Just a few short weeks ago, I sent email to a Texas educator who was contemplating leaving the classroom to join the ranks of Ed-Tech leaders as a instructional tech facilitator. I wrote that educator the following:

Each of us in Instructional Technology Services has faced the question you now struggle with. None of us relinquished our teaching positions without deep reflection. I can only share that the work we do has great meaning because so few understand it. You must now consider whether you wish to continue to do this–the work of transforming teaching, learning and leading through the strategic application of technology–on the side, in addition to your regular work duties, or embrace it as your future. Obviously, I have embraced it.

From my perspective, I have been able to impact thousands of educators, who in turn, impact classrooms full of children. I blog both at work and home about educational technology and learning is not just an “event” for me (http://mguhlin.net). Is it comparable to the satisfaction of working with a child and seeing him do well on an assessment, of seeing the smile when he “gets it?” Yes…but it’s different. It’s a life of service but it’s not perfect or without its frustrations.

In 10-20 years, there will be a lesser chance that, while walking down the street, I’ll have an adult who was once my student say to me, “Mr. Guhlin, do you remember me?” However, I will (and do) have thousands of educators who say to me, have said to me, “What you taught me made a difference in my teaching and learning and I used it with my students and with my team.”

As I chatted with Janice Schlottman (past TCEA Board Member, esteemed colleague, and friend), who related to me that she will be retiring in May, 2009, I found myself wishing her well and reflecting that yet another friend was retiring. As a forty-year old, I’ve found myself thinking of retirement looming in the distance.

So, when an experience like the one today occurs, I feel OLD (a new feeling for me who has always been the youngest at the table…but if I move beyond that feeling, I am so overjoyed. Here’s today’s story:

Eight to ten years ago, I had the opportunity to coordinate a $2.9 million Technology Integration in Education (TIE). It was the vision of Mark Gabehart (now CTO for Abilene ISD and one of the finalists for the TCEA 2009 Technology Administrator of the Year). As the Pathways to Advance Virtual Education (PAVE) Staff Development Coordinator, the position represented my first administrative position. I learned so much about being a manager and administrator.

PAVE was unique for me because it enabled me to serve as a human conduit for over 230 teachers earning Master’s degrees in Curriculum & Instruction with Instructional Technology specialization.

Today, I ran into Aleida Perez-Sanchez (M.Ed. via PAVE) from Laredo, Tx. I recognized her as she strolled down the hall, and did a double-take. As I waved hello at her, not sure I knew her, she immediately remembered me. She shared her story of how I encouraged her to participate in the Master’s Online program funded by the TIE grant (a.k.a. Pathways to Advance Virtual Education (PAVE)) and she told me how I’d changed her life with an encouraging email.

The email–which I don’t remember among the thousands sent–encouraged her to start the Master’s program, and her decision was to join. Now, she serves as Program Coordinator for Instructional Technology in United ISD, Laredo, Texas. Wow.

I can’t claim credit for her enthusiasm, her brilliance, her willingness. In fact, I can only claim credit for an encouraging email that promised a brighter future.

Thank YOU, Aleida. What an inspiration. Thank you, Janice, for your warm greetings and support…I’m grateful to you both for what you represent.

Retiring educator Janice Schlottmann, Ed-Tech Program Coordinator Aleida Perez-Sanchez

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Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure