my talk today I’d like to speak to you about women in technology and my journey
about women in technology and my journey
about women in technology and my journey on how women broke the code it starts
on how women broke the code it starts
on how women broke the code it starts with some numbers you should be aware of
with some numbers you should be aware of
with some numbers you should be aware of the fact that women comprise 59% of the
the fact that women comprise 59% of the
the fact that women comprise 59% of the workforce
workforce
workforce women are 51 percent of the population
women are 51 percent of the population
women are 51 percent of the population yet we can never seem to improve our
yet we can never seem to improve our
yet we can never seem to improve our presence in STEM careers by more than
presence in STEM careers by more than
presence in STEM careers by more than 30%
30%
30% in addition 54% of bachelor degrees are
in addition 54% of bachelor degrees are
in addition 54% of bachelor degrees are awarded to women but only 12% of those
awarded to women but only 12% of those
awarded to women but only 12% of those are in computer science so my question
are in computer science so my question
are in computer science so my question has always been why when this field of
has always been why when this field of
has always been why when this field of technology is so lucrative both
technology is so lucrative both
technology is so lucrative both financially and opportunistic are women
financially and opportunistic are women
financially and opportunistic are women not showing their presence so as a
not showing their presence so as a
not showing their presence so as a teacher I want to explore five possible
teacher I want to explore five possible
teacher I want to explore five possible explanations that could further the
explanations that could further the
explanations that could further the presence of women in the fields of
presence of women in the fields of
presence of women in the fields of technology I’d like to talk about
technology I’d like to talk about
technology I’d like to talk about choices I’d like to talk about the
choices I’d like to talk about the
choices I’d like to talk about the importance of self-advocacy mental
importance of self-advocacy mental
importance of self-advocacy mental toughness and grit the importance of
toughness and grit the importance of
toughness and grit the importance of finding a good mentor and how women have
finding a good mentor and how women have
finding a good mentor and how women have to network I begin my story by being
to network I begin my story by being
to network I begin my story by being honest with you that I am and have been
honest with you that I am and have been
honest with you that I am and have been a card-carrying member of the National
a card-carrying member of the National
a card-carrying member of the National Organization for Women I traveled around
Organization for Women I traveled around
Organization for Women I traveled around the country in my Vanagon during the 70s
the country in my Vanagon during the 70s
the country in my Vanagon during the 70s at protest rallies it was very important
at protest rallies it was very important
at protest rallies it was very important to me that our voice be heard as women
to me that our voice be heard as women
to me that our voice be heard as women during that time when change was
during that time when change was
during that time when change was occurring there were many pioneers
occurring there were many pioneers
occurring there were many pioneers trying to break into fields that may
trying to break into fields that may
trying to break into fields that may surprise you another symbol of that era
surprise you another symbol of that era
surprise you another symbol of that era was the burning of the bra which was a
was the burning of the bra which was a
was the burning of the bra which was a symbol that we wanted to be free Gloria
symbol that we wanted to be free Gloria
symbol that we wanted to be free Gloria Steinem was one of the women that I
Steinem was one of the women that I
Steinem was one of the women that I admired most she
admired most she
admired most she the founder of the National Organization
the founder of the National Organization
the founder of the National Organization for Women and had a very powerful voice
for Women and had a very powerful voice
for Women and had a very powerful voice in the women’s movement and I read the
in the women’s movement and I read the
in the women’s movement and I read the book The Feminine Mystique written by
book The Feminine Mystique written by
book The Feminine Mystique written by Betty Freedman many times what I’d like
Betty Freedman many times what I’d like
Betty Freedman many times what I’d like you to know about these numbers is that
you to know about these numbers is that
you to know about these numbers is that in 1969 I was awarded a pretty
in 1969 I was awarded a pretty
in 1969 I was awarded a pretty significant scholarship to be the first
significant scholarship to be the first
