when I was in first grade I wrote a story about a brown bear went on a big
story about a brown bear went on a big
story about a brown bear went on a big journey when my teacher gave me back the
journey when my teacher gave me back the
journey when my teacher gave me back the paper it said right across the top you
paper it said right across the top you
paper it said right across the top you are a writer I have considered myself a
are a writer I have considered myself a
are a writer I have considered myself a writer ever since teachers have the
writer ever since teachers have the
writer ever since teachers have the power to make us believe in ourselves
power to make us believe in ourselves
power to make us believe in ourselves fortunately for generations of students
fortunately for generations of students
fortunately for generations of students mrs. Knight stayed in the classroom
mrs. Knight stayed in the classroom
mrs. Knight stayed in the classroom research has shown us of his teachers
research has shown us of his teachers
research has shown us of his teachers that have the largest impact of any
that have the largest impact of any
that have the largest impact of any school based factor on student
school based factor on student
school based factor on student achievement unfortunately if a teacher
achievement unfortunately if a teacher
achievement unfortunately if a teacher wants to take on leadership the pathway
wants to take on leadership the pathway
wants to take on leadership the pathway we have open to us is to leave our
we have open to us is to leave our
we have open to us is to leave our classrooms and go into administration we
classrooms and go into administration we
classrooms and go into administration we need a teacher leadership pathway that
need a teacher leadership pathway that
need a teacher leadership pathway that will allow teachers to stay in the
will allow teachers to stay in the
will allow teachers to stay in the classroom while continuing to influence
classroom while continuing to influence
classroom while continuing to influence system-wide changes when I was younger
system-wide changes when I was younger
system-wide changes when I was younger my dad always said to me if you want to
my dad always said to me if you want to
my dad always said to me if you want to soar with the Eagles you can’t flock
soar with the Eagles you can’t flock
soar with the Eagles you can’t flock with the crows when he thought I needed
with the crows when he thought I needed
with the crows when he thought I needed to be better tomorrow than I was today
to be better tomorrow than I was today
to be better tomorrow than I was today so after about eight years of teaching I
so after about eight years of teaching I
so after about eight years of teaching I went back to school and I got my
went back to school and I got my
went back to school and I got my master’s degree in curriculum and
master’s degree in curriculum and
master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and I looked around to see
instruction and I looked around to see
instruction and I looked around to see how I could now be a part of improving
how I could now be a part of improving
how I could now be a part of improving my school system and discovered that I
my school system and discovered that I
my school system and discovered that I would need to go back and get an
would need to go back and get an
would need to go back and get an administrator certificate if I wanted to
administrator certificate if I wanted to
administrator certificate if I wanted to do that so back I went and I got that
do that so back I went and I got that
do that so back I went and I got that administrator certificate and a job came
administrator certificate and a job came
administrator certificate and a job came up a couple years later and I applied
up a couple years later and I applied
up a couple years later and I applied and I didn’t get it so I waited a year
and I didn’t get it so I waited a year
and I didn’t get it so I waited a year or so and I applied again and I still
or so and I applied again and I still
or so and I applied again and I still didn’t get it and I was a little upset
didn’t get it and I was a little upset
didn’t get it and I was a little upset by this point and I talked to my
by this point and I talked to my
by this point and I talked to my principal and my superintendent and they
principal and my superintendent and they
principal and my superintendent and they told me it wasn’t that they didn’t think
told me it wasn’t that they didn’t think
told me it wasn’t that they didn’t think I could do the job they just really
I could do the job they just really
I could do the job they just really didn’t think I’d like the job and they
didn’t think I’d like the job and they
didn’t think I’d like the job and they didn’t want to lose me out of the
didn’t want to lose me out of the
didn’t want to lose me out of the classroom I was flattered but what did I
classroom I was flattered but what did I
classroom I was flattered but what did I do with my ambition what did I do with
do with my ambition what did I do with
do with my ambition what did I do with my desire to lead so I looked around the
my desire to lead so I looked around the
my desire to lead so I looked around the educational landscape and I found three
educational landscape and I found three
educational landscape and I found three philanthropic organizations that were
