[nobe-l] IPhone and news

[NMPBRAT at aol.com]

Congratulations Kathy!  What an honor!!  You will be  a outstanding 
representative of both the blind community as a whole and  specifically those of us 
within the teaching field.  You are a perfect  example to many that we too 
can do and contribute great things in this  world.  I'm sure you've worked 
hard to reach this accomplishment and it is  well-deserved.   
Congrats again.....and enjoy the journey!
Nicole 
 
 
In a message dated 10/22/2014 7:08:07 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
nobe-l at nfbnet.org writes:

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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