#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.

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.

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.

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.

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to another outstanding educator that I met along my doctoral journey. We struck up a conversation about our interest and passion for all things #EdCamp and the rest is history! The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Ms. Kristen Crawford (@sciencediva319), a K-12 science supervisor in the Chatham Public Schools District.

Educational Pursuit: Kristen is an established veteran in the world of education with over two decades worth of experience. She obtained a bachelors of science in Marine Biology from Roger Williams University, in addition to a masters degree in Elementary Science Education and Educational Administration from the University of Scranton. Her journey into the world of education was an unusual one. Volunteering at a small aquarium in Newport, RI, Kristen was tasked with speaking to the public about the collection of animals. Her supervisor observed her interactions with children and noticed her natural affinity for working with them and subsequently, encouraged her to “look into education”. She soon after obtained an internship in the Education Department at Mystic Aquarium and she was hooked. She really loved sharing my science knowledge with people of all ages and the rest is history!

Most Memorable Moment: Kristen’s most memorable moment was when a parent of a former student informed her that a former student had been accepted to Harvard University and was pursuing a degree in Biology thank to the impact that Kristen had in their child’s life. Inspiring students to love science is simply the best!

Personal Learning Interests: Kristen kept it short and sweet. Currently, she is devoted to inspiring women to pursue careers in the field of science.

The Fun Stuff

Kristen’s go-to Karaoke Song: I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor…but Kristen did admit that her musical selection is contingent upon the number of drinks she’s indulged!

Kristen’s Inside Scoop: The beach is her happy place.

Thank you, Kristen, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. I’ll never forget one of your first comments towards me and the subsequent positive impact you have had on my PLN since then! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to an educator that I’ve never met, physically that is. I am proud to announce that I was selected to be a Desmos Fellow and will be headed out to San Fransisco this July for an intense three-day professional development. This educator, a Desmos Fellow from the original cohort, was one of the first to reach out to congratulate me and after scouring his twitter profile, I loved the work he was doing both in and outside of the classroom. The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Mr. Nickolas Corley (@MrCorleyMath), an 8th-grade mathematics (good man!) teacher at Northfield Middle School.

Educational Pursuit: My new found friend, Nick, is steadily approaching the two-decade mark in education. He obtained his bachelor of science in mathematics and minor in education from St. Joe’s University. He decided to pursue a career in education since he’s always enjoyed his time as a student and during his time in high school mathematics courses, his teachers often relied on him to assist his struggling peers.

Most Memorable Moment: As I mentioned before, Nick is a member of the inaugural cohort of the Desmos Fellowship Program. Being selected to a part of that experience has changed Nick’s career. The training, experience, and community of educators that he has been able to connect with since the program has inspired him to explore new techniques and take more risks within his classroom.

Personal Learning Interests: Mathematics being a passion of his, Nick is interested in exploring number sense in the middle grades and exploring how his students can develop that understanding.

The Fun Stuff

Nick’s go-to Karaoke Song: Take On Me by a-ha

Nick’s Inside Scoop: Despite only being 5’7″, Nick played basketball at the collegiate level.

Thank you, Nick, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. I’m confident that we will meet in person soon enough but in the meantime, I appreciate and value the positive impact you have had on my PLN via Twitter! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to another rockstar educator that I had the pleasure of meeting in my doctoral program. While our approaches to the way we handle our assignment deadlines could not be more dichotomous (I’m much more relaxed about those things, hard to believe, I know!), I have come to admire and respect the level of professionalism and intellect she demonstrates during our classes together. The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Ms. Kanika Chopra (@k_chopra3), a high school English teacher.

Educational Pursuit: Kanika has less than five years of teaching experience but is a young, motivated teacher who has no ceiling on what she is capable of. She obtained a Master’s degree from Rutgers University and is back again for her doctorate in education, her concentration being the design of learning environments. When asked why she decided to enter the world of education she jokingly remarked that she wished she had a better answer to that question. She’s always enjoyed reading, exploring, and seeking to understand “why do things happen the way they do” and “how do we know this is true”? While this inquiry-framed personality has gotten her into some trouble, it has also opened many doors for her, including a career in education.

