Life, times, libraries - all during a Pandemic. Above all, remember to pause

Testing, testing, 1,2,3, is this thing on?

So I'm not a "consistent" blogger by any means. More often that not, I write when the mood strikes, or I feel I need a post that is longer than 240 characters, or a Facebook post. So with that being said, the title sums this up.

I've not been on here for 3 years, and if you look at my last post, it was about the loss of a beloved family pet. So it seems that maybe life events bring out my inner writer? Who knows, regardless, this last week, actually this last month has been eye opening, and more often than not it has given me pause. So let me share some thoughts, and what I'm choosing to take with me from all of this:

There will be heroes:
This is evident. I'm not talking the comic book variety, but rather the ordinary, every day folks that during the time of crisis do one thing, and that is "show up". If you take pause, and look around, you'll see them. The ones that come to mind right now:

Anyone who works in a grocery store, custodians, a doctor's office, or other business, facility, or service that we take for granted. They "show up" because the society at large needs them, or more like we rely on them. When this is all said and done, when the crisis has passed (and I truly believe that day will come) they will continue to "show up", their heroic deeds dismissed as life moves on.

So the next time you're out, be it at a doctor's office, a grocery store, or your favorite local "haunt" that kept the doors open during this time of crisis, take pause, and look at the hero, or heroes, that stand before you. Tell them thank you, leave a tip if you're able, or simply acknowledge that they were great in a time where it was difficult to do so.

There will be villains:
In "The Killing Joke" one of the penultimate tales of Batman, the author Alan Moore spins one of the most epic of Batman stories since the character's creation, and that altered the course of Batman for years to come. If you've not read it do, but know that it is at times gut wrenching. In one of the scenes in the story, Batman's nemesis, the Joker, says:

"All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day."

Now don't get me wrong, the Joker by definition is an EXTREME example, but hang with me here for a second.

During these times it is easy to vilify people. Politicians, leaders, media, the irresponsible, those who "hoard" things, and too many others to name, identify. As you read this I guarantee some one came to mind, whether it is someone you know, or someone you saw doing an unspeakable act. Here is where I tell you again, take pause.

While there are truly "bad" people in the world, most of these people may have been victims of "one bad day" as the Joker tells Batman. These times are draining on people. For as much of a "connected" society as we've become, in some ways there is just as much disconnect, and we have only ourselves to blame. Worry is as commonplace as hope, and let's face it, we don't know everyone's story. The best stories often rely upon or yield some of the best/worst villains. But keep in mind, as the Joker says, sometimes all it takes is "one bad day" and let's face it, those as of late, have been pretty commonplace.

Look for the bright spots, practice grace:
So with all of this in mind, I believe these to be the most important thing right now. I've tried to talk about this a lot with people that I see, my daughter especially. None of our situations are ideal right now. We are creatures of habit, routine, and our lives often revolve around these things. When things are NOT routine, we get out of sorts, our lives become difficult, and it is only amplified when the situations that cause these things are out of our control. So again, during these times, I tell you again, take pause, and look around.

During all of this, I have been witness to some truly AMAZING things. I've seen co-workers "show up" and ask "where do we begin" rather than complain. For a frame of reference, for those that don't know me I work in education, so it's been a rough few days. But with all of that, the amount that we have accomplished has been remarkable! We all readily acknowledge that education as we know it will not be the same when this is all said and done. But what will come of it, I'm hopeful, I am optimistic, and I am IN AWE of ALL of my colleagues at this point. And I knew it was on the right track when our Board president closed one of our more recent meetings with idea that we should "throw grace like candy", a favorite saying of hers in recent times.

I've seen more people in parks, enjoying nature, not a screen in sight. I've seen people curled up with books, enjoying the open air. I've seen children and their parents connecting "old school" with the re-institution of "family game night" and "family read night" or "family movie night". A colleague of mine once told me that he believed one of the downfalls of society as of late was the lack of a "family" meal time, and gathering around the dining room table. In fact he came to this realization when he was house shopping, when he notice there wasn't a dining room. "We're all too busy!" he said! I chuckle as I realize that this time has made a triumphant return, and we have a pandemic to thank. It's odd don't you think? But then again, crisis brings us together, and forces us to focus on what is important.

Just this morning, as I was in the grocery store, I saw many a weary face as shelves were being re-stocked. But you know what else I saw? I saw people helping people. These same weary faces were just as happy to help someone find something, answer a question or three, check inventory. Or in my case get something off of a top shelf. (I know I know, the tall guy couldn't get something off the top shelf. THE STRUGGLE WAS REAL).

Yet here was this employee, who happily found a ladder, and saved the day. Heroic tendencies I tell you. I saw a checker having conversations with people in line, just checking in on them. People putting things BACK on the shelf, when they realized that if they took too many, the shelf would once again be depleted.

