I have so many highlights from our week at NCCAT!  I enjoyed meeting so many fascinating and positive people!  EVERY presenter was incredible and provided so much for me to work with and adopt in my school setting!  Our rafting trip was totally memorable!  But after lengthy consideration (I didn’t arrive home until seven o’clock last night and it provided a lot of time for contemplation), I think the highlight intend to focus on is the evening “decompression” sessions.

I’m not really a shy person.  AND, I absolutely adore talking and sharing.  But, I do seem to fight some weird inner battle about joining groups that are already sitting around together.  I don’t want to intrude, but I would love to “belong.”  I arrived to the patio on the later side — close to nine — and there were multiple chat sessions in progress.  I stood next to the closest group so that I could just listen and observe and found myself immediately welcomed and included.  In my life experiences thus far, that is a rare response.  Not only that, but the group I sat with seemed genuinely interested in my input and personal stories.  I found myself reluctant to leave almost three hours later, even though there were only three people left on the entire patio, because it had been such a pleasant, entertaining, and informative evening.

I think this highlight also captures what I have come to expect and appreciate about our Kenan Fellowship.  Everyone is open to new ideas, has educated opinions and perspectives to contribute, and values the contributions that everyone else can provide.  I truly believe that it is the most positive group of educators with which I have ever had the privilege to spend time.