Bow Tie Joe

Bow-Tie Connoisseur | Mathematics Educator | Soccer Coach | Lifelong Learner | #FlippedLearning Enthusiast | Doctoral Student

Jay Chow (@mrchowmath) | #BowTieTuesday

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to quite possibly one of the most brilliant educators that I had the pleasure of getting to know. I had the opportunity of getting to know him on a much deeper level since we were roommates during the Desmos Fellowship. The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than the Hawaiian himself, Mr. Jay Chow (@mrchowmath), a former high school mathematics teacher from “the island” and a current Instructional Designer at Desmos, Inc.

Educational Pursuit: You’d never assume that Jay has only one decade of experience under his belt with the amount of educational and mathematical prowess that he wields. He began his career at the University of Hawaii where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in 2010. As educators, we are all aware of the immense effect of having a good educator and even a bad one in a child’s life can have. Jay hails from a family of teachers with a true passion for education and has firsthand, seen and experienced the profound effect great teaching can have on a child’s life. He has also experienced being in classrooms with teachers that are in the profession for the wrong reasons and the crippling damage done to his classmates’ lifelong love for mathematics and hopes to play a role in reversing this effect.

Most Memorable Moment: Short and sweet, Jay’s most memorable moment was being accepted and having the opportunity to participate in the Desmos Fellowship program. I might argue that it may have been a reciprocal feeling, just saying!

Personal Learning Interests: Currently, he is spending large amounts of his time finding new and interesting ways to generate an interest in mathematics for learners of all ages.

I’m adding this one in on my own accord – Jay is also probably spending just as much time learning (and teaching) computation layer, the language that Desmos software operates on.

The Fun Stuff

Jay’s go-to Karaoke Song: Hey Jude, The Beatles

Jay’s Inside Scoop: Jay is actually the tallest person in his family.

Jay, thank you for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. I am grateful that we somehow wound up being roommates during the fellowship and that I even had the pleasure of making your acquaintance! You have had a profound impact on my PLN, both as an individual and mathematically! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Bow-Tie Joe

By Bow Tie Joe, ago

Luke Greeley | #BowTieTuesday

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to an educator that I’ve met during my doctoral journey and has taught me quite a lot along the way. Surprisingly enough, he’s also the first #BowTieTuesday recipient to not have a Twitter, insisting that social media isn’t his “forte” all the while challenging me to include those that participate on LinkedIn as an alternative – recommendation, accepted! The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Mr. Luke Greeley, an Assistant Dean at the Rutgers Business School and a PhD Student and Instructor at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education.

Educational Pursuit: Luke has found himself steadily approaching the decade mark in education as of late. His educational career began at Bucknell University where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He then moved on to obtain his Masters in Higher Education from the University of Maryland and most recently, is a PhD Candidate in Educational Theory Organization and Policy at Rutgers University. His motivation to pursue a career in education sprung from the tremendous impact teachers and administrators in both his K-12 and college experience had on him. Oh, and like all other educators, Luke loves finding himself in a ‘learning environment’.

Most Memorable Moment: Giving his first lecture as a co-instructor in the Rutgers Ed.D. program was Luke’s most memorable moment. He described the opportunity to get to lead a discussion amongst such a diverse group of experienced educators who were excited to be there and committed to improving our educational system as a privilege and a moment he’ll never forget.

I was there – the passion and excitement for which Luke talks about education is nothing short of inspiring! Luke, my cohort and I are still waiting for Leadership III to hit WebReg…

Personal Learning Interests: Luke is currently engrossed in learning everything he can about the relationship of education to the economy, and in particular, consumer education. He’s also an avid gardener, so you can also find him trying to learn more about that and experimenting with new techniques.

The Fun Stuff

Luke’s go-to Karaoke Song: Not a big fan of karaoke, if he does find himself in front of the mic, Luke would opt for a Bruce Springsteen song.

Luke’s Inside Scoop: Luke is a whiskey connoisseur.

Luke, your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot into a classroom do not go unnoticed. On behalf of my cohort, I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the conversations you’ve facilitated in class and your commitment to supporting us in our endeavors along the way. Blessed to have had the pleasure of your tutelage twice during my program and the positive impact your ideas and instruction has had on my PLN! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Bow-Tie Joe

By Bow Tie Joe, ago

Oscar Perales (@operales72) | #BowTieTuesday

Introduction: Happy new school year to all of my fellow educators! I hope the new year has been off to a smooth and successful start! It was a busy summer for myself but am extremely excited to get back to my #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight’s for the 2018-2019 school year. Tipping off the new school year, I had the pleasure of getting to meet this fellow math teacher, football coach, doctoral student – basically, the Texan version of myself – at the Desmos Fellowship we were both fortunate enough to attend this past July. I have brainwashed him into becoming another #BowTieBrand ambassador…just kidding! Anyway, it is my pleasure this week to recognize the dedicated efforts of Mr. Oscar Perales (@operales72), a high school mathematics teacher in Dallas, Texas.

Also, he’s the first non-Jersey recipient!

Educational Pursuit: Oscar obtained his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Baylor University and is currently in pursuit of his Ed. D. in educational technology from Boise State. I told you, the Texas version of myself.

Recanting his reasoning for joining the profession, Oscar informed me that he grew up in a small farming community outside of Dallas (Royse City). He was heavily influenced by his physics teacher, Mr. Smith, and football coach, Coach Webb. Mr. Smith was a challenging yet loving teacher that had a knack of making class engaging and meaningful. Coach Webb was the head football coach who had the ability to motivate his team to the state semi-finals, a huge accomplishment in Texas football. More importantly, however, the commonality between the two was their ability to establish connections with ALL of their students and athletes.

Oscar had once heard Coach Webb say that “kids don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care”, a creed he tries to embody as an educator and one I share with him. Mr. Smith challenged each and every one of his students, striking the perfect balance between compassion and assertiveness. Oscar wanted to make a positive impact on those around him, which ignited his decision of pursuing a career in education. He chose mathematics because although it was a subject he enjoyed, it was still a challenge to him . In these last six years as an educator, he’s learned to appreciate the value of a “growth mindset” and the impact it can have on student mathematical learning and self-efficacy. As technology continues to grow and evolve, he looks forward to exploring the potential impacts new technological resources bring to the table, and more importantly how educators can ensure that they’re serving a valuable purpose to their maximum potential.

Most Memorable Moment: Oscar has been blessed with many wonderful memories of his students throughout the years, with many of them involving watching his students grow and develop their mathematical self-efficacy. In general, there is no better feeling in the world than when a struggling student who used to “hate” math informs you that they finally understand it better.

One particular moment that he is particularly proud of occured during his time as a first year teacher. He created a Latin Dance Society group at his high school in Waco, Texas. The culminating moment was when they performed at a salsa convention in Austin. The event featured performances from professional dancers from across the globe, and they were the only high school team to share the stage with them. They were so wonderfully nervous before the performance, and afterwards were filled with so much adrenaline and excitement as they had received a standing ovation. Their picture at that performance remains in his room to this day.

Personal Learning Interests: Oscar’s doctoral pursuit has him currently focused on research Research surrounding technology-enhanced learning environments with an emphasis on high school mathematics education, applying the universal design for learning framework to ensure math is accessible to all.

Lastly, he spends the rest of his free time learning about offensive line performance (building skill aquisition, technique) and Buddhism (unlocking the mind, pursuing happiness, letting go of the “self”).

The Fun Stuff

Oscar’s go-to Karaoke Song: Depending on his mood, Oscar has two go-to karaoke songs: Gold Digger by Kanye West or Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

Oscar’s Inside Scoop: Bearing witness to Oscar’s inside scoop during our #FellowsWeekend, he was a Latin Dance Instructor/Choreographer/Performer/DJ/coordinator in college.

Thank you, Oscar, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. I am grateful that we connected over our affinity for coaching and dancing that 2nd evening in San Francisco! Never did I imagine that our impromptu trip that night would translate into the friendship we have nowadays and the positive impact you have had on my PLN! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Bow-Tie Joe

By Bow Tie Joe, ago

I’m in the Wrong Room…

It is astonishing at how quickly time can pass. Exactly one week ago, I was in San Francisco, CA, about to embark on what would be the most humbling and exhilarating experience of my professional career. To provide you with some context and doing my best Thanos impersonation, rewinding the hands of time to April, I was informed that I had been selected to join the third cohort of the Desmos Fellowship Program. So last Thursday evening I boarded a 5:45 flight out of Newark International and headed to San Francisco, California where I did a little bit of sightseeing, a whole lot of learning, and oddly enough, found myself in the wrong room at the right time.

Anticipatory Set

In the weeks leading up to Fellows weekend, members of the new cohort, the Desmos team, and previous Fellows who would be attending, communicated via Slack using weekly prompts to get to know one another and grow. The conversation was rich and entertaining – the excitement was palpable even through the internet!

With all of my roles within my organization, I usually don’t get to experience society’s view of a “teacher’s summer” so I took full advantage of this opportunity to do a little exploring and sightseeing prior to the meeting of the minds on Friday at 4. Thanks, Desmos!

A few months back, I began a series #WellTravelED offering some tips and tricks on how to go on amazing vacations on a teacher’s salary. This is one of those ways. There are a ton of educational companies and organizations offering fellowship opportunities for you to be a part of – all you have to do is apply!

I hit the ground running at 7:30 AM Friday morning, eager to visit many of the iconic locations in San Francisco. I am a HUGE Full House fan so first up on my agenda was starting my day just like the introduction credits at the Painted Ladies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up on the agenda was the Golden Gate Bridge but if I could insert some insider knowledge, I recommend starting at Baker Beach where you can hike the Batteries to Bluffs trail, a segment of the California Coastal Trail. It yielded some truly spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the rugged cliffs along the California Coast. After about an hour or so, I had finally reached the coveted Golden Gate Bridge. Happy to admit that there was a significant amount of fog so I was able to get the true San Franciscan experience!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At this point, I had been exploring for about 4 hours and lunchtime was steadily approaching so I reached out to my roommate for the weekend about grabbing some lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf. Before I made my way there I had to make a pit-stop to see the Tanner’s!

I don’t think anyone was home when I got there though…bummer. Anyway, as I made my way from the Full House house to Fisherman’s Wharf my Uber driver decided to take me on the visitor’s route and I was able to take in a stunning view and experience the angular nightmare that is Lombard street. I met up with Jay and Nikki, two phenomenal Hawaiian mathematics educators where we shared some great seafood and conversation prior to heading over to HQ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart of the Lesson

When we first arrived at Desmos HQ on Friday afternoon, I noticed an extremely tall man, none other than Dan Meyer, standing at the door greeting each of us as we entered. He’s much taller in person. I was one of the earlier arrivals because my roommate, Jay, had to report slightly earlier to help set up. Upon entering the one floor that encompasses this amazing company, the first thing that caught my attention was their design philosophy, to which we came to learn, grounds every single decision they make. At their core, Desmos wants to ensure that students and teachers have access to the best free in-class resource. It is beatifically pure.

 

 Lost in thought about their design philosophy, the room quickly began to fill as did the energy and excitement for what was to come that weekend. A rough guess would put the cumulative amount of experience in the room at easily over 1000 years whereas I was entering the room at four. Whoa, talk about overwhelming and feeling like I was in the wrong room. I shook off my initial uncertainties and did what I do best, mixed and mingled, eager to learn! Day one began with a warm and heartfelt introduction from Shelley and segued into a “Math & Mingle” where we meandered around the room engaging with our newfound colleagues over a set of mathematical challenges and getting to know each other more informally. The night concluded and we headed back to the hotel to grab a few drinks and continue the conversation.

In case you’re wondering, only four people asked where my bow-tie was…

Day 2 began promptly at 8 AM to which I showed up to HQ sporting a very for the occasion pi bow-tie and my staple New York Yankees cap! We tipped off with Dan leading us through the Graphing Stories activity and the activity builder principles that govern the activities Desmos designs. He prompted all of us to consider how we provide feedback to students – distinguishing between ego-oriented versus task-oriented feedback – to maximize the levels of learning our students can experience. Thank god he used the anonymize feature of the Desmos platform because he decided to use my response to spark this discussion on feedback. Talk about nerve-wracking but absolutely insightful to see how and why my response was being critiqued and how to foster this conversation from the vantage point of the facilitator.

Next up, Shelley and Jenny walked us through the Desmos design process as the primary focus for the weekend was creating an activity using the Activity Builder. Initially, the design process was intense and at times overwhelming but understanding how intentional Desmos is with every decision in creating their activities inspired me to continuously question each decision I was making and to not lower my expectations.

Following the design process, Chris “Mr. Miyagi” Danielson led us on a very brief tour into the wonderful world of computation layer. If you’re interested in learning about the Mr. Miyagi pun, make sure you apply to hear it from the Sensei himself! Having released computation layer to the general public in April, many of the fellows had already established a working knowledge of the language (not me!) which allows users to construct or edit the features and activities with code. My biggest takeaway from Chris’s very brief session was to not become fixated on learning “how” to code but on how to maximize the power that comes along with CL.

The guy that does nothing (his words, not mine), Eli Luberoff, gave an entertaining and inspirational keynote during lunchtime about the history, mission, and vision of Desmos. While he claims to do nothing, I don’t buy it. The man embodies what it means to be a leader. He spoke at great length about each member of the Desmos team, emphasizing the significance of their importance to the work Desmos is doing. It was also humbling and insightful to see firsthand the voluminous growth of the company and understand its fixation on “opening the doors to the ever-exclusive mathematics club” and it’s philosophy on helping every student learn math and love learning math.

At its best, mathematics is equity, power, and justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We broke into working sessions after lunch to which I joined a group of educators who were interested in discussing incorporating Desmos into the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum. Shortly after, I attended another session on assessing students using the Desmos Activity Builder by Julie Reulbach. It was enlightening and empowering to be in a room with like-minded educators who were eager to create a much more rich, dynamic learning environment for their students. I left the session with way too many ideas…or maybe not enough. *Shrugs shoulders*

To conclude, Desmos is definitely attuned to the importance of creating a relaxing atmosphere and building community so they hosted a happy hour with some Desmos trivia to conclude a day of learning. While my “Go For Gold” squad didn’t take home the top spot and a signed headshot of Denis, it brings a smile to my face thinking of that moment, a bunch of dedicated educators finding some time to disconnect and enjoy each other’s company

Even though HQ was shutting down for the evening, Desmos had reserved a school bus for us at the Soma Street Food Trucks, a space for food, friends, and conversations. While we were engrossed in learning as much as Desmos could possibly throw at us, it was awesome to get a chance to sit back, disconnect from the world of education for a few hours, and remember what it’s like when we turn off our educator switch. Interestingly enough, I came to find out that Eli is a huge soccer fan and player! I invited him to come and play on my Jersey team if he ever finds himself on the East Coast.

