EdcampsummitKC

Last weekend I had the AMAZING opportunity to attend EdcampSummitKC.  It was a totally free event in Kansas City where I was able to meet and learn from Edcamp organizers from various states. On Saturday we participated in sessions about edcamp best practices and challenges.  I sat in the sessions with the organizers of some of the largest edcamps around.  There were times that I felt really inadequate.  My inner critic was whispering, "Why are you sitting at the table with these people who have been to 20 or more edcamps?  You went to one, and then you helped with the planning with the Edcamp in St. Charles.  You don't have any expertise to share"  I might not have a ton of expertise to share, but I have the experience of seeing educators share and learn from each other in edcamps.

Here are a couple of the ideas that were really exciting:

• The Edcamp Foundation awarded 30 impact grants, and 2 of these $1,000 grants were awarded to teachers who attended EdcampSCSD. I felt like a proud mama.  One of the $1,000 grants was awarded to Shelly Trauterman, fellow teacher in my building.  I can't wait to see the kids when they start using their flexible seating options when we go back to school on Tuesday.  You can check out Shelly's blog at http://loveoffirstgrade.blogspot.com/ .
• The Edcamp Foundation is going to fund opportunities that will allow Edcampers to get together after Edcamps in order to follow up and implement ideas they gained from Edcamp.  I'm excited to see how the Edcamp Labs will take the learning to the next level.
• I had the priviledge of learning about hosting a Twitter chat.  I learned from Tim Vesco (@mrvesco), Barb Gilman (@BarbInNebraska), Monika King (@ksedleader), Debbie Fucoloro (@debbiefuco), and Patrick Donovan (@donovanscience).  They shared resources with me, gave me encouragement, and gave me some great tips for hosting a Twitter chat.  Once I got home I took a leap and asked a friend at #OrEdChat if she still needed a guest moderator for Sunday.  I worked all day getting ready for the chat on Sunday.
  

I am very thankful for this opportunity to grow as a learner and leader.  The weekend helped me refocus my thoughts on leadership. I can't wait to get started planning #EdcampSCSD.