A Saturday Super 60!
- 10 hours ago
- 5 min read
Another list came out of educators to follow, with no criteria, no explanation….just a listing of the same familiar names promoting themselves and one another….many no longer in education at all….living on the conference circuit or helping to lead organizations that make their living off of educators’ hard-earned money.
Don't get me wrong, there were names of people still in schools doing great work, but the wheels quickly came off as I read through the rest of the embarrassingly obvious pandering (which is becoming the norm). Let's walk ourselves back from the edge of the edutainment abyss? It’s tiresome. It’s self-serving. We can do better.
In this spirit, here's my response on this #SpeakUpSaturday: 60 educators doing the real work without seeking recognition, self-promoting or selling out. What distinguishes them in my mind?
They give back to the profession they love. They personify impact in action. They influence by example. They let actions do their talking. Those they serve are well cared for. They are building legacies we can all emulate. They are leaving things better than they found them.
How's that for a set of requirements? 😁
Thank you to each of these wonderful professionals and the important work they do from all over the country, all over the world, and all over the org chart. It's an honor to follow each of you. You are our heroes!
LinkedIn profiles included so you can get to know them yourself:
Armani Alexander
PLC Coach with the Memphis-Shelby, Tennessee County Schools
Noor Ali
Associate Teaching Professor at Northeastern University College of Professional Studies
Elizabeth Baisley
STEM Instructional Support Specialist for Port Chester-Rye New York
Union Free School District
Erin Beard
University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) Implementation Specialist
Gillian Benedetti
Assistant Director of Student Activities at the Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi
TJ Bonham
Middle School Principal at Eureka Springs, Arkansas Public Schools
Danielle Brown
Middle School Math Teacher for the Salem, Virginia City Schools
Natasha Burke
Associate Principal at Roleystone Community College near Perth, Australia
Ashley Catrett
Superintendent of the Crenshaw County, Alabama Public Schools
Susan Chenelle
English Department Chair at Bard High School Early College in Newark, New Jersey
David Childers
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified School District in California
Tina Clark
Executive Director of Special Education at Lewisville, Texas Independent School District
Zak Cohen
Associate Head of School at The Jewish Leadership Academy in Miami, Florida
David Consalvi
Instructional Specialist at Rock Hill School District outside Charlotte, North Carolina
Jill Cowsert
Math Teacher with the Manassas Park, Virginia City Schools
Kelley Cusmano
High School English Teacher for the Rochester, Michigan Community Schools
Ann DeChenne
English Language Development Teacher for the North Marion School District in Oregon
Ellie Edsor
Teacher at St. Christopher's Prep in Hove, East Sussex, England
Fred Ende
Director Of Curriculum And Instruction at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES in New York
Deanna Fierro-Kin
Principal at T. Benton Gayle Middle School in the Stafford County, Virginia Public Schools
Dave Fontaine
AI Performance Enhancement Coach at University of Rhode Island
Laura Fowle
Curriculum and Learning Coach at the School District of Menomonee Falls in Wisconsin
Andrea V. Freile
Family Engagement and Communications Coordinator for the Wayne County, North Carolina School District
Kerry Gallagher
Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning at St. John's Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts
Neeti Gregg
Middle School Leadership Teacher for the St. Johns County, Florida School District
Michelle Howell
School Librarian at Union Elementary STEAM and Demonstration School for the Sumner County School System in Gallatin, Tennessee
Donnie Renee Johnson
Special Education Inclusion Teacher for Science and Social Studies at Capital City High School in the Trenton Public School District
Riedwaan Kader
Associate Principal for Student Life at the American International School Chennai in Chile
Derek Kirchner
Curriculum Director for the Colstrip, Montana Public Schools
Michael Kleine
U.S. History Teacher at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy in Chicago
Leslie Kohn
Assistant Principal with the New York City Public Schools
Bill Krakower
Teacher at West Essex Regional School District in North Caldwell, New Jersey
Steve Lebel
District K-4 Curriculum Director for the Golden Brook School in New Hampshire
Deanna Lough
Special Education ELA Teacher at George V. Kirk Middle School in Newark, Delaware
Tanya Garza Martínez
4th Grade Bilingual Teacher at Del Valle, Texas Independent School District
Donna Neary
English as New Language Specialist for Ooltewah Middle School in the Hamilton County, Tennessee Public Schools
Bianca Neri
Teacher and PLC Coach at the Singapore American School in Singapore
Cynthia Orr
Director of Correctional College Education at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon
Jeff Palladino
Principal of Fannie Lou Hamer High School in the Bronx, New York
Sweety Patel
Director of School Counseling Services for the Carteret, New Jersey Public Schools
Leah Pongratz
Lead Teacher for the Washington County Public Schools in Hagerstown, Maryland
Javeria Rana
Academic Director at Unique International Educational Services in Lahore, Pakistan
Tabitha L. Reeves
Director of Special Instructional Services at Frederick County Public Schools in Winchester, Virginia
Dan Reichard
Assistant Principal at Shrevewood Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia
Shane Saeed
Elementary ELA Curriculum Coordinator for the St. Vrain Valley Schools in Longmont, Colorado
Shellon Samuels-White
Student Assessment Officer for The Mico University College in Kingston, Jamaica
Margaret Sarti
Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Child Development Centers at the City Colleges of Chicago
Anna Lene Seidler
Professor for Interdisciplinary Research on Health Equity at Universitätsmedizin Rostock in Germany
Attalah Shabazz
DC Prep Academic Intervention Fellow
Samantha Shane
Career and Technical Education Teacher with the Morris County, New Jersey Vocational School District
Juan Jacobs Sheblak
Secondary School Principal at Luanda International School in Angola
Mandy Sierra
Principal at Lake Magdalene Elementary In the Hillsborough County, Florida Public Schools
Apryl Taylor
Senior Administrator for Secondary Science and K-12 Social Studies for the Orange County, Florida Public Schools
Melanie Link Taylor
Facilitator of Virtual Speech at Victor Elementary School District in Victorville, California
Iyabo Tinubu
Dean of Students for the International School of Beijing in China
Kristin Vogel-Campbell
Fieldwork Supervisor at The University of Toledo in Ohio
Jillian Whatley
School Psychologist Liaison at DeKalb County School District in Stone Mountain, Georgia
Davina Williams
Coordinator of Elementary Science for the Portsmouth, Virginia Public Schools
Teri Wilson
Early Childhood Training Specialist at United Way of Greater Houston
Jessica Worden
Director of Programs and Student Services at Evergreen School Division in Gimli, Manitoba
Note that every one of their titles describes the work they actually do....not an educelebrity among them; each of them dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the people they serve. No elaboration needed.
IMHO, if we’re ever going to reclaim this profession, these are the kinds of people to emulate....and there are so many more....too many to name in one post. You know who you are, and so do we. You aren't seeking to be on any list, but when someone stops to recognize you, it means something.
So kudos to this Super 60 celebrated this Saturday!
You make a difference!
We are proud to call you friend, colleague and educator!
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