significant scholarship to be the first class of women that would attend a
class of women that would attend a
class of women that would attend a Business School in a very prestigious
Business School in a very prestigious
Business School in a very prestigious private school outside of Philadelphia I
private school outside of Philadelphia I
private school outside of Philadelphia I visited there as you will do in the
visited there as you will do in the
visited there as you will do in the spring of junior year to determine if I
spring of junior year to determine if I
spring of junior year to determine if I was going to choose this school the
was going to choose this school the
was going to choose this school the hippies were demonstrating protests were
hippies were demonstrating protests were
hippies were demonstrating protests were going on campus and I approached the
going on campus and I approached the
going on campus and I approached the business school and was greeted by the
business school and was greeted by the
business school and was greeted by the Dean with my father
Dean with my father
Dean with my father the Dean looked me straight in the eye
the Dean looked me straight in the eye
the Dean looked me straight in the eye and he said to me I don’t want you here
and he said to me I don’t want you here
and he said to me I don’t want you here the boys don’t want you here
the boys don’t want you here
the boys don’t want you here the professors don’t want you here you
the professors don’t want you here you
the professors don’t want you here you will have a hell of a year that may
will have a hell of a year that may
will have a hell of a year that may surprise you this was the Business
surprise you this was the Business
surprise you this was the Business School I had dreamed about attending
School I had dreamed about attending
School I had dreamed about attending business school my whole life but this
business school my whole life but this
business school my whole life but this was the first year women were allowed to
was the first year women were allowed to
was the first year women were allowed to attend business school yes she could be
attend business school yes she could be
attend business school yes she could be a nurse yes she could attend to teaching
a nurse yes she could attend to teaching
a nurse yes she could attend to teaching education programs yes she could be a
education programs yes she could be a
education programs yes she could be a secretary but no business was off limits
secretary but no business was off limits
secretary but no business was off limits in fact in many circles we were told
in fact in many circles we were told
in fact in many circles we were told women don’t really want to be engineers
women don’t really want to be engineers
women don’t really want to be engineers or doctors or lawyers this statistic may
or doctors or lawyers this statistic may
or doctors or lawyers this statistic may surprise you Yale and Princeton didn’t
surprise you Yale and Princeton didn’t
surprise you Yale and Princeton didn’t even accept applications from females
even accept applications from females
even accept applications from females till 1969 Brown 71 Dartmouth 72 Harvard
till 1969 Brown 71 Dartmouth 72 Harvard
till 1969 Brown 71 Dartmouth 72 Harvard 77 oh yes they wanted you to attend
77 oh yes they wanted you to attend
77 oh yes they wanted you to attend their sister school Radcliffe Columbia
their sister school Radcliffe Columbia
their sister school Radcliffe Columbia was 1983 Cornell was a little bit
was 1983 Cornell was a little bit
was 1983 Cornell was a little bit earlier 1970 maybe earlier and so was
earlier 1970 maybe earlier and so was
earlier 1970 maybe earlier and so was Penn when asked why they didn’t accept
Penn when asked why they didn’t accept
Penn when asked why they didn’t accept women into the Ivy’s before this the
women into the Ivy’s before this the
women into the Ivy’s before this the Ivy’s commented
Ivy’s commented
Ivy’s commented they said we didn’t want to lower our
they said we didn’t want to lower our
they said we didn’t want to lower our standards that still rocks me to the
standards that still rocks me to the
standards that still rocks me to the core
core
core they said it was tradition that men
they said it was tradition that men
they said it was tradition that men attend colleges for engineering and
attend colleges for engineering and
attend colleges for engineering and science and to be doctors and lawyers
science and to be doctors and lawyers
science and to be doctors and lawyers and business so as a result I really
and business so as a result I really
and business so as a result I really have always hated the word tradition and
have always hated the word tradition and
have always hated the word tradition and I feel that it sometimes hides behind an
I feel that it sometimes hides behind an
I feel that it sometimes hides behind an unwillingness to change my path diverted
unwillingness to change my path diverted
unwillingness to change my path diverted after that experience partially because