I ran into two colleagues that both greeted me with smiles and warm conversations, all of us silently acknowledging the week we'd had, and how we were thankful for a minute to breathe. One of those same colleagues gave me some fantastic news, so again, a bright spot, that lets me know we're on the right track, and that our libraries will do what we do, serve our students, to the best of our ability. More on that later....

Seek out the hope:
And now, let's talk about hope, because it too is important. More people are "checking in" on each other. Businesses and services are changing what they do to keep the lights on to support themselves, their employees, and giving a society way past the point of "cabin fever" opportunities to break up the new norms. SHOP LOCAL people, it matters! (Sorry, just had to say it).

I see people innovating ALL OVER THE PLACE, from churches (thinking of the "drive-in" church) I read about this morning, schools, making sure that the folks they serve are engaged and taken care of. Case in point, my district served over 5,000 meals this week. If that doesn't SCREAM hope, I don't know what does.

And if you've not been on social media lately (don't laugh) rather than be bombarded by all of the negativity and breaking news, seek out the hope. Readings from authors, the performances by artists, comedians, etc. Museums and their virtual tours, thousands of ebooks and other materials being made available. Or my favorites, the neighborhoods that are conducting symphonies from their balconies, other neighborhoods coordinating "group" exercises/workouts from the safety of their own lawns, or the messages of hope and inspirations being left on windows via dry erase markers. Again, INNOVATION.

Hope is the spark that lights the flame, so says General Leia Organa, (but she'll always be royal to me). Do what you can to fan that flame folks. Check in on one another, seek the opportunities where they are, connect or gather (albeit responsibly, social distancing y'all, it WORKS) with others, practice grace, and above all take pause.

It is easy to get bogged down in all of this. But there are bright spots if you look. And all it really takes, is a brief pause to do so.

Stay safe everyone, take care of each other, and do what you can, when you can. We're all in this, together.

The life and times of a family pet (abridged)

In any family where pets are members, there is a day that everyone dreads. I don't even really feel I need to say what that day is, but when you introduce a pet into your home, you know that inevitably that they are going to leave you.

Today is that day in my house. At the end of the day today I'm going to pack up our beloved KitKat (yes, I have a dog named KitKat) and take her to the vet to ease her into that "good night" to borrow a line from poetry.

After a long heartfelt discussion with our daughter on the reasons why, it's hard not to reminisce. The good times, the bad times, the downright hilarious times. And when one reminisces, it always amazes me what comes to mind. My wife would tell you that I can be a truly random person, and that's okay, it is just the way my mind works. As we finished discussing why we made the decision, I started thinking to myself, oddly enough, about numbers, which brought this song to mind:

Seasons of Love - Rent

The first time I heard this song was thanks to a Music Ed major friend of mine (I'm betting she's reading this and grinning) who instilled in me a love of Broadway Musicals. So as we started talking about the life and times of KitKat, numbers entered into my brain. So I grabbed my laptop, and here they are, or at least what I think are some of the highlights.

The life and times of KitKat (abridged):

13 years and some change - KitKat has been in our lives for that long. She entered our life in the summer of 2004, just as we were settling into our first home in Austin, TX. So many memories from that little house.

6.5 months - The vet's estimate of how old she was when we adopted her. We don't know much about KitKat's life before she entered ours, other than she was abandoned and found along the side of a road. Looking back on that, it explains so much about her early days, and just how far she's come.

30 dogs (I think) - When we made the decision to adopt, the group that we got her from came highly recommended as they had great animals looking for great homes. That recommendation was true, and we've been in love ever since. I'm pretty sure they had 30 dogs at the time, all in fosters or other living arrangements. We spent a lot of time on their website looking for "just the right mutt" so to speak...

4 dogs in an outdoor pen - The day we went to check out dogs for adoption, we'd landed on a different dog that was being fostered. A black lab mix that was pretty young. On our way to look at the puppy, this scrappy looking dog that was in a large pen with 3 others stopped what she was doing and came over to see us. We gave her scratches behind the ears, and thought she was nice, pretty goofy looking, and well just plain interesting. I remember saying "she looks like a hyena from The Lion King" and little did I know that would follow her for the rest of her days. But we had our heart set on this other puppy (or so we thought). It didn't work out and as we left, a little dejected, we walked by the same pen and that same goofy dog (a good friend always refers to her as "Scooby Doo") came back over to get our attention. Little did we know, our fates were sealed from then on.

14 steps & 24 hours - For the longest time, KitKat was deathly afraid of stairs, and so she was a downstairs dog. As we were preparing for my folks to visit our house for the first time together, we thought this would work out well, as my parents could just have the upstairs to themselves. Best laid plans.... KitKat overcame her fear of those 14 stairs roughly 24 hours before my parents arrived, and she spent the next few days exploring this whole new world. It wasn't long after she conquered the stairs she discovered the comfy futon, the comfy bed in the master bedroom, the trash cans, and my collection of YuGiOh cards.

