SMART Exemplary Educators (SEEs) from all around the world were selected for a week of rigorous and collaborative professional learning. I've had the distinct opportunity to be selected several times, so I was a mentor to the SEEs that were experiencing the week for the first time. As the week unfolded, I helped in a variety of ways by answering questions, facilitating reflection activities, maintaining a daily group during transportation to SMART headquarters, and supporting any other way possible.
This year was unique in that SMART partnered with the Conrad Foundation and included six high school students from the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge. These students were truly remarkable in their way to use the design thinking process to come up with solutions to world problems. I learned an immense amount of the process from them since they had already been through it with their products.
During the week, one of the memorable sayings was by Jeff Lowe when he said, "We are more than a SMART Board company, we are an outcome company." What teacher doesn't want students to have great outcomes and work for their students to seek their best potential? We looked at research, listened to presentations on growth mindset, inspirational global projects, company plans, and advocacy plans. We worked in groups to design a theme for an educational challenge. All these sessions built on each other to showcase how SMART worked to inspire greatness from students and educators around the world.
One of the many highlights is participating in the Hackathon with SMART developers. A Hackathon is a competition of teams working with the SMART developers to create new ideas in a time-span of 48-72 hours. The winning team's idea will be put into one of its technologies in the future. The best thing about the challenge is that it is voted on by all the SEEs and the SMART employees, so everyone got a voice, just like our students in SLSO! Our team's idea came in second, so you might see it come out sometime soon. You'll just have to wait.
The Fireside Chat is an impressive feature that resonates SMART's dedication and commitment to excellence. Five executives sit to answer questions from SEEs about the company. Greg Estell, President and CEO, Nicholas Svensson, Executive VP Operations and Product Development, Debra Milimaka Miles, VP Human Resources, Christine McGregor, Chief Business Officer, and Jeff Lowe, Chief Marketing Officer took time throughout the week to not only present philosophies, business plans, insights, and presentations, but also sit down with us at dinner, as well as scoop ice cream for us! Do you know any corporate executives that do that?
This company is unlike any other I have had contact with EVER. That was evident with the final day's celebration where I was asked to give a personal story about a technical phone call I placed in January. Greg Estell asked me to give my story in front of ALL SMART staff and the SEEs. I was floored. I was introduced to the tech support guy (Raymond) that helped me and was able to thank him in person. The best part was the amount of people from the company that thanked me for telling my story. What they don't realize is SMART makes a difference in my student's life everyday when we are in class, so I was so touched to be telling my story to all of them.
As our week came to a close, the celebration event ended with a surprise appreciation treat. Little did I know what to expect, even though I had been here before. I pulled out a SMART Monster attached to a card. I was so thrilled to have another Monster, but someone told me to look at the card. It was a new SMARTBoard. Now, I know Jeff said they are not just a SMARTBoard company. However, if you have a one-touch Board, getting a new one is THRILLING! I was without words. Now my students and I will get the chance to experience exciting collaboration on the Board, as well as within the classroom. They will be able to be creative, collaborative, have critical thinking, communicate, have confidence and overcome more barriers. THANK YOU SMART for a week at the Greatest Company on Earth!
This year was unique in that SMART partnered with the Conrad Foundation and included six high school students from the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge. These students were truly remarkable in their way to use the design thinking process to come up with solutions to world problems. I learned an immense amount of the process from them since they had already been through it with their products.
During the week, one of the memorable sayings was by Jeff Lowe when he said, "We are more than a SMART Board company, we are an outcome company." What teacher doesn't want students to have great outcomes and work for their students to seek their best potential? We looked at research, listened to presentations on growth mindset, inspirational global projects, company plans, and advocacy plans. We worked in groups to design a theme for an educational challenge. All these sessions built on each other to showcase how SMART worked to inspire greatness from students and educators around the world.
One of the many highlights is participating in the Hackathon with SMART developers. A Hackathon is a competition of teams working with the SMART developers to create new ideas in a time-span of 48-72 hours. The winning team's idea will be put into one of its technologies in the future. The best thing about the challenge is that it is voted on by all the SEEs and the SMART employees, so everyone got a voice, just like our students in SLSO! Our team's idea came in second, so you might see it come out sometime soon. You'll just have to wait.
The Fireside Chat is an impressive feature that resonates SMART's dedication and commitment to excellence. Five executives sit to answer questions from SEEs about the company. Greg Estell, President and CEO, Nicholas Svensson, Executive VP Operations and Product Development, Debra Milimaka Miles, VP Human Resources, Christine McGregor, Chief Business Officer, and Jeff Lowe, Chief Marketing Officer took time throughout the week to not only present philosophies, business plans, insights, and presentations, but also sit down with us at dinner, as well as scoop ice cream for us! Do you know any corporate executives that do that?
This company is unlike any other I have had contact with EVER. That was evident with the final day's celebration where I was asked to give a personal story about a technical phone call I placed in January. Greg Estell asked me to give my story in front of ALL SMART staff and the SEEs. I was floored. I was introduced to the tech support guy (Raymond) that helped me and was able to thank him in person. The best part was the amount of people from the company that thanked me for telling my story. What they don't realize is SMART makes a difference in my student's life everyday when we are in class, so I was so touched to be telling my story to all of them.
As our week came to a close, the celebration event ended with a surprise appreciation treat. Little did I know what to expect, even though I had been here before. I pulled out a SMART Monster attached to a card. I was so thrilled to have another Monster, but someone told me to look at the card. It was a new SMARTBoard. Now, I know Jeff said they are not just a SMARTBoard company. However, if you have a one-touch Board, getting a new one is THRILLING! I was without words. Now my students and I will get the chance to experience exciting collaboration on the Board, as well as within the classroom. They will be able to be creative, collaborative, have critical thinking, communicate, have confidence and overcome more barriers. THANK YOU SMART for a week at the Greatest Company on Earth!