after that experience partially because
after that experience partially because of that experience and partially for
of that experience and partially for
of that experience and partially for other reasons I ended up going to work
other reasons I ended up going to work
other reasons I ended up going to work in 1972 for a large mainframe computer
in 1972 for a large mainframe computer
in 1972 for a large mainframe computer company outside of Philadelphia large
company outside of Philadelphia large
company outside of Philadelphia large mainframe computers were very expensive
mainframe computers were very expensive
mainframe computers were very expensive and the Salesforce was dynamic they had
and the Salesforce was dynamic they had
and the Salesforce was dynamic they had to convince businesses that they needed
to convince businesses that they needed
to convince businesses that they needed these multi hundred thousand dollar
these multi hundred thousand dollar
these multi hundred thousand dollar million dollar machines to increase
million dollar machines to increase
million dollar machines to increase their productivity and it was an arduous
their productivity and it was an arduous
their productivity and it was an arduous task but it was an exciting time to be
task but it was an exciting time to be
task but it was an exciting time to be involved in that can you imagine the US
involved in that can you imagine the US
involved in that can you imagine the US Census Bureau had to be convinced that
Census Bureau had to be convinced that
Census Bureau had to be convinced that they needed a mainframe computer while I
they needed a mainframe computer while I
they needed a mainframe computer while I was working there in 1973 there was a
was working there in 1973 there was a
was working there in 1973 there was a breakthrough they decided to hire a
breakthrough they decided to hire a
breakthrough they decided to hire a woman sales rep she carried around a
woman sales rep she carried around a
woman sales rep she carried around a very large briefcase and she was
very large briefcase and she was
very large briefcase and she was expected to sell 300,000 a quarter just
expected to sell 300,000 a quarter just
expected to sell 300,000 a quarter just like her male counterparts there was
like her male counterparts there was
like her male counterparts there was much skepticism skepticism about her
much skepticism skepticism about her
much skepticism skepticism about her performance
performance
performance her name was Cori she had a sassy
her name was Cori she had a sassy
her name was Cori she had a sassy ponytail she was like 6 foot 2 and she
ponytail she was like 6 foot 2 and she
ponytail she was like 6 foot 2 and she did awesome and as I watched her I said
did awesome and as I watched her I said
did awesome and as I watched her I said to myself women are making choices now
to myself women are making choices now
to myself women are making choices now women have choices they’re seizing them
women have choices they’re seizing them
women have choices they’re seizing them instead of selling perfume and cosmetics
instead of selling perfume and cosmetics
instead of selling perfume and cosmetics she chose to sell mainframe computers
she chose to sell mainframe computers
she chose to sell mainframe computers and the barriers continued to fall
and the barriers continued to fall
and the barriers continued to fall however
however
however I will tell you just last year in my
I will tell you just last year in my
I will tell you just last year in my computer science class there was a
computer science class there was a
computer science class there was a discussion about the defiant girl statue
discussion about the defiant girl statue
discussion about the defiant girl statue on Wall Street some of the students in
on Wall Street some of the students in
on Wall Street some of the students in my class felt it was a meaningless
my class felt it was a meaningless
my class felt it was a meaningless frivolous symbol others thought it
frivolous symbol others thought it
frivolous symbol others thought it really stood for something
really stood for something
really stood for something my personal stance was I’m not big on
my personal stance was I’m not big on
my personal stance was I’m not big on symbols anymore I want action and so we
symbols anymore I want action and so we
symbols anymore I want action and so we talked a little bit about what companies
talked a little bit about what companies
talked a little bit about what companies should be doing to improve the presence
should be doing to improve the presence
should be doing to improve the presence of women in technology companies in
of women in technology companies in
of women in technology companies in finance firms etc but a girl raised her
finance firms etc but a girl raised her
finance firms etc but a girl raised her hand and she said to me quite art in a
hand and she said to me quite art in a
hand and she said to me quite art in a quite an articulate way she said mrs.
