MAKE LEARNING MAGICAL!
  • HOME
  • SPEAKING
  • RESOURCES
    • Memorable Beginnings >
      • PlayDough
      • Magical Planning Pages
    • Authenticity & Agency
    • Gamified Experiences >
      • Anywhere Learning Plans
      • The Amazing Race Game Plan Resources
      • The Race to the Golden Ticket
      • Ready Player One
      • The Amazing Food Truck Race
      • The Great Interior Design Challenge
      • The Final Table Challenge
      • Challenge Rubrics
      • Challenge Ideas
      • Kitchen Utensil Race & Other Variations
      • Code Names for the Classroom
      • Badges
    • Innovation
    • Creativity, Curiosity, and Collaboration
    • Authentic Audience
    • Legacy
  • ABOUT ME
  • BLOG
  • BOOK
  • PODCAST
  • T-SHIRTS
  • YOUTUBE
  • RECIPES
    • DESSERTS >
      • Mini Apple Clafouti
    • QUICK BREADS >
      • Dutch Babies
    • CAKES >
      • Southern Caramel Cupcakes
      • Chocolate Lava Cake
      • Chocolate Chip Chiffon Cupcakes
      • Hot Milk Sponge Cake with Broiled Coconut Topping
    • PIES & PASTRIES >
      • Eclairs
      • Pies
      • Puff Pastry
    • YEAST BREADS >
      • Bagels
      • Pullman Loaf
      • Cinnamon Rolls
      • Pretzels
      • Pizza
    • PASTA >
      • Macaroni & Cheese
      • Fresh Pasta
      • Italian Spaghetti Sauce
    • CHICKEN >
      • Chicken Satay
      • Chicken Enchiladas
      • BBQ Chicken Pizza
      • Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos
  • Workshop & Session Resources

BLOG

Spark Starters!

9/2/2018

1 Comment

 
For the first time in 22 years I am starting the school year without a classroom or students.  I've experienced a myriad of emotions throughout this transition, but what gets me fired up about my new role as Tech Integration Specialist is the opportunity to ignite innovation in my district.  The past four years have been a whirlwind for me and the most epic adventure as I've embraced innovation and discovered how it can open up amazing possibilities for growth and student learning.  My journey has been so transformational that I can't help but share my passion for making learning magical with others.
CALLING ALL SPARK STARTERS!
Picture
One of the very first things I did as Tech Integration Specialist happened 3 months before my new role officially started. After sharing my plan for igniting innovation in our district with my administrator, I asked for 10 minutes at our district's last Admin Council meeting of the year to share my vision and ask for their assistance. I handed out a card to each principal with room for them to write two educators in their school that they would consider to be a "Spark Starter". I told them I wasn't looking for the most tech savvy, but rather someone who had the following attributes:

The Courageous-takes leaps in their learning.
The Encouraging-Builds up those around them.
The Sunshine Spreaders-Lights up a room with positivity.
The Innovators-Likes to create new ideas or ways of doing things.
​
This team of "Spark Starters" will meet monthly after school for 1 1/2 hours for a fun-engaging time of learning and collaboration. I will also be visiting each "Spark Starter" monthly in their classrooms to help support them with the innovative things they are doing.  My vision is that having "sparks" in each school will ignite other sparks and soon we will have a district on fire for innovation.

RALLYING THE TROOPS!
Picture
Once I collected the cards, I sent out an email the next day with an invite to all of the identified "Spark Starters" to join our Innovation Team with a link to fill out a Google Form. It was the last day of the school year, so I knew I may not get a ton of responses, but wanted it to at least go out before we went into summer.

We have 19 schools in our district, so I sent out approximately 38 invites.  I had about one quarter of those invited onto the team respond, so I sent out the email invite again in August before school started followed by a personal phone call a week later to all those who I had not heard from. The phone calls took about 3 hours, but were so worth it. I was able to share my passion and make a personal connection with each one. Additionally, I was able to personally invite them to our half hour Innovation Team Meet & Greet during inservice week.

Out of 38 invites, I am starting out a team of 30 excited Spark Starters with at least one representative from each school in our district! We had an amazing kick-off and now I can't wait to see what sparks of innovation are ignited this school year!

Stay tuned!
​Our innovation adventures have just begun!
1 Comment
Tim Riley
9/2/2018 02:37:54 pm

I look forward to hearing more about your “spark starters”. Love the graphic.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Buy Now
    Picture

    Tisha Richmond

    Student Engagement & PD Specialist in Southern Oregon, Canva Learning Consultant, Canva Education Creator, and author of Make Learning Magical. I'm passionate about finding innovative ways to transform teaching and create unforgettable experiences in the classroom.

    Follow me on Twitter!

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • HOME
  • SPEAKING
  • RESOURCES
    • Memorable Beginnings >
      • PlayDough
      • Magical Planning Pages
    • Authenticity & Agency
    • Gamified Experiences >
      • Anywhere Learning Plans
      • The Amazing Race Game Plan Resources
      • The Race to the Golden Ticket
      • Ready Player One
      • The Amazing Food Truck Race
      • The Great Interior Design Challenge
      • The Final Table Challenge
      • Challenge Rubrics
      • Challenge Ideas
      • Kitchen Utensil Race & Other Variations
      • Code Names for the Classroom
      • Badges
    • Innovation
    • Creativity, Curiosity, and Collaboration
    • Authentic Audience
    • Legacy
  • ABOUT ME
  • BLOG
  • BOOK
  • PODCAST
  • T-SHIRTS
  • YOUTUBE
  • RECIPES
    • DESSERTS >
      • Mini Apple Clafouti
    • QUICK BREADS >
      • Dutch Babies
    • CAKES >
      • Southern Caramel Cupcakes
      • Chocolate Lava Cake
      • Chocolate Chip Chiffon Cupcakes
      • Hot Milk Sponge Cake with Broiled Coconut Topping
    • PIES & PASTRIES >
      • Eclairs
      • Pies
      • Puff Pastry
    • YEAST BREADS >
      • Bagels
      • Pullman Loaf
      • Cinnamon Rolls
      • Pretzels
      • Pizza
    • PASTA >
      • Macaroni & Cheese
      • Fresh Pasta
      • Italian Spaghetti Sauce
    • CHICKEN >
      • Chicken Satay
      • Chicken Enchiladas
      • BBQ Chicken Pizza
      • Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos
  • Workshop & Session Resources