My heart is filled with gratitude, and my mind is buzzing with all the insights my ADE family shared during and between the conferences at the Canadian 2024 Apple Distinguished Educators Academy.
Before I delve into the conference, let me rewind a bit. I used to teach a combined grade 2 and 3 class, and showcasing my students' work was crutial to me as I wanted to make them shine. They had done outstanding work that served the community, and I was incredibly proud. I felt compelled to share their achievements with the world, so I published and shared their work.
And if I rewind even more, before returning to teaching, I spent many years as a resource teacher. When I finally returned to the classroom, I decided to learn how to use the iPad. (It had been a long time since I last used Macs -Ipads didn’t exist then as we used HyperCard (or was it HyperStudio?) on one classroom Mac thirty years ago when I taught in BC). A few years ago, when I returned to a teaching position, I met Annie Martin from Apple. She gave me just enough knowledge about this incredible tool to get started. I continued learning through the online Apple Teacher courses, and it didn’t take long for me to realize how perfect the iPad was as a mobile creativity tool for my students. I advocated to find more Ipad’s for them, and together, my students and I learned to demonstrate our learning in the most creative ways. I tried to contain my enthusiasm (so as not to make my colleagues uncomfortable), but sometimes, I must admit, it spilled out.
One day last year, I received a surprising message: the ADE community was welcoming me as an Apple Distinguished Educator. Me! Oh my, what did this mean? Would I have people to share my bubbly enthusiasm with?
To my surprise, I was invited to Texas in 2023 over summer break (2023 best ADE class ever). There, I learned what being an ADE was all about. I knew I had found my clan, but my time there was too short. I didn’t get everyone’s name or quite understand what everyone from the Canadian group did with a Mac or an iPad, but I learned about the Apple culture. I was so impressed that I wanted to bring these principles back to my work environment.
People there were so generous and made me feel amazing about my work. They even encouraged me to apply for a district tech leader job that had just been advertised while I was there. I wrote my résumé all night and, with the encouragement of my new clan, I decided to send it.
So, I got the leader position. Maybe it was because I was feeling the ADE magic when I returned and felt it during my interview. I must add, this feeling has stayed with me all year.
Now, I support teachers and show them creative ways to use the iPad, and I support principals so that they find ways to encourage change in teaching practices. It’s like spreading fairy dust over everyone, just as Annie Martin had first done for me.
I’m also grateful that while I was learning this new leadership role, I was also learning about mentorship with another group of ADEs, led by Jim Cartlidge. Later this year, I had another incredible professional learning opportunity with the Apple Learning Coach course. My Apple family has helped me grow all year, and they have helped me become a better leader, especially my ADE thinking partner, Martin Pelletier.
Today, I just returned from the Canadian ADE Academy in Quebec. As I said earlier, my heart is filled with gratitude.
I gave a session there with my colleague from my 2023 class, Martin Pelletier, about AIMing with creativity. We discussed how to encourage students to be active and mindful in their learning and how to create an inclusive environment. I had shivers hearing the conversations and ideas shared by this group of exceptional educators. It was extraordinary! Participants represented their understanding in creative ways, some using infographics in Keynote and others with Freeform. I’ve given many professional development sessions, but I’ve never received such heartfelt comments. This was the Apple culture again. The participants were eager to learn and think with other educators. Dean, your mountain analogy was perfect, and I loved that you shared even if the final product wasn’t completed. People felt safe to share, ask questions, and learn from others during the Academy.
After this first session, I attended "Storytelling." I loved the breakout sessions. I learned with Chad Mowbry how to tell a story with photos and how to take great photos. We went outside to hunt for the perfect shot and learned about different composition rules. Then, we learned how to improve the photos using the iPad’s settings. I took some amazing photos and will continue to practice, thanks to this session.
During a break, I asked Jacques Tardif about Logic Pro (I had received a new Mac two days before the Academy). He generously took two hours to teach me. I couldn’t believe it! He could have gone to the pool or done other cool things, but he chose to help me learn.
Also, during another break, Andrée-Caroline Boucher shared what she was doing in her creativity session so I could continue my journey in the storytelling session. My ADE family is so generous with their time and knowledge. Again, this is the ADE Apple culture.
Later, I continued in the Storytelling session, Victoria Lindgren-Streicher was my hero. She shared many ways to tell a story with video. I practiced during our break time. Shawn Lenny, I know I need to simplify, simplify, simplify. Oops. At least I know what I’m supposed to do, even if I’m purposely not listening to you at this moment!
Anyway, to wrap this up, I found my tribe within the ADE family. We have plans to continue to share and to create together, and I can’t wait. Rob, I know your objective was to connect us: Mission accomplished. The family is united and ready to rock and roll. To everyone at Apple who made this happen, I can’t thank you enough. Being an ADE has changed my life. Now, I can leave the lid off my bottle of enthousiasm. I have a family, I have thinking partners, I have people who support me and help me grow. Merci, merci merci merci x 100 000
July 12, 2024
I can’t wait to see what’s next in your story!
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