In this episode, we meet Jodi McKenzie. Jodi is an English II Teacher at Gautier High School in the Pascagoula School District and the 2017 Mississippi Teacher of the Year. She serves as the Department Chair and represents Student Council at her school. Jodi received her Bachelor’s from the University of Southern Mississippi and her Master’s from William Carey College both in Elementary Education and Teaching. She loves cultivating relationships with her students and gives some insights on how she does this, as well as some great student stories she's had along the way. 

Show Notes

• Jodi’s hidden talent
• The compounding moments that led Jodi to into teaching
• Teachers that made an impact
• Learning from Hurricane Katrina as a 2nd-Year Teaching
• Favorite Exercise
• • Les Mills Class - Body Pump
• Her Senior Project that helped with her teaching
• How to begin the process of cultivating relationships
• Quote “We are a family, this is your safe place” Jodi McKenzie
• What makes a good Department Chair?
• Quote “Not a leader that is going to tell you what to do, and how to do it all the time, but a leader that is going to get in there and do it with you.” Jodi McKenzie
• Getting feedback
• Simplifying Writing
• Favorite Technology
• • Chromebooks
  • No Red Ink
  • Google Classroom
  • Slate and Active Board + Clickers
• Profession other than teaching
• Moving teachers to be considered professionals
• Teacher of the Year Schedule
• Morning Routines
• • Agenda
  • Thought of the Day “Something to Think About”
• Writing and Speaking Processes
• Student Stories
• Contacting an author
• What would you take if your house went up in flames?
• Favorite Podcasts

Contact Jodi 
Twitter: @jodi_mckenzie
Facebook: @mstoy2017

Books and Links mentioned in the show 
Horn Island Dream by Wes Dannreuther
Impact Theory by Tom Bilyeu
Knight by Elie Wiesel
Artist: Walter Anderon
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Nicholas Sparks Books Eye of the Tiger by Survivor  

Podcasts mentioned in the show
Truth for Teachers by Angela Watson
Every Classroom Matters by Vicki Davis
Teaching Learning and Reading K–12
Talks With Teachers by Brian Sztabnik

Sponsor
April Mass Photography ⇐ Get candid & fun photography at 10% off if you mention this podcast

Review the podcast on iTunes
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Music
Song: I dunno (ft. J Lang, Morusque) 
Artist: Grapes 
Album: ccMixter
 
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