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Speaker: Louise Smith

Louise shared so much thoughtful framing about how to manage stress. More than a "list of things to do" she offered us ways to think about stress management. A few of my favorites:

When you are stressed, we're most likely to isolate, close our door. Instead, open your door and connect.

Establish a new daily schedule or routine

Understand your circle of control vs. non-control

Do the "next right thing" (instead of trying to do ALL the things)

Lean into your professional organizations

"YOU are the most important!"

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Mississippi – ntoy.ccsso.org

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Louise Smith, a National Board Certified Teacher from Gautier, Mississippi, has served as band director of Gautier Middle School. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Education with an emphasis in administration and leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi.

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Speaker: Casy Cuny (CA)

Presentation here.

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, California – ntoy.ccsso.org

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5. Classroom Voices: Every Student, Every Day

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5. Classroom Voices: Every Student, Every Day

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Speaker: Renee' Atkinson (SC)

Presentation link here.

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, South Carolina – ntoy.ccsso.org

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Renée Atkinson teaches English to students in grades 10-12 at Aynor High School in the Horry County Schools district. She received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Clemson University in 2002, a Master of Education in secondary English from Francis Marion University in 2004, her National Board Certification in 2009 and an educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Liberty University in 2013. Teaching is her calling; while she has held various positions throughout her education career, her heart is in the classroom, where she can directly impact students’ lives every day.

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9. Helping Students Find Truth in an Age of Misinformation

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9. Helping Students Find Truth in an Age of Misinformation

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Speaker: Joe Nappi (NJ)

Presentation here.

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, New Jersey – ntoy.ccsso.org

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Joe Nappi graduated from Rowan University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in history. He has taught at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, for 18 years. Currently, he teaches U.S. history to sophomores and a Holocaust, Genocide and Modern Humanity course to seniors. This class is offered through a partnership with Kean University, which has allowed him to take more than 600 students to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where he has been honored to serve as a Museum Teacher Fellow since 2019. He also serves as a Key Club adviser and is a member of the Equity Council and Monmouth Helping its Own, the school’s charitable committee that he co-founded.

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12. Managing It All & Finding the Balance

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12. Managing It All & Finding the Balance

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Speaker: Kylie Altier (LA)

We often hear that as teachers we need to take care of ourselves. Kylie's session not only helped us think about how to make explicit changes in our teaching to create more "time at the margins," but this shift also resulted in creating a more student-centered classroom.

“It wasn’t all the hard work. It was me and the love I had for my students. You don’t have to be all the things all the time!!!!”

Some examples of what Kylie did:

she stopped decorating her classroom and let her students do it

she opened her classroom to the community

she started giving feedback during class instead of at home/at night

she started having students curate their own passion projects which changed how she thought about lesson planning

and so many more!!

Here's her resource!

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGTykYe7Gg/FuVP8FbxUxSK_bxe0iu8dg/view?utm_content=DAGTykYe7Gg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Louisiana – ntoy.ccsso.org

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Kylie Altier is a first grade teacher at McKinley Elementary School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She earned a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education from Florida State University in 2013 and a Master of Elementary Education from Stephen F. Austin University in 2019. She believes that all deserve to go to a school where they feel immensely loved and have learning tailored to their individual needs and passions.

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Speakers: Zach Arenz (NY), Mary Kay Connerton (MD), Sheila Peterson, ND

Perfect way to start this day by thinking about what it means to create space for the teachers! A few of the many highlights:

ABT "Always be teaching!"

Create space to breathe

A little investment in "me" pays dividends!

Be vulnerable enough to start with play. Teachers want to laugh and have fun and connect with their colleagues. Go beyond icebreakers into play!

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2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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6. Cultivating a Community of Joyful, Critical Readers

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6. Cultivating a Community of Joyful, Critical Readers

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Speaker: De'Shawn Washington (MA)

Interactive Reading: Focusing on Joy, Pace, Fluency, Comprehension, and Vocabulary Building but mostly importantly, share an experience.

