What was your favorite thing about the Teachers of Promise Institute?

 

· I really enjoyed the workshops…I loved how the mentors were so engaging and willing to help in any way that they could.  They genuinely wanted to get to know each TOP and were even willing to have me come and sit in on their class.  I am so excited about the connections I've made here and hope to maintain relationships with these teachers in hopes to continue learning from them.

· One of my favorite things was meeting other student teachers and sharing ideas. My mentor was excellent. I also loved the feeling that what I am doing matters and is the most important job in the world.

· The award ceremony was very nice and made me feel very positive about my accomplishments.

· The mentor groups were great!  It was wonderful to commiserate with fellow student teachers.  As a student teacher, I often feel isolated from other novice teachers and tend to feel discouraged and peculiar in my struggles and feelings.  To have these struggles and feelings affirmed in the words and faces of my mentor group was not only comforting, but liberating!

· I thought that the speakers were one of highlights of the event. They were inspiring.

· My favorite part about the TOP Institute was getting to know my mentor and different individuals in the field of education. It was a lot of fun meeting students from other schools and sharing my experiences with them.

· My favorite part was the great repertoire of teachers, mentors, speakers, and professionals that the Institute brought to us as young aspiring teachers.

· It's hard to choose one favorite thing about the TOP Institute because I loved every part of it! My mentor was absolutely outstanding, the speakers were inspirational and interesting, the gala dinner and pinning ceremony were so special, and the workshops were extremely helpful and encouraging. It was so inspiring to hear nationally recognized educators talk about how they started off in their teaching careers feeling scared and unsure of themselves (like I sometimes feel!) and then becoming great by learning from their mistakes and figuring out successful methods. I wish I could go teach now!

· Dinner was very well done!  We felt like stars, even amongst all of the nationally recognized teachers.

· The sessions were dynamic and directly applicable to the classroom and the large group speakers and sessions were inspirational and beautifully done.

· I enjoyed meeting other future teachers as well as experienced educators. I liked the positive atmosphere and the support and understanding of my mentor.

 

 

 

What was your overall impression of the Teachers of Promise Institute?

 

· It was an amazing weekend which really brought me out of the rut I was currently in. It helped me remember why I decided to teach in the first place.

· I was very impressed with the TOP Institute - everything was well done to the smallest detail.

· I thought the entire weekend was extremely well organized.  I met a number of truly gifted and inspiring educators who imparted great wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration.  I loved every moment!

· Absolutely phenomenal!  I enjoyed every minute of it.  The speakers were inspiring and affirmed the greatness of the profession.  I felt encouraged after hearing Phil Bigler's story of the ups and downs in his teaching career.  

· I thought it was wonderful, informative, and empowering!

· It was simply magnificent.  Every particular exceeded my expectations to the hilt.  I walked into the conference as a fairly burned-out and discouraged student teacher.  Disillusionment with public education was already creeping into my educational perspective.  I hardly felt like a "star" or anyone with potential "greatness" inside.  But the speakers, environment, mentor groups, and seminars affirmed in me something I didn't even know was there: a deep passion for my students.  In short, this institute quite literally salvaged and rejuvenated my future teaching career.

· Wonderful! Inspirational! I am so excited to be a teacher now!

· Pure motivation.  Our mentors were the most humble people in the room, yet their accomplishments were amazing.  They are proofs of the ideals I believe in.  That was quite an experience in and of itself.

· The energy level of the mentors and the commitment made to new teachers impressed me more than anything else.

· I walked away feeling that the teaching community does value the hard work put forth by dedicated teachers.  The Teachers of Promise Institute helps to inspire those of us who truly want better education for our future students by showcasing an event for our profession.

· Overall, I think the TOP Institute was VERY well done. I felt so honored to have had the opportunity to attend and to hear from such outstanding educators. It really made me feel special that amazing teachers from across the state & country came to encourage and support me and my peers as we go out to begin our teaching careers. Knowing that I have so much support from fellow teachers makes the transition from college to the classroom so much easier.

· It was wonderful. I loved all of the workshops. The gala was a perfect Hollywood night.

· I found the Teachers of Promise Institute to be both rewarding and inspirational. Through speakers, mentor meetings, and individual workshops, I gained a greater understanding of the limitless possibilities this career has to offer.

· This was really a once in a lifetime experience.  I thoroughly enjoyed all the speakers.  They were enthusiastic supporters of education and it showed in everything they said.  I felt very special and left the conference with a renewed sense of what an awesome and powerful responsibility I will undertake as a teacher.

· I think it is wonderful and I feel so honored to be a part of the Teacher of Promise Institute. I hope that it is something that is continued and maybe even one day I can come back as a mentor.