Day 3 started off with some lighthearted fun as Dan heckled me for not wearing another bow-tie and ordered me to return to the hotel immediately and not return until I had found a new one. Mission accomplished. Sidebar: I like to think me and my roomie, Jay (in the middle), looked pretty comfortable in our Sunday finest.  Oh and you know we had to stream part of the world cup final! Jocelyn was quite pleased that France won…I wonder why?

 

Anyway, the learning on day three was kicked off as Michael led us the Charge! Activity to model the facilitation the Desmos team is looking for if we, as fellows, are looking to become certified Desmos presenters. Being someone that enjoys analyzing professional development experiences, I was blown away at Michael’s authentic performance and by the end, my notebook was filled with a bunch of moves that I had picked up along the way. Chris finished off the presentation by igniting a discussion about how technology helps and hinders the solution and grounding every technology decision in mathematics pedagogy. We segued into breakout sessions where I gravitated towards the session on designing professional development that maximizes resources and teacher learning. I was once again blown away by the fluidity and adaptability that Bob and Steph displayed as they led us through their session. The last part of the fellowship experience was to add any last-minute touches on an activity we had created (or started to create) and do a show and tell to get feedback from one another on how to make them better. They’re BIG on feedback, you couldn’t tell? The activities that my newfound colleagues had created were mind-numbingly BRILLIANT!

As is the case with any sound professional development experience, we concluded the weekend of learning with reflection, sharing it with our newfound Desmos family, and taking a family photo. Oh, and we got a swag bag and that iconic green Desmos polo! O-FFICIAL!

Closure

It’s been a week since the fellowship and I’m still trying to wrap my head around the transformative opportunity that I had the pleasure of participating in. I suppose it’s a great time to allude to my blog title! I just finished up my fourth year as an educator and as I had mentioned previously, there was a WEALTH of knowledge and experience in the fellowship and on the Desmos team. Being selected for this year’s fellowship was an incredible opportunity that I’ll forever be grateful for. There were a few times, however, where I felt my inexperience was certainly a drawback. You see, my incessant work ethic and extremely high personal expectations have often translated into my colleagues turning to me for information, guidance, and support. Participating in this fellowship was the first time in a very long time that I was far from the center of my comfort zone, which I knew was going to be great for my growth, but difficult to adapt to in the moment. I know I have a long way to go before I consider my mathematical pedagogy adept. Apparently, my personal thoughts regarding my contributions to the fellowship escaped my inner sanctum unknowingly in a conversation I was having with someone and they proceeded to drop the following knowledge bomb on me:

If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.

And it clicked. Any situation that plucks you from the comfort of your area of expertise and places you in an environment where you are no longer the most experienced or talented person in the room is exactly where you want to be. Find the wrong room and walk right in. Make yourself uncomfortable, share and be proud of what you bring to the room, and prepare yourself for what could quite possibly the most exponential amount of learning you have ever experienced.

As I gear up for my fifth year in the trenches, I take great pride in what I have been able to accomplish in my time as an educator and am invigorated at the opportunity to develop my understanding as to what it means to teach mathematics with my Desmos family and other like-minded math educators on Twitter! I am honored, humbled, and grateful for the opportunity Desmos provided me and other mathematics educators and I look forward to many more years of collaborating and working towards every student learning math and love learning it!

Exit Ticket

Special thanks to Oscar for the endless conversation about math, coaching, our doctorates, and salsa dancing.

Special thanks to Nico and Christelle for more endless conversation and being my first Thai and Korean food experience! You kept that “in the wrong room” experience going for me at all hours of the day!

To the rest of my fellows, I miss you all more than an expanded Taylor Series!

Oh, and before I forget, a special shout-out to my Garden State brother and fellow Fellow, Nick Corley, for plenty of offline conversation and support prior to my trip out West!

And as always thank-you, to you, for reading and sharing!

Bow-Tie Joe

By Bow Tie Joe, ago

Bow-Tie Joe’s Doctoral Survival Guide

I remember my first day of my doctoral program like it was yesterday…

I entered Rutgers newly minted academic buildings eager to begin what I had anticipated to be my most difficult endeavor to date. I walked into the learning space, reacquainting myself with familiar faces from orientation, and settled on a table tucked away on the side of the room. Our professor welcomed us with open arms and invited us to introduce ourselves and what our dissertation topic was going to be (at that moment in time).

