Promises and Pitfalls of Improving the Teaching Profession

This is the conference I attended coordinated by the Education Writer’s Association (and sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation) on February 18, 2011, in New York City.


One of the best resources to use to learn more about it, if you are interested, is the following:


http://bubbler.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/ewa-conference/#comment-17637.




For a "wide open spaces" type of girl, New York City was a stimulating, eye-opening experience.  My flight arrived shortly before 4 pm Eastern time.  When I stepped out of La Guardia to catch a cab the city felt strangely welcoming . . . perhaps it was the 4 pm sun and the promise of a date in Central Park. When I arrived at the Radisson at Lexington and 47th I checked into my 21st floor room and wasted no time in organizing my pack.  Armed with my map, phone, camera, and GPS (which didn't receive signals amongst the skyscrapers), I was off to Central Park.  I was blessed to be in NYC during unseasonably mild temperatures~by 5 pm when I reached the park I viewed a digital thermometer on the top of a skyscraper that read 57 degrees!  The walk was pleasantly easy although I was acutely aware of traffic~largely consisting of cabs~with an incessant and intermittent urgency of motion marked by nearly constant honking. . . almost like its own language.  Lining the perimeter of the park were the horse drawn carriages and then I welcomed the embrace of the green space and rock outcroppings.  I noted no bird life or squirrels in my few hours in the park which I found quite strange.


I walked 5th Avenue back to the hotel and I happened upon FAO Schwartz and I couldn't resist the opportunity to play "Big" on the piano there!  Then I ventured to "Josie's" where I met up with other educators attending the conference: Steve, Ken, David, Mark, Peggy and Ariel.  The conversation was good and the food was excellent!  (I had pumpkin ravioli with asparagus, mushrooms, leeks, tomatoes and shrimp in marsala cream sauce).


The next morning I went to Rockefeller Center and took in the Today Show for 45 minutes before the conference.  What an experience to see Al up close and to have Meredith and Matt wave from the studio as we peered in the window from the street!  Mom thinks she saw me and I am pretty certain I was on at 7:03 and 7:37.  Unfortunately, Erica, my Today show watcher at home, had to be at school for Envirothon practice and missed my debut!


Then the conference.  What an opportunity!  I took in every word and eventually found the opportunity to share my voice . . . that of the rural piece. 


Then after the conference I decided to walk to Times Square.  What a feast for the eyes and senses.  Not sure it was a delightful feast, though.  I was amazed as to the amount of police officers there . . . not sure I have ever felt so safe and vulnerable at the same moment.  Ask me about it sometime . . . 


Then I hailed a cab at 4 am the next morning to return home to the wide open spaces and prairies of Iowa.  There's no place like home . . .