Bye 2017....Hello 2018!

LONG POST ALERT!!!

Today is January 1, 2018 and as I sit here enjoying the last days of the holiday break, preparing and planning of the new year, I can't help but to reflect on 2017 and all that it brought!  At the end of 2016, I declared that my #oneword for 2017 would be "INTENT."  I chose this word based upon witnessing my twin brother's recovery from a horrific car accident that left him having to learn how to breathe, eat and talk all over again.  He's still learning how to walk.  His experience has reiterated to me the importance of living with intent and not taking any second of any day for granted.  I can truly say, that I lived 2017 with intent.  I stepped out of my comfort zone, stepped out on faith, and conquered a lot of fears!


Here are a few of the things that I conquered in 2017, fears that I overcame, experiences that brought me joy, and things that I'm proud of!

Tablet2Read
At work, we are in the middle of providing all of our first grade students with a tablet that they will be able to take home as a means of increasing literacy and providing remediation opportunities.  This year, I created the handbook for this project and was a part of the successful launch and pilot of the project.  To see the looks of the children's faces when they received their tablets was so fulfilling!  I helped leading the efforts in creating the project's name, the logo, choosing the applications, the device, and created the training plan for implementation.  We are getting ready to launch phase 2 and I'm so excited!  We also presented about this project at #GAETC this year!

Central Office "Tech Talk Series"
This was fun!  I was able to successfully launch a series of educational technology trainings for our central office staff!  My colleagues and I created and facilitated 3 sessions, 1 each month in the Spring (February, March and April) that allowed for colleagues in our central office to come and learn what is going on in the schools.  We led sessions on Google, Microsoft and other Web 2.0 tools that would help make their work days easier!  They were blown away at the ability to collaborate virtually and as a result, Google an Microsoft use have skyrocketed in our district!

Classy Graphics
Scrolling through Twitter one day, and maaaayyybeeee stalking Tony Vincent's feed, I saw that he was going to be hosting a class called Classy Graphics.  It was a 6 week course that he facilitated, created content and videos for, and taught it's participants how to create graphics that were sure to be eye catching!  I signed up and LOVED every second of it!  I looked forward to the new videos and assignments releasing every week and couldn't wait to try my hands at what he was teaching!  He is now going to release a Classy Videos course that I will DEFINITELY be signing up for and I can't wait.  If you see this offered, trust me, you NEED to do this!!

Started This Blog and created my LLC
This was a HUGE step out of my comfort zone moment for me!  Not only did I get inspired to start my own educational technology company that allows me to share my love of all things edtech with others, but I started this blog and have had some AMAZING traffic to it!  I am so humbled and blown away that so many of you care to read what I have to say!  I love learning and sharing with others so this is a win win for me!


Google Certified Trainer
A couple of years ago, Chris Craft came and trained our staff on all things Google before our district implemented Google Apps for Education.  He inspired to me to delve deeper into the world of Google and as a result I completed the requirements to become a Google Certified Trainer!  The knowledge and experiences that have come along as a result of this have been so rewarding!

Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert
This is my second year as an MIEExpert and I have LOVED every minute of it!  My district is a Google and Microsoft district so I have to be proficient in both!  Being an MIEE has been so amazing and the educators that I am fortunate enough to interact with make me a better educator!  The number of MIEEs in the state of Georgia have significantly grown this year and that just means that there are more people to learn from and collaborate with!

Twitter
I think I learn more from Twitter than I do anywhere else!  I have loved virtually meeting (and then meeting in real life) so many of my edtech heroes.  Being active on Twitter is the BEST way to grown your professional learning network.  There is soooo much professional development available out there on Twitter!  All you need to do is get involved!  I've loved taking part in different Twitter chats (ie. #alphasquirrels, #msftedu, etc) and learning from others all around the world!

ISTE
This was by far the BEST ISTE experience that I've ever had!!  I met soooo many amazing educators and got to interact with some really really smart people!  This was the first year that I was able to attend the Google Certified Trainer Meet-Up, the Alpha Squirrels Meet-Up, and the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Meet-Up!  San Antonio was beautiful, hot, but beautiful!  Seeing Jennie Magiera deliver the keynote was so inspirational!  Who knew that I'd meet her later in the year??

EdTechTeam Virtual Summit
Some how I was asked if I'd be interested in participating in the first Virtual Summit held by EdTechTeam.  Uhhhh, yeah!!!  I've blogged about this experience so won't relive it here, but it was amazing!  I was able present alongside some of the edtech people that I've looked up to and fangirled on Twitter over!  Definitely a highlight of 2017!

Our Voice Academy
BEST experience of 2017!  I'm STILL on a high from this experience!  Again, I've blogged about this a few times so you can read all about my experience there.  Being able to learn from 19 other minority ed tech leaders for a weekend in Minnesota was mind blowing!  I am so excited to use what I learned during this Academy in the future to help me continue to share my story and amplify my voice.  The main takeaway from OVA was that we all have a voice that deserves to be heard!

Looking forward to 2018
There is sooooo much that I'm looking forward to in 2018!  The #oneword that I have chosen for 2018 is "BE." I want to be present, be mindful, be intentional, be kind, and be impactful, just to name a few.

Professionally, there are a lot of ideas that I have for my school district that I can't wait to share with our teachers and students!  Some of these include:

• Launching the first Google Bootcamp in our District!
• Creating a district wide instructional technology podcast.
• Creating a cohort of edtech superhero educators!!!
• Launching the next phase of Tablet2Read.
• Launching the second year of our Central Office Tech and Talk Series.

Personally, I am looking forward to a lot as well!  Whether or not I will accomplish all of this is left to be determined, however these are SOME of the things that I want to do/accomplish in 2018.  I post these as a means of accountability for myself and I figure that once I put it out there, I don't have a choice, but to do it!  So, hold me accountable!

• Continue growing my PLN on Twitter, learning from amazing ed tech educators!
• Continue blogging, more often.
• Spotlight Speak with EdTechTeam.
• Deliver at least ONE keynote this year.
• Sign up for and take Classy Videos by Tony Vincent.
• Renew my Google Certified Trainer status.
• Renew my Microsoft Innovative Educator and Surface Expert status.
• Apply for the Google Innovator program.
• Being active with the second cohort of Our Voice Academy.
• FINISH MY DISSERTATION and FINALLY become Dr. Natasha Rachell!!!!
• Attend ISTE.
• Get healthier: eat better, exercise, drink more water, meditate.
• Continue on my spiritual journey.
• More to come.....

What accomplishments are you most proud of from 2017?  What's your #oneword for 2018?  What are you most looking forward to in 2018?  Write it down and find an accountability partner!  You can do whatever you set your mind to!