Cue record player scratching.

I hadn’t even been in the room for more than thirty minutes and I was being asked to drop an elevator speech as to what my research interests were?! I thought we were going to be able to sit down and flesh out our ideas with someone who was much more knowledgeable than myself… Since that moment in time, where I had a lump the size of a softball in my throat, I’ve taken 10 courses, earned 30 credits, and most recently begun year two of what should be a three-and-a-half-year journey.

In that time, I’ve endured my fair share of student struggles, but I’ve also forged bonds with educators and people alike that will last a lifetime. I’ve also developed my abilities as a student educator, and human exponentially, all while having an absolute blast. While there are some parallels between a Ph. D. and an Ed. D. program there are some vast differences, many of which go unaddressed on the internet. Noticing a gap in the literature I decided to start to fill it. Here are my confessions of a first-year Ed. Doc. Student.

 

Confession #1 – Obtaining your doctorate is equivalent to running a marathon, not a sprint.

While I don’t necessarily have the first-hand experience of taking part in a marathon, by the looks of it, it seems to be an extremely grueling, arduous test of mental and physical fortitude. The same can be said for the doctoral journey. There are going to be an innumerable amount of instances where you where you are simply exhausted, overwhelmed, and unmotivated, operating under the adage, “I’ll just take a nap instead!”

Do it. Seriously. Give yourself time to process and think through the information you are receiving. You are going to be processing and digesting information at a much more accelerated rate than you are used to. Allow yourself and your mind to dive deeply into the ideas being conveyed in the literature and set realistic expectations for yourself. Understanding what your optimal learning environment is will allow you to develop the endurance you need to successfully finish this marathon in an appropriate amount of time.

A colleague of mine, during one of those strenuous and overwhelming moments of the semester, shared a story with us to remind us that we’re human.

I used to be an avid runner and I will never forget this one race. I was about 3/4 of the way through a particularly grueling half marathon and I was struggling. Thousands of runners around me looked in much better shape, faster, and more prepared. I beat myself up for not training harder or being ready. As I ran through, I passed a woman holding up a poster that said, “they are just as tired as you are”. I can’t fully describe how much I laughed and loved that sign at that moment, or how I apply that to so many other things.

So when you sit in class and you feel like you’re the only who’s not an expert in theoretical frameworks, or the only one who doesn’t have their dissertation topic planned and ready to go, or the only one who hasn’t finished their assignment, remember, there are plenty of others who feel just as overwhelmed, underprepared, or out of their league as you. (Thaddeus, 2017)

 

Confession #2 – Be prepared for learning overdose.

Just as you can train and prepare for a marathon, nothing can truly prepare you for that moment your body and mind start to beg for a break and you need to summon raw mental strength and grit to get you to the finish line. Yes, while you may be able to simply “complete” each assignment and proceed through your coursework as though their checkpoints, eventually this strategy will catch up with you and hindsight is always 20/20 – I know what you’re thinking, the second doctorate will be much easier…

That being said, there will always be more readings, more assignments, more everything. The best analogy I can contrive is the amount of learning you will experience in a doctoral program is similar to a cartoon where the character opens a door which leads to a room with 10 more doors and so on and so forth. My best piece of advice (and something I learned as an undergraduate) is to ignore your grade and embrace the essence of learning – learning simply for the sake of learning. Pure knowledge acquisition. Besides, when you finally accomplish this milestone, who’s really going to ask you what your GPA was?

Enjoy the experience and soak it up like a sponge!

 

Confession #3 – Don’t think for a second your dissertation topic needs to be set in stone when you begin the journey.

When I had applied to the program I had expressed interests of exploring the success rate of the flipped classroom model in urban mathematics classrooms. Well, that idea was short-lived and I was once again, overwhelmed because there I was, surrounded by educators who seemed to have their dissertation written from the jump and here I am, twiddling my thumbs. What did I do? I took a nap…just kidding. I ASKED FOR HELP and boy did I get it. My first professor asked me quite possibly the most important question throughout my entire experience…

What about education keeps me up at night?

That question triggered a deep self-reflection about what my core values were as an educator and the change that I hoped to enact within my context. Not to mention, you will read so much literature that you identify with and are passionate about during your learning experience. Allow it to guide the construction of the long, winding road towards completing your dissertation. Don’t be deterred by some of the stones – developing a particular style of learning, forgetting some things that you read, being conflicted about switching your topic altogether – that you may trip on along the way. As long as your topic is relevant and worthwhile to YOU, then run with it. Trust in your abilities and your passions – they won’t steer you wrong.

 

Confession #4 – Don’t let the program consume you.