quite an articulate way she said mrs.
quite an articulate way she said mrs. Becca you’ve lived here a long time
Becca you’ve lived here a long time
Becca you’ve lived here a long time through this but I never even thought I
through this but I never even thought I
through this but I never even thought I could be sitting in a computer science
could be sitting in a computer science
could be sitting in a computer science classroom and be considering majoring in
classroom and be considering majoring in
classroom and be considering majoring in computer science so that symbol is
computer science so that symbol is
computer science so that symbol is everything to me
everything to me
everything to me and it reminded me that choice we must
and it reminded me that choice we must
and it reminded me that choice we must always remind our girls that choice is
always remind our girls that choice is
always remind our girls that choice is important and you should stand by your
important and you should stand by your
important and you should stand by your choice the second story I’d like to tell
choice the second story I’d like to tell
choice the second story I’d like to tell you is about kind of a combination of
you is about kind of a combination of
you is about kind of a combination of mental toughness and self-advocacy I met
mental toughness and self-advocacy I met
mental toughness and self-advocacy I met this girl on the right in 1975 she was
this girl on the right in 1975 she was
this girl on the right in 1975 she was about 16 and she was the fourth in a
about 16 and she was the fourth in a
about 16 and she was the fourth in a family of six she was the first girl her
family of six she was the first girl her
family of six she was the first girl her father died in 1975 and her mother was a
father died in 1975 and her mother was a
father died in 1975 and her mother was a stay-at-home mother she had three older
stay-at-home mother she had three older
stay-at-home mother she had three older brothers who all wanted to be engineers
brothers who all wanted to be engineers
brothers who all wanted to be engineers and she was really a star in math and
and she was really a star in math and
and she was really a star in math and science she confided in me that she
science she confided in me that she
science she confided in me that she wanted to be an engineer but she had no
wanted to be an engineer but she had no
wanted to be an engineer but she had no encouragement no encouragement from her
encouragement no encouragement from her
encouragement no encouragement from her mother or her school they were telling
mother or her school they were telling
mother or her school they were telling her to do something else I mentioned to
her to do something else I mentioned to
her to do something else I mentioned to her that she should go to the library
her that she should go to the library
her that she should go to the library every summer and read a minimum of 20 to
every summer and read a minimum of 20 to
every summer and read a minimum of 20 to 25 books so she could master the SAT she
25 books so she could master the SAT she
25 books so she could master the SAT she did that she listened to me
did that she listened to me
did that she listened to me she got a perfect score she was one girl
she got a perfect score she was one girl
she got a perfect score she was one girl in the city of Philadelphia who was
in the city of Philadelphia who was
in the city of Philadelphia who was awarded the presidential scholarship to
awarded the presidential scholarship to
awarded the presidential scholarship to LaSalle college she majored in math and
LaSalle college she majored in math and
LaSalle college she majored in math and computer science and she did so well
computer science and she did so well
computer science and she did so well there that she was awarded a fellowship
there that she was awarded a fellowship
there that she was awarded a fellowship to Duke University to get her PhD in
to Duke University to get her PhD in
to Duke University to get her PhD in electrical engineering she received her
electrical engineering she received her
electrical engineering she received her PhD in the early 80s she was alone she
PhD in the early 80s she was alone she
PhD in the early 80s she was alone she had to stand side by side with men on
had to stand side by side with men on
had to stand side by side with men on projects when she talked about her
projects when she talked about her
projects when she talked about her journey she talked about the importance
journey she talked about the importance
journey she talked about the importance of mental toughness you see when you’re
of mental toughness you see when you’re
of mental toughness you see when you’re in a technology field you’re solving
in a technology field you’re solving
in a technology field you’re solving problems and sometimes your solutions
problems and sometimes your solutions
problems and sometimes your solutions are not going to be right so you have to
are not going to be right so you have to
are not going to be right so you have to be tough skin to go back at it again and
be tough skin to go back at it again and
