of education. Can a 5th grade teacher do that?
We'll find out - right after I give this grumpy, orange kitty his snack (and end his evening concert).
The first week of school, there was a message in my mailbox to call Myra Robertson. I couldn't recall who this was, but during my lunch I returned her call.
"Hey, Erin! I sat beside you during the New Teacher Breakfast last week! We were wondering if the Berkeley County Teacher of the Year would like to ride in the Apple Harvest Parade."
Naturally, I responded like any mature adult who happends to work with ten and eleven-year-olds all day would:
"OOOOOOH! I'd love to - that would be so cool! Thank yoooooou!"
Yes, I really did say that - but that first week of school, when you're learning the names and personalities of 24 new people, bogged down with work, and pulled in more directions than you know exist, a little pick-me-up along the lines of "someone wants you to be in a parade" will make you about half giddy.
With Melanie Cox, Hedgesville Elementary
As I glided back to my classroom, though, I felt a little pang of guilt. This was the first of many "so cool" things, little pick-me-ups that I would get to experience this school year. People are eager to do nice things and "showcase" me to Berkeley County and the rest of the state. It feels good to get positive attention, when often in education that isn't the case.
What about the rest of my colleagues? Not just in my beautiful school, but in my school district. There are many talented, dedicated educators who teach their entire careers without one nod of recognition...and they don't mind. Even if they do, they will keep doing their best to improve the lives of our students, because they know that's what matters most.
They won't speak on a stage and get a standing ovation. Their names won't appear in the newspaper for days in a row. They won't return a phone call asking them to be in a parade. They should, though - each one of them.
I started to think, in between sorting emergency cards and carefully writing my new students' names on everything, what I could do to make my colleagues feel special. In a way, I felt helpless and undeserving. There's no way I can do anything that would really matter. Nobody's really bothered anyway - they're too busy doing their jobs while I soak up an escalating amount of attention.
With MaggieBeth Ponton, Hedgesville Middle
Frustrated, I hopped on my laptop when I got home and swung on to YouTube. Maybe a silly video or two would change my mood.
Ding-Ding-Ding!
So, in between watching Ninja Cat and Sarah Bareilles' music video for "Brave" three or four times, I got it. People get on YouTube to watch all kinds of things (let's just leave it at that). You can watch it on the computer, your phone - who needs television? Why not a web show, just about how special teachers are - and why they are the true "super stars" in a generation consumed with celebrities and reality show contestants?
And so, Be the DifferenceWV was born. Each week, I go to a school in Berkeley County and interview two teachers about why they went into teaching, what they love about working with students, and what they wish the public understood about education. The latter is important, because negative public perception brings down teacher morale. When you don't feel good about who you are and what you do, it can affect your performance in the classroom - which in turn just hurts students. Teachers are good people - incredible people. They deserve to be celebrated for their selflessness and perseverence in spite of the stressors that come from a life in the classroom.
I don't have a lot of experience with speaking on camera or playing Barbara Walters - but I like it. I'm a one woman, one camera crew that sets up my camcorder on a tripod, hits "record," and scurries around to the other side. It's fun, but more importantly, I'm giving other teachers a chance to take center stage and feel important. I feature a range of teachers, from elementary to high school, from brand new to the profession to seasoned veterans. My goal is to make it to every school in Berkeley County by the end of the year. Now that I represent all of the teachers in West Virginia, I'm hoping to feature other parts of the state as well.
Teachers are the difference. In the midst of all the hoopla this year, my mission is to also elevate the teaching profession. I hope you'll tune in this year so you can learn about the teachers in the Mountain State. You can reach my channel at this link.