Interactive reading supports students to also practice reading on their own... we are creating opportunities! we are creating classroom community through our conversations about the text and how it connects to our experiences.

1. Picture Walk

2. Vocabulary Preview

3. Read Text (BTW: Beautiful storytelling De'Shawn <3)

4. Debrief and Plan an Extension

1. Can you write the next chapter?

2. Turn and Learn with an Essential Question

3. Write an Essay

4. Support the claim with evidence

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Massachusetts – ntoy.ccsso.org

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De’Shawn C. Washington teaches a fourth grade inclusion classroom at Maria Hastings Elementary School in Lexington, Massachusetts. He holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance, a Master of Education in elementary education and a Master of Education in special education from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is working on a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University.

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10. Panel: Teachers are Learners, Too: Ways to Cultivate Curiosity

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10. Panel: Teachers are Learners, Too: Ways to Cultivate Curiosity

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Speakers: Cory Hafer (DE), De'Shawn Washington (MA)

Mini Lesson - Who ate more pizza?

Warm Demander Chart

5 Takeaways

Need the warmth of encouragement

Remove Yourself as the person with the answers

Focus on community and how we all can help each other get better

Uncover gaps in knowledge

Phenomenon/engaging problems

1. drive authentic learning + build community + connect students to curriculum

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2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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7. Teaching in the Essence of Wisconsin: Bringing Indigenous Languages & Perspectives Into the Mainstream

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7. Teaching in the Essence of Wisconsin: Bringing Indigenous Languages & Perspectives Into the Mainstream

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Speaker: Brian Michael Collins (WI)

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11. Panel: Rural Advocacy: Making an Impact

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11. Panel: Rural Advocacy: Making an Impact

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Speakers: Greg Kester (MO), Missy Testerman (NTOY, TN)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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13. Building Creativity and Community Through Quick Writes

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13. Building Creativity and Community Through Quick Writes

# data[].attributes.body
Speaker: Eric Jenkins (IN)

Presentation here

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Indiana – ntoy.ccsso.org

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Eric Jenkins is an educator at Franklin Community High School in Franklin, Indiana. He teaches 10th grade honors and general English language arts (ELA), as well as Indiana University’s Advanced College Project composition course. Jenkins earned his Bachelor of Science in secondary English language arts education from Indiana University in 2007. His teaching journey commenced at an American school in Ibadan, Nigeria, during the 2007-2008 academic year. Following that, he dedicated three years to teaching in Trussville, Alabama. Driven by his commitment for continuous professional growth, Jenkins pursued a Master of Science in literacy from the State University of New York in Albany. His time in upstate New York sparked a profound passion to help his students become lifelong readers.

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Speakers: Kimberly S. Jones (NC), Briana Morales (IL), Laura Jeanne Penrod (NV), Missy Testerman (NTOY, TN)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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14. Panel: Promoting Equitable and DiverseExperiences in Education

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14. Panel: Promoting Equitable and DiverseExperiences in Education

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Speakers: Zach Arenz (NY), Efrain Casilla (AZ), Louise Smith (MS)

How do you ensure that your classroom is an inclusive space where every student feels seen, represented, and valued?

-Listen and connect to every child everyday

-Ask students what songs they are listening to right now and try to work them into class/performance

How do we bridge learning and cultural learning gap?

-Importance of protecting art and music classes for all students, particularly in the elementary levels to ensure students are interested in music in their HS years

-Music can also help students develop key and foundational academic skills

-Create life experiences

-Learning about students' culture shows you care about them as humans

What challenges have you faced in promoting diversity and inclusions in your classroom?

-DEIA- Adding in the ACCESS to diversity, equity, inclusion. Band can be expensive and that can be a barrier. In this case: school has created school instruments where every student can access the instruments they need.

-Send me all your hyper kids, those are the kids that have the energy to march all day through the parade!

What advice do you have?

