when young people come to you and they have a passion for learning and they
have a passion for learning and they
have a passion for learning and they invite you to join I’m the kind of
invite you to join I’m the kind of
invite you to join I’m the kind of person who has to say yes and that’s why
person who has to say yes and that’s why
person who has to say yes and that’s why I found myself last June on a Saturday
I found myself last June on a Saturday
I found myself last June on a Saturday morning at early o’clock seven am
morning at early o’clock seven am
morning at early o’clock seven am driving to Darden thao park in the mist
driving to Darden thao park in the mist
driving to Darden thao park in the mist and when I got there kids were already
and when I got there kids were already
and when I got there kids were already gathered with teachers with their
gathered with teachers with their
gathered with teachers with their principal their assistant principals the
principal their assistant principals the
principal their assistant principals the media and me why this group of young
media and me why this group of young
media and me why this group of young people powered by what I call one times
people powered by what I call one times
people powered by what I call one times two female leadership two young girls in
two female leadership two young girls in
two female leadership two young girls in middle school had decided that year that
middle school had decided that year that
middle school had decided that year that they wanted more than anything to fly a
they wanted more than anything to fly a
they wanted more than anything to fly a high-altitude balloon to the edge of the
high-altitude balloon to the edge of the
high-altitude balloon to the edge of the atmosphere so they went out and they
atmosphere so they went out and they
atmosphere so they went out and they recruited other students they got their
recruited other students they got their
recruited other students they got their teacher involved they got funding to be
teacher involved they got funding to be
teacher involved they got funding to be able to take this project on and they
able to take this project on and they
able to take this project on and they worked all year on it as a team and
worked all year on it as a team and
worked all year on it as a team and there they were on a Saturday morning
there they were on a Saturday morning
there they were on a Saturday morning school was just about ready to be out
school was just about ready to be out
school was just about ready to be out getting ready to put that balloon up so
getting ready to put that balloon up so
getting ready to put that balloon up so I show up and I have with me my cell
I show up and I have with me my cell
I show up and I have with me my cell phone camera and I’m documenting images
phone camera and I’m documenting images
phone camera and I’m documenting images and video and watching these kids get to
and video and watching these kids get to
and video and watching these kids get to work and what they’re doing is that
work and what they’re doing is that
work and what they’re doing is that they’re assembling all the final pieces
they’re assembling all the final pieces
they’re assembling all the final pieces of this apparatus together GoPro camera
of this apparatus together GoPro camera
of this apparatus together GoPro camera they had an Arduino powered tracking
they had an Arduino powered tracking
they had an Arduino powered tracking system they had loaded apps onto their
system they had loaded apps onto their
system they had loaded apps onto their cell phones to track and actually did
cell phones to track and actually did
cell phones to track and actually did that for me while I was standing there
that for me while I was standing there
that for me while I was standing there and they also had to get the balloon
and they also had to get the balloon
and they also had to get the balloon ready and call for different air traffic
ready and call for different air traffic
ready and call for different air traffic control centers from Cho to Washington
control centers from Cho to Washington
control centers from Cho to Washington DC
DC
DC these guys they get it ready and they
these guys they get it ready and they
these guys they get it ready and they start to put it up we’re all gathered
start to put it up we’re all gathered
start to put it up we’re all gathered around the adults and as the balloon
around the adults and as the balloon
around the adults and as the balloon starts to rise we all cheer and the
starts to rise we all cheer and the
starts to rise we all cheer and the balloon goes up and up and we’re
balloon goes up and up and we’re
balloon goes up and up and we’re watching and then it slowly descends
watching and then it slowly descends
watching and then it slowly descends back to earth
back to earth
back to earth well I looked at the kids and their
well I looked at the kids and their
well I looked at the kids and their shoulders did droop a bit but they
shoulders did droop a bit but they
shoulders did droop a bit but they looked at it and quickly figured out
looked at it and quickly figured out
looked at it and quickly figured out we’ve got to get some of the weight off
we’ve got to get some of the weight off
we’ve got to get some of the weight off of this balloon and so they set about
of this balloon and so they set about
of this balloon and so they set about ditching parts of the apparatus and once
ditching parts of the apparatus and once