1 "Bring Your Dog to Work Day" - because if your department head just happens to be gone on this most epic of days, your whole office participates. And let's face it, when part of your office is a huge library, you've got to take your dog to work! I'm sure every one of my former co-workers would agree that was a great day at the office, though we didn't get much accomplished. BEST DAY AT WORK EVER.

3 houses - From our first home, to a short lived rental, to our current home, KitKat has lived in them all. She's had her favorite spots, and the yards have always been hers.  However she gladly shares them with squirrels as long as they agree to be chased, a lot, and often.

2 cats - KitKat's first "little brother" so to speak, was introduced into her life about 3 years after we got her. He was a streetwise rogue we named "Ed" and he liked our house on the block the best. We were never quite sure what happened to him (he was a rogue after all) but I think deep down KitKat missed him. Our current cat Callie entered our life not long afterwards and they've been "frenemies" ever since. But I truly believe deep down they care about each other, though neither would admit it.

4 (or more) escape attempts - In her lifetime she's been Houdini a number of times. The first time was on a spring Saturday morning in Austin. The yard gate had come open, and she took advantage. We were frantic. My wife took off in one direction, retracing their normal walking route. I took off in my truck scouring the neighborhood. I found her first, lounging under a shade tree just around the corner. I picked her up, and then we went and found my wife. One of the more recent times was how we really met our neighbors of several years now, and we've been friends ever since. They had thought that if she was a stray they would adopt her.  I had to break it to them that no, that was in fact our dog. She's since made one other escape, and ended up on their porch. For a while I questioned her loyalties...

2 puppies - A good friend of mine got a dog not long after we had KitKat, and that puppy's name was Bo, and they were pals from the get go. The trouble they got into was legendary, including a visit from the Austin Police Department that required a whirlwind trip back from San Antonio (yes all of that actually happened).  Jon, I hope if you're reading this, I hope you laughed as loud as I did while writing this. I'm certain that the first dog KitKat will seek out in the afterlife will be Bo, all dogs go to heaven after all. The second puppy would be the other canine family member we added to our home in March. KitKat has helped raise Abby just as much as we have, and just like any siblings they have their good days and bad. They may not always get along but they are always there for each other, unless bones or treats are involved, then all bets are off. I think Abby may just miss her the most.

1 daughter - The day we brought our daughter home from the hospital is a day I will never forget. KitKat just HAD TO KNOW what this tiny human was all about. Though she did not appreciate smelly diapers, tail pulling, and loud crying, she did appreciate feeding time, especially when our daughter fed herself. Oh, and of course whenever she cried the looks we would get from KitKat as to why we weren't acting fast enough to soothe the baby were downright hilarious. I swear if she'd had opposable thumbs she would've said "You two relax, I got this". They've been friends ever since, actually no, they're more than that, they're pals.

Numerous Hearts - Today those hearts will break, and there's no way around it, probably none more than that of my daughter. In 13 years since she joined our family, KitKat has seen a lot and touched a lot of lives. There were several calls/texts/messages that went out last night, and that have come in today that have been comforting.  To all of those folks my family and I thank you. But there's comfort in knowing that everything that KitKat has been going through as of late will end, and end peacefully. I've already referenced one song in this post, but I'm going to reference a line from one more: "a heart that's broke, is a hear that's been loved". - Ed Sheeran "Supermarket Flowers".

Goodbye sweet girl, we love you, and you will forever be a good dog, forever our dog. Enjoy your rest, you've earned it.

The importance of filling your bucket - the need for summer professional learning

The importance of filling your bucket? Really?

I know, this title, it’s weird right? I thought the same thing as it popped into my head, but given how my summer professional development related travel was coming to an end, it was the perfect metaphor. Now of course it is the perfect metaphor in MY mind, but as all of you aren’t in my brain (at least I don’t think you are, unless this is The Matrix) I’m going to explain.

When it comes to educators, I see all of us as “buckets” of sorts. Our buckets are deep, and carry many things. On a basic level, our buckets contain our hopes and dreams for ourselves and students. Sprinkle in our different skill sets, ideas, beliefs, teaching methods, life experiences, and a whole host of other things (I hit the highlights, but look into yourself, you’ll see what your own bucket contains) our buckets are pretty full. Now I believe that an educator’s “bucket” is probably at its fullest right as we walk across the stage and get our diploma to begin our career.  Over time the contents of our bucket begin to drain as we pour ourselves (see what I did there, told you it was a great metaphor) into that first year of teaching, our career. As the years go on, and the teaching endures, that bucket begins to empty gradually.

So, how does an educator “fill their bucket”? Well there are numerous ways. I wholeheartedly believe one of the best ways is professional development, or professional learning however you classify it. Unfortunately, with times being what they are, and the state of education funding being what it is, a teacher’s opportunity for professional learning (especially in our “off” months) is getting more and more difficult. However, that doesn’t keep the dedicated, hard working teachers from finding ways to expand their horizons, often by finding the means to attend summer conferences. Why? Because they realize the value in it, and I don’t mean dollars and cents.

