Join the MOI crew as we hear from Lake Norman Charter School's high school ITF Jamie Lord and middle school ITF Marianne Rogowski.  They share their "Focus 5" tips including keeping students engaged on Zoom, lesson ideas for asynchronous learning, minimizing grading time, things you didn't know you could do, and using Jamboard as a collaborative whiteboard.

Join the MOI team as we chat with Librarian Angie Moore all the way from Michigan!  Listen as she shares her experiences starting at a new school during COVID and how she has adapted and shined through all of the challenges she's faced.  As a bonus she shares some great titles for you to add to your summer reading list!

Jo Watson Hackl is the author of Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe, published by Random House Children’s Books.  It was awarded the Southern Book Prize and is an Indie Next and Okra pick. It’s also been recently featured on the NC School Library Media Association EBOB list!  Listen in as we speak with Jo about how she collaborates with educators across the country and how the pandemic has affected the way she interacts with teachers, librarians, and students.

Listen in as we chat with Carrie Robledo, Digital Integration Facilitator for Moore County Schools.  This conversation aired live on Twitter on Digital Learning Day, February 25th, 2021.  Carrie is a Digital Integration Facilitator for Moore County Schools, where

she integrates robotics, engineering, and coding at Highfalls K-8, Elise

Middle, and Robbins Elementary.  She is the 2020 NCTIES Outstanding

Teacher of the Year, a 2020-2021 #IAmCS Ambassador, the 2019-2020

Moore County Schools Teacher of the Year, and a 2018-2019 Kenan

Fellow.  We discuss with her how she has moved robotics virtual this year and the "special" things she has done with students in regard to the recent Mars Perseverence Landing.

In this episode we'll hear from Casey Rimmer, Director of Innovation and EdTech for Union County Schools in NC.  She is with us to discuss the many ways they've been supporting teachers, students, and parents from the very beginning of the COVID shutdown.  What's really interesting is how they have developed personalized PD for their teachers that has evolved from basic skills to broader instructional concepts.

The "Focus 5" series seeks to highlight 5 great things happening in a school district at any given time.  On this episode we are featuring several Dare County Schools' Librarians as they discuss what's going in their Media Centers and beyond. Take the time to listen, you'll be happy you did!

We were contacted by Dr. Lisa Hervey to do a follow up episode to the "What Do You Mean I'm An Orange" episode.  Since it's release she has become officially certified as a True Colors Facilitator and is excited to share some more insights into how beneficial this assessment can be and is.  She also wants to go back and reframe some ideas discussed before.  As Stacy likes to say, "Know Better, Do Better"!

Join us as we spend some time talking with Dr. Lisa Hervey as she explains how the True Colors assessment has made a true impact on her life.  Listen as she describes how her understanding of others has been transformed by this tool and how she displays the results with pride.

In this episode we discuss the importance of encouraging the creative abilities in our students.  Whether remote or in person, it's important to remember that allowing for creativity is crucial for not only our students, but for teachers as well.  To that end, we hear from Mari Beth LaRose, Art Teacher at Kitty Hawk Elementary in Dare County as she tells us about some of the activities she uses with her students to push them creatively.  We also speak with Kristen Springle, Art Teacher at Beaufort Middle School in Cartaret County.  She shares an amazing project she did with her students and how she incorporates mindfulness strategies to help them lower stress and encourage their creativity.

Dana Page, who has transitioned this year from high school math teacher to elementary school assistant principal, joins the MOI crew in this episode.  We talk about her experiences and her journey in education.  She also shares some great things going on at her school and how excited they are to get the kids back in the building.