Finding the Courage to Transcend in 2014
Personal Growth and Development
- Continuous reflection with over 40 posts on my blog
- Form of the Good https://formofthegood.wordpress.com/
- 2014 One Word: TRANSCEND
- Participant in TeachThought’s 30-day blog challenge (Sept 2014)
- Recipient of TeachThought’s Reflective Teacher Blog of the Week
- #edcampHOME: January 4, 2014 Google Hangout
- #edcampMadWi: January 25, 2014 in Sun Prairie
- #edcampMKE: May 10, 2014 at South Milwaukee HS
- Connected Educator: Consistent participation on Voxer and Twitter chats: #sblchat #colchat #teachwriting #aplitchat #satchatwc #sunchat #tlap #DI4all
Leadership, Learning and Service
- CESA1 Personalized Learning Conference (Jan 14, 2014)–Model classroom
- WSRA Convention (February 7, 2014) Milwaukee
- Varsity Baseball Coach (led Varsity to a 19-win season & enjoyed a program record of 40 wins)
- District K-12 ELA Committee (high school rep) –curriculum and instruction for reading, writing, literacy
- Teacher Mentor Program 2014-15
- Communication Arts Chair 2014-15 –a new role that presents challenges on an entirely different level
- America Achieves Conference (Sept 2014, Washington DC) represented Grafton High School as part of the Global Learning Network to analyze OECD test PISA results
- CESA1 Personalized Learning Conference (November 2014)
- PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TEAM — planning district PD
- Spring Academy March 2014
- Summer Summit 2014
- Fall Grafton Academy, August 2014
- Winter Grafton Academy, Feb 16, 2015
- #edcampOZ March 7, 2015 –a personal vision becoming reality
- Summer Summit 2015
Improving our Culture of Learning Through 21st Century Practices
- Staff Development GAFE trainer
- Grafton School District Heartbeat Reporter (high school rep promoting positive PR)
- Classroom Twitter account @MrBDurstGHS
- Culture of Learning Spreadsheets for unit planning (for department then school)
- Staff inservice PD session March 7, 2014
- Grafton Teaching Summer Summit 2014– Facilitator
- Identified and narrowed Department Standards
- Grafton Academy (Aug 2014) presenter Learning Targets and Assessments
- Instructional Practices Action Team–continuing the work as leader of last year’s Grading/Assessment Action Team
- Founded #slowchatGSD to start professional conversations and promote collegiality in the district
That’s what I meant on January 6, 2014, when I committed to TRANSCEND. One year later, I am proud of my efforts, but know there is much more to accomplish in 2015. Time to find and branch out from my center, extend my learning, reach out, share more experiences, emanate positive energy, shine…sounds like my one word for 2015 has been defined.
Time to RADIATE.
Form of the Good 
“Radiate.” Sounds… shiny. Sounds… good. Sounds… like the sun. It warms, it brightens, and it’s lovely. I’m so glad you have shared your transcending moments, Brian. I look forward to seeing how you “radiate” in 2015! I’m sorry I’ll miss you at this February’s EdCampMadison… We’ll be in Houston during the week prior, and it’s just too much for us. 😦 I know you’ll radiate your positive energy there!