The week of June 23-27, was spent in Dallas at a conference for educators. At first I was like, “This is going to be boring”. But as time progressed, I saw the passion that was coming from so many of the other participants and I closed my eyes and opended them to what the others were seeing.

They were seeing new ideas and initiatives. Some were seeing new hopes for a dying campus morale and poor student performance. Some were seeing a new chance at a future for their students that did not exist before. It’s not that I did not see these things, the problem is that I had already seen these things, that is one of the reasons I got into education. Part of my frustration rested in the fact that it took some longer than others to reach their “A-ha moment”. 

Once I stopped being critical and became more introspective, I saw the beauty in their novice ideas and inquisitive thoughts. Many were performing in new positions or had taken on new responsibilities. Unsuspecting educators were thrust together to learn about an educational initiatives, but what left were motivated, hopeful leaders.

Aside from opening my eyes about the people at the conference, I opened my eyes to the city of Dallas. I normally perceived Dallas as just another big city with its shifty characters and fast life style. And while those things may exist in a big city, so does grace and beauty. I again had to close and then reopen my eyes to see better. Rechell and I went on a downtown excursion and these pictures are just some of the beauty we saw.