Most Memorable Moment: Three years ago, Kanika had a student from Portugal that spoke very little English and he began writing poetry in Portuguese. She learned a little Portuguese to be able to communicate with him and understand them, while he made a dedicated effort to learn some English. What was most compelling about this experience was that he used a series of narrative poems to come out as gay. He said it was the first time he was ever able to express it. This student has since returned to Portugal and while Kanika has had several meaningful moments in her classroom, this one holds a special place in her heart.

Personal Learning Interests:  Kanika has devoted copious amounts of time over the last several months in pursuing her educational interests and they, alongside her personal learning interests, have kind of melded into one. She is fascinated by brain science and always has been. More specifically, she is currently looking at the intersection between cognitive empathy and literary perspective-taking.

The Fun Stuff

Kanika’s go-to Karaoke Song: Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell…and she’s not even embarrassed! I am, for you. Just kidding. 🙂

Kanika’s Inside Scoop: Kanika really loves to dance. This is not to be confused with “She is a dancer,” because trust her…she’s not. Despite all of this, you can still catch her pirouetting across the living room floor or breakdancing in the kitchen.

Thank you, Kanika, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. I cannot begin to describe the positive impact you have had on my PLN and I look forward to many more years learning and growing together! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight is shined upon another colleague I’ve met along my doctoral journey. Being fortunate enough to have sat right next to one another at our orientation, this educator has become a resource, support, and lifelong friend. The educator that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Mr. Scott Bortnick (@ScottBortnick), an elementary school principal in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools district.

Educational Pursuit: Scott is aging like wine in the world of education. He has over two decades worth of experience having obtained a bachelor’s degree in Plant Physiology, from Rutgers University. He earned a Master of the Arts in Teaching from Marygrove College as well as a Master of Educational Administration from Caldwell University. Currently, he causes ruckus alongside myself in the in doctoral program at Rutgers University, being a member of the Education, Culture, and Society concentration.

Most Memorable Moment: Every time Scott runs into a former student and he hears how much they enjoyed his classes, and more importantly, how much they appreciated the way he treated them, he knows his work is complete. As a principal for the last eight years, he has had the opportunity to see students from age three through age ten. When parents share with him how important he and his staff are in their child’s life and how the school has helped their child and their family is also a very memorable moment that he will cherish forever.

Personal Learning Interests: Scott’s undergraduate and previous graduate school experiences had provided him with great learning opportunities. Hindsight being 20/20 these learning opportunities did not expand his understanding of the manner in which culture (gender, race, ethnicity, etc.) shape our experiences and understanding and visa versa. As he completes his doctoral journey, this is the area of his greatest professional and personal growth.

The Fun Stuff

Scott’s go-to Karaoke Song: Unsure of whether he has a go-to karaoke song, Scott shared with me that his wedding song is “Can’t get enough of your love, babe” by Barry White.

Scott’s Inside Scoop: Scott used to have a rather extensive insect collection that he used for teaching purposes in his environmental science classes. If you are interested in seeing the collection you can visit the museum (his house) where they are on display.

Thank you, Scott, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. I am grateful for the positive impact you have had on my PLN and the hours of conversation we have logged up to this point! Here’s to many more years of growth and friendship! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.

Introduction: This week’s #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight goes to an educator that I met in some unusual circumstances. I had just touched down on the banks at Rutgers University in the summer of 2009 for the EOF Program. My roommate and friends said that their old teacher was coming to visit and they were going to grab some food and invited me along. Fast forward from this impromptu meeting nine years ago and having joined the ranks since then, have relied heavily on his expertise and wisdom. The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Mr. George Morales (@geomorales86), a high school educator at Union City High School who wears many hats! He teaches history courses, the Student Council Advisor, Peer Group Connection Advisor, and Producer/Director of UCHS Weekly.

Educational Pursuit: George obtained his bachelor’s degree by NJCU and time has flown by since, as the double-decade mark is slowly creeping upon his time within education. Initially, he started out as an accounting major in college and at some point, volunteered to talk to students from Lincoln High School in Jersey City about college. After the event, the professor in charge pulled him aside and informed him that she was impressed with the way he spoke to students and if he had ever considered a career in education. After a couple of weeks of thinking about what she had said, he decided to switch majors and in hindsight, is happy that he did.