Now I could go on about this, but instead I reached out to amazing folks in my PLN, shared my idea for this post and I asked for their thoughts/input on how/why/where they fill their buckets. So rather than me keeping the mic, I’m going to hand if off to them. I asked them to give me 100 words or less (most succeeded, others went over, they shall remain nameless, but you can count if you like…) as to when/where/why they fill up their buckets, and how they do so.  Read below, you won’t be disappointed.

Felix Jacomino - Gulliver Schools - @felixjacomino on Twitter:

Early in my career, I used to joke, "The three best things about teaching are June, July, & August!" Har dee har har. I now facepalm thinking of the message I was conveying, "I prefer NOT having my students around." I recently Tweeted about a commercial I can't stand because of the way it depicts a Kindergarten teacher's chaotic environment. Well, I've grown up and now I will continue to say that those three summer months are great for other reasons... Awesome PD! There's no shortage of choices and nothing re-energizes one's professional batteries than face to face interactions with like-minded educators from diverse parts of the country and world!

http://felixjacomino.com

Kyle McClure - Kansas Educator & Tech Integration Specialist - @kylemcclure on Twitter:

Summer is an incredibly valuable time for teachers. Obviously, educators never have enough time to plan and find resources. Summer gives you the white space to reflect, plan, strategize, and LEARN. Conferences like ISTE provide fantastic opportunities for teachers to launch their practice lightyears ahead. During the break teachers have decompressed and are able to have such fantastic and real conversations about their classrooms with others without the stress of their next week's plans. The collaboration and connection that happens is truly next level. Obviously, these conferences are PACKED FULL of content to spark idea and even deeper discussions to transform learning. There is nothing better than the conversation and inspiration that happens during summer professional learning.

Brett Salakas - Educator from Down Under, founder of #aussieED - @MRsalakas on Twitter

The concept of the ‘Summer Conference Season’ for me as an Australian is quite novel. In fact quite literally it doesn't work for me. Being on the other side of the world it is winter in Australia, but that doesn’t impact on the importance of making the ‘long’ trek over the Pacific and joining in the learning.

Too often in our school or our systems we are exposed to the same ideas. Learning in silos can result in a sensation of us ‘swimming in the same water’. We all need to have fresh water to thrive. We need to swim in new ponds and be exposed to new ideas. We need a cross-fertilisation of thinking and learning that can only occur at a large conference where you can meet, network, learn and grow!

Richard Wells - Author, New Zealand Educator, Educational Blogger - @eduwells on Twitter

The number one joy about teaching is seeing student faces light up when genuine learning takes place. The joy of summer conferences is seeing the excited faces of educators as they connect, share, and reconnect themselves with the same joy of learning. To see laughter and excitement on the faces of other educators makes one happy to be an educator. Regardless of how much you might retain from the sessions you return to the classroom for a new school year not just rested but re-energised. This is so important because modeling that excitement and energy towards learning is exactly what students need to see in their teachers. P.S. Who knew I would return to my New Zealand classroom this July and be using improvisation to teach app development!

https://eduwells.com

Mena Hill - Fellow Kansas Educator, K-5 Instructional Learning Coach, - @MenaHillEdu on Twitter

iPadPalooza was like summer camp for educators. It was seriously my first EDU-camp! For the first time in my entire educational career, I was surrounded by like-minded educators who were not only on fire for education, innovative, and ready to ROCK students’ worlds, but these were also some of the coolest and most interesting people I have ever met from across the globe. My time spent at iPadPalooza resulted in turning Twitter-colleagues into an EDU-family. Not to mention all of the amazing ideas that I have brought home to share in my district. iPadpalooza seriously rocked my EDU-world!  I am #onfireforeducation

menahill.weebly.com

http://gph.is/1UFCkzn

Chris Parker - Tech Savvy Art Teacher, Keystone School, San Antonio, TX - @kreyus on Twitter

Hello all. I have something to admit. I’m an art teacher and I like going to summer tech conferences.  Wait? You’re what? An art teacher, you say? I know. I’m supposed to be focused on paint brushes, printmaking brayers, and other creations tools.  I do. But I also do enjoy learning about different lesson plan ideas, technology integration, 3D Printing, and listening to people that are as passionate about the teaching profession as I am.  As a teacher, we’ve all heard, “At least you get your summers off”, right?  Well, we do.  Some just choose to work and better themselves by attending conferences like ISTE and iPadpalooza.  Summer Professional Learning has been extremely invaluable to me and I look forward to doing it every year!

keystoneschoolarthouse.weebly.com

Carl Hooker - Director of Innovation, Godfather of iPadpalooza - @mrhooker on Twitter

The importance of "Summer PD" as told from the perspective of a provider.

