Tinkerings

Recently I applied for a new level of recognition within the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) community: The DEN Guru.  The application process was very competitive, and after I sent in my materials I waited to see which five educators from around the country would be announced.

I can hear your question already.  Tim, exactly what is a DEN Guru?  I’m glad you asked.  From the National DEN Blog, there is this:

“DEN Gurus are STAR Discovery Educators who possess expertise of one or more pedagogical topics (e.g., Differentiated Instruction, Project Based Learning, etc.), have demonstrated their expertise through a variety of professional experiences, and advocate for the meaningful integration of Discovery Education digital content across their area(s) of expertise.

DEN Gurus will be promoted throughout the community as thought leaders in the educational field and have the opportunity to share their expertise in a variety of ways.”

So you can imagine my surprise when I opened my email on my Blackberry in our school’s administration offices and saw my name on the list of five.  I can’t really print here the words that escaped my mouth, so let me just say that I was not just surprised, I was totally floored.  Here is the list of five and the categories for which we were recognized:

• Traci Blazosky
  Creative Construction with Multimedia
  Clarion Area School District, PA

• Tim Childers
  Project Based Learning
  Bradley County Schools, TN

• Patricia Duncan
  Science
  Wallenpaupack School District, PA

• Lee Kolbert
  Personal Learning Networks
  Palm Beach County, FL

• Nancy Sharoff
  Visual Literacy
  Ellenville Central Schools, NY

I know these people.  They are fantastic educators.  They are top level DEN members.  And I am very thankful to be listed alongside them.

I am not comfortable with this kind of recognition at times.  It is a heavy mantle.  The position is important not only because teachers may want to look to me for direction regarding Project Based Learning, but because this is the inaugural year for the position.  I trust I will be able to live up to the expectations.

It is always nice to be recognized by a group of your peers.  So to the DEN leaders who poured through dozens and dozens and dozens of applications, I say thank you.  Or, to quote one of my favorite actresses, “You like me! You really like me!”