ditching parts of the apparatus and once again they had it ready to go and we
again they had it ready to go and we
again they had it ready to go and we were standing around and the balloons
were standing around and the balloons
were standing around and the balloons started up and up and out into space it
started up and up and out into space it
started up and up and out into space it went and we finally breathed a sigh of
went and we finally breathed a sigh of
went and we finally breathed a sigh of relief and cheered well the kids of
relief and cheered well the kids of
relief and cheered well the kids of course had their tracking devices and at
course had their tracking devices and at
course had their tracking devices and at some point the balloon went so far away
some point the balloon went so far away
some point the balloon went so far away they couldn’t track it anymore
they couldn’t track it anymore
they couldn’t track it anymore so they went through the weekend and
so they went through the weekend and
so they went through the weekend and they started the week and they hadn’t
they started the week and they hadn’t
they started the week and they hadn’t heard anything from their balloon and
heard anything from their balloon and
heard anything from their balloon and they were starting to get really worried
they were starting to get really worried
they were starting to get really worried that they had lost the balloon and maybe
that they had lost the balloon and maybe
that they had lost the balloon and maybe all of that year’s work but then midweek
all of that year’s work but then midweek
all of that year’s work but then midweek I’m in central office and we get a phone
I’m in central office and we get a phone
I’m in central office and we get a phone call and it’s the kids their app had
call and it’s the kids their app had
call and it’s the kids their app had alerted them that the balloon had landed
alerted them that the balloon had landed
alerted them that the balloon had landed and so we cheered our rocket kids got
and so we cheered our rocket kids got
and so we cheered our rocket kids got into the cars with her parents and with
into the cars with her parents and with
into the cars with her parents and with her teacher and took off they went all
her teacher and took off they went all
her teacher and took off they went all the way to the other side of Lake Hannah
the way to the other side of Lake Hannah
the way to the other side of Lake Hannah until they found where the balloon had
until they found where the balloon had
until they found where the balloon had landed and it appeared to be on a farm
landed and it appeared to be on a farm
landed and it appeared to be on a farm and right on the gate there was a sign
and right on the gate there was a sign
and right on the gate there was a sign that said no trespassing
that said no trespassing
that said no trespassing so the kids had to quickly figure out
so the kids had to quickly figure out
so the kids had to quickly figure out how do we find the farmer and get
how do we find the farmer and get
how do we find the farmer and get permission which they did and so they
permission which they did and so they
permission which they did and so they got into the farm they recovered their
got into the farm they recovered their
got into the farm they recovered their balloon and the apparatus mission
balloon and the apparatus mission
balloon and the apparatus mission accomplished
accomplished
accomplished this was what was on their GoPro camera
this was what was on their GoPro camera
this was what was on their GoPro camera their balloon had indeed gone to the
their balloon had indeed gone to the
their balloon had indeed gone to the edges of the atmosphere mission
edges of the atmosphere mission
edges of the atmosphere mission accomplished
accomplished
accomplished so here they are
what I like to think about though is
what I like to think about though is that these kids and accomplishing that
that these kids and accomplishing that
that these kids and accomplishing that mission started out with the power of
mission started out with the power of
mission started out with the power of one times two and ended up having
one times two and ended up having
one times two and ended up having tremendous influence over an entire
tremendous influence over an entire
tremendous influence over an entire school community and now we have kids in
school community and now we have kids in
school community and now we have kids in some other schools that are saying I
some other schools that are saying I
some other schools that are saying I want to do that too
want to do that too
want to do that too so as superintendent I have to tell you
so as superintendent I have to tell you
so as superintendent I have to tell you that there’s nothing that’s more
that there’s nothing that’s more
that there’s nothing that’s more important to me than thinking about what
important to me than thinking about what
important to me than thinking about what if we could have that kind of passion in
if we could have that kind of passion in
if we could have that kind of passion in all of our young people all of our
all of our young people all of our
all of our young people all of our children because here’s what I’ve
children because here’s what I’ve
children because here’s what I’ve learned that when our kids get pathways
learned that when our kids get pathways
learned that when our kids get pathways to their hopes and dreams when they get
to their hopes and dreams when they get