This year wrapped our final iPadpalooza (although our many spin-offs are still going strong). Educators' summers are so valuable to recover, recharge, and replenish their learning that those providing Professional Learning have to make the most of those valuable hours. Running a learning festival like iPadpalooza means making the most engaging experience possible for the adults in attendance. Learning via "sit 'n' get" shouldn't be the only option, but many times at conferences, that's all you get. Making learning fun for adults shouldn't be a bad thing, it should be the norm.

Kelly Hart - Fellow Kansas educator, 7th Grade ELA - @MrsHartSMS on Twitter:

As a classroom teacher, events like iPadpalooza bring out my inner Linda Belcher. Being able to connect with others and grow my PLN is invaluable in terms of what I gain: free PD, new ideas, shared resources, and support. This year, I was able to access free trials of Nearpod Gold and dooplii (a new student planner app with teacher and parent portals!), play with the gang from SpheroEdu, and attend sessions about using native apps like Keynote in entirely new ways. The hardest part about these great events is coming home and figuring out which new ideas to implement first!  Proud #edtechsuperhero and wanna-be Linda Belcher

Tara Martin - Fellow Kansas educator, queen of #booksnaps - @TaraMartinEDU on Twitter

As educators, we give so much of ourselves to serve those we lead. However, when summer arrives, it's time to recharge, rest, explore, and learn. It's what we crave during the school year, but as a servant leader, our hearts and minds are completely overloaded.

Why would teachers want to learn in the summer? Easy. It's a chance to collaborate with like-minded individuals who "get you"--your time to be as one with your EDUtribe. It doesn't have to be a traditional professional development session that revives or inspires. It's also during the informal conversations. You see, educators rarely stop thinking about their line of work. Crazy but true. I'm thankful for the many opportunities to attend summer professional development. It not only fills my bucket with new ideas and lifelong friendships, but it gives me space to explore and plan for the upcoming year. Read Tara's own thoughts on the need for summer conferences below.

http://www.tarammartin.com/reaping-the-benefits-of-a-hookers-dream/

Get it yet? Do you understand why as an educator you’ve GOT to fill your bucket?

There you have it, plain and simple, or is it? If you go back and re-read these posts, you’ll see a common theme, and it’s not “learn the latest and greatest gizmo/tech”. Instead rather it is the CONNECTIONS that we as educators all seek. We come from different backgrounds, classrooms, subjects, districts, even countries, but all of us are educators at our core. Knowing this, we’ve landed on a universal truth, we’re better together, we’re better connected. It is those connections, for the majority of us, that help us fill our buckets, keep us coming back day after day, week after week to do what we do for our students.

So if you’re an educator who follows any one of these awesome folks already, congratulations, you’re connected, and if you don’t follow all of them, what are you waiting for? But if you don’t, and you stumbled on this by happenstance, for the sake of your “bucket” and the students you serve, GET CONNECTED. Be it at a conference, a webinar, on social media, whatever, just get it done. What are you waiting for?!?!

If you’re fearful, afraid, or feel like a novice, seek out another teacher in your building, in your district. If you know what to look for, you can always spot a connected educator. And I bet if you ask them, they’ll gladly lend you a hand, and help you bet connected. If you don’t believe me, just go back through and read these posts again, you’ll see what I mean, what we all mean.

So if you’re a teacher looking to fill YOUR bucket, try making some new connections first, in whatever platform/conference/venue you choose. You’ll be surprised how quickly that bucket fills up, but watch out, it might just overflow.

Thanks again to all of my contributors to this post. I am continually amazed and inspired by all of you day in and day out. You are my PLN, and most definitely my global EduTRIBE.

One Last Time - an iPadpalooza Retrospective

“Write what you know" Sam had read in a book about writing. 

This is an excerpt from one of my favorite children’s books. If you’ve not read “Library Mouse” (or any of the sequels, though the first is the best) by Daniel Kirk you should.

So I’m going to take my cue from Sam the Library Mouse, and write what I know, and that is iPadpalooza. Of course I can't write about iPadpalooza without mentioning Carl Hooker, the founder, Felix Jacomino, a likeminded inspirational educator, and of course Richard Wells, my favorite New Zealander who got his blog post about iPadpalooza out before I did! Kudos mate. I blame the airport wifi....

I KNOW six years ago, a man named Carl Hooker had a dream. That dream was simple, re-imagine the typical educational technology conference.  If you’re teacher, let alone a teacher who uses technology in the classroom, you know as well as I do that there is “good” tech PD, and then there is “not good” tech PD. The “not good” was what Carl set out to change, and he achieved it in iPadpalooza. If you ever go to Austin, you get a different feeling in that city. Having lived there for 10 years, I’ll confirm this. If you were fortunate enough to go to iPadpalooza the same can be said, it just “feels” different than anything you’ve been to.

