[nobe-l] IPhone and news

Wed Oct 22 23:22:34 UTC 2014

Thank you, everyone. I plan to represent just as well as I possibly can. I 
would be lying if I said it is not somewhat intimmidating as this is fairly 
uncharted territory on all ends. To my knowledge, this competition has not 
had a blind candidate this high before, so I am in a position, for the first 
time in years and years, where I have to think through and spell out 
accommodation requests. Complicating it too is that my guide dog is aging 
and was looking at retirement sooner rather than later, but my predictable 
teaching calendar is now nothing but predictable. However, the blessings and 
opportunities are enormous, and I am aware of the potential impact my 
presence can have on how blindness is perceived by many, many people. That 
is exciting and daunting. One step at a time, though. I submitted the draft 
of the national application to the state today, they will look it over, and 
then they will submit it for me if they do not see any oversights that I 
missed. Tomorrow afternoon, I am leaving for a retreat in the middle of 
nowhere in Kentucky, a fall break treat to myself where I can do nothing but 
rest, read, pray, and relax. I can't express how much I am glad for this 
break!

Kathy Nimmer
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it 
seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, 
for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." Harriet 
Beecher Stowe
-----Original Message----- 
From: Jeremy Grandstaff
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 10:20 AM
To: 'melissa R Green' ; 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing 
List' ; 'Kathy Nimmer'
Subject: RE: [nobe-l] IPhone and news

Congrats on this great achievement. Please, try to use this as an
opportunity to impower other teachers and students to stand up to some of
the practices that are hurting our children. You have a stage, please use it
for greatness, as I'm sure you will.

-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of melissa R Green
via nobe-l
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 10:19 AM
To: 'Kathy Nimmer'; 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] IPhone and news

Congratulations!  What an honor.  Good luck to you.

Have a blessed day
Melissa R Green and Pj
if I've learned anything about friendship, it's to hang in, stay connected,
fight for them, and let them fight for you. Don't walk away, don't be
distracted, don't be too busy or tired, don't take them for granted. Friends
are part of the glue that holds life and faith together.

-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kathy Nimmer
via nobe-l
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 5:08 AM
To: 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List'
Subject: [nobe-l] IPhone and news

Hello,

  Thanks to all who had suggestions on the IPhone. Hours with my blind
friend have made me not afraid of the phone, and I actually am understanding
its structure. It must be how our students feel when they meet something
completely new. With time, I know I will see more and more of the benefits
of this device.

  I've been wrestling with how to share some big news without tooting my own
horn, and I've not figured out a great way. However, the IPhone topic seems
a good opening since I took that step due to this news, so here goes.

  On September 30, I learned that I was selected as Indiana Teacher of the
Year. I had previously been chosen my building winner and then my district
winner. Through September, I advanced to the top ten in the state and then
the top three. It is a multi-layered competition that I will not bore you
with details at this time, but the journey has been stunning and humbling. I
turn in my application for National Teacher of the Year tomorrow.

  This honor is also a job. In the next year and a half, I will travel to
five national meetings, conferences, or celebratory trips, including Space
Camp in Alabama and a week in DC where I will meet the President. I will
also have the option to take the 2015/2016 year completely off of teaching
to complete what they call my "Year of Service." I will attend mandatory
meetings and seminars that year, and from what I can tell, I can shape the
rest of the time according to my passions. Mine is public speaking in a
motivational role, so I will likely travel the state to do that in schools
and other venues. Many details must be pounded out, including
accommodations, but it will definitely change my world for the next several,
several months.

  Below is a link to the video they made of the afternoon I found out I was
the winner in a surprise ceremony. It is short but powerful. I cannot
remember a thing about that afternoon, so I am glad the whole thing was
captured on video. I hope to use this role in part to open the public's eyes
to the potential and ability of blind people, the rules and roles of guide
dogs, and the power we all have to face and overcome obstacles. I am still
pinching myself and still fighting a sense of anxiety and inadequacy, but
each day has made me more confident that God has a plan for me in this role,
and I just need to trust. Here is the link in which you will have to click
the play button, and thanks for everything this list offers:

http://www.doe.in.gov/toy

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