Most Memorable Moment: PGC is Peer Group Connection, is a program designed to ease the transition from middle to high school and help incoming students feel connected to the school. The program pairs a senior who serves as a mentor with an incoming sophomore/freshman. Morales was the spark within Union City High School that brought the program there and provided him with countless memories. He was a member of the program when he was a freshman in high school as well as a mentor his senior year.

He pitched the idea to his principal who supported the idea right away. The problem was getting the funding for it. One day on his way back from the Senior Florida Trip he received a call from the Princeton Center for Leadership and Training saying that a school that was getting funding through a grant was pulling out at the last minute. If he could get permission from the BOE by the end of the week they would cover all costs as long as they could do a study on the students in the program. The principal, Mr. Robert Fazio, informed Morales that he would get everything approved in two days and he did it in one. The program came to be because an administrator trusted him enough to take a chance and its been in the district for 14 years and counting. During their PGC reunions, Morales spoke about the pride he experiences when his students speak of their accomplishments and how much they credit PGC for it. #WeWinTogether

Personal Learning Interests: Morales and his wife just purchased their first home so after living in apartments for his entire life he’s taken on learning how to repair and maintain a house. He has developed a new appreciation for power tools and lawn equipment. Congratulations my friend!

The Fun Stuff

Morales’s go-to Karaoke Song: Morales has been a big Beatles fan since he was a kid because of his Dad so I usually pick something from them.  The last time he sang karaoke he chose “When I’m 64”.

Morales’s Inside Scoop: Morales is a big movie and comic book guy. He has collected comics and action figures since he was a child and most of his collection is housed at the museum of his mother’s house in North Carolina. He also enjoys recording old movies and watching them in his spare time. He was able to turn that passion into an educational reality when he proposed a History through Film class at UCHS. He’s been teaching it now for 7 years.

Thank you, Morales, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. I would never have guessed the few slices of pizza I shared while you and your former students exchanged stories would translate into the friendship that 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.

Introduction: Another Tuesday, another #BowTieTuesday Educator Spotlight! This week my Spotlight is being shined upon another educator that I met in my doctoral program. I have had the pleasure of getting to know her more personally as we are both members of the Teacher  Leadership concentration. The Edu-Rock Star that I’ll be recognizing this week is none other than Mrs. Joan Cansdale (@joancansdale), an English Language Arts supervisor at Plainfield Public Schools.

Educational Pursuit: An established veteran in the world of education, Joan has spent over two decades in education. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Montclair State, master’s degree from the Teachers College at Columbia University in addition to a master’s in education from The College of New Jersey. Currently, she’s stuck with me in our doctoral program at Rutgers University.

Why pursue a career in education? Joan called it predestination. Education chose her. No matter what areas of interest she pursued, she always found herself teaching. Despite actively planning not to be a teacher, not because she didn’t love it, but because, as a young woman, she didn’t want to be “ordinary”, she wound up in a classroom, this time on the other side! Little did she realize that teaching is anything but ordinary!

Most Memorable Moment: Short and succinct, much like our professors remind us about our writing style, Joan considers the years she worked with colleagues in a “school within a school” program to be one of the most significant.

Personal Learning Interests: We were subject to a “brutal” lecture this week on performing a quantitative analysis of survey data. Being a mathematics teacher, I was right at home. Joan, jokingly, informed me that while she wouldn’t consider it much of a personal learning interest as much as she does a survival skill at this point in our doctoral program.

Rest assured, Joan, I have your back!

The Fun Stuff

Joan’s go-to Karaoke Song: I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty

Joan’s Inside Scoop: In a previous life, Joan was a dancer and fitness trainer.

Thank you, Joan, for your heartfelt efforts to improve education each and every day you step foot inside a classroom. I am truly grateful to have crossed paths and am fortunate to be on the receiving end of your wisdom and insight. The positive impact you have had on my PLN is limitless! I truly appreciate all that you do to keep moving education forward.