be tough skin to go back at it again and again when people tell you if you’re
again when people tell you if you’re
again when people tell you if you’re wrong and if you can imagine being the
wrong and if you can imagine being the
wrong and if you can imagine being the only woman on a project team you have to
only woman on a project team you have to
only woman on a project team you have to be really mentally tough and have a lot
be really mentally tough and have a lot
be really mentally tough and have a lot of grit so not only did she have mental
of grit so not only did she have mental
of grit so not only did she have mental toughness and grit she was a
toughness and grit she was a
toughness and grit she was a self-advocate she is the one who drove
self-advocate she is the one who drove
self-advocate she is the one who drove herself to get her PhD in the early 80s
herself to get her PhD in the early 80s
herself to get her PhD in the early 80s from Duke and she is now the professor
from Duke and she is now the professor
from Duke and she is now the professor and director of Computer Engineering at
and director of Computer Engineering at
and director of Computer Engineering at a large public university she happens to
a large public university she happens to
a large public university she happens to be my sister-in-law dr. Joanne Beck de
be my sister-in-law dr. Joanne Beck de
be my sister-in-law dr. Joanne Beck de Dugan
my path took me down another way towards
my path took me down another way towards computer science I was still working at
computer science I was still working at
computer science I was still working at this mainframe computer company and I
this mainframe computer company and I
this mainframe computer company and I was bound to get married it was 1977 and
was bound to get married it was 1977 and
was bound to get married it was 1977 and I was moving to Maryland the person who
I was moving to Maryland the person who
I was moving to Maryland the person who I worked for called me in and he said
I worked for called me in and he said
I worked for called me in and he said would you like to interview for a job
would you like to interview for a job
would you like to interview for a job down in Maryland at the Computer Science
down in Maryland at the Computer Science
down in Maryland at the Computer Science Center he said you see I sold them their
Center he said you see I sold them their
Center he said you see I sold them their first mainframe and I put them on the
first mainframe and I put them on the
first mainframe and I put them on the map I said sure so I took my interview
map I said sure so I took my interview
map I said sure so I took my interview at the time the computer Science Center
at the time the computer Science Center
at the time the computer Science Center was a dilapidated building in an off
was a dilapidated building in an off
was a dilapidated building in an off part of campus it was a major in its
part of campus it was a major in its
part of campus it was a major in its infancy stage
infancy stage
infancy stage and I walked into this big office
and I walked into this big office
and I walked into this big office mahogany desk leather chair but remember
mahogany desk leather chair but remember
mahogany desk leather chair but remember I was now 25 I was not the 17 year old
I was now 25 I was not the 17 year old
I was now 25 I was not the 17 year old was going where that was going to be
was going where that was going to be
was going where that was going to be intimidated and I said to this doctor I
intimidated and I said to this doctor I
intimidated and I said to this doctor I said I understand we sold you the first
said I understand we sold you the first
said I understand we sold you the first mainframe here he shook his head he said
mainframe here he shook his head he said
mainframe here he shook his head he said yes and I Oh Carl something he said so
yes and I Oh Carl something he said so
yes and I Oh Carl something he said so I’m going to ask you an important
I’m going to ask you an important
I’m going to ask you an important question I said go ahead he said what
question I said go ahead he said what
question I said go ahead he said what kind of job do you want a gulped I
kind of job do you want a gulped I
kind of job do you want a gulped I thought to myself I think this is an
thought to myself I think this is an
thought to myself I think this is an important question and I began to
important question and I began to
important question and I began to advocate for myself I said I want a
advocate for myself I said I want a
advocate for myself I said I want a full-time salary with full-time benefits
full-time salary with full-time benefits
full-time salary with full-time benefits but I want to go to day school to finish
but I want to go to day school to finish
but I want to go to day school to finish my degree tuition free and he leaned
my degree tuition free and he leaned
my degree tuition free and he leaned back in that brown leather chair he put
back in that brown leather chair he put
back in that brown leather chair he put his hands behind his head and he said I
