Dear Mr. Chen,
Thank you for sharing your blog and also for replying to my email. I so thoroughly agree with your last few comments on education taking a back seat to a "Hollywood Nation" obsession. Being the finalist from Miami-Dade, you can imagine the Miami Heat discussions and therefore, lack of education talk that day. However, Florida did it right that night for those 100 teachers of excellence. The display of recognition truly made us feel like a star, maybe not the salary or news coverage L. James received, but I did feel very special for the very hard work, dedication and talent that I am bringing to Miami. If only all good teachers could feel so recognized! Again,I thank you for your signed book, your engaging presentation, and keen insight on American education. Please come visit when you are in town. My father happens to work for the National Park Service in the Everglades and I can tell you that January is a good month to visit (summer brings lots of mosquitoes). I was also so impressed with your usage of the clickers/response systems that I have proposed my school to purchase them for our SMART board hardware! Can't wait to get started.
Best Wishes,
Cristine O'Hara