THE MORE REFLECTIVE, THE MORE EFFECTIVE

Life has a funny way of sending you in directions for your best-self to emerge when you may not intentionally be looking for a new path. When my dear friend and colleague, Ryan Durfee, invited me to join him in applying for the 2017 National Geographic Summer Institute to learn more about a Geo-Inquiry process my first response was, "A Geo- what?" My summer 2017 calendar was already bursting. "I don't have time to Geo- anything this summer," I thought to myself.  When I discovered applications would only be accepted when two teachers from the same school applied, and seeing how intent Ryan was that this experience would be phenomenal for us and our students (he has a sixth sense for finding amazing curriculum and professional development opportunities), I decided to jump in. Fate, providence, inspiration? I believe my entry into the National Geographic Education Family has been a mix of  all of these. Blessings for myself, students, colleagues and community have been the ripple effect of my National Geographic journey. Humbled and grateful to be along for the ride.