Everyone pursuing their Ed. D. is a practitioner – we are already dedicating much of our energy to improving the organization that we call home, it’s probably part of the reason why you’re trying to obtain your doctorate, to begin with! With everything you do during your day gig and spending sometimes 3 or 4 nights a week in class, there isn’t much time left for you, friends, or family. It is very important to understand how much out of class time you need to dedicate in order to be successful. Our first professor was very insightful and said something else that resonated with me.

The goal of an Ed. D. program is not for you to finish with two D’s – doctorate and divorce – only one.

And she meant it. This program will not only strain you but those around you who aren’t necessarily cognizant of the amount of time and energy the program demands. Cue them in and invite them to be a vital part of the journey! Bow-Tie Joe is not married…well technically I am to mathematics but she’s very understanding and supportive of all of my endeavors. All jokes aside, I have a younger brother that this program has stripped away much of my time from. There will always be an additional article that I could read, a class that I should have attended, or corner of a library I should be eroding away in. But there won’t always be moments in time to disconnect and create memories with loved ones. Take a vacation, make time to go on a spontaneous adventure, and do whatever it is you need to do to mentally reset, trust me. The program isn’t going to feel slighted or jaded that you didn’t show up for one class – you shouldn’t either.

 

Confession #5: Find your tribe.

I’m blessed. The program that I’m enrolled in at Rutgers University is built upon a cohort model, which brings together this smorgasbord of knowledge, skills, and experience. Even more important is that cohort programs naturally build community and are amazing at subduing feelings of isolation and solitude. Whether your program is centered around a cohort or not, it is critical to establish a support system for when the going gets tough. As a cohort, we celebrate the small victories – finishing a course, promotions, birthdays, etc. They also insisted I encourage you to create a Facebook page where you take great pride and satisfaction in posting witty memes to make the torture, I mean time, pass by. Within my concentration, which is a total of six people, we find victory in accomplishing assignments and progressing through the semesters together. I honestly don’t know if I’d be able to maintain my sanity throughout this program had it not been for the love, support, and laughter I receive from the amazing women in my concentration. Whatever it may be, cherish it and the people who are a part of the journey. I know personally that I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy this experience as much as I am had it not been for the amazing people you see pictured above and below.

In addition to your colleagues in the program, don’t forget about your professors who you’ll come to work alongside as you complete your dissertation. While we may consider them the gurus of knowledge (and keeper of grades if you see it that way) they are also a very vital part of your journey and are extremely eager in supporting you in all of your endeavors, both academically and personally.

 

Bow-Tie 20% Tip

This last segment isn’t necessarily a confession but more so some tips and strategies for paying for your doctoral degree. The first option I would encourage everyone to look into is loan forgiveness. Being a secondary mathematics teacher in a Title I organization for at least five years will shave off almost $18,000 off the bill! Even if you aren’t one of the educators eligible for the $17,500 loan forgiveness, you can still receive $5,500 off and hey, if it’s free it’s for me!

Secondly, something that most people don’t necessarily consider (and sometimes are based on financial need) are scholarships offered by the university or the program that you are enrolled in. Most of them require an essay on a particular topic in education and completion of the dreaded FAFSA, but hey if that’s what it takes for some potential free money, sign me up!

Another option to consider is maximizing your organization’s tuition reimbursement policy. Some districts pay out a particular amount based on per employee enrollment while others operate under a first come, first serve procedure or require a particular amount of years of service for a return on investment. Whatever option your organization offers, be realistic about the money you will receive. It is easy to put yourself in a financial hole if you are expecting a few thousand dollars and the organization’s reimbursement policy isn’t structured in your favor.

Something else very much outside of the box is perhaps looking to become a part-time instructor within the university. In doing so you may able to defray the cost of pursuing your doctorate. I have been told that if you teach at least two or courses at Rutgers University as a part-time instructor a semester you are eligible for 25% off the bill for your degree, not a bad trade-off.

Last, and most certainly not least, is transferring credit in from a previous graduate degree. I was fortunate to have one class transferred into my program while I know some colleagues with administrative degrees who were able to transfer in up to three classes! That’s about $6,500 plus time and energy! WIN-WIN!

Oh and perhaps establishing a feasible savings plan a few years before you begin your journey may be a viable pathway to consider. This is me operating under the assumption that you aren’t trying to take out any federal or private loans to pay for your degree.

Use the code “bowtiED” on Twitter to receive a free one-hour consultation on how to map out your doctoral endeavors…just kidding, email me, DM me, call me, get in contact with me however you please. Embarking on a doctoral journey is by no means meant to be a solo mission. We win together and Bow-Tie Joe is here for you!

Thanks for reading and sharing!

By Bow Tie Joe, ago

Norma Perez (@MrsPerez4NB) | #BowTieTuesday

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to an educator that is making some serious waves in downtown New Brunswick! We connected at a conference we attended at Rutgers University and after seeing her work on Twitter, it was a no-brainer that she had to be a spotlight! The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Mrs. Norma Perez (@MrsPerez4NB), a 3rd-grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School.

