ISTE 2016 Ignites | How to become a badass teacher

Laura Thomas, MEd. has been an educator, school coach and staff developer for more than a decade. Previously a high school English, speech and theatre teacher, she is currently the Director of the Center for School Renewal at Antioch University New England and is a library media specialist at Harrisville Wells Memorial School. She is also a community facilitator for Edutopia, a comprehensive website and online community that increases knowledge, sharing and adoption of what works in K-12 education. Emphasizing core strategies, Edutopia provides educators with resources for project-based learning, comprehensive assessment, integrated studies, social and emotional learning, educational leadership and teacher development, and technology integration. Thomas is also affiliated with the Coalition of Essential Schools and the School Reform Initiative. She is the author of multiple articles as well as Facilitating Authentic Learning (Corwin, 2011) and you can find more of her work at The Critical Skills Classroom (http://antiochcriticalskills.wordpres…). Laura Thomas’ 2016 Ignite Session at the ISTE 2016 Conference, titled Becoming Badass, speaks to the strength of K-12 teachers, and the power of coming together as educators, of keeping an open mind, not passing judgement, always embracing curiosity and ongoing learning, doing what is right in spite of fear. She makes the point clearly that being a badass educator is teaching at its best. Take a moment to listen to Laura Thomas and be inspired.