SHOW NOTES

2:30 – teachers are bridge builders

2:55 – a passion for building connections and helping others realize their potential

3:40 – overwhelming appreciation for men and women in the U.S. military

5:50 – being better tomorrow than you are today

6:10 – focus most on what you need to do well, show up the next day, and improve

7:00 – chorus director Janice Folsom was an inspiration

8:10 – the capacity to command a room, getting a team to work toward a common goal

8:35 – painting a picture of goals and transfers to the real world, and why that’s important

9:10 – building opportunities for students to engage in Georgia’s booming creative industry sector

9:50 – shift from a traditional choral background to focusing more on creation

10:25 – learning how to build relationships and partnerships, and using those skills in the classroom

11:20 – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent Georgia’s teachers

11:40 – great experiences to connect with a wide representation of various sectors

12:35 – Gen Z – philanthropic intentions and a desire to be social media influencers

13:35 – if you want to be an influencer, be a teacher!

14:15 – there are elements of being a teacher that are difficult and you can make a huge difference

15:15 – Top Ten Back to School Tips project – collaborating with other Teacher of the Year candidates

15:40 – I am an ambassador, not the best teacher in the state or even in my school – this is a chance to elevate the profession

16:20 – a diverse range of best practices is a great way to honor others’ voices

17:00 – from a focus on teaching academic standards to an application of learning

17:30 – learning what the pivotal knowledge and skill sets are in different careers

19:30 – Trilith Studios (Marvel films+) leading to an idea for students to create new and original content, help them become entrepreneurs, etc.

20:15 – students creating music and more – help from Tiffany I. M. Jones (then in an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra outreach role)

21:10 – forming an entertainment label – Hall Pass Entertainment and opening the door to students’ interests – students naming the label, creating art work, forming teams and committees

22:15 – middle school students releasing music albums, posting to a YouTube channel, and starting a podcast

23:00 – former middle school students now in high school are returning to Rising Starr Middle School to assist with the current work students are undertaking

23:45 – even once a semester, make sure that students are engaged in at least one project that is strongly connected to career roles

24:00 – share the stories of success and the great work students are doing

26:55 – AI (artificial intelligence) – stifling or enabling and accelerating creativity?

27:30 – first use of a floppy disk and an iPod – life-changing moments

28:15 – despite capabilities, there are things that AI doesn’t do very well

29:45 – the future of work may bend toward jobs centered around creativity

31:40 – which is more important, teaching or learning?

32:30 – retired teachers, your job isn’t yet done

32:55 – Teacher:Student impact ratio is huge

33:10 – Who did you inspire?

33:30 – it’s often the small moments that make the biggest impact

33:40 – teacher Teddye Martin knew I needed a place to belong and connect

34:30 – Ms. Martin instilled the love of education

34:55 – a teacher’s superpower is building connections, and we change the future when we help students see their potential

35:50 – first thoughts when announced as Teacher of the Year

36:20 – students, parents, colleagues, community partners can teach us as well, and help us look at things in a different way

36:55 – gratitude for so many people who helped me along the way and who have made possible this opportunity to serve as an ambassador

Email: [email protected]
Facebook:GATeacher
X: @2024GaTOTY 

Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet flight story

Georgia Teacher of the Year webpage

Georgia Teacher of the Year events request

Christy Todd 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year press release

Rising Starr Middle School, Fayette County Georgia

Trilith Studios

Georgia Lawyers for the Arts

Hall Pass Entertainment

Music for Lead. Learn. Change. is Sweet Adrenaline by Delicate Beats

Podcast cover art is a view from Brunnkogel (mountaintop) over the mountains of the Salzkammergut in Austria, courtesy of photographer Simon Berger, published on www.unsplash.com.

Professional Association of Georgia Educators

David’s LinkedIn page