Educational Pursuit: Norma has surpassed one decade in the world of education and has had one of her most successful school years to date! She was recognized as the Teacher of the Year and awarded the School Spirit Award! It’s only fitting seeing as Norma’s been surrounded by education her entire life! Both of her parents were educators. Her mother was a reading specialist and her father, a kindergarten teacher in the Bronx. She recalls going to her mother’s school and helping her with her bulletin boards and reading books to her father’s students at a very young age. Her mother would bring her along during home visits and she would play with her mother’s students while her mother spoke to their parents. Her parents truly inspired her to want to make a difference in the lives of children and she couldn’t be happier with what she does!

Given the day and age that we live in, I’m happy to hear that your parents played a significant role in pushing you to pursue education. We need more of that in this world.

Most Memorable Moment: Recently, Norma had the pleasure of attending Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. The experience was unforgettable and transformational in the sense that she felt empowered to defy convention as an educator. This experience has since reenergized her teaching and encouraged her to use her talents and creativity in ways that will engage her students and prepare them for a professional future that we are unable to predict!

Personal Learning Interests: Norma is currently focused on learning more about leveraging technology in teaching and learning. We are all aware that technology influences each of our lives almost daily. She is trying to learn new ways to use technology in her classroom to help her students learn and grow.

The Fun Stuff

Norma’s go-to Karaoke Song: Alanis Morissette – You Oughta Know

Norma’s Inside Scoop: Norma was a party motivator when she was in high school, used to be a Zumba instructor, and loves photography!

Thank you, Norma, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot into a classroom. I look forward to many more years of collaborating and learning from the positive impact you have had on my PLN! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Bow-Tie Joe

By Bow Tie Joe, ago

Antony Farag (@AntonyFarag) | #BowTieTuesday

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to quite possibly one of the most intelligent educators I have ever had the pleasure of having a conversation with. I am fortunate to be in his presence three nights a week for about three hours at a time since we’re both working towards our doctorates. The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Mr. Antony Farag (@AntonyFarag), a high school history teacher at Westfield High School.

Educational Pursuit: Albeit Antony is only approaching his second decade in education, after a conversation with him you’d consider him a grandmaster. He began his career by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in history from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Pennsylvania. He cites needing to understand his place in the world through understanding history and wanting to help others understand their place in the world through understanding history as his decision to enter the realm of education.

Most Memorable Moment: When you’re approaching the two-decade mark in education you’re bound to have multiple memorable moments. Antony is no different. He says his most memorable moments are when students email him or tell him how much whatever they learned helped them in college or life. Playing witness to how understanding history empowers people is always memorable.

Personal Learning Interests: Antony is currently devoting much of his time to figuring out how to teach about how the systems defined by historical contexts hurt those who benefit from those systems as well as those who don’t. A mouthful, I know. I told you this guy was brilliant!

The Fun Stuff

Antony’s go-to Karaoke Song: Tupac featuring Snoop Dogg: 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted

Antony’s Inside Scoop: Antony is a HUGE Lord of the Rings fan and loves all kinds of fantasy. He credits J.R.R. Tolkien with changing his life.

Thank you, Antony, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. Who would have known that small conversation we had about lost time for working out (yes, this is a true story) would translate into our friendship today and the positive impact you have had on my PLN! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward and helping me grow as an educator!

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Bow-Tie Joe

By Bow Tie Joe, ago

Leslie Calabrese (@ ProfesorLCG) | #BowTieTuesday

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to an educator that I’ve gotten to know quite well over the past few years as we have both served as class advisors within New Brunswick High School. The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Ms. Leslie Calabrese (@ProfesorLCG), a high school special education teacher at New Brunswick High School by day, part-time lecturer at the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University by night, and in all of her free time, a board certified behavior analyst.

Educational Pursuit: Leslie is slowly approaching the two-decade milestone in education after obtaining her bachelor’s degree from Douglass College of Rutgers University, master’s degree in special education from New Jersey City University and certification in applied behavior analysis from Rutgers University. Many, many moons ago, during her misspent youth in the 80s, Leslie did not like school. She didn’t like her teachers either. She never felt as though they understood what it meant to be a teen and they never tried to meet her where she was emotionally. When she fell into teaching via the Alternate Route, she was determined to be the teacher that she needed in her youth. Since then it has been her goal to be the teacher that reaches the heart and teaches the mind. She educates the whole student.

Most Memorable Moment: Being the senior class advisor, Leslie is still riding high from the prom of the century. While she feels like should the prom is her most memorable moment, it really is when students tell her they are inspired to become a teacher because of her and they also hope to be a teacher just like her (as opposed to the teachers she had of whom she wanted to be just the opposite).