philanthropic organizations that were
philanthropic organizations that were focused on improving public education
focused on improving public education
focused on improving public education which is my passion so for the last five
which is my passion so for the last five
which is my passion so for the last five years I’ve
years I’ve
years I’ve with other teachers from around the
with other teachers from around the
with other teachers from around the country to bring our classroom
country to bring our classroom
country to bring our classroom experience and knowledge to research and
experience and knowledge to research and
experience and knowledge to research and to policy discussions additionally my
to policy discussions additionally my
to policy discussions additionally my district recognized that I was serious
district recognized that I was serious
district recognized that I was serious and gave me opportunities to lead from
and gave me opportunities to lead from
and gave me opportunities to lead from my classroom by letting me help roll out
my classroom by letting me help roll out
my classroom by letting me help roll out a technology issue initiative and giving
a technology issue initiative and giving
a technology issue initiative and giving me the chance to work with teachers on
me the chance to work with teachers on
me the chance to work with teachers on learning how to do blended learning
learning how to do blended learning
learning how to do blended learning they’ve supported me and allowed me to
they’ve supported me and allowed me to
they’ve supported me and allowed me to be parts of national and state cohorts
be parts of national and state cohorts
be parts of national and state cohorts and unfortunately that’s not always the
and unfortunately that’s not always the
and unfortunately that’s not always the case
case
case I became a teacher because I believe
I became a teacher because I believe
I became a teacher because I believe that key to achieving the American Dream
that key to achieving the American Dream
that key to achieving the American Dream is a free high quality public education
is a free high quality public education
is a free high quality public education I know this because it’s my family story
I know this because it’s my family story
I know this because it’s my family story my dad is the ninth of twelve kids who
my dad is the ninth of twelve kids who
my dad is the ninth of twelve kids who grew up on Womble Mountain in southern
grew up on Womble Mountain in southern
grew up on Womble Mountain in southern Illinois Illinois is in the middle of
Illinois Illinois is in the middle of
Illinois Illinois is in the middle of the country he was very poor by material
the country he was very poor by material
the country he was very poor by material standards but very rich in a confidence
standards but very rich in a confidence
standards but very rich in a confidence that he could be successful you see my
that he could be successful you see my
that he could be successful you see my grandmother instilled in all of her
grandmother instilled in all of her
grandmother instilled in all of her children a belief that education and
children a belief that education and
children a belief that education and hard work could lead to a successful
hard work could lead to a successful
hard work could lead to a successful life they interned instilled it in their
life they interned instilled it in their
life they interned instilled it in their children and there are at least 20 of us
children and there are at least 20 of us
children and there are at least 20 of us who are educators today but not every
who are educators today but not every
who are educators today but not every child has the opportunity for the
child has the opportunity for the
child has the opportunity for the high-quality education my father was
high-quality education my father was
high-quality education my father was able to get that must change my dad
able to get that must change my dad
able to get that must change my dad started school in a one-room schoolhouse
started school in a one-room schoolhouse
started school in a one-room schoolhouse on the side of that mountain the kids
on the side of that mountain the kids
on the side of that mountain the kids would come down from the various other
would come down from the various other
would come down from the various other farms my aunt was a teacher I think it
farms my aunt was a teacher I think it
farms my aunt was a teacher I think it was the first competency-based education
was the first competency-based education
was the first competency-based education because he learned something and they
because he learned something and they
because he learned something and they moved him on when he got old enough he
moved him on when he got old enough he
moved him on when he got old enough he went into town and again a supported
went into town and again a supported
went into town and again a supported school graduated went to a State College
school graduated went to a State College
school graduated went to a State College became a successful businessman every
became a successful businessman every
became a successful businessman every child should have the opportunity
child should have the opportunity
child should have the opportunity to do what he did to go from a one-room
to do what he did to go from a one-room
