It’s always Teacher Appreciation Day here on Thursdays… and today we’ve decided to feature a group of teachers and educators who we’ve seen grow their PLN via multiple forms of social media, including Twitter’s #edchat, their dynamic blogs and their ability to interact with educators for PD! We’ll continue to spotlight a handful of individuals for Thank a Teacher Thursdays (#ThankaTeacher), who not only make a contribution to the classroom, but to the greater online teacher community. Feel free to read their blogs, follow them on twitter, and if you know a teacher or educator that deserves to be recognized – tell us in the comments section! We’d love to hear from you!
Vicki Davis is a teacher and the IT director at Westwood Schools in Camilla, Georgia. Vicki co-created four award winning international wiki-centric projects, the Flat Classroom™ project, the NetGenEd™ Project, the Eracism Project™, the Horizon project, and Digiteen™ with teacher Julie Lindsay, currently in Bejing. She is cofounder of the Flat Classroom Conference. These projects have linked thousands of students from both public and private schools in quite a few countries! You can follow Vicki’s blog at the Cool Cat Teacher and follow her on twitter @coolcatteacher.
Diane Ravitch is a Research Professor of Education at New York University and a historian of education. She shares a blog called Bridging Differences with Deborah Meier, hosted by Education Week. She also blogs for Politico.com/arena and the Huffington Post. Her articles have appeared in many newspapers and magazines. Diane worked in government services for many years and also as an Adjunct Professor of History and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Diane has also authored many books which you can find out more about on her website and follow her on twitter @DianeRavitch.
Chris Lehmann is the Principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. In his earlier career, Chris was a Technology Coordinator, English Teacher, Girls Basketball Coach, and Ultimate Coach at the Beacon School, a fantastic progressive public high school in Manhattan. Check out Chris’s blog, Practical Theory – A View from the Classroom and follow him on twitter @chrislehmann.
Susan Murray-Carrico has been an educator for 18 years and is a 21st Century learner who often reflects on her experiences. Susan has been a classroom teacher, lead teacher, trainer, department chair, and curriculum writer, but I still feels she has much to learn. Through her blog, Sturm und Drang – Reflections on Teaching and Learning, she aims to dive straight into writing, researching, and collaborating. Follow Susan on twitter @FrauSusi.
Bryan Jackson is a teacher working at his old high school where he is exploring gifted and techno-learning with students he describes as younger, smarter versions of his youthful self. Bryan is a former middle-distance runner, current guitar enthusiast, sometime reader, sometime writer, wannabe pirate and graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Bryan uses his blog, Adventures in a Gifted Classroom, to not only blog about current education topics and personal endeavors, but also to leverage his online space to his students to make his classroom increasingly paperless and globally connected. Follow Bryan on twitter @bryanjack.
Will Richardson is a parent, author, speaker, and blogger about social Web tools and their effects on schools, education and learning. Will is the “Learner in Chief” at Connective Learning and the author of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms now in its 2nd Edition, published by Corwin Press. His site, webblogg-ed, is dedicated to discussions and reflections on the use of Weblogs, wikis, RSS, audiocasts and other Read/Write Web related technologies in the K-12 realm, technologies that are transforming classrooms around the world. Will welcomes opportunities to do presentations on these technologies and to teach and train educators how to use them effectively in the classroom. Will has recently made the decision to move over to a tumblr account where he will continue to blog and connect with educators. Check out Will’s tumblr feed and follow him on twitter @willrich45.
Jan Webb has been combining two work roles lately – as a class 4 teacher and as a primary ICT consultant with her local authority. Over the next 6 months she will be seconded to Microsoft, managing the Innovative Teacher Programme – where you’ll be able to find her blogging. Jan believes that good ideas are for sharing; ICT should enhance teaching and learning – and make the job easier/more effective/more fun; good teachers keep learning; collaboration between colleagues, between pupils – both in and between schools – enriches the learning experience; pupils can help each other’s learning. Check out Jan’s blog WEBB’S WIDE WORLD and follow her on twitter @janwebb21.
Matt Coaty is an Elementary educator, runner, biker, presenter, consultant, techie, and all around outspoken guy. Matt has taught elementary students for the past eight years and enjoys reading about education research research and learning from his PLN. His blog, Education Aspirations, is updated very regularly including posts about goal setting for students, professional development (PD), and making lessons fun for students! Follow him on twitter @Mcoaty1.
Bill Burkhead is the Assistant Principal at Plymouth North High School, passionate educator and coach. Bill earned his B.S. and M.Ed from Springfield College-MA and his Certificates Of Advanced Graduate Study fromBridgewater State College-MA. He is a former Athletic Director and Head HS Football Coach. Bill blogs about transforming education, becoming a better administrator through use of social media and many other education related topics. Check out his blog The Burkie Blog and follow him on twitter @northeagles.
Melanie Wiscount is an educational technology doctoral student, high school technology teacher, 2011 Siemens STEM Institute fellow, Microsoft Partners in Learning 2011 IEF finalist, and personal development tech trainer. Melanie is in her eighth year teaching, and her second year at Palmyra Area High School. During her teaching time, she has taught at the middle, high school, community college, and university levels. Melanie’s philosophy of teaching is simple. She believes that every student can be successful with the right attitude, motivation, and support. Add in technology, and we, as educators, speak our millennial students’ language, appeal to their nature, and get their attention. Check out her site Mrs. Wiscount’s Website and follow her on twitter @mwiscount.