I KNOW that “It’s not a conference, it’s a Learning Festival” is the tagline that used to adorn the iPadpalooza advertisements. Headquartered near Austin, deep in the heart of Texas, Eanes ISD (the district that Carl and his “iVengers” call home) has been the home of this festival for 6 years. I would say that being near Austin with its many festivals, had a direct influence on the “feel” of iPadpalooza. And I’m sure if Carl reads this, he’s nodding his head in agreement.

I KNOW that I count myself fortunate when it comes to iPadpalooza. I’ve had the means and/or opportunity to attend it for numerous years, and it is by far one of my favorite summer learning opportunities. By my count I’ve been to all of them but two, the first inaugural year, and one in the middle, as far as I can tell. Every year I walked away with something different. I always left feeling energized, engaged, and connected. iPadpalooza is a great way to get tons of ideas to bring back to your school, district, classroom, or library. It draws innovative educators from across the globe to present, and the knowledge and mindsets they bring with them are game changing. But for me it has always been about the connections that I make at iPadpalooza that have served me the best, and the reason that I made it a priority to attend as often as I could.

I KNOW that iPadpalooza has become a bit of a “juggernaut” in the years since its creation. It has spawned numerous other “Paloozas” as Carl is always one to share his passion for quality learning, and the need to shake up the learning status quo. He’s quick to offer help, and as the questions came in from other districts about “How can we do this?” Carl saw an opportunity, and a way to share. He excels in these things, and we’re all better for it. This past year iPadpalooza even went international, as the first ever iPadpalooza Gold Coast was held in Australia.  

If you haven’t grasped it yet, iPadpalooza, the environment it fosters, and the founding “Godfather” Carl Hooker, are all “kind of a big deal” in their own way. In addition to the other “Paloozas” that are a direct result of the original, numerous other conferences and learning opportunities have been modeled after it. My own district modeled our “Little Apple Tech Fest” after we took a group of educators to the event, and I’m pretty sure if you were to ask Felix Jacomino, his own learning experience/festival, known as “Miami Device” was his own take on Carl’s dream. I believe that this is why the two are such good friends, and such a powerful force in the realm of learning and educational technology integration.

I KNOW that educators who have been fortunate enough to attend iPadpalooza walk away changed individuals. Over the years, if one does the math, between the original iPadPalooza, all of the offshoots, and the countless other professional development opportunities inspired by it, Carl Hooker’s dream has made an impact on education on global scale. Let that settle in for a minute. Very few educators can claim that, but Carl most definitely can. I can also guarantee that if you’re an educator fortunate enough to get to go to iPadpalooza, you can’t wait to go back. The relationships that you forge there are lasting, and those people will influence the way you approach education and how you teach, and you will influence them as well.

I KNOW that this all sounds fantastic, and it is. And I will sing the praises of iPadpalooza for many years to come. If you’ve not heard yet, or you weren’t in the audience last week, this marked the last official “iPadpalooza” that is going to be held in Eanes ISD. I know that I wasn’t the only one in the audience that made an audible noise when Carl made the announcement. And now, a full four days later, after letting it settle into my brain, I am okay with that, and I hope that others are too. That may sound a little defeatist, but hear me out.

iPadpalooza was founded on the idea of change. So if one follows that line of thought, then iPadpalooza too must change. Carl Hooker, and those that he surrounds himself with are visionaries, and it takes that type of person to realize that change is necessary.

I count myself lucky to have attended, presented, and most recently “keynoted” at iPadpalooza. Those opportunities don’t come along that often, and I know I’m a better person, better educator for it. From the lessons learned to the connections made, I’m a better individual because of that learning festival.

So I’m going to end with this. 

For all of us that had the opportunity to attend, we were lucky that we got to see and learn everything that we could from the educators that came together to make iPadpalooza what it was. I will say that we all did our best to share everything that we took away from it. I feel a bit sad that others won’t get to experience the “original” iPadpalooza moving forward, because it was truly unique.

However, if iPadpalooza was that great, just imagine how promising the next adventure will be that comes from Carl Hooker, and the collective talent and knowledge of his EdTech “dream team” that he’s assembled over the past 6 years via iPadpalooza.

I will always look back at iPadpalooza fondly, but personally, I can’t wait to see what happens next. 

Because sometime, you've got to rescue a book, even if it goes into the abyss......

Today is one of those days where I can honestly say "I've never done that before!" and frankly, those days are worth talking about, sharing, and recording for posterity.

The backstory: I have a librarian who will be missing the start of the year due to her second daughter being born, so we've been putting together some instructional/how to videos for new students next year as a way to introduce them to her and the workings of the library while she's out.  We had just wrapped up filming for the day when a class came into the library to hear about our FABULOUS Summer Reading opportunities here in Manhattan, KS.  