Personal Learning Interests: Being a BCBA, Leslie is interested in learning about how having the mindset of a BCBA can shape a whole school for the better.

The Fun Stuff

Leslie’s go-to Karaoke Song: Leslie doesn’t partake in karaoke. I vow to change this.

Leslie’s Inside Scoop: She is a roller derby player on soft retirement right now. The window is always open to return may go back one day.

Thank you, Leslie, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside New Brunswick High School. Years and years of navigating the advisor terrain together have cultivated the friendship we have nowadays and the positive impact you have had on my PLN! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Bow-Tie Joe

By Bow Tie Joe, ago

Aquaus Kelley (@aquaus) | #BowTieTuesday

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to an educator that I met at #EdCampNJ in November. The conversation was geared towards why relationships matter in education. The educator who is featured this week was dropping knowledge bombs in the room and I knew I had to connect with him after the session to follow his work. The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Mr. Aquaus Kelley (@aquaus), a 5th-grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary in New Brunswick, NJ.

Educational Pursuit: Aquaus may be a novice in the world of education but his impact is going to be monumental. He began as a substitute teacher since 2012 for New Brunswick Public Schools. While it took him a few years to make the decision to become a teacher, once he committed, he was locked in!!! He had come to the realization that his presence and desire to impact the lives of other people was best served in his role as an educator. Despite failing his praxis exams a countless number of times, he finally obtained my Certificate of Eligibility to become a teacher in December 2016 and the rest is history!

Most Memorable Moment: From the moment I met Aquaus, I could tell he was going to be one of those educator’s who would have a plethora of memorable moments to choose from. More recently, he had the opportunity to moderate a student-centered event presented by Courageous Voices entitled, “Students Speak.”  Courageous Voices is a professional learning community that Aquaus was invited to join and participate in by other colleagues from within our organization. The event took place at New Brunswick High School. Not only was this event attended by a number of committed students, it was also attended by a variety of board members, school leaders, and district supervisors. Our Superintendent, Dr. Johnson also participated. He found it to be a refreshing, touching, and transformational exchange of ideas, thoughts, and opinions. He is looking forward to continuing the work he does with Courageous Voices as a means of advocating on behalf of our students and community members.

Personal Learning Interests: Aquaus is currently learning more about educational leadership, global citizenship, social impact initiatives, and policy. Some reports on his desk at the moment are, “Benchmarking for Success: Ensuring U.S. Students Receive a World-Class Education” and “Global Shapers Survey.” When he’s not involved in education, he’s definitely sharpening his skills as it pertains to business, brand strategy, and content development. You can find him constantly watching interviews and discussions on YouTube as well as listening to podcasts on Soundcloud.

The Fun Stuff

Aquaus’s go-to Karaoke Song: Wanna Love You Girl by Robin Thicke

Aquaus’s Inside Scoop: While not as rare as it was 20 years ago, Aquaus was born and raised on a plant-based diet. Yes, vegan…

Thank you, Aquaus, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. I value your dedicated efforts to continue to build positive relationships among all stakeholders within our context in addition to the positive impact you have had on my PLN! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Bow-Tie Joe

 

By Bow Tie Joe, ago

Adam Latham (@A_mathteacher) | #BowTieTuesday

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to an educator that I met before I knew that I had met him. Before settling down in #ZebraNation, this educator taught within another school district for which I had a demo lesson in. Fast forward one school year, and unbeknownst to me, he approaches me and informs me that we had met in before. He filled the gap in my knowledge base, fast forward two years, and the Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is my good friend Mr. Adam Latham (@A_mathteacher), a mathematics specialist at New Brunswick High School.

Educational Pursuit: Adam is steadily approaching the one decade mark and blossoming into one of those once in a lifetime educators. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Kean University. He has always been intrinsically motivated to enact change in students for the better. He hopes to support them To in realizing their goals and true potential. Furthermore, being a lover of all things mathematics, he takes great pride in getting students to feel excited about attending their math class instead of their more common feelings of anxiety or disinterest.

Most Memorable Moment: Adam, alongside many other #BowTieTuesday Spotlights, also struggled to pinpoint one particularly memorable moment during his career. More recently, however, he had the opportunity to perform with the New Brunswick High School Chamber Choir which he cited as an amazing experience. Allowing the students to witness a passion of his and being able to share that moment with some of our students was awesome.

Personal Learning Interests: A team player, Adam is currently focused on supporting our teachers and students in the development and execution of high-level tasks.

The Fun Stuff

Adam’s go-to Karaoke Song: I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

Adam’s Inside Scoop: He has been singing and performing in various choral groups since he was in the 5th grade.

Thank you, Adam, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot into a classroom. Who would have known that we would have crossed paths after my interview four years ago! I am grateful for the friendship we have and the positive impact you have had on my PLN since joining #ZebraNation! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Bow-Tie Joe

By Bow Tie Joe, ago