I think that the content presented at each KFP Professional Development Institutes built upon the previous institute nicely.  Of course the information and activities at each PD were very professionally meaningful, but I feel that having the opportunity to interact with educators from across the state was equally as important.  I learned so much about education in our state.  As an elementary teacher, having the chance to talk to middle and high school teachers about their jobs was insightful.  Understanding what they are looking for in their students can give me more direction when dealing with my second graders.

Reflecting on our KFP Professional Development Institutes, I think that what stands out the most for me are the valuable lessons in education-related advocacy and activism that I gleaned from our third gathering as a cohort of fellows.  While all three KFP institutes were great, I think that the topics visited in this third institute were particularly relevant given the current climate of education politics in North Carolina.  Over the last couple of years there have been times when remaining positive about the teaching profession has proven difficult.  The presentations at the third PD institute helped me to see that there are ways for classroom teachers to be active in the education policy discussion.  I also found it very helpful to understand more about how policies are made.  Finding ways to use this information and the fancy title of Kenan Fellow in order to improve our teaching conditions and our students’ learning conditions presents an exciting challenge.  While the current climate is less than ideal, the opportunity to be a part of the turnaround is inspiring.