​Normally, I give an educator shout-out to someone that I greatly admire.  The team at Le Jardin Academy have a piece of my heart and I've already done a school shout-out here. 

I had the priviledge of working with all of the grade levels within the school to discuss personal and shared inquiry.  We had deep discussions about current practice, common obstacles, and possible plans to move forward. 

Little did I know that five months later that my work alongside Kath Murdoch and Trevor MacKenzie would be presented at the SOTF 2024 conference.  As you can imagine, I was honored and surprised that my work would be featured amongst inquiry greats.  It has truly been an honor to work with this team and I'm so happy they are moving forward with their inquiry journey. 

​For the full post, you can visit Serena's LinkedIn page here.  She has many insights about her school's journey to build personal and shared inquiry into their practice. 

I have known Annia Dear since 2013 when we both worked at Universal American School Dubai.  My mother used to tell me that you can always tell if a person is a good egg.  Annia a good egg.  

​Professionally, Annia has always been a role model to me.  After many years of being the head of primary, she returned to the classroom, because she began to feel out of touch of the needs of learners.  She also wanted to remember what it was like to be a teacher again, so she could empathize with her team.  This experience stayed with me as a teacher, coordinator, and independent consultant.

Years later, I have done the same thing after many years outside the classroom.  I returned this year as a third-grade teacher, because I was feeling disconnected to the teacher experience.  It was the best decision for me and I'll never forget how Annia influenced my decision so many years ago. 

Annia is currently the Deputy Head of Academy at Aga Khan Academy, Maputo.  I can't wait to visit her campus this year and reconnect from a fresh perspective. 

A couple of years ago, I was noodling on Facebook and we reconnected.  She quickly gave me her phone number and we chatted like no time has passed.  It's wonderful to speak with a former teacher as a colleague and learn about yourself from their lens.  

Have fun learning more tidbits below about Ms. Hively, one of the first teachers who ever saw my light. 

I've had the priviledge of meeting many fabulous educators in my lifetime.  Denise Kraft is in the top 10.  She truly is an amazing person, friend, mom, and educator.  

She had a dream of hosting Kath Murdoch at her campus for a training, which morphed into a conference.  Below, we are attending the very first Spear Center inquiry conference with Kath Murdoch, Trevor MacKenzie, Kimberly Mitchell, and Stephanie Harvey.  It was an incredible experience that I will never forget and I had my new friend with me. 

How did we meet?  Denise was a participant in an online workshop that I led for the PYP Exhibition.  Then, she joined a book club that I co-hosted and a sketch club.  We soon began to realize that our dreams for the future were the same.  Here is my shout-out to Denise for being the amazing educator that she is at the Lawrence School in Middletown, CT. 

Have you ever met a person online that you consider a friend?  That sounds like such a strange notion, but does it in a post Zoom world?  

A couple years ago, I met with Kirsten as she requested an online chat for a Toddle event. I  had put on my vision board that I would present at a Toddle event.  She made that happen two years in advance.  I still can't believe it. 

More importantly, our chat revealed that a kindred spirit existed on the other side of the world from me.  We are so aligned on so many things related to education and enjoy life to the fullest. 

I can't wait until the day that we get to meet in person.  Until then, enjoy my thoughts about Kirsten and hopefully you will become friends with her too. 

A few years ago, I learned about MsCindyPYP from several Twitter friends.  They told me about her wealth of knowledge, particularly in fifth grade.  I quickly followed her Twitter page and soon became a fan.  

​Since then, Cindy has moved from Madagascar to live back in the United States.  She has become the Director of Learning and Engagement for Toddle.  In that short period of time, she has created some amazing resources and started the School Leaders Project.  

I had the priviledge of meeting Cindy in-person at the IB Global Conference in Dublin.  I had so much fun with her that I can't wait for it to happen again. 

Here is my educator shout-out to the fabulous Cindy Blackburn.  I can't wait to see what she will do next!

When I think of Misty Paterson, these words come to mind: energetic, authentic, and unforgettable.  She truly is what you see on screen.  There is no gimmick or hype.  She just loves helping others to create learning that best meets the needs of their learners.  We need more people like her in the world. 

Misty and I became acquainted in Aug 2021 when we connected through Twitter.  From one chat, it turned into a partnership of ideas to a real friendship.  I am so lucky to have her in my life, because I know she genuinely has my best interests at heart.

Have you had a chance to meet Misty yet?  Be sure to check out her website for free resources and learning opportunities.  There is always something going on that may be of interest.  Be sure to join her newsletter too!

Have you ever met a person online that you knew would be your best friend?  This is Vidhya Ganesan for me.  We met on Twitter of all places before it became X during the pandemic.  Then, we partnered for several books clubs to engage with meaningful dialogues.  Next, we decided to begin a sketch club to share our personal ideas. 

These are lessons that I've learned from Vidhya.

• You are never too old to learn something new.  This woman is continuously educating herself by participating in webinars, presenting at conferences, and taking courses.  She loves to learn and share her understanding with others. 

• Take a risk.  She is always encouraging me to take risks and try things out.  She is my continual cheerleader even when I fail. 

• Trust your instincts.  Your gut will never lead you astray.  Always trust your gut with decision-making. 

I hope you enjoy this video about my friend Vidhya.  She is truly amazing. 

Currently, Levi is inspiring fellow educators as an Elementary Assistant Principal at the American International School of Jeddah.  He transferred his love of the programme into a role that will give him broader reach within the curriculum.  I am so proud of how he has flourished this past year.  

The learning journey has not end yet.  This year, Levi has become an IBEN member and is now certified to lead official IB workshops.  Teaching and learning has been a long-time passion and it's wonderful to see so many ways that Levi supports the PYP community. 

Take a peek below at a short video more about Levi and his impact on the learning community.  Also be sure to check out the link to his fabulous podcast called Recess Duty. 

This past year, I was asked to participate in Inquiry Spotlight with Kimberly Mitchell.  This process helped me to honor my own educational journey while helping others.  In honor of this process, I want to shout-out each week a person who has impacted my life through their kindness and generosity. 

The first Educator Shout-Out is none other than Kimberly Mitchell.  She is the author of Experience Inquiry and a mentor to many through her numerous webinars and speaking engagements.  

The highlight of 2023 was meeting Kimberly Mitchell in-person at the Crafting Inquiry Conference in Portland, Oregon.  She was just as amazing as I thought she would be: authentic, real, and warm.  

Have you met Kimberly Mitchell too?  What was your experience like?