While walking around with everyone this week, I have heard different ones of you talking about your decision to come to TAA this year.  I have heard some people say that they chose the Arts Academy over a vacation, and I have heard others say that it was a huge challenge this summer to fit everything in this summer but that TAA was worth it. All of these conversations make me smile.

     The arts have always been a large part of my life both in school and at home.  The arts helped me discover who I am and continue to mold me into a new person every day.  As a student, myself, I would have loved to have known that the arts teachers that I had throughout my school career had gone to Tennessee Arts Academy, and I wonder how different my arts education would have been.

     What I want to know is: Why are you here?  Why are you as educators sacrificing a week of your summer to think about school?  Is it for you? for your career? for your students? for your school?  I personally know why TAA is amazing, and I could write a really well structured essay on it (but I won't make you suffer through that).  I want to know why YOU are here.  Give me stories.  I love stories.  Comment with yours.  Or, if you see me on campus this week, come by and talk to me about it. 

I look forward to hearing from you!