March 2001

February 15–March 15, 2001

It is difficult to believe that another month has passed. Each day has been filled with newness and discovery that I would not have thought possible after ten months of traveling across the country. The routine of packing, preparing a speech, arriving in a new city, meeting new people, speaking, and starting all over again has become a part of my life. Hotels are my homes and are the normal places to be. My own home sometimes seems alien and out of place.

New Orleans, where the Future Educators of America Convention was held, was my first stop of the month. It was wonderful to address a thousand or more high school students who see their futures in the classrooms of this country. There was diversity, youth, exuberance, and so much hope in the room that day that I was very deeply moved. The next day I had the good fortune to address the Association of Teachers Educators Conference. And all of these fantastic happenings in the middle of Mardi Gras!

Next, Columbus State University College of Education greeted me with open arms and three television interviews. What a fantastic group of people I met in that city. I was then off to some stops in California and back to Austin, Texas, for the Texas Teachers' Forum. Each forum I attend is recognition of the ideas and the passions of its participants.

I also had the good fortune to speak at the "Best Teachers Lecture Series" at Montgomery Bell Academy, the home of the "Dead Poet's Society." It was a thrill for me to speak in assembly to all the young men, to visit and participate in their classes, and to meet and speak to the faculty.

Certainly, one the highlights of my year was my visit to Coral Gables Bilingual Elementary School in Coral Gables, Florida. The principal, Migdania Vega, is a visionary who leads her well-trained, knowledgeable, and disciplined staff with enthusiasm and a belief that all children can learn and succeed. This picture of ideal learning remains in my mind each day and will inspire me for a very long time.

In this travel-filled month, the time for reflection is small. However, some strands fall into place. The strongest of these is the importance of excellent teaching and the continual professional development that all teachers need to be great. I will talk more about these at a later date. They are so vital.

Dr. Marilyn Whirry

Check back often to see journal entries from the coming months.

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