September 26, 2007 08:51 AM

Everthing Goes Wrong

The end has to be told first. I think this was one of the best Montana cadre meetings to date. A huge success and I really pushed the group to apply their learning. But it must be told the process to get here could have led one to peril or early suicide.

Just imagine, put yourself in my shoes.
It all started on the travel day to Bozeman Montana. It was the first time I traveled with a work colleague and Darren, bless his heart, started his first workday at OETC on a rather chaotic day of travel.

My mind did not process the time I needed to be at the airport until I was leaving for the airport. I looked at the clock twice and I realized I needed to be going through security in ten minutes. Did I say I live an underestimated thirty minutes away? As I left a message for Darren that I may miss the flight, I actually pulled into the overcharged parking and raced in to check in (yeah the one time I didn’t check in before I got to the airport). Ironically, Darren was late also. So we decided to carry our bags on instead. Opps oh yea, we both got our bags searched because we had liquids over 3.5 ounces. Bye bye professional hairspray, sorry Darren, no shaving or hair gelin’. As we race down the gate, we were met with a thirty-minute delay. From there it only proceeded to get worse, and only deserves brief bulleted recognition:

  • Didn’t have time to get coffee and our flight to Seattle didn’t have coffee either.

  • Flight in Seattle to Bozeman was delayed a bit at the last minute.

  • Flight in Butte was delayed 3 hours, and then cancelled.

  • We rented a car.

  • Then the airline offered a bus to Bozeman.

  • We drove anyway.

  • When we went to get our luggage outside, it started to rain. When we walked to the car, it was a downpour.

  • Over the mountain it started to snow. I didn’t bring a coat or anything but sandals.

  • There was a bad car accident in the snow, which looked to be fellow air travelers who rented a car also.

  • Best of all, when we got to the hotel and checked in, we overheard the internet was down. Had been down for two days because a tower fell. Yeah that is what I thought also… what will we do?

  • So I went to a coffee shop with internet to plan a two-day agenda without connectivity.

  • As Darren and I planned an activity using one of the staff development books I brought, we headed to Kinko’s to make copies. Hmmm, Kinko’s closed just as we entered. Yeah we thought they were open 24 hours also. Not this one.

  • I decided to call it a night and besides my digital camera not working I ironically NEVER ONCE felt stressed bothered or uptight at the dilemmas and road blocks in my path.

Darren did great. He is a super addition to OETC and he was a thoughtful tremendous help. And EVERYTHING worked out for the cadre, INCLUDING the internet coming back up and working perfectly. OK, I must end with this, the internet, went down after the cadre was over. LOL.

If you would like to see the Montana evaluation results, feel free.

Posted by jena on September 26, 2007 at 08:51 AM| Permalink | Comments (0)

September 20, 2007 03:39 PM

Cadre's

I am sure it is not true, but my head thinks right now that I have never been so stressed out and busy. It seems worse than ITSC, but I think I am deceived. Planning for Oregon and Montana cadre's has consumed me this week, and that is all I can say.

Oh, we have 90 participants for Oregon and 25 for Montana and we charged $150 membership fee this year.

Posted by jena on September 20, 2007 at 03:39 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

August 10, 2007 09:16 AM

Learning and Innovation Skills

Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in the 21st century and those who are not. They include:

  • Creativity and Innovation

  • Critical thinking and Problem Solving

  • Communication and Collaboration

These are the focus of the Oregon and Montana cadre for 2007-08.

Posted by jena on August 10, 2007 at 09:16 AM| Permalink | Comments (0)

June 14, 2007 06:23 PM

Cadre in Montana

edutopia.jpg

Fun surprise today, to see Claduette Morton, Montana's Office of Public Instruction superintendent, reference the Montana Cadre Blog as a resource for learning in this months Edutopia. YIPPEE!

Posted by jena on June 14, 2007 at 06:23 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

May 5, 2007 09:55 PM

It Worked!

The internet was great, the group FABULOUS and the content flowed. Take a look at their Community Walks and great hard work.

IMGA0506.jpg

Posted by jena on May 5, 2007 at 09:55 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

April 25, 2007 09:52 PM

Montana Cadre Planning

We are hosting the spring cadre in a Bozeman, Montana at the Hilton Garden. As we have not yet hosted it here I am leary of the internet connection, but since most of the agenda is entirely online, if there are problems we will have to use an alternative strategy like splitting up amongst coffee shops and doing it remotely. My fingers are crossed, don't wanna have to figure that one out.

Posted by jena on April 25, 2007 at 09:52 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

November 10, 2006 07:50 PM

Montana Cadre

I am working on the agenda and plan for the Montana cadre this next week. The agenda is shaping up, hopefully the internet will work well.

Posted by jena on November 10, 2006 at 07:50 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)