Go for it

It's okay if you don't get it right the first time

Don't be afraid to try different things

We should never show our students we are perfect, be humble

Find a mentor who you think does what you want to do well

Educate yourself on opportunities available

Be intentional

How

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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16. Wellness in theClassroom: A Vehicle to Educational Transformation

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16. Wellness in theClassroom: A Vehicle to Educational Transformation

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Speakers: Mary Kay Connerton (MD)

This session gave us a combination a meditation and yoga moments (very appreciated!) and the larger purposes for wellness in the classroom.

We started with doing a brief "wellness audit" of our surroundings. It was amazing how the invitation to do something as simple as opening a curtain, moving some clutter, doing a scan of your space got us ready to be present. Then some stretching and mountain poses and another look at our wellness audit to see how it shifted.

This was a meaningful combination of research, storytelling and practicing our presence. "When we pause, we expand." -- Mary Kay Connerton

Here are some resources! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cO7ktLR_ssoiQC5432XF2kKTl1iYZUjR/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116948892485689849541&rtpof=true&sd=true

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Maryland – ntoy.ccsso.org

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Mary Kay Connerton is a physical educator and wellness coordinator at Annapolis High School (AHS) in Annapolis, Maryland, where she’s a fierce advocate for student, staff and community wellness. Currently, she teaches ninth through 12th grade and staff wellness techniques for the classroom, which provides them tools for lifelong wellness practices. Connerton is a believer in addressing the whole child and that the foundation of success begins with being healthy in body and mind.

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17. The Imperfect Classroom: Transforming the Classroom into a Place of Belonging for Everyone

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17. The Imperfect Classroom: Transforming the Classroom into a Place of Belonging for Everyone

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Speaker: Kevin Dailey (KY)

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Kentucky – ntoy.ccsso.org

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As a child, Kevin Dailey had hopes of being an architect, someone who would take an idea and forge it into something that would last forever. He wanted to use his natural creativity and imagination to bring the abstract into reality and make the world a more beautiful place for everyone to experience.

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18. Panel: Improving Connections Through Inclusion Models

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18. Panel: Improving Connections Through Inclusion Models

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Speakers: Brian Michael Collins (WI) and Sheila Peterson (ND)

Brian approached culturally relevant teaching in order to bridge to Ojibwe students who were mistrustful of school bc the school did not consider their culture and create safety.

1. Create "Welcome Mats"- welcoming space as you learn about the students' culture

1. Although he started with unintentional cultural appropriation, he did the work to really learn about the Ojibwe community. Now he is embraced by the Ojibwe community.

2. Multilingual signage was added to school

3. How do you move beyond being negligent and/or by culturally appropriate? Brian's mentor says "do it afraid" but do it! Brian stepped out to the community and he began to learn the Ojibwe language and Anishinaabe culture

4. Find your Game-Changers: with a students like, Raven and Lyric, Brian deepened his learning

5. Protecting students' right to show their culture: Brian supported students as they wore Eagle feathers on graduation although it wasn't board approved (now for 10 years, Eagle feathers have been embraced for graduation ceremonies)

6. Graduation rate went from 38% to 100%

7. Community is everything!

8. We are righting the wrong and de-colonizing the system

9. Being inclusive means all, non Ojibwe students can participate in language learning

Sheila was inspired by her daughter with autism to start a peer to peer program for students with special needs to develop strong friends.

1. Find all the spaces that students aren't finding belonging and spaces

2. Reverse immersion: English speakers engaged in the world through the eyes of multilingual speakers

3. Complete service projects to ensure students with special educational needs develop equitable partnerships (students with special needs are being treated as partners and friends)

4. All abilities and Identities are celebrated

5. Students have taken ownership of ideas: carnivals celebrating neuro diversity, even students without disabilities are asking to be mentees if they need extra help and/or need help finding connections with peers

6. Extended to HS

7. Jordan, a student, now is a PhD candidate who is studying the impact:

1. Peer to Peer increased friendships among 90-95% of students did

2. Skill Development: Increase of academic skills, communication skills, etc

Materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JrCM1FMCnl85Zt6iYH8lT4EyUVs3W-WP?usp=drive_link

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2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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Speaker: Laura Jeanne Penrod (NV)

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Nevada – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Laura Jeanne Penrod’s 17-year education journey began with early entry into leadership. As a classroom practitioner, she is committed to leadership and advocacy for and with students and colleagues. Penrod’s expertise in project-based learning and commitment to social-emotional learning (SEL) leads her students to have meaningful educational experiences and statewide impact.

