Operation Socrates

Veteran's Day is over, but American Board always supports our Veterans and their families.

An article from my first year teaching. It’s hard to believe I’ve survived six years. Operation Socrates

I don’t post often unless it’s important, but I wanted to share my thoughts on a book I just finished: Nobody Is Coming to Save You by Scott Mann. There are many hucksters and charlatans out there who post incessantly about leadership but lack the credentials to back it up. However, Scott is the real deal. He has proven his leadership time and again in high-stakes situations—just read the book Operation Pineapple Express for an example of his leadership and impact. Nobody Is Coming to Save You is to leadership what Steven Pressfield's The War of Art is to creatives. But it’s not just for leaders; it’s for anyone who wants to build relationships, "leave tracks," or make a meaningful impact in today’s world. I recommend grabbing a highlighter and a pen; you'll want to take notes. https://a.co/d/dk5WhwC

Are you a veteran or someone passionate about helping veterans succeed in higher education? At Service to School, we’re building a strong network of ambassadors who guide and support veterans on their educational journeys. As the Director of Alumni Programming, I’m reaching out to veterans and dedicated supporters who want to volunteer their time and experience to help others succeed. Whether assisting with school selection, perfecting application essays, or preparing for interviews, our ambassadors provide critical support to veterans ready to take their next big step. You don’t have to be a veteran to join us—just someone who believes in the mission of helping veterans thrive. If you’re passionate about giving back to the community and making a difference, let’s connect! Message me if you’re interested in joining our mission, or please share this post with your network to help us reach even more veterans who could benefit from this incredible opportunity. #VeteransHelpingVeterans #MilitarySupport #VeteranAmbassadors #HigherEdSupport #VolunteerOpportunity

Hip pocket teaching. I have dozens of lessons that I keep in reserve for the moment when the students and the time to receive the message meet. My 7th grade class is only young men. 10 boys trying to figure out their place in the world. The quote applies to everyone, but these boys needed to hear it today as they battle the urge of “being too cool for school,” a lack of self confidence or just plain apathy. We listened and read the speech several times, discussed its meaning and they then wrote about a time when they were “the man in the arena.” Operation Socrates

Last week we learned and practiced how to write simple sentences, along with compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences. I required students to write a paragraph using all four sentence types and their work was mostly coherent and well done. I don’t remember being taught this stuff as a child. However, I know Ms. Anderjeski, Ms. White and the other teachers at Schiller Grade School instructed me on these things and all the other mechanics of writing. Ms. Peterson reinforced them with stern rigor when I was at Centralia High School while Mr. Ed Fish shook my world around by introducing me to creative writing. And then, John Lane led me through the process of writing my first short story at Wofford College and instilled in me a deep love of writing that I carry today. As an adult I identify myself to be a writer, as much as I once was a soldier, and now as a teacher. The beautiful thing, though, is that as I guide my students to write well, I am starting to recall how I came to love our language so very much and to appreciate, even more, the people who inspired me to find my words and use my voice. And now, I pay this amazing gift forward. Operation Socrates