to their hopes and dreams when they get to pursue their interest and their
to pursue their interest and their
to pursue their interest and their passions when they get a lot of choices
passions when they get a lot of choices
passions when they get a lot of choices about the things that they get to do all
about the things that they get to do all
about the things that they get to do all of a sudden we find that we’ve got kids
of a sudden we find that we’ve got kids
of a sudden we find that we’ve got kids that are really exercising a sense of
that are really exercising a sense of
that are really exercising a sense of that their voice matters that they have
that their voice matters that they have
that their voice matters that they have agency over their own learning and if
agency over their own learning and if
agency over their own learning and if they can have influence beyond just
they can have influence beyond just
they can have influence beyond just their classroom and that’s what these
their classroom and that’s what these
their classroom and that’s what these kids did so I’d love to be able to share
kids did so I’d love to be able to share
kids did so I’d love to be able to share with you the story of some of our other
with you the story of some of our other
with you the story of some of our other what I call now our power of one student
what I call now our power of one student
what I call now our power of one student leaders that are doing similar kinds of
leaders that are doing similar kinds of
leaders that are doing similar kinds of things as we move forward
things as we move forward
things as we move forward so here’s Julian I discovered Julian a
so here’s Julian I discovered Julian a
so here’s Julian I discovered Julian a little over a year ago because he was
little over a year ago because he was
little over a year ago because he was working in a brand new makerspace in one
working in a brand new makerspace in one
working in a brand new makerspace in one of our libraries and I walked him I
of our libraries and I walked him I
of our libraries and I walked him I started talking to Julian and he was
started talking to Julian and he was
started talking to Julian and he was like this is fabulous he had always
like this is fabulous he had always
like this is fabulous he had always loved drones and now he had a place
loved drones and now he had a place
loved drones and now he had a place where he could build drones at school
where he could build drones at school
where he could build drones at school and he said really all you need is a
and he said really all you need is a
and he said really all you need is a little bit of duct tape we learned that
little bit of duct tape we learned that
little bit of duct tape we learned that from the Apollo up mission some phone
from the Apollo up mission some phone
from the Apollo up mission some phone board and a few devices that help you be
board and a few devices that help you be
board and a few devices that help you be able to construct your drone and get it
able to construct your drone and get it
able to construct your drone and get it up into the air and control it so he’d
up into the air and control it so he’d
up into the air and control it so he’d been building drones in this makerspace
been building drones in this makerspace
been building drones in this makerspace and he said to me that he and his
and he said to me that he and his
and he said to me that he and his principal had been talking about how he
principal had been talking about how he
principal had been talking about how he was feeling a little lonely and he
was feeling a little lonely and he
was feeling a little lonely and he wanted to find out if there were other
wanted to find out if there were other
wanted to find out if there were other kids that might have an interest because
kids that might have an interest because
kids that might have an interest because I will actually have a drone curriculum
I will actually have a drone curriculum
I will actually have a drone curriculum but here’s what he did he took his
but here’s what he did he took his
but here’s what he did he took his drones into the cafeteria at his high
drones into the cafeteria at his high
drones into the cafeteria at his high school one day during lunch and he put
school one day during lunch and he put
school one day during lunch and he put them out and all of a sudden he had
them out and all of a sudden he had
them out and all of a sudden he had all kinds of kids coming over and
all kinds of kids coming over and
all kinds of kids coming over and expressing interest in drones the next
expressing interest in drones the next
expressing interest in drones the next thing you know he started a drone Club
thing you know he started a drone Club
thing you know he started a drone Club they’re flying drones around in the gym
they’re flying drones around in the gym
they’re flying drones around in the gym and around the school grounds and not
and around the school grounds and not
and around the school grounds and not only that but the middle school kids
only that but the middle school kids
only that but the middle school kids right next door heard about it reached
right next door heard about it reached
right next door heard about it reached out and he’s over there helping to build
out and he’s over there helping to build
out and he’s over there helping to build a drone Club at the middle school now
a drone Club at the middle school now
a drone Club at the middle school now let me tell you about Julian’s power of