I love our Summer Reading Program in the schools, and of course the rocking Manhattan Public Library program that kicks off around the same time we do. Check out their site for details if you're in the Manhattan area, because our Public Librarians are awesome!  www.mhklibrary.org 

So about that title, like I said, sometimes you've got to rescue a book, am I right?  Now in typical Dragnet style, the names have been changed to protect the innocent, and here's "the rest of the story"... (with those two references, I have just dated myself something fierce)

The case of the vanishing Library book:

Teacher: Mrs. Librarian, I’m not sure how to tell you this, but one of my students lost a book.

Librarian: Oh that’s fine, I’m sure it will turn up, books do that, especially at the end of the year.

Teacher: This one might not, my student lost it down a wall…..

Librarian: *blinks eyes* What??

Me: I’m sorry, say that again, they lost it down a wall?

Teacher: Yes. We were in line to come to the library, we had paused to let another class pass, and well the student dropped the book, and it landed perfectly in this gap between the wall and the stairwell, and well, it just vanished.

Librarian and I: *blinking eyes*

Teacher: We tried to look for it on “the other side” but didn’t see it, though my students swear they saw the pages of the book hanging down from the ceiling.

Librarian and I: You say pages were hanging from the ceiling?

Teacher: Yes, at least that is what my students said, they swear that there were pages hanging from the ceiling.

So after a brief huddle, we decided to divide and conquer, there was a book to be rescued after all! The Teacher and I left the class with the Librarian as she was talking about Summer Reading (yay, see above link) and we went to investigate.  I was taken to “the scene of the crime” and sure enough, there was a gap big enough for a book to go down. Kudos to the kiddo, because this was a 1 in a million shot to make, and after looking down the gap, it looked a bit like a void of nothingness, straight out of an R.L. Stine book. (remember those?)

So we looked down the void, and saw nothing. Then the teacher and I went one floor down, below the “scene of the crime” and true to the student’s words, there were in fact what looked like pages, hanging from the ceiling.  As luck would have it, a teacher right next to the area just happened to have a tall step stool (hurray for random tall step stools in classrooms that are just the right height in areas where you need them). 

We borrowed the step stool, I moved a ceiling tile, and was ceremoniously rewarded with a shower of dust, cobwebs, etc., (I felt a bit like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, minus my trusty fedora). Well it was dark, and creepy, but with my handy phone flashlight and camera, (used like a periscope, MacGyver has nothing on me) low and behold, there was the book, complete with bookmark, safe and sound!

There was also a poster, a pencil, two rulers, and a package of Smarties candy….

We left the Smarties where they lay, and felt like donating the rulers and pencil to the library was a good idea. 

So we’ll add “book rescuer” to the list of “other duties as assigned” and I can honestly say, that was a first.

Encryption, Apple, the FBI, and Digital Citizenship

Heck of a title right? Wait til you read the story!

Let's face it, Apple, Inc. and the FBI are in the news a lot lately. You'd be hard pressed to visit a major news outlet and not see something about their dispute on the front page.

However, I'm not going to talk about it at any great length. I will say that I side with Apple, and I believe in the security of personal data, plain and simple. I believed this long before I became a librarian, but now I will say that I believe it even more. Encryption is the way to accomplish this, and kudos to any major tech company or online service provider that goes the extra mile to protect their customer's data. Stepping off of my soapbox now.

So how does it tie into Digital Citizenship? Well the connections are there if you look for them, but as I've read about this story I was reminded of a similar moment that happened to me over a year ago.

In my current district, I'm one of a "handful" of folks seen as an "Apple guy". By this, most have identified me as a go to person for questions regarding Apple products. I'm a big fan, use them on a daily basis, so sure, I've been called much worse.

So imagine my surprise when an unsuspecting blue iPhone 5C wound up on my desk with a note. Now, don't get me wrong I love it when Apple products cross my path, but this phone literally came out of nowhere. It didn't look the best, but nonetheless I was intrigued. So like any good librarian, I read the note.

The note was simple;
"Found this in the woods, looks like it had been there a while. We're not Apple people really, but I knew you were. Wondering if you might be able to do something so that we can get this phone back to the right person."

I was floored. Generosity in this day and age is few and far between, but it is there. So I emailed the teacher who'd left the note, asking for a few more details just in case I was successful, and set to work.

I found the proper charger, looked for any debris in the lightning port, and plugged it in, and hoped for the best. To my surprise, 30 minutes later, the home screen flashed to life with the signature Time/Date, default color wallpaper, and the all too familiar "Slide to Unlock" message. There was no cell signal, which told me the owner had disconnected it from their account, but I was still encouraged.

To my surprise, I slid the screen to unlock it, and voila, I was in. Now I was flabbergasted at this point. There was NO security on this device, nothing. After about 5 minutes I was able to find the owner through some amateur investigation. I mean think about it, who doesn't have "Mom" or "Dad" in their contacts? I called one of the parents, told them the story, and they put me in touch with the owner of the phone. They were at my office 2 days later to pick up the device, and thanked me profusely, and told me how the phone had been lost. But now, to paraphrase Paul Harvey, here is "the rest of the story..."

