About

Screen shot 2013-02-24 at 7.55.46 PM“I am on a journey with my work,my explorations, & a few [Great] stories.

I travel with a suitcase full of outrageous blessings.

     I am on a quest for truth, beauty, and quiet joy.   I am an artist, a writer, an explorer” – Unknown

I am a teacher. Yet the word “teacher” transcends the mere occupation I list on my W2 form. The word defines my identity, purpose, and the most sincere desires of my heart. I feel like my purest and truest self when I am teaching, molding, and instructing others. I experience pure joy and contentment when I step in front of my classroom.  I was born…. No, I was created to teach.  God made me for a purpose and that purpose is to inspire, encourage and  teach.

It is a privilege to impart information, wisdom and knowledge to my students. I feel truly blessed to teach, love and serve all of my students. There are days I get chills when I see them engage, make connections, and apply their brains to solve problems. I love seeing my students transform, day by day, into the young men and women they are destined to become. It is a blessing to get to do what I was made to do each and every day.

Teaching is my calling.  Traveling is my passion.   And I have been immeasurably blessed to have been able to combine the two.

Two years ago I  was awarded a Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant which allowed me to spend the summer researching education systems in Asia.  I traveled to 7 different countries observing schools, meeting principals and talking to teachers  to learn how Asian teachers teach mathematics.

This year I was awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching which is allowing me to spend 5 months observing and researching schools in Finland.

These experiences have provided me the opportunity to mold both my passion for travel and my life’s purpose together.  They have allowed me to visit schools in Finland, China, Singapore, Korea and other countries and I have been able to learn from the most successful education systems in the world.

My travels have not only provided me with new teaching tools, concepts and applications for my classroom, but they have also developed my understanding of the world, given me inspiration, direction and a renewed enthusiasm for the mathematics content that I love so dearly.

 

 

When I Travel

When I visit other countries I am often asked if I am a tourist. My response is always the same, “No, I am a traveler.” These two words might seem synonymous, but I find them to be opposing concepts.

A tourist visits a location only to take pictures of themselves in front of famous landmarks before returning to their comfortable Americanized hotel.  A traveler understands the value of the journey and visits destinations to learn, grow, and authentically connect with life.

Travelers absorb the location, culture and the people around them. The experience becomes a part of who they are and they are transformed. When I travel I become the truest version of myself and feel in harmony with humanity and nature. I am a traveler, a student of the world, and have committed myself to the exploration of new lands, cultures, and ideas.

 

 

 

 

26 thoughts on “About”

  4. I came across your blog through a FB post made by someone about 11 lessons from Finland’s education system. I really want to thank you for such a wonderful post. Actually I have been for quite sometime looking for something on the Finnish system and your post perfectly summarized it.

    As for this “About Page”, I really found your distinction between tourist and traveller though provoking and used it for on of my posts on FB.

    https://www.facebook.com/notes/saood-hashim/are-you-a-tourist-or-a-traveller/10152888306219716

    Thanks again.
    Peace be upon you.

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  5. Hello there,
    I’m a psychology student doing my Master’s degree in Graz, Austria. One of my classes is about intelligence and education and a month from now I’m gonna give a talk about the educational systems in different countries. I stumbled over your blog and was just amazed over your entries, especially regarding the finish school system. Since you’re doing research I’d like to ask if you can direct me to some papers of yours? Or tell me more about your current findings? I would be forever grateful!
    Best regards,
    Vicky

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  6. I have done a fair amount of travel (work related) and started thinking of being a “world citizen”. That might work in your instance.
    You are a wonderful writer and I am sure you will be looked up to by the many young impressionable teachers who follow in your well thought out life plan! Keep up the great work young lady!

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  7. Very fun to find your blog!! I love to spend the day with my fourth grade class and like you love to travel– lived in Spain for 12 years and ventured forth from there– and had a son in China for 10 years and made yearly trips there… And loved your life list!! I’m 63 (tomorrow!) and You’re inspiring me to make up a life list of my own for the years ahead!! thanks!