let me tell you about Julian’s power of
let me tell you about Julian’s power of one he’s become a student voice in the
one he’s become a student voice in the
one he’s become a student voice in the national maker movement and actually
national maker movement and actually
national maker movement and actually gave a keynote speech last year or this
gave a keynote speech last year or this
gave a keynote speech last year or this last fall excuse me at the national
last fall excuse me at the national
last fall excuse me at the national conference for educators at the world
conference for educators at the world
conference for educators at the world Maker Faire at the New York Hall of
Maker Faire at the New York Hall of
Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science out of a whole day of speakers
Science out of a whole day of speakers
Science out of a whole day of speakers Julian is the one person the only
Julian is the one person the only
Julian is the one person the only student and the one person who got a
student and the one person who got a
student and the one person who got a standing ovation from hundreds of
standing ovation from hundreds of
standing ovation from hundreds of educators from all over the country how
educators from all over the country how
educators from all over the country how cool is that power of one
here yes with his drone Club then
here yes with his drone Club then there’s AI awadhi
there’s AI awadhi
there’s AI awadhi another one of our seniors this year who
another one of our seniors this year who
another one of our seniors this year who two years ago had an idea because she
two years ago had an idea because she
two years ago had an idea because she was concerned that middle school girls
was concerned that middle school girls
was concerned that middle school girls did not have a real understanding that
did not have a real understanding that
did not have a real understanding that engineering could be a great career nor
engineering could be a great career nor
engineering could be a great career nor did she feel like that they knew you
did she feel like that they knew you
did she feel like that they knew you could have fun doing engineering so she
could have fun doing engineering so she
could have fun doing engineering so she went to her teacher and pitched an idea
went to her teacher and pitched an idea
went to her teacher and pitched an idea and the teacher said why not within just
and the teacher said why not within just
and the teacher said why not within just a few weeks she had put together a team
a few weeks she had put together a team
a few weeks she had put together a team of other females at her high school and
of other females at her high school and
of other females at her high school and they had built out the idea of a bridge
they had built out the idea of a bridge
they had built out the idea of a bridge building camp for middle school girls
building camp for middle school girls
building camp for middle school girls they pulled girls together in the summer
they pulled girls together in the summer
they pulled girls together in the summer they got the materials they organized
they got the materials they organized
they got the materials they organized the curriculum and ended up going down
the curriculum and ended up going down
the curriculum and ended up going down along one of our walking trails and
along one of our walking trails and
along one of our walking trails and building a bridge over a small creek
building a bridge over a small creek
building a bridge over a small creek that would give access to community
that would give access to community
that would give access to community members that otherwise might not have it
members that otherwise might not have it
members that otherwise might not have it now she’s done this for two years but
now she’s done this for two years but
now she’s done this for two years but when I talked to Iowa D and I say so
when I talked to Iowa D and I say so
when I talked to Iowa D and I say so what do you learn from this experience
what do you learn from this experience
what do you learn from this experience she says well here’s what my takeaways
she says well here’s what my takeaways
she says well here’s what my takeaways are the girls learned that engineering
are the girls learned that engineering
are the girls learned that engineering is fun more importantly they learn about
is fun more importantly they learn about
is fun more importantly they learn about community service and the importance of
community service and the importance of
community service and the importance of giving back to the community and thirdly
giving back to the community and thirdly
giving back to the community and thirdly they’ve learned how to be leaders too so
they’ve learned how to be leaders too so
they’ve learned how to be leaders too so what I love is when you see a leader
what I love is when you see a leader
what I love is when you see a leader like Iowa D it’s not just her but it’s
like Iowa D it’s not just her but it’s
like Iowa D it’s not just her but it’s the influence that she has with other
the influence that she has with other
the influence that she has with other people in her community and there she
people in her community and there she
people in her community and there she has been the bridge building girls now
I also want to share with you the story
I also want to share with you the story of Kourtney and Kourtney is between
of Kourtney and Kourtney is between
of Kourtney and Kourtney is between Josiah in his orange shirt and Obed in
