Growth often comes in unexpected waves, and this year has been a testament to that truth. As I look back on the various paths my professional journey has taken me down, I’m struck by how each experience has contributed to reshaping my approach to education and my understanding of what it means to be an educator in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Finding My Voice in Educational Technology

Standing at the podium at ISTE in Denver was a moment that still feels surreal. The conference center buzzing with educators from across the globe, all united by our shared passion for integrating technology into education. Presenting my experiences and insights wasn’t just about sharing knowledge—it was about joining a larger conversation about the future of education. The questions and discussions that followed my presentation at both ISTE and KySTE in Louisville reminded me that we’re all learning together, trying to navigate this exciting yet challenging landscape of educational technology and AI in the Classroom.

Embracing AI as a Partner in Education

This year marked a significant shift in my approach to personalized learning through my exploration of AI tools. Working with ChatGPT and Claude has opened new doors in creating adaptive reading materials for my students. What started as experimentation has evolved into a systematic approach to meeting students where they are. The ability to quickly generate reading materials at different comprehension levels while maintaining the core content has been transformative. It’s not just about making content accessible—it’s about maintaining the dignity of learning for every student in the room.

Unleashing Creativity Through Digital Tools

The integration of Adobe Express and Adobe Firefly into our classroom has been nothing short of revolutionary. Watching students light up as they discover new ways to express their ideas visually has been one of the year’s greatest joys. These tools have democratized creativity in our classroom, allowing students who might not consider themselves “artistic” to create sophisticated, meaningful visual content. The generative AI aspects have served as a springboard for imagination, pushing students to think beyond conventional boundaries.

The Power of Mindful Reflection

My journey into blogging about mindfulness wasn’t planned—it emerged from a growing recognition that our educational spaces need to nurture not just minds, but souls. Writing about mindfulness has become a way to process my own growth while sharing insights with others in the education community. These reflections have helped me create more intentional spaces for both learning and healing in my classroom.

Space History: A Personal North Star

Throughout this year of growth and change, my lifelong fascination with space history has served as an anchor. There’s something profound about teaching while keeping in mind humanity’s greatest adventures. The space program’s stories of innovation, resilience, and collaborative achievement have continuously inspired my approach to education. They remind me that the biggest breakthroughs often come from questioning our assumptions and daring to imagine new possibilities.

The Journey Toward Better

This journey of being an educator isn’t about striving for perfection—it’s about celebrating progress. It’s about recognizing that our growth as human beings beautifully intertwines with our development as educators. Every day, I eagerly choose patience over frustration, understanding over judgment, and vulnerability over guardedness. Through this wonderful transformation, I’ve not only become a more inspiring teacher, but also a more uplifting person for my students to learn from.

Looking Forward

As I reflect on these various threads of growth, I’m struck by how they’ve woven together to create a tapestry of professional and personal development. The technical skills gained from working with AI and digital tools, the confidence built through public speaking, the emotional intelligence developed through mindfulness practice, and the perspective gained from studying history—all of these elements have contributed to a more holistic approach to education.

This year has taught me that growth isn’t linear. It’s a complex dance of stepping forward, occasionally backward, and sometimes sideways. But each movement, each experience, contributes to who we become as educators and as human beings.

The challenges ahead in education are significant, but they’re also exciting. As we continue to navigate the integration of AI, the importance of social-emotional learning, and the need for creative expression in education, I’m grateful for the growth this year has brought and eager to see where the next chapter leads.

After all, isn’t that what education is all about? Not just the destination, but the transformative journey of becoming.

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True education is a kind of never ending story — a matter of continual beginnings, of habitual fresh starts, of persistent newness. – JRR Tolkien