Saturday, February 21, 2015

Episode 52: We're Back!

Image from the Dappled Grays

After a long hiatus, we're finally back! We appreciated the tweets from our listeners anxious for a new podcast.  In this podcast we catch up on what we've been up to and talk about










Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Guest Post

First of all...we apologize for our podcasting hiatus, but as we've previously shared, we've been spending what is normally our podcasting time to co-write a book that should be published this August.  We promise to have a podcast soon, but for now, we have to share with you this guest post from one of our listeners...
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Becoming a Connected Educator 
by Patricia Wilson, originally posted at The Assistant Principal's Office

I have the blessing (or curse, depending on your point of view) of living 25 miles from my school.  That makes for a relatively long drive twice every day.  Over the past 4 years I have grown accustomed to using this time for reflection.  I turn off the radio and simply let the quiet envelop me.  Recently though I decided to try something new and I found a educational leaders podcast called "Principalcast" on itunes.  I downloaded a couple of episodes and listened.  I didn't make it through a single broadcast before I was hooked.  I began looking forward to listening each afternoon.  The hosts, Jessica Johnson (@PrincipalJ), Theresa Stager (@PrincipalStager), and Spike Cook (@DrSpikeCook) made me laugh and nod my head as they discussed the highlights of their weeks and discussed key topics we all face.  (You can catch them on principalpln.com or @principalpln now.)  As I listened it became clear to me that there was something missing in my personal professional development.  I needed to have a way of expressing the excitement and enthusiasm I feel for education, without apology, to a group of educators who have a similar drive.  Thank you Jessica, Theresa and Spike for reminding me that there is a whole world of people like me who want to connect and discuss the passion we feel for educating our students.    


So I am slowly branching out into the world of connected educators.  My first trip has taken me into the world of Twitter.  Yes, I am a little ashamed to say that I was never more than a periodic lurker on Twitter until this past weekend.  Last night however I joined my first "Twitter Chat" at #APChat and it was amazing.  Those of you who get as excited as me about talking shop with others will understand.  Even though we were all over the country, I felt like I was connecting.  I was able to see what other people thought about instructional leadership and express my own views (I even got a few "favorites" to my ideas).  When it was over I was hyped up like a girl home from a first date.  I found myself wanting to go again. 


Now I stand on the edge of the connected educators' world, the lonely forest of "going it
alone" behind me and the expansive view of a marvelous new adventure ahead.  And so it begins....  
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Thank YOU Patricia for such a humbling post. It's feedback like this that reminds us of why we started this podcast and that we need to get back at it!