his hands behind his head and he said I
his hands behind his head and he said I can do that I will tell you that never
can do that I will tell you that never
can do that I will tell you that never again did anyone ever ask me that
again did anyone ever ask me that
again did anyone ever ask me that question
question
question so am I glad that I self advocated you
so am I glad that I self advocated you
so am I glad that I self advocated you bet I am I ended up working down in the
bet I am I ended up working down in the
bet I am I ended up working down in the lower they used to call it the dungeon
lower they used to call it the dungeon
lower they used to call it the dungeon with all the PhD candidates and graduate
with all the PhD candidates and graduate
with all the PhD candidates and graduate students who were working on computer
students who were working on computer
students who were working on computer software cutting-edge computer software
software cutting-edge computer software
software cutting-edge computer software they were trying to be the first
they were trying to be the first
they were trying to be the first University that would develop a word
University that would develop a word
University that would develop a word processing program and we were working
processing program and we were working
processing program and we were working hard they work 24 hours a day so it was
hard they work 24 hours a day so it was
hard they work 24 hours a day so it was easy for me to get my hours in and what
easy for me to get my hours in and what
easy for me to get my hours in and what they asked me to do they said will you
they asked me to do they said will you
they asked me to do they said will you be the liaison upstairs with the
be the liaison upstairs with the
be the liaison upstairs with the undergrad and graduate students and help
undergrad and graduate students and help
undergrad and graduate students and help them debug their programs we don’t have
them debug their programs we don’t have
them debug their programs we don’t have time for it but if you get stuck come
time for it but if you get stuck come
time for it but if you get stuck come down and we’ll solve the problems so
down and we’ll solve the problems so
down and we’ll solve the problems so that’s what I did for two and a half
that’s what I did for two and a half
that’s what I did for two and a half years I surrounded myself but some of
years I surrounded myself but some of
years I surrounded myself but some of the brightest computer scientists in the
the brightest computer scientists in the
the brightest computer scientists in the country and in 1979 it was micro tel
country and in 1979 it was micro tel
country and in 1979 it was micro tel International that came out with
International that came out with
International that came out with WordStar and we missed by that much
WordStar and we missed by that much
WordStar and we missed by that much but I will tell you it was a fascinating
but I will tell you it was a fascinating
but I will tell you it was a fascinating time to be around technology there was
time to be around technology there was
time to be around technology there was one woman programmer and I work closely
one woman programmer and I work closely
one woman programmer and I work closely with her I realized at that moment that
with her I realized at that moment that
with her I realized at that moment that I had the
I had the
I had the and the opportunity to be a programmer I
and the opportunity to be a programmer I
and the opportunity to be a programmer I was around the brightest and the best
was around the brightest and the best
was around the brightest and the best they wanted me to be but after I took a
they wanted me to be but after I took a
they wanted me to be but after I took a psychology course at College Park I
psychology course at College Park I
psychology course at College Park I decided that I wanted to be a teacher I
decided that I wanted to be a teacher I
decided that I wanted to be a teacher I owned that choice that choice was mine
owned that choice that choice was mine
owned that choice that choice was mine despite the fact that I had
despite the fact that I had
despite the fact that I had opportunities in other fields so the
opportunities in other fields so the
opportunities in other fields so the lesson here is when you’re asked
lesson here is when you’re asked
lesson here is when you’re asked something be empowered enough to ask for
something be empowered enough to ask for
something be empowered enough to ask for what you want as teachers we need to
what you want as teachers we need to
what you want as teachers we need to give our girls an authentic voice we
give our girls an authentic voice we
give our girls an authentic voice we need to encourage them to speak up
need to encourage them to speak up
need to encourage them to speak up we need them to share their opinions we
we need them to share their opinions we
we need them to share their opinions we need them to speak out on issues that
need them to speak out on issues that
need them to speak out on issues that are important to them and to be
are important to them and to be
