I have been wanting to re-initiate blogging for some time and attending the recent New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education annual conference (#NYSCATE24) was the catalyst for doing so. And while there were great conversations and learning opportunities about important topics like generative AI, student wellness and mental health, and New York State’s new “Portrait of a Graduate” initiative for our students, my passion from the conference stems out of something else: connecting with my “human network.” With the Thanksgiving season upon us, it helped reinforce how thankful I am to be connected with this network.
The NYSCATE organization has always foundationally been a community of educators and partners who believe in the power of technology to positively impact teaching and learning. The NYSCATE conference annually is a terrific venue where this professional learning community can meet in person to build greater capacity for improving education in New York and beyond.
However, as I reflected on my attendance at this year’s event, it felt even more to me than just a professional community. Perhaps this feeling was simply because I have attended the conference over 20 times now and feel comfortable with how the conference behaves and who attends the event. Or perhaps I am just getting to the latter stages of my career and my perspective is shifting. But I’m realizing it wasn’t just this – there was something else going on here.
Instead, I’m calling these connections my “human network” because it is more to me than a professional network. I’m not sure if “human network” is the right phrase for these relationships, but it was the one that resonated the most. My human network is more than what these educators know and can share with me – it is about how this network has impacted me as a person. These educators and partners are my friends. They are people who I value and enjoy as individuals. I have grown up with these people. My interactions and connection with them have shaped who I am as a person and helped make me the person I am today. Forget what they have shared with me to support my career in education – I can’t imagine my life without these people in it.
Beyond what the network has done for me, I recognize that I have a place in this too. As much as these individuals have shaped me as a person, I hope I have been able to give back by supporting these individuals as well.
So in this Thanksgiving season, I am reminded how fortunate I am to be part of such a remarkable group of individuals who enrich my life in countless ways beyond my professional career. This community of educators and partners is a source of personal growth, friendship, and inspiration. I look forward to continuing this journey together – learning, growing, and making a difference in the world of education and beyond. Thank you to my “human network” for being such an important part of my personal story.
Any Time, Any Place 