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  8. hi Kelly,
    less is more wonderful eye opening article for indian parents. we are doing the opposite and keeping child away from the beautiful process of learning.
    thanks a lot !!!!!!

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  10. Hi Kelly,
    I wonder if you might be able to send me an email. I am a librarian at the BC Teachers’ Federation, and the editor of our newsmagazine is interested in potentially reprinting a couple of your posts, with your permission. You can reach me at eoneill at bctf.ca
    Thank you!
    Emily O’Neill

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  11. Hello! I’m writing an article for my school newspaper on the Finnish education system versus the American one. I’ve read your article, and I was wondering if I would be able to interview you to further elaborate on some of the excellent points you’ve made so far. I’m available through Skype and email. An interview with you would significantly help with my article and hopefully, the push to improve our education system!

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  12. Hello! I’m writing an article for my school newspaper on the Finnish education system versus the American one. I’ve recently read your article, and I was wondering if I would be able to interview you to further elaborate on some of the excellent points you’ve already made. I’m available through Skype and email. An interview with you would significantly help with my article and hopefully, the push to improve our education system!

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  14. Hi Kelly, I really appreciate your way of being teacher. I just randomly wrote on google to learn about Finland Education System , it helped me a lot to discover about Education system in Finland and wonder a lot and even encouraged me to go there. Thank you so much for your efforts all.

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  15. Hi Kelly,
    I’m so glad I came across you writing. You are a very inspiring person. Something you might include in you “more is more” thoughts are the sadly staggering statistics regarding teacher retention. I’ve been an educator for 34 years, teaching in 5 states, 9 school districts, grades 1-6. I still LOVE being with and teaching my kids. Unfortunately, the last five years have literally affected my health. I hate going to work every day, not because of my kids, but because of the fact that my plate is heaped with more than I can possibly do! Many teachers in my current district stick in a movie, so they can do paperwork, etc. I haven’t and never will be that kind of teacher. The environment is not fun, as everyone is looking out for #1. Collegiality doesn’t exist where I am. I have no problem with CCSS. I am an out of the box teacher. My kids love my class. My FB is filled with former students who found me. Right now, we have the big TESS mess going on. All that us to me is more crap on my heaping plate! I’m ready to walk out the door. You ARE truly blessed. I want to continue reading your writings. Perhaps, I can keep my fire burning a little longer with your inspiration. Thank you!

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  17. Hello Kelly,

    I loved your article about Education system in Finland and comparing it to American system. I have just started to study Education in Canada to become a Elementary school teacher. I have always heard about Finnish education system but I want to find research papers about comparing Canadian and Finnish education system. I haven’t had much of luck. I found 2 articles written by the same person about comparing topic of inclusion in these two countries. Have you ever seen any peer-reviewed paper comparing these two systems even American and Finnish? Please drop me an email so that I can be in touch with you through email.

    Thank you,
    Azadeh

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  18. Kelly – I have been reading through your entries on Finnish schools, possibly to use them in an advanced writing class that I am teaching. One concern I have, and I know this sounds odd, but I cannot find your name listed anywhere. Is this really on purpose – that you do not want your name cited, or am I just missing something obvious? In any case, thanks for all the great writing.

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  19. Kelly – I have been reading through your entries on Finnish schools, possibly to use them in an advanced writing class that I am teaching. One concern I have, and I know this sounds odd, but I cannot find your name listed anywhere. Is this really on purpose – that you do not want your name cited, or am I just missing something obvious? In any case, thanks for all the great writing.

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  20. Hi, I am an instructional coach in California. I loved reading about your comparisons between educational systems. In the past, I considered getting a PhD in international comparisons of education, but I think the Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant would be a great way to dig into some of those topics. Unfortunately, it looks like that program is only for educators from Indiana. I was wondering if you have ever heard of other similar summer programs? If so, I would love to look into them further.

    Thanks,
    Emily

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