The president of ASCD, Ben Shuldiner, began this year’s annual conference with a strong message and one with a political undercurrent. He urged the audience of over 7,000 educators that this is a time to advocate for the profession in a time when, if we do not make decisions for ourselves, they could be made for us. This suggestion was obviously a nod towards what is happening in our current administration and messages from our current Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos. The easiest way to empower and advocate in education is for educators to organize, to become a network that fosters productive conversations, encourages progress and is supportive through laughter and feedback.
If there is one thing you can do to advocate for the teaching profession here at ASCD, or any conference, it is to turn to the person next to you in a session and introduce yourself. After that, start talking about who you are and what you’re about as a person and teacher. Then stay connected with that person by exchanging twitter handles or any way you can to keep the conversations going after the conference. (If you don't know how to use twitter, ask someone here!) Through the connection you’ve just made, connect to others in that person's twitter-verse. How can this one introduction to a stranger advocate for the teaching profession you may ask? When we create a strong network to share ideas, challenges and triumphs, the profession as a whole can only stand to become stronger and get through challenging tides whether they sourced in the White House or in the classroom.
You can connect to ASCD Empower 17 conference and the thousands of attendees here on twitter at @ascdempower17. You can connect to Ben Shuldiner at @bshuldiner and me at @D_L_Potts
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