The three KFP Professional Development Institutes have enriched me as a teachers, as a professional, and as a person. “They have helped me lift my wings to start flying”.

I have learned new strategies to apply in the classroom, have used new tools in the classroom, feel comfortable creating new lessons, and feel more passionate about what I do, and how I do it. As I have said before, I feel empowered to do anything.

A good example of this has been related to the need I felt about creating a new partnership with the Aurora-Potash Corp Phosphate Mine. Partnerships and collaborations are very helpful when doing Citizen Science projects. Thinking about our Shark Teeth lessons, I thought it would be great if together with my students we could create a “virtual tour” video of the mine. That is the place where the shark teeth we study come from, and schools cannot visit the mine. Therefore, I found out who I should contact at the mine and sent an email with a a brief collaborative proposal for the creation of that virtual tour video. The email was taken in consideration, but the answer was that no one could tour the mine. Then, I took my students to the Aurora Fossil Museum, and saw the great importance, in motivation and excitement, for these students to have been there; to have had that experience, getting them excited about the lessons to begin. I, again thought, that “virtual tour” video is very important, and feeling empowered, decided to continue insisting on this. I have contacted Potash Corp again, and have met with the Public Affairs manager, meeting that turned out to be very successful. They are now considering the possibility of creating this video with my students; they have seen the importance of it, and recognized the impact this video would make on the community, and the whole state, realizing how important they can be in NC education. A collaborative process has begun with Postash Corp!

Another aspect that has brought a lot to me is having met, and shared with all the Kenan Fellows, teachers who really care about what they do and want to work hard on making a difference. It’s been a wonderful experience to be with all of them in the PDs days, and collaborate in a closer relationship with the Students Discover teachers. I keep learning from them every day, as well, and have felt very fortunate to be with all of you.