Countdown to #GTAATX

I made it!

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Those were the words that ran through my mind as I walked up the stairs to my home yesterday evening. I had spent the entire day checking my email over and over, waiting for news about my application to the Google Teacher Academy. When my phone beeped at 7:15 last night, I made it part way through the first sentence before I let out a whoop of joy. In public. If there had been more than half a dozen steps, I would have done the Rocky-Balboa-Run-Up-The-Stairs-Like-A-Champ move.

This wasn't the first time I've applied. I applied last spring, but didn't manage to get in. I think that's why I was so surprised: the caliber of people who get selected is incredible. I didn't dare jinx it by dreaming about what the future could hold. Now, that's all changed.

Image: Pixabay

I'm thrilled to be among the 50 teachers selected to take part in the Google Teacher Academy happening in Austin, TX this December. It's an honour to be among some of the most amazing people I've had the pleasure of "meeting" (either in person or online). To a non-tech-teacher, it's difficult to explain the appeal of the GTA, but as one of my fellow attendees put it, it's the golden ticket to go meet Willy Wonka, but for teaching.

What does this change?

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I expect that I'll come out of this with two things: huge dreams of what education can be, and a network of people who can help me achieve the dream. There is so much that we could be doing, and we just need the vision and the "chops" (as my music teacher used to say) to get things to change. Little things. Big things. Fundamental things. I'm going to dream my biggest dreams, and then I'm going to figure out exactly how to realize those dreams.

The best part? I'm going to be dreaming with a group of talented dreamers. I'm going to be changing things with some of the most constructive disruptors in education. It's gonna be amazing.