Josiah in his orange shirt and Obed in
Josiah in his orange shirt and Obed in his blue shirt and Kourtney is an
his blue shirt and Kourtney is an
his blue shirt and Kourtney is an actress she’s a dancer she’s a
actress she’s a dancer she’s a
actress she’s a dancer she’s a choreographer but she’s also a
choreographer but she’s also a
choreographer but she’s also a scriptwriter
scriptwriter
scriptwriter and this past fall Courtney’s peers
and this past fall Courtney’s peers
and this past fall Courtney’s peers built from her script up one-act play
built from her script up one-act play
built from her script up one-act play that they took to a state competition
that they took to a state competition
that they took to a state competition and ended up being one of the six best
and ended up being one of the six best
and ended up being one of the six best one-act plays in the state of Virginia
one-act plays in the state of Virginia
one-act plays in the state of Virginia here’s what’s really important though
here’s what’s really important though
here’s what’s really important though you might say well what makes Courtney
you might say well what makes Courtney
you might say well what makes Courtney unique Courtney believes that drama is a
unique Courtney believes that drama is a
unique Courtney believes that drama is a pathway to teaching communities about
pathway to teaching communities about
pathway to teaching communities about social issues and engaging them in
social issues and engaging them in
social issues and engaging them in dialogue so her one-act play was taken
dialogue so her one-act play was taken
dialogue so her one-act play was taken from a speech by Congressman and civil
from a speech by Congressman and civil
from a speech by Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis and it was
rights leader John Lewis and it was
rights leader John Lewis and it was called necessary trouble and it was
called necessary trouble and it was
called necessary trouble and it was built around civil rights issues that
built around civil rights issues that
built around civil rights issues that can play out in classrooms in our
can play out in classrooms in our
can play out in classrooms in our schools as an effort to get kids engaged
schools as an effort to get kids engaged
schools as an effort to get kids engaged in dialogue not only did she perform it
in dialogue not only did she perform it
in dialogue not only did she perform it for her community and for the state and
for her community and for the state and
for her community and for the state and now here there’s a high school in
now here there’s a high school in
now here there’s a high school in Arizona that’s interested in performing
Arizona that’s interested in performing
Arizona that’s interested in performing her script and that’s there’s her her
her script and that’s there’s her her
her script and that’s there’s her her gathering and then lastly I want to tell
gathering and then lastly I want to tell
gathering and then lastly I want to tell you a little bit about Josh josh is a
you a little bit about Josh josh is a
you a little bit about Josh josh is a student that landed in a new program we
student that landed in a new program we
student that landed in a new program we have in our high schools called the
have in our high schools called the
have in our high schools called the teams program and Josh is self-described
teams program and Josh is self-described
teams program and Josh is self-described as a kid who’s been living in foster
as a kid who’s been living in foster
as a kid who’s been living in foster care has had real struggles in school
care has had real struggles in school
care has had real struggles in school both the behavior and academics and also
both the behavior and academics and also
both the behavior and academics and also has been somebody that’s moved around a
has been somebody that’s moved around a
has been somebody that’s moved around a lot from school to school and all of a
lot from school to school and all of a
lot from school to school and all of a sudden you’re seeing Josh standing on
sudden you’re seeing Josh standing on
sudden you’re seeing Josh standing on the stage right where our presidents
the stage right where our presidents
the stage right where our presidents stand to give a keynote address at the
stand to give a keynote address at the
stand to give a keynote address at the White House so you might ask well how
White House so you might ask well how
White House so you might ask well how did Josh get to the White House Josh was
did Josh get to the White House Josh was
did Josh get to the White House Josh was sitting in a group of our students who
sitting in a group of our students who
sitting in a group of our students who were working with a national student
were working with a national student
were working with a national student leader of a group called student voice a
leader of a group called student voice a
leader of a group called student voice a student from a university in North
student from a university in North
student from a university in North Carolina and he was talking about what
Carolina and he was talking about what
Carolina and he was talking about what high school transformation meant to him
high school transformation meant to him
high school transformation meant to him a few weeks later we get a call from
a few weeks later we get a call from
a few weeks later we get a call from this student leader who said I’m part of
this student leader who said I’m part of
