The cries of enthusiasm could practically be heard across Lake County as nearly 100 teachers from various Lake County schools chanted “E-CET, E-CET, Two!”
ECET2 is an acronym for “Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teachers and Teaching.” The idea for the Lake County School District celebration was spawned after three teachers participated in a national ECET2 Conference in San Diego, hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in February 2013. Six others joined in at a Florida Convening of ECET2 this spring. Bringing back a newfound appreciation for their profession and for the power of teacher collaboration were Brent Balkaran from Tavares High, Kelly Cousineau from East Ridge Middle, Nancy Hunter from Leesburg High, Andrea Pyatt from Mount Dora High, Debbra Snow from Lake Minneola High, April Von Maxey from Tavares Elementary, Kati Pearson, Director of the Teaching & Learning Department, and Stuart Klatte, President of Lake County Education Association.
In a daylong conference before the start of the school year, several teachers from each Lake County school gathered at Lake Receptions in Mount Dora to share ideas, collaborate and to celebrate their accomplishments. During one breakout session, Cousineau and Hunter talked to a group of teachers about building relationships that matter with their peers. Some of the benefits of building relationships included breaking isolation of the classroom, stimulating enthusiasm and making complex tasks manageable.
“It’s a tough, tough profession and it’s even tougher to master,” Cousineau said encouraging teachers to embrace the new teachers in their schools to help them along. “The little things we do can make a world of a difference for the new teachers.”
The group continued the discussion by talking about the barriers of collaborating with other teachers during the school year. In smaller groups, teachers brainstormed on how to break down barriers that prevent teachers from sharing ideas. Some of the ideas included making a conscious effort to reach out to others and sharing their own experiences.
“Nobody is perfect and nobody walks on water,” Cousineau said. “If we can get past that barrier we can begin sharing our ideas.”
The group of teachers were encouraged by Von Maxey who shared a passionate story of how a young teacher at Tavares Elementary inspired her to become an elementary teacher.
“You need to know you are making a difference,” she said. “Continue to share, continue to try, and continue to dream big because when you do those things you will make a spark in a child.”
Guest speakers for the event were Dr. Irvin Scott, Deputy Director for effective teaching in the educational division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Dr. Ky Vu, Senior Program Officer for the Gates Foundation; and Dr. Susan Moxley, Superintendent of Lake County Schools.
“You don’t have a clue how powerful you are,” she said to the gathering of teacher leaders. “You are the most powerful people in the organization. Let’s continue to break down barriers and share our ideas.”
Each of us makes a difference. Together we make an even greater difference in the lives our our students. Love seeing the positive things going on in education.