to do what he did to go from a one-room schoolhouse to retiring as the CEO of an
schoolhouse to retiring as the CEO of an
schoolhouse to retiring as the CEO of an international company success means that
international company success means that
international company success means that we are able to take what we know and
we are able to take what we know and
we are able to take what we know and share it we don’t allow our classroom
share it we don’t allow our classroom
share it we don’t allow our classroom teachers into our policy discussions and
teachers into our policy discussions and
teachers into our policy discussions and they’re the ones that know they’re the
they’re the ones that know they’re the
they’re the ones that know they’re the ones that have the day-to-day
ones that have the day-to-day
ones that have the day-to-day experiences that we can bring to those
experiences that we can bring to those
experiences that we can bring to those discussions to help fix what’s not
discussions to help fix what’s not
discussions to help fix what’s not working sometimes teachers go ahead and
working sometimes teachers go ahead and
working sometimes teachers go ahead and find a way themselves dr. Anna Baldwin
find a way themselves dr. Anna Baldwin
find a way themselves dr. Anna Baldwin is a teacher on the Flathead reservation
is a teacher on the Flathead reservation
is a teacher on the Flathead reservation in Montana which is in the western
in Montana which is in the western
in Montana which is in the western United States as the 2014 Montana State
United States as the 2014 Montana State
United States as the 2014 Montana State Teacher of the Year and a teacher
Teacher of the Year and a teacher
Teacher of the Year and a teacher ambassador fellow at the United States
ambassador fellow at the United States
ambassador fellow at the United States Department of Education dr. Baldwin
Department of Education dr. Baldwin
Department of Education dr. Baldwin worked with other teachers to bring her
worked with other teachers to bring her
worked with other teachers to bring her experiences from a reservation school to
experiences from a reservation school to
experiences from a reservation school to national education policy discussions
national education policy discussions
national education policy discussions she also has convinced her district to
she also has convinced her district to
she also has convinced her district to let her work as a English teacher half
let her work as a English teacher half
let her work as a English teacher half her time and write grants the other half
her time and write grants the other half
her time and write grants the other half of the time that matters because her
of the time that matters because her
of the time that matters because her grants now include the needs of students
grants now include the needs of students
grants now include the needs of students and teachers as she sees them from the
and teachers as she sees them from the
and teachers as she sees them from the classroom she’s also able to bring in
classroom she’s also able to bring in
classroom she’s also able to bring in grants because she knows what
grants because she knows what
grants because she knows what initiatives teachers have in mind they
initiatives teachers have in mind they
initiatives teachers have in mind they talked to her she also used her national
talked to her she also used her national
talked to her she also used her national contacts to create a diversity
contacts to create a diversity
contacts to create a diversity conference right there on her campus it
conference right there on her campus it
conference right there on her campus it started with a video message from former
started with a video message from former
started with a video message from former Secretary of Education John King and
Secretary of Education John King and
Secretary of Education John King and then had sessions about cultures from
then had sessions about cultures from
then had sessions about cultures from around the world she opened up new
around the world she opened up new
around the world she opened up new avenues for her students because of her
avenues for her students because of her
avenues for her students because of her work outside of the classroom in
work outside of the classroom in
work outside of the classroom in Delaware we have in Delaware is in the
Delaware we have in Delaware is in the
Delaware we have in Delaware is in the mid-atlantic region between New York and
mid-atlantic region between New York and
mid-atlantic region between New York and Washington DC got to get that in there
Washington DC got to get that in there
Washington DC got to get that in there we have two gentlemen right Culver and
we have two gentlemen right Culver and
we have two gentlemen right Culver and Justin comedy’s who have become known as
Justin comedy’s who have become known as
Justin comedy’s who have become known as two guys who kind of know what they’re
two guys who kind of know what they’re
two guys who kind of know what they’re doing they’ve been on this journey with
doing they’ve been on this journey with
doing they’ve been on this journey with us that to learn about instructional
us that to learn about instructional
us that to learn about instructional technologies
technologies
technologies they liked what was happening in their
they liked what was happening in their
they liked what was happening in their classrooms so together they created a