are important to them and to be passionate the last thing that I think
passionate the last thing that I think
passionate the last thing that I think we need to do is we need to instill in
we need to do is we need to instill in
we need to do is we need to instill in our students men and women the
our students men and women the
our students men and women the importance of mentors and when I ask you
importance of mentors and when I ask you
importance of mentors and when I ask you what kind of a mentor do you want you
what kind of a mentor do you want you
what kind of a mentor do you want you need to be able to answer that I want
need to be able to answer that I want
need to be able to answer that I want somebody who’s going to challenge me I
somebody who’s going to challenge me I
somebody who’s going to challenge me I want somebody who’s going to put me
want somebody who’s going to put me
want somebody who’s going to put me shoulder to shoulder with a male in this
shoulder to shoulder with a male in this
shoulder to shoulder with a male in this programming class and let me earn my
programming class and let me earn my
programming class and let me earn my success I don’t want somebody to tell me
success I don’t want somebody to tell me
success I don’t want somebody to tell me oh you’re doing great
oh you’re doing great
oh you’re doing great Oh keep trying I want to compete I want
Oh keep trying I want to compete I want
Oh keep trying I want to compete I want to earn it and I want to be the best my
to earn it and I want to be the best my
to earn it and I want to be the best my experience with a mentor was in 1979
experience with a mentor was in 1979
experience with a mentor was in 1979 when I finished my teaching degree and I
when I finished my teaching degree and I
when I finished my teaching degree and I was set out to do my student teaching I
was set out to do my student teaching I
was set out to do my student teaching I had this experienced teacher who was
had this experienced teacher who was
had this experienced teacher who was very nice but he was very tough every
very nice but he was very tough every
very nice but he was very tough every morning he went at the lesson plan on
morning he went at the lesson plan on
morning he went at the lesson plan on his desk and he had me teach all his
his desk and he had me teach all his
his desk and he had me teach all his remedial classes with discipline
remedial classes with discipline
remedial classes with discipline problems I was fine with that I learned
problems I was fine with that I learned
problems I was fine with that I learned and when I had an automobile accident in
and when I had an automobile accident in
and when I had an automobile accident in February I broke my left arm which is my
February I broke my left arm which is my
February I broke my left arm which is my righting arm in three places when I
righting arm in three places when I
righting arm in three places when I returned because it was a very bad
returned because it was a very bad
returned because it was a very bad snowstorm he snapped at me he said I
snowstorm he snapped at me he said I
snowstorm he snapped at me he said I hope you still realize you will be
hope you still realize you will be
hope you still realize you will be putting those lesson plans on my desk I
putting those lesson plans on my desk I
putting those lesson plans on my desk I was a little taken back he was such a
was a little taken back he was such a
was a little taken back he was such a nice man and those words were so high
nice man and those words were so high
nice man and those words were so high but I did it I went home and I huntin
but I did it I went home and I huntin
but I did it I went home and I huntin pecked every night and he made me earn
pecked every night and he made me earn
pecked every night and he made me earn that he said you know you can come back
that he said you know you can come back
that he said you know you can come back in the fall and get your degree then I
in the fall and get your degree then I
in the fall and get your degree then I said oh no I finished things that I
said oh no I finished things that I
said oh no I finished things that I start I appreciated everything he did he
start I appreciated everything he did he
start I appreciated everything he did he said to me it’s not about what you teach
said to me it’s not about what you teach
said to me it’s not about what you teach it’s knowing how to teach Coach V was he
it’s knowing how to teach Coach V was he
it’s knowing how to teach Coach V was he taught me that you can learn how to be
taught me that you can learn how to be
taught me that you can learn how to be all these things from a mentor who might
all these things from a mentor who might
all these things from a mentor who might be a coach a parent a teacher but you
be a coach a parent a teacher but you
be a coach a parent a teacher but you have to learn it I once met a woman she
have to learn it I once met a woman she
have to learn it I once met a woman she was a very young CFO for a firm in
was a very young CFO for a firm in
was a very young CFO for a firm in Washington and later as CEO in on Wall