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20. Calm Classroom: Mindfulness for Teachers and Students

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20. Calm Classroom: Mindfulness for Teachers and Students

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Speaker: Taniece Thompson-Smith (TX)

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Texas – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Taniece Thompson-Smith is a 14-year veteran teacher and an 18-year military spouse with a diverse teaching career spanning more than seven school districts across the United States, Jamaica and Japan. Thompson-Smith earned her Bachelor of Science in computer science from Brooklyn College in New York. She also holds a graduate-level teacher certification from Rider University in New Jersey and a Master of Arts in teaching with a concentration in multicultural and social justice education from California State University in Fresno, California.

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22. Building InclusiveSchools: Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Students

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22. Building InclusiveSchools: Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Students

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Speaker: Joshua Chard (ME)

Slide deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ukyIxPfS1BDQSKQ-DFkwxHrNkYtIu4kyej2XzGyw30c/edit

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Maine – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Joshua Chard is a second and third grade looping teacher at East End Community School and the drama director at Deering High School, both in Portland, Maine. His approach to designing and implementing curriculum for young learners always starts through a culturally responsive lens. Joyful relationships are at the heart of everything Chard does in his classroom and he is inspired every day by the honor of lifting up and celebrating his diverse learners.

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23. Panel: A Conversation on Teaching Truth

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23. Panel: A Conversation on Teaching Truth

# data[].attributes.body
Speakers: Beth Barkley (DC), Kiana Foster-

Mauro (CT), Aziza Malik (VT), Traci Manuel (OK)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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Speaker: Christy Todd (GA)

Notes and/or Resources:

https://shorturl.at/JFoqA

How can teachers problem solve and identify opportunity?

Who can we connect with to solve this problem?

Subscribe to Todd's school YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@hallpasscreates

christytoddcreates@gmail.com

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, Georgia – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.headline
24. No-Tech Self-Care in the Middle School Classroom

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24. No-Tech Self-Care in the Middle School Classroom

# data[].attributes.body
Speaker: Jessica May (C)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 State Teacher of the Year, Colorado – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Jessica May is a family and consumer sciences teacher at Turner Middle School in Berthoud, Colorado, focused not only on cooking and sewing, but also self-care, social emotional learning, life skills (including personal finances), child development and school to career. She also teaches reading in the real world to all sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.

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25. Advocating Transformative Education: Empowering Students to Lead the Future

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25. Advocating Transformative Education: Empowering Students to Lead the Future

# data[].attributes.body
Speaker: Roy Basa (NM)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 State Teacher of the Year, New Mexico – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Roy Biñas Basa’s educational journey and achievements as a remarkable individual reflect a lifelong commitment to the field of education and a relentless pursuit of excellence. He is a ninth through 12th grade natural science and career and technical instructor for the Zuni Public School District in Zuni, New Mexico, serving Twin Buttes Cyber Academy and Zuni High School.

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26. Team: Student Engagement in a Skill-Focused Social Studies Classroom

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26. Team: Student Engagement in a Skill-Focused Social Studies Classroom

# data[].attributes.body
Speakers: Taylor Bussinger (KS), Ryan Hardesty (PA)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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27. Panel: Teaching Early Learners Through Literature

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27. Panel: Teaching Early Learners Through Literature

# data[].attributes.body
Speakers: Sharon Cole (WV), Elizabeth Duclos (NH)

Sharon and Liz share how they incorporate Science of Reading in their classrooms with practical strategies and applications you can incorporate tomorrow.

