I knew I'd been far too busy over the last year and a half and it was time to make some changes. New directions were unfolding, and with that, new opportunities. And... creating new opportunities for people is what VL is about when it's at it's best, so it's time to open this opportunity for another person to step into this role.
My friend, colleague, and board member, Patricia Aigner, takes the Presidency now. Patricia has been involved with VL as a board member for many years, has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and so many great ideas.
I'll still be involved with VL, and will still be helping this great group innovate. I'm moving back to the board in an 'ex-officio' position to help with marketing and outreach, ideation, conference innovation, and some special projects.
As for the conference emcee bit, my thanks to all who've given me so many compliments in my work there over the last 6 years (12 major conferences). I'm hearing interest from the board that they may have me continue in that role in some fashion. We'll see where things land over the next months.
I need to thanks so many... the board of directors, Paul Irish, Patricia Aigner, Lucie deLaBruere and Craig Lyndes, Mike Lambert, Steve Jarrett, Fred Wadlington, John Craig, Jen Burton, Caleb Clark, Dan French, Jay Nichols, Jess & Charlie Wilson, Ed Barry & Sue Hoffer, Peter Drescher, Rebecca Holcombe, Jeff Renard and the folks at VTVLC, the Tarrant Foundation, Chuck Scranton and the Rowland Foundation, and all the students, attendees, vendors, presenters, and our incredible immersive workshop leaders. A special thank you to my these immersive workshop leaders... Diana Laufenberg, David Jakes, Chris Lehmann, Kristina Ishmael-Peters, Brad Latimer, Zac Chase, Mary Beth Hertz, Andrew Marcinek, Zephyrus Todd, Matt Kay, and Gary Stager.
Working with all of you has inspired me in so many ways, helped me recharge, and helped me forge new ideas and connections. I feel very fortunate that I've developed friendships with so many as a result of this work and am looking forward to the next phase.
We did it. Together we restructured the organization to promote more innovation. We created more opportunities for PD in Vermont and abroad. We remapped and implemented a new marketing and outreach plan to help people connect and share. We rebuilt all the VL websites. We spiced up the conferences and created new opportunities within them. We introduced more student voice... student keynotes - the first in VT history. We built Project IGNITE. We built hands-on makerspaces at our conferences. We introduced alternative conference schedules to promote more diverse learning. We added some great social events to help people connect. We helped people connect to a larger audience in Vermont and abroad. In all, we opened new pathways to promote innovation in schools.
Other conferences and organizations took notice, especially in New England. So many abroad have been in contact with me to see how we did it, why, and what results it provided... and they have made similar shifts.
And VL is just getting started ; )
Three projects I'm looking forward to working on... promoting more diversity and discussions therein to VL conferences, continuing to grow partnerships with other organizations, and promoting more student voice.
My sincere thanks for all the kind words and encouragement, and thanks for attending all these great VL events and sharing your work and expertise. Keep doing great things. Keep sharing ideas. And keep supporting each other. We do our best work when we do it together. I'm looking forward to seeing you around the shop.
We win...
AP