Washington and later as CEO in on Wall
Washington and later as CEO in on Wall Street I happened to be tutoring her son
Street I happened to be tutoring her son
Street I happened to be tutoring her son I was fascinated by her I said to her
I was fascinated by her I said to her
I was fascinated by her I said to her how did you get here so quickly was
how did you get here so quickly was
how did you get here so quickly was there a strategy you used she said my
there a strategy you used she said my
there a strategy you used she said my father from the age of seven sat me down
father from the age of seven sat me down
father from the age of seven sat me down and we played chess every single night
and we played chess every single night
and we played chess every single night and in the beginning he was teaching me
and in the beginning he was teaching me
and in the beginning he was teaching me strategies and problem-solving but by
strategies and problem-solving but by
strategies and problem-solving but by the end we would discuss who won and
the end we would discuss who won and
the end we would discuss who won and what strategies they used she said that
what strategies they used she said that
what strategies they used she said that single-handedly prepared me Plus her
single-handedly prepared me Plus her
single-handedly prepared me Plus her Williams education for the job she had
Williams education for the job she had
Williams education for the job she had so I challenged teachers I am a teacher
so I challenged teachers I am a teacher
so I challenged teachers I am a teacher of Technology and I everyday I look for
of Technology and I everyday I look for
of Technology and I everyday I look for these invisible signs that I see on
these invisible signs that I see on
these invisible signs that I see on children students shirts sometimes they
children students shirts sometimes they
children students shirts sometimes they say am i good at this and I have to be
say am i good at this and I have to be
say am i good at this and I have to be able to know they need encouragement or
able to know they need encouragement or
able to know they need encouragement or can you find my errors and I have to say
can you find my errors and I have to say
can you find my errors and I have to say no that’s part of the job or should I
no that’s part of the job or should I
no that’s part of the job or should I should I take another class in this
should I take another class in this
should I take another class in this subject and if they’re good I need to
subject and if they’re good I need to
subject and if they’re good I need to say yes you’re really good at it
say yes you’re really good at it
say yes you’re really good at it you’re really good because you never
you’re really good because you never
you’re really good because you never know about ten years ago there was a boy
know about ten years ago there was a boy
know about ten years ago there was a boy in my technology class he was sitting
in my technology class he was sitting
in my technology class he was sitting right in the front row had him for two
right in the front row had him for two
right in the front row had him for two years
years
years very quiet and one day he has answered a
very quiet and one day he has answered a
very quiet and one day he has answered a very complex question and as if you know
very complex question and as if you know
very complex question and as if you know me I sometimes do I jumped up and I
me I sometimes do I jumped up and I
me I sometimes do I jumped up and I pointed at him and I said you are really
pointed at him and I said you are really
pointed at him and I said you are really good at this and he cowered and I felt
good at this and he cowered and I felt
good at this and he cowered and I felt bad I thought well maybe he didn’t want
bad I thought well maybe he didn’t want
bad I thought well maybe he didn’t want that
that
that noticed he graduated and a week later I
noticed he graduated and a week later I
noticed he graduated and a week later I got a letter in my mailbox the letter
got a letter in my mailbox the letter
got a letter in my mailbox the letter said that I was the first person that
said that I was the first person that
said that I was the first person that ever told him he was good at anything
ever told him he was good at anything
ever told him he was good at anything and at that moment he decided that was
and at that moment he decided that was
and at that moment he decided that was going to be his major in college because
going to be his major in college because
going to be his major in college because he he knew how good that felt and he
he he knew how good that felt and he
he he knew how good that felt and he recognized that he really was good at
recognized that he really was good at
recognized that he really was good at this that’s when I knew teachers can
this that’s when I knew teachers can
this that’s when I knew teachers can make a difference read the invisible
make a difference read the invisible
make a difference read the invisible signs thank you
signs thank you
signs thank you [Applause]
”
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