Notice and Wonder help students learn to pay attention and interact what they're reading.

Annotation helps students organize their ideas, slow down and interact with the text.

Detective Work: What makes the text challenging? What Science of Reading areas are addressed? What other content areas are included?

And we even were able to see some video of teaching in action!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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28. Empowering Multilingual Learners Through Authentic Language Practices

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28. Empowering Multilingual Learners Through Authentic Language Practices

# data[].attributes.body
Speaker: Ann Mincks (IA)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 State Teacher of the Year, Iowa – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ann Mincks is currently an English language earner (ELL) teacher at Hoover High School, which is part of Des Moines Public Schools. She teaches English classes ranging from emerging to advanced language levels for ninth through 12th grade students.

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31. Reading in the Real World for Secondary Students

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31. Reading in the Real World for Secondary Students

# data[].attributes.body
Speaker: Jessica May (CO)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 State Teacher of the Year, Colorado – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Jessica May is a family and consumer sciences teacher at Turner Middle School in Berthoud, Colorado, focused not only on cooking and sewing, but also self-care, social emotional learning, life skills (including personal finances), child development and school to career. She also teaches reading in the real world to all sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.

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Speaker: Carly Maloney, UT

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 State Teacher of the Year, Utah – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Carly Maloney lives by the motto “grow through what you go through.” Maloney’s desire to see the teaching profession grow is the reason she empowers and supports educators as a mentor and coach. Because of her close work with colleagues, she has a strong desire to grow awareness and destigmatize views around mental health for both educators and students. Maloney is also an advocate for the growth of multilingual learners and culturally responsive teaching. Maloney’s motto describes the work she does every day as a teacher and a leader.

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30. Crafting Science Connections: Empowering Students  Through Station Collaboration

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30. Crafting Science Connections: Empowering Students  Through Station Collaboration

# data[].attributes.body
Speakers: Taniece Thompson- Smith (TX)

This session was a powerful combination of teaching philosophy, personal storytelling and inspirational science demonstrations!

Taniece reminded us that we can't do it all, that students are engaged when learning is hands-on and purposeful.

"You can't do everything, but what you can do, you can hold space for the children. You can use your past experiences to inform your current experiences and you can use those to inform your future." -- Taniece (paraphrase)

Taniece also shared some of the realities of being a military spouse who is also pursuing teaching.

Resources: https://tinyurl.com/craftingscienceconnections

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR – ntoy.ccsso.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each year, CCSSO celebrates State Teachers of the Year from U.S. states, territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education by providing them with a robust year-long professional learning and engaging program. Each of these teachers represents a creative, tenacious passion for students and the teaching profession.

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3. Windows, Mirror & Sliding Glass Doors: Creating a Global Perspective

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3. Windows, Mirror & Sliding Glass Doors: Creating a Global Perspective

# data[].attributes.body
Speaker: Kerrie Gill (DoDEA)

Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors

How can educators provide opportunities for students to see themselves in our classroom and walk in and out of other peoples experiences?

1. Build a school environment where all students feel welcome and seen

2. Honor all languages, cultures, and countries through celebrations

1. Cultural Heritage Days - Celebrate music, food, and art

2. Physical environment should be representative of all students

3. In Class Activities

1. Where Im From Poem

2. 6 word memoir

4. Global and Diverse literature

1. Consider using podcasts, poetry, Graphic novels, and short stories

Closing Questions

1. How can you create opportunities for windows mirrors, and sliding glass door learning in your classroom?

2. How can you connect with your local community to value and honor local cultures?

3. What activity shown today do you want to bring back to your own school community?

4. What teacher(s) in your school or community can you collaborate with to bring cultural awareness teaching and learning to your students?

Email mailto:kerrie.gill@dodea.edu if you have questions

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2024 State Teacher of the Year, DoDEA – ntoy.ccsso.org