classrooms so together they created a
classrooms so together they created a blog and a YouTube channel and they make
blog and a YouTube channel and they make
blog and a YouTube channel and they make videos to share pedagogy instructional
videos to share pedagogy instructional
videos to share pedagogy instructional strategies and motivation with other
strategies and motivation with other
strategies and motivation with other teachers they now have followers in the
teachers they now have followers in the
teachers they now have followers in the thousands they not only are influencing
thousands they not only are influencing
thousands they not only are influencing the teachers in their district but
the teachers in their district but
the teachers in their district but teachers across the country maybe even
teachers across the country maybe even
teachers across the country maybe even the world I know that when I’m having a
the world I know that when I’m having a
the world I know that when I’m having a bad day and teachers have those I
bad day and teachers have those I
bad day and teachers have those I sometimes will watch this video they
sometimes will watch this video they
sometimes will watch this video they made teachers are superheroes and you
made teachers are superheroes and you
made teachers are superheroes and you got to do the whole superhero thing once
got to do the whole superhero thing once
got to do the whole superhero thing once I watched that and I have that two
I watched that and I have that two
I watched that and I have that two minutes I’m enthusiastic I got a smile
minutes I’m enthusiastic I got a smile
minutes I’m enthusiastic I got a smile on my face and I’m ready to go with the
on my face and I’m ready to go with the
on my face and I’m ready to go with the next group of kids they remind me why I
next group of kids they remind me why I
next group of kids they remind me why I love my job
love my job
love my job taking voices like these and adding them
taking voices like these and adding them
taking voices like these and adding them to the policy discussions will change
to the policy discussions will change
to the policy discussions will change things I know it will we have ideas in
things I know it will we have ideas in
things I know it will we have ideas in our classrooms that no one ever hears so
our classrooms that no one ever hears so
our classrooms that no one ever hears so if there’s a policy discussion happening
if there’s a policy discussion happening
if there’s a policy discussion happening and there are no teachers in the room it
and there are no teachers in the room it
and there are no teachers in the room it needs to stop till they get there we get
needs to stop till they get there we get
needs to stop till they get there we get out of school about 3:30 when I was
out of school about 3:30 when I was
out of school about 3:30 when I was getting ready to do this talk I shared
getting ready to do this talk I shared
getting ready to do this talk I shared my what I was doing with my students I
my what I was doing with my students I
my what I was doing with my students I always like to learn alongside with them
always like to learn alongside with them
always like to learn alongside with them and I got their feedback and I said you
and I got their feedback and I said you
and I got their feedback and I said you know well after they counted my arms and
know well after they counted my arms and
know well after they counted my arms and gave me a circle to stand in I asked him
gave me a circle to stand in I asked him
gave me a circle to stand in I asked him I don’t want how to end this and they
I don’t want how to end this and they
I don’t want how to end this and they kind of laughed at me and they said tell
kind of laughed at me and they said tell
kind of laughed at me and they said tell them why you’re so passionate you tell
them why you’re so passionate you tell
them why you’re so passionate you tell us all the time I said okay I will I’m
us all the time I said okay I will I’m
us all the time I said okay I will I’m passionate about teacher leaders because
passionate about teacher leaders because
passionate about teacher leaders because I know it’ll work I know that every
I know it’ll work I know that every
I know it’ll work I know that every student in every ZIP code in every
student in every ZIP code in every
student in every ZIP code in every public school across this country
public school across this country
public school across this country deserves a high-quality education
deserves a high-quality education
deserves a high-quality education tomorrow and the key to making that
tomorrow and the key to making that
tomorrow and the key to making that happen it’s already there it’s right
happen it’s already there it’s right
happen it’s already there it’s right inside those classrooms all we have to
inside those classrooms all we have to
inside those classrooms all we have to do is create an expectation that
do is create an expectation that
do is create an expectation that teachers will be able to lead from the
teachers will be able to lead from the
teachers will be able to lead from the classrooms without leaving their
classrooms without leaving their
classrooms without leaving their students
students
students thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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