With the day almost gone, I am reflecting on the journey of a lifetime.

It started with my third review this week of Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address (prompted by my near completion of Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs). At 12:15 into this video, Steve told about death being useful for clearing out the old to make way for the new. While profound, graceful and all too prophetic, these words resonate with me as I consider the changes in my roles over the last 20 years. This said, I have just recently become aware of a dynamic leader who serves the same grade levels I did when serving elementary students in public education. Ms. Magiera’s Class is one in which I would have thrived as a student. I see the way she enlists the support of her students as collaborative partners in processes of learning.

I envision student voice resounding throughout classroom activity and guiding the instructional practice. I see the way she has created exit slips and feeling surveys and know that the students recognize how much they and their opinions are respected. Also, I see a dedicated designer of learning who provides a great commentary on how she connects the dots http://teachinglikeits2999.blogspot.com/.