Experienced+Voices+ADMIN

As leaders you need to have a personal learning network that you can turn as a way to to stay on the cutting edge in your position as an educational leader. It is also a way to keep learning and position yourself as a learner first and leader second.

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http://suewaters.wikispaces.com/

Another way we are jump starting your networking is by bringing in some administrators that are using the techniques we have been discussing in their own leadership. Each will be creating a Group for your to join. You do not have to join all the groups-- just the topics which interest you.
 * Experienced Voices**


 * //Meet our Experienced Voices//**


 * Stephanie Sandifer** Stephanie is an educator with nearly 20 years of experience educating children and adults at all levels. As a K-12 and college-level educator she has over 15 years of experience in the classroom — face-to-face and online in virtual school settings. Additionally, she has 10 years of experience in leadership roles that encompass a wide range of school administration and curriculum/instructional leadership including the development, delivery & facilitation of professional development.

As an educator who enjoys sharing with others, Stephanie began exploring the use of blogging as a tool for connecting and communicating with others in March of 2006 when she launched the Change Agency blog. From there she has explored the use of wikis, social networking, and other Web 2.0 tools in the classroom and professionally to develop a Personal Learning Network of hundreds of other educators who share her curiosity and passion for learning.

Stephanie lives in Houston, Texas, and works from home as an online educator, author, professional development provider, and consultant. She shares her life with three young children, a very supportive partner, two yellow labs, and two cats.

George Couros is currently school principal of [|Forest Green School and Connections for Learning,] located in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada. The schools are from ages K-12, and he loves working with kids of all ages. He is passionate about distributed leadership within his school, and believes that creating a collaborative environment with all stakeholders, will help to ensure that educators meet the best needs of all children. You can learn more about George on his own blog entitled [|“The Principal of Change”]. George created the "Connected Principals" site because he knew that we can learn so much from a strong team of educators with different backgrounds, as opposed to the view of only one.
 * George Couros**

Patrick Larkin is the Principal of Burlington High School in Massachusetts where he is in his 14th year as a high school administrator and seventh as a building Principal. Prior to serving as a school administrator, Patrick was a high school English teacher. As an Assistant Principal, Patrick was named Assistant Principal of the Year in the state of Massachusetts. He also is a former Executive Board member in the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Administrators Association (MSSAA) and he recently completed a two year term as a member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Public Secondary Schools. Patrick’s school will be making the transition to a 1:1 environment for the 2011-2012 school year. In addition, Patrick recently taught a course to high school students focusing on Web 2.0 and building their PLN. The students and instructors involved in “The Student PLN Connect” project are using numerous online tools to enhance their learning experiences, create projects to enhance their passions, and connect to others around the World. To enrich the class experience, Patrick has connected with schools in Iowa and Philadelphia.
 * Patrick Larkin**

Patrick is active presenting to colleagues on the power of social media for administrators, teachers, and students. In addition, he is an avid blogger and a proponent of social media to better engage teachers, students, and parents in the education process. Patrick is one of the founders of the Connected Principals Blog and #cpchat on Twitter. He is an avid blogger and a proponent of social media to better engage teachers, students, and parents in the education process.

"I have learned more from my Personal Learning Network (PLN) in less than two years than I did in my previous decade in education," says Larkin. "This is the most exciting time in history to be involved in education and I am enjoying every minute of it!

Patrick is a graduate of Assumption College and he received his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Framingham State College.

You can find Patrick's blog here.