By not putting a pin number on that phone, I had unrestricted access (had I wanted it) to text messages, email, browser history, social media, photographs, all of it. It was all there, ripe for the taking. For all intents and purposes, I could have impersonated that person to some degree. Frightening isn't it?

I stayed only in the contacts, but that information was all right there. These devices have inserted themselves in our lives SO MUCH that we now see them as an extension of ourselves. Phone separation anxiety is a real thing, "phantom vibrations" are real, and insomnia related to notifications are all documented, and let's not forget "digital rehab", these are all real world scenarios that we now face.

When the person came to claim their phone I relayed all of this to them. I was grateful to hand them back their device, as I didn't want that responsibility. I told the person that while it was in my possession I put a pin number of my own on the device to protect it, and kept it in a locked drawer. By the time our conversation was over, their attitude had changed from "happy to get their phone back" to "this could have really done some harm to me" in about 5 seconds, flat.  Keep in mind that I didn't do this to "scare" them, that was not my intent, AT ALL. All I was wanting to do was inform them, and I think I did that. We talked about steps they could take in the future, I told them about "Find My iPhone" and a few other important features for them to know, and sent them on their way.

That was a moment that I will forever refer to as my "Digital Citizenship" moment. Now I know that each and everyone treats their phones differently, and that is fine. But please people, if you're reading this ask yourself this "How much of my life would a person have access to if they got into my phone?". Once you've answered that question, do some research, and take the steps necessary to protect your digital self.

Education is a funny thing - a tribute to a great educator

Education is a funny thing.

When you're going through school you can't wait to be DONE and be out in the "real world". Sometimes while in the real world you find yourself sometimes wishing "Can I just go back to school?"

Along the way you meet teachers. Those teachers will impact you in ways you won't realize, or even appreciate until much later in life. The knowledge they shared, the attention that they gave, and the wisdom that they brought into their classroom stays with you for the rest of your days.

If you work in education you hope that you're that kind of teacher, and you do your best to be that kind of teacher against all odds, day in and day out. In my experience, if you're a teacher of any type, there's a high likelihood that you were inspired by a teacher and that led to the choice of your given profession, at least I know was.

The next time you run into a good friend or former classmate, ask them if they have/had a favorite teacher. If (more likely "when") they say yes, ask them "Why?" and listen to them. I guarantee you'll hear about a teacher who was passionate, engaging, creative, entertaining, or numerous other qualities. Some will tell you tales of teachers that reached out to them or saw something in them, others will speak of inspiration and understanding. The story will vary from individual to individual, but if you listen long enough, you'll start to hear the similarities. So I'm going to encourage you to do this, and fair is fair, so I'll start:

For me it was Dennis Hermreck, plain and simple.

Mr. Hermreck, Coach Hermreck, or simply "Coach", he answered to all of them. He was the type of teacher you want your kids to have. He was engaging, inspiring, and above all caring. Before taking History with Coach, I had the pleasure of working for him on the Onaga High football team. I never played, but I was an equipment manager, after that he was my coach for basketball for 3 years. He was the kind of coach that saw the best in his players, and did all that he could to bring that out in them. He led by example, and if there was something he wanted you to learn, he'd jump right in and show you, from the basics, to a complex offense, or ball mechanics, he was there. He was encouraging, but at the same time if you were out of line, or messed up he'd let you know. And his passion carried through and you knew that you had messed up, but at the same time you wanted to do better.

I think it was around my sophomore year I finally got to take History from him and it was fantastic. To this day I credit my love of WWII history (and history in general) to his class. His lectures were dynamic, inspiring, and he was a masterful storyteller. Unfortunately I never got to take another class from him due to scheduling conflicts.  However, I had Spanish right next door to his room, so when he lectured I essentially got to hear his lecture twice. He was that good, that loud, and that engaging.

In the years since high school, whenever I would visit Onaga and I would run into him, I always called him Coach, or Mr. Hermreck. I remember one time he chided me about it saying that since I had graduated it was no longer required, but for me it was always a sign of respect and admiration. Outside of school, he was always involved in the community.  You'd always see him out and about, either working at the swimming pool, the ball fields, or opening up the gym and weight room for student athletes during the summer. During the county fair you could count on him to be the commentary for the softball tournament as well, and he was always entertaining.

While this was always a blog post I meant to write, I felt it was important, especially today. Unfortunately Coach Hermreck passed away this past weekend after losing his battle with cancer. His passing will leave a void in the communities and hearts of family, friends, co-workers, loved ones, and students alike that were fortunate enough to have known him, or take one of his classes. The outpouring of love and tributes on social media has been astounding, and when you speak to someone about what he as a teacher, as a person, meant to them, all that anyone hears in their voices is the love they had for "Coach".