Emory Austin: Keynote speaker and motivational speaker

ISTE chair
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New federal budget has
zeroed out ALL funding for edtech at the federal
level
– we are at a real crossroads
budget-wise
– as public employees we can’t
lobby but we can adovate
– if not you, who?
if not now, when?

Emory Austin:
Keynote speaker and motivational
speaker

have you every been somewhere
and heard something, and felt like you were the only person hearing it some
way
– the tune for “the bear went over the
mountain” is the same as “for he’s a jolly good
fellow”
– the words to the bear went over
the mountain are a lot more important
– the
bear had a signficantly threatening problem (we often use a mountain as a
metaphor for life’s journey)
– as some very
young eyes of texas are upon us, every experience we have changes us, changes
our patterns, the way we look at life and students, yet we often don’t even
realize it
– we sometimes mark those

– we overlook what we are becoming when we
focus on what we are achieving

let’s
focus on what we are becoming
– it is the
past that paves the way for the future
–
where you have been on your mountain is putting down the cemment which will
determine where others will go after
you

I am a storyteller and a
southerner
– sometimes we believe truth
rides better on the wings of stories rather than bullet
points

all of us have had experiences
with people where we learned far more than we did for any
textbook

ever felt like you are not
up to the task?
several years
ago

there is nothing wrong with the
way any of you uses your voice to express your opinion, to express what is in
your heart, is critically important to the future of Texas
students
– don’t think you need to be
anything else other than yourself
– use
your own voice in your own way, with the
–
say it well, say it right, say it out of your own
experience

any women played
bunko?
– it is a totally mindless
activity
– if you can count to 6, throw
some fuzzy dice, understand that wine can lubricate this process… you can
play!
– we have 16 in our
group
–

if
you want
– we need to blow the dust off our
own decanters and light our candles: it begins with respect for the person in
the mirror
– be who you are, so you can so
more effectively lead those whose eyes are upon
you

technology can be very logical,
but sometimes those instincts come not from the technology but from
heart
– pay attention to your instincts
when you are presented with an opportunity, sometimes go with your heart, not
just your head
– ask yourself if you will
feel good in 5 years about doing
this

Kindness wherever you
go…
– give a little more time, a little
more thought

what gives you your own
voice, let you light your own
candle

growing up I resented my
parent’s age
– I grew to 6 feet high in 7th
grade, much faster

you remember how
dramatically you thought when you were that age? (they still think that
way)

I was named Emory but wanted to
be named Lisa
– when I was a senior I
received a draft notice

many “lines
from our past” need to be re-examined
–
some of those had a positive
– we either
press enter, save, or delete with the things we encounter each
day
– some of our lines from the past need
to be brought up again, saved as something
else

remember “clean your plate,
there are starving children in China”
–
someone recently said, drink your coffee, there is someone asleep in
India

look at what facinates you and
you are passionate about…

the best
think I’ve learned on my climb, whatever drove you crazy you had to deal with
has given you

best line you can give
a kid: let the child see themselves as extraordinary without demanding that it
be so

live is lived more as an adult
rather than a teenager

look at where
you have come from and what you are doing with it, look at why your attitudes
are what they are
– either delete it, or
bring those things with you to your
workplace

Time for 1 more education
story about her parents and their view of what is
important
– asked her dad: what is your
philosophy of education (her dad taught greek and
latin)
— he said only one word “dokio”
(Latin for “I teach”) it takes 2 direct objects, the student and the subject,
the student always comes first
– my parents
did that in every aspect of their
lives

went with my mom to Raleigh, NC
for the perfect linen tablecloth, we used it for 35
years
– for those who teach and love to
teach, it goes way beyond the classroom
–
when students were gathered around their table, they asked students to write
their names in dull pencil, so the next day she could trace over their names
with thread
– and they gave them the gift
of encouragement: saying “we want your name on our table so years into the
future, we can say that there was a day when

ask yourself what you are doing with
what you have on behalf of those around
you

when I went fishing with my Dad,
and what we caught the most were
dreams

work done with your hands is
just as noble as work done with your
head

as you go through these doors
and receive my poem, remember “you got what you
need”
– whatever your lines from the past,
you have everything you need to make a huge difference in the state of Texas and
beyond

if you do that, the stars that
shine bright, deep in the heart of Texas, shine bright not just in the

My book is a philosophy of
RISK
– often we take risks with our health
that we should not take, and it costs us
dearly
– often we do NOT take risks with
our philosophy, and it also costs us
dearly

If you do, my wishes for you
will come true:
– success, vast and vital,
external and internal, with you and with
them
– a dedication to truth whatever it
shall cost you
– if the truth costs you,
understand that reality is your friend
–
understanding that you may think the grass is greener on the other side, it is
always greener where it is watered
– get
out there and water the grass!