this student leader who said I’m part of a planning team at the White House and
a planning team at the White House and
a planning team at the White House and there was this young guy now he’s a
there was this young guy now he’s a
there was this young guy now he’s a ninth grader at this time
ninth grader at this time
ninth grader at this time I’m a young guy whose voice was so
I’m a young guy whose voice was so
I’m a young guy whose voice was so powerful we think he needs to come to
powerful we think he needs to come to
powerful we think he needs to come to the White House and be one of our
the White House and be one of our
the White House and be one of our keynote speakers
keynote speakers
keynote speakers and Josh was at the White House this
and Josh was at the White House this
and Josh was at the White House this fall
fall
fall talking to economic political and
talking to economic political and
talking to economic political and educational leaders from all over the
educational leaders from all over the
educational leaders from all over the country about what he believes high
country about what he believes high
country about what he believes high schools should be for contemporary
schools should be for contemporary
schools should be for contemporary learners another power of one leader
learners another power of one leader
learners another power of one leader influencing here and well beyond so as I
influencing here and well beyond so as I
influencing here and well beyond so as I end I want to tell you these stories
end I want to tell you these stories
end I want to tell you these stories don’t happen by chance they happen
don’t happen by chance they happen
don’t happen by chance they happen because of educators who see a future
because of educators who see a future
because of educators who see a future adjacent to the possibilities of what we
adjacent to the possibilities of what we
adjacent to the possibilities of what we can build in schools today Courtney Josh
can build in schools today Courtney Josh
can build in schools today Courtney Josh Julian the balloon kids I awadhi
Julian the balloon kids I awadhi
Julian the balloon kids I awadhi represent all the kids in our schools in
represent all the kids in our schools in
represent all the kids in our schools in Charlottesville and Albemarle all the
Charlottesville and Albemarle all the
Charlottesville and Albemarle all the state in the nation
state in the nation
state in the nation we’ve got poets and artists we’ve got
we’ve got poets and artists we’ve got
we’ve got poets and artists we’ve got engineers and designers and nurses and
engineers and designers and nurses and
engineers and designers and nurses and doctors and lawyers and I like to think
doctors and lawyers and I like to think
doctors and lawyers and I like to think a few teachers and principals and maybe
a few teachers and principals and maybe
a few teachers and principals and maybe even a superintendent out there and
even a superintendent out there and
even a superintendent out there and those kids grow and develop when we are
those kids grow and develop when we are
those kids grow and develop when we are able to give them opportunities to see
able to give them opportunities to see
able to give them opportunities to see themselves as leaders in their schools
themselves as leaders in their schools
themselves as leaders in their schools able to influence our community and able
able to influence our community and able
able to influence our community and able to have their voices be seen as
to have their voices be seen as
to have their voices be seen as important to them and others and when
important to them and others and when
important to them and others and when they do that we’re educating them for
they do that we’re educating them for
they do that we’re educating them for life not for school and they’re moving
life not for school and they’re moving
life not for school and they’re moving from being power of one leaders in their
from being power of one leaders in their
from being power of one leaders in their schools to being power ful leaders of
schools to being power ful leaders of
schools to being power ful leaders of the world in their future and I would
the world in their future and I would
the world in their future and I would just end by saying this when we unleash
just end by saying this when we unleash
just end by saying this when we unleash the potential of our young people
the potential of our young people
the potential of our young people allowing them to build their learning
allowing them to build their learning
allowing them to build their learning through a sense of agency and to find
through a sense of agency and to find
through a sense of agency and to find their powerful leadership voices through
their powerful leadership voices through
their powerful leadership voices through experiences that plumb their passion the
experiences that plumb their passion the
experiences that plumb their passion the sky is no longer the limit and we start
sky is no longer the limit and we start
sky is no longer the limit and we start to see the potential beyond the sky I’d
to see the potential beyond the sky I’d
to see the potential beyond the sky I’d like for you to think about this imagine
like for you to think about this imagine
like for you to think about this imagine that in all of our schools thank you
that in all of our schools thank you
that in all of our schools thank you [Applause]
”
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