Make Joining Twitter Your #DeafEd New Year's Resolution

Last October, I had the privilege of writing an article for the ebulletin Raising and Educating Deaf Children: Foundations for Policy, Practice, and Outcomes. In this article, I described how teachers of the deaf (ToD) have been turning to social media in order to grow professionally and to collaborate with others. The article can be found here http://www.raisingandeducatingdeafchildren.org/2019/10/04/using-social-media-for-professional-growth-and-collaboration/

Although I am a member of many Facebook groups that focus on deaf education, I find Twitter to be my preferred connection to other educators and professionals. The hashtag #DeafEd is one that I search for regularly. I love seeing what other ToDs are doing in their classrooms and what new resources they found or made. I enjoy reading snippets of the latest linguistic and brain research. I feel connected to Deaf advocates from across the globe fighting for equal rights.

Every day I get on Twitter and learn something new. Recently, I engaged in a rich conversation with a few Deaf linguists about language, Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills, and CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency. You can read the archived conversation here https://wke.lt/w/s/1VWhaR

Why are you waiting to start using Twitter? No more excuses. Your professional growth depends on it. I'll wait right here as you open a new tab on your computer and join Twitter...

Now that you signed up, what do you do? Start following people. Who should you follow? Look for like-minded professionals, those that are in your field, those who share the same interests, those who discuss topics that are of relevance to you, your students, and your profession. Do what I did when I started - find one person to follow, then look at who that person is following. You will find a treasure trove of potential people to follow. You can follow me! @HeidiGASL

If you want a few recommendations of who to follow to get you started, check out this list. These are people/organizations that I follow that I think everyone in #DeafEd should follow. It is not an all-encompassing list, and just because I do not include someone doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow them. I just can’t list everyone. These are top-notch highly engaged folk on Twitter. Also, many schools and programs for the deaf have Twitter accounts. Feel free to search for them too!

Once you feel comfortable with Twitter, consider participating in our monthly #DeafEd Twitter chats. Happening the second Thursday of every month, 4:30pmPT/7:30pmET, it is a fantastic way to learn from colleagues about various topics pertinent to deaf education. For information on how to participate in a Twitter chat, check out this informational video by Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of Deaf Communities here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lJ9YRAwOj4

I can't wait to see you on Twitter soon!

In no particular order...

Deaf Education Specific

@laurenmaucere @tcsamaripa @transformdeafed

@treejam7 @ThisisNYCarlos @rafnarr

@AtomicHands @michaelskyer @NRSCenter

@NationalDeafCtr @CEASD1868 @CAIDOfficial

@sarahlovesears @wyattehall @TerynceTeaches

@SuptNYSD @FSDB_PD @DeafKidsCode

@KymPMeyer @jrscoyote @Caledorg @jmhenner

Education in General

@tolerance_org @ClearTheAirEdu @NatGeoEducation

@alicekeeler @christienold @brewerhm

@TheJLV @teacher2teacher @sevenzo_org

Advocacy

@behearddc @talilalewis @DisVisibility

@CouncildeManos @DisSolidarity

International

@Sarah_albuzaid @DeafTechF @skymazef3

A Decade of Accomplishments

Can you believe we have just entered the 2020s? It seems like only yesterday we were getting ready for the 2010s. 

So much has happened to me personally and professionally during this past decade. After seeing others share on social media what has happened to them, I decided to write down all my accomplishments (well, most of them) here. This will serve as a reminder to myself of the good I have done and as a way to make the next decade even better for my family and for my profession. I chose not to list the publications or presentations I have done over the years. I’m not writing a book or a CV! :)

As teachers, we don’t give ourselves enough credit for all the great work we do. We don’t toot our own horns or share what we do. Many of us don't even hang our degrees in our classrooms just as other professionals do. We need to! It’s not bragging; it’s showing the world how much of an impact every teacher has. You don't have to have awards or other accolades in order to celebrate what you have done this decade. Every single teacher makes an impact on the lives of children every day. That should be celebrated. My list below does not mean I am better than a teacher who is a master teacher in their own right and a leader inside their classroom. That person deserves all the celebrating too!

Therefore, after you read, take some time to reflect on your own successes no matter how great or small. If you share it publicly, please let me know so I can read yours too!

2010 

• Permanently added a third child to our family with the adoption of Brooklyn (Our second child, Jasmine, was adopted in 2009).

2011

• Permanently added a fourth (and final) child to our family with the adoption of Savannah
• Co-founded the Kentucky Educators for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Became a National Board Certified Teacher
• Represented KY at the Multi-State Standard Setting Study Panel for Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students Praxis exam

2012

• Transitioned from classroom teacher to itinerant teacher
• Selected as Kentucky Elementary Teacher of the Year

2013

• Selected to serve on the Kentucky Commissioner of Education Teacher Advisory Council. Served until 2016.

2014

• Attended the inaugural Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers (ECET2) Kentucky convening
• Selected to serve on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Teacher Advisory Council. Served a two year term. During this time, attended and served on planning committees for several national, state and regional ECET2 convenings.

2015

• Received Director of Special Education certification
• After participating in a Twitter chat end-of-semester project for RIT/NTID students, collaborated with the professor to co-found the monthly #DeafEd Twitter chat, still going strong today

2016

• Selected as a Hope Street Group Kentucky State Teacher Fellow. Served for one year
• Transitioned to administration. Separated from my family and moved to Frankfort to serve as the Director of Student Services for Frankfort Independent Schools

2017

• Co-chaired ECET2 CA Deaf Education
• Wrote and was awarded $225,000 in grants for early childhood for Frankfort Independent Schools

2018

• Enrolled in a program to pursue my principal certification, to eventually earn my EdD in educational leadership, and continue to learn and grow
• Provided consultation to Kentucky State University's School of Education
• For the first time, served as an independent evaluator of a university grant
• Returned back to teaching as a teacher of the deaf for Fayette County Public Schools
• Watched my first born, Maya, graduate high school and be admitted to the University of Kentucky
• Chaired ECET2 Deaf Education Central

2019

• Returned back home and accepted a teaching position as teacher of the deaf for McLean County Public Schools
• Jasmine made her middle school volleyball team
• Celebrated my 20 year wedding anniversary
• Selected to serve on the inaugural National Geographic Teacher Advisory Council
• Began working with CEASD as their social media manager
• Began consultant work with the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes
• Lost 75 pounds!!!