Wrap it Up

 

I have been in education for almost 25 years already.  Yet my story is a little different than most.  I started as an attendance clerk to registrar.  After 11 years in the same charter school and finding no where else to move on to, I was offered an Assistant Principal's job at another charter school.  I did that for another 9 years and loved it but things changed.  I was let go because there was no certification on file.  So in one half year I certified myself to become a teacher.  I was hired at an amazing place and for two year did just the basics of a teacher.  And then it happened, my principal came in with a rush and asked me to sign a paper that would be a great benefit for me.  That is all I was told.  Nothing else but that I could not talk to anyone about it.  Here is where it gets interesting!

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Summer of 2019 came along and I had to show up at Houston Community College at 8 am for a presentation.  I did not know what it was all about and I felt rushed because I was stuck in traffic and it was about to begin, even though I had left my house early.  As I walk into the auditorium, I see many people with smiles on their faces listening to a great speaker, Don Henderson.  All I know about him is that he is something big with Apple.  As I looked for my co-worker, I listened to a very excited man and wondered to myself, what did I get myself into?  Best decision of my life.  Then Dr. Tilisa Thibodeaux, Lamar University Professor, came on stage and told us we were going to do an eportfolio and create a website, and I don't know what else.  We sat in our table thinking "more work".  We had already shut down to the possibilities that where there for us.  So we were split up and went to work with Dominic Pettine, Apple Educator.  Best experience of my life!!!  Everyday we were engaged into all of what Apple had in store for us.  I met teachers from other districts and ran into past teachers whom I had worked with.  We created an application to be used in a real world situation and never thought we were able to design the application.  We were told it was a contest and I wanted to win.  My partners and I had great ideas and we wrote them down.  We began creating an app with the iPad issued to us and we were amazed with everything we had in just two days.  We presented the idea to everyone as an expo and had very good comments.  We were interview by a newspaper and never felt so important.  I couldn't believe that in the 20 years at other schools I had so much interest in what I was doing.  I wanted to continue this new experience for me and bring it to my personal children but also to my classroom.  I wanted to get started as soon as possible.  Next step was getting all teachers together to begin our Coding Camp in just one month.  I was ready and making changes to our family's summer plans.

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July ​2019, our Summer Coding Academy begins and were wanted to start.  We did not have many students, but it was ok because we were starting with something new and wanted to see what to build upon.  I had 6 intermediate students in my group who knew iPads as an electronic device to play games or be in social media.  As we began the activities, their eyes lit up like light bulbs and wanted more and more and did not want to go home.  At the end of the camp, those same students had invite their friends to be part of the program during the school year.  The program promoted itself.  Fall comes around and it was hard to have a steady day for the coding club but we managed during Friday's tutorials.  Where do I go from here and what came next?  I get an email from Lamar University telling me to start the Online Education activities in September.  It was time to continue my journey with this program with Lamar University.  

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Dr. Tilisa Thibodeaux, Dr. Dwayne Harapnuik, Mrs. Tammy Comeaux, and Mr. Mike Yakubovsky were from Lamar University and were cheering us on.  They have been great motivators in our learning of what was next.  They guided me, providing support, and always showed interest in my opinion and were a listening ear to our vents.  We were supported in creating our own website that was a timeline in  our learning.  I built my own website and feel really proud about it.   It is mine and they always told us this.  Of course they guided and gave input to our thoughts and processes.  During our online learning, we had to create our Growth Mindset.  I loved it because I was able to learn and apply not only what I thought but I was able to change the mentality of other teachers while we instructed our students.  The believe that I can do it, and if I can't "YET"  can't do it YET!  This Growth Mindset has allowed me to think outside the box and will use it more often in my future classroom.  Mr. Zepeda will not be stuck in that past mindset but will continue to strive to make a positive environment in the classroom and everything that is placed in front of me.  If I can do it, YOU CAN TOO!

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Just before our Winter break, we were to have completed a presentation to our school board members about what we had done so far.  I never thought it would have been such a stressful but anticipated time in my educator life.  We presented sometime around 11 pm and I could not keep my eyes open.  Yet what made me even more dedicated to the program was the fact that Dr. Thibodeaux and Mrs. Comeaux were there from the beginning to the end to cheer us on!  It was awesome to see them there supporting us in what we had created so far.   They had driven hours to support our innovation proposals and innovation plans.  They cheered for our presentations and were so happy to see what kind of educators we had become.  This increased my mindset about how further I could go.  

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My second semester began and it was very, very different.  A world-wide pandemic changed our normal lives.  What were we supposed to do?  How are we going to support our students in their education?  So many questions, so much time to think.  As I finish this program, I reflect on the opportunity that has been given to me.  The opportunity to become a different educator, to "Think Different".  I have grown so much in the technological perspective that I want to create authentic learning instead of structured instruction.  I have created videos for my students to see and believe it or not, many have had much more success using the technology instead of having me in front of them.  Our students are 21st century learners and need 21st century applications.  they need to be able to "connect the dots" instead of just collecting them.  I was able to see that in their project about Layers of the Earth with my students using a green screen and iMovie.  WOW, such much potential that I feel I am depriving them of reaching their highest educational potential.  But there is a problem.  I have students who are very low income.  Our school district is a Title 1 school and most students have no electronics devices such as iPads which can provide the necessary applications to enhance their learning and leadership.  I want to have a classroom where there is plenty of electronics. Where students can get away from the boring classroom setting and create a facilitated instruction.  A place where students can fail once, twice, and still become great a what they do with no judgement or critique.  A place to Innovation will take place. 

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I am almost over with this program and have nothing but great memories.  I have met amazing people, educators, and students of technology.  We have shared great moments and brought an ear to the conversations.  We have stressed and we have conquered!  I would have never expected that in one year I had opened many doors than the 20 years I felt trapped.   In the end, nothing could have brought great relationships with other educators and a bond that will never be forgotten.  Thank you for every experience and all the support!