What an amazing morning with Mandi Burlin and the staff and teachers at Still Creek Ranch!  We were also blessed to be joined by a few fine folks from Lindale ISD.  One of the nice things about doing the Power of a Teacher workshops in smaller groups is that we are able to go deeper into discussion.  I so appreciate everyone’s willingness to be transparent and discuss both their hopes and struggles as educators.  Sure hope I get a chance to spend a day with these amazing people again sometime in the future!

What a thrill to share my story and The Power of a Teacher with Deborah Duncan on Great Day Houston.  You can check out my segment here:  http://www.khou.com/great-day/videos/gdh_9-17-12_seg3-170048726.html.

August has been a wonderful month of travel across Texas: encouraging teachers to teach and love boldly!  I have interacted with many teachers on many campuses who are experiencing authentic community with their colleagues, and I just don’t know that there’s much more a teacher (any professional, for that matter) can ask for relationally.

The kids are back on campuses now, so we’re officially off and running.  I have substitute teacher training next week.  I’m trusting that your thoughts and prayers will be with me!!

Sunrise over Clear Lake

What a great day with Deer Park ISD staff at the Nassau Bay Hilton this week.  This was the view from the 8th floor that morning.

Sunset Over Robstown, Texas

Later that day, I drove to Robstown, Texas to be part of their back-to-school convocation the next day.  Good times.

This summer,  Jeremy was invited to provide multi-faceted, regional staff development, wth topics including classroom leadership and student motivation.  As a teacher in an Adaptive Behavior classroom, Jeremy has developed effective skill sets in those areas.  In addition, Jeremy led teachers in an exploration of their occupational, emotional, and spiritual well being based on The Power of a Teacher book, challenging them to take good care of themselves as they engaged  their calling.

One of the trainers was a film student studying in Los Angeles who made this video about the school: http://www.youtube.com/watch?=GY3iz_BQkGo&feature=share

The catfish were biting at Gibbon's Creek last weekend. The boys and I had a great time.

Do you know the difference between “furthest” and “farthest”?  I didn’t either until I looked them up.  ”Furthest” is a distance of space or time.  ”Farthest” is a geographic distance from one point.  One question I ask teachers as part of our warm up discussion is to share when they were “furthest” from school during the past summer, and when they were “farthest” from school during the past summer.

When I am fishing, I am usually furthest away from my role as a psychologist (that is, when I’m fishing alone).   It’s  my favorite time for reflection and meditation.  We all need a “furthest” place.

What are your furthest and farthest moments?

Outside the beautifully renovated Plaza Theater in downtown El Paso.

A gorgeous sunset on the flight into El Paso

What an amazing conference put on by Barbara Amaya and thewonderful staff at the Region 19 Education Service Center!  I was completely blown away by all the amazing teachers I had the privilege of meeting.  So many professionals whose hearts were focused on loving kids in the classroom.  It was truly inspiring.  Thank you, Region 19, for your  commitment to educators in your area.

Over 1,000 educators participated in the Culture, Caring and the Classroom Conference. Amazing!

I was absolutely overwhelmed by the expressions of gratitude and encouragement I received following my keynote.  What an honor to have spent the week with so many outstanding administrators.

The TEPSA Summer Conference is finally here!

Joey and I  have been waiting for two years for this event, and I’ll have the honor of keynoting with these other fine folks.  So excited about sharing Lou’s story.

More later.

My son, Andrew, consoles me after my pummeling by him and his third-grade minions. (Oh, the irony of the t-shirt statement: "Finish First." As if.)

I should have known better, but I got caught up in the moment.  At my son’s end-of-the-year-picnic, his friend, Luis, recommended that we all play a game of soccer (Luis is the student who asked me if I was the guy who wrote the book with the bad word in it in Spanish: “the p-word.”  Yes, Luis, I am that guy.)

Sounded like fun, until he gathered a group of friends–my son included–who decided that it should be me against the entire third grade class.  Like I said, I should have known better.  The highlight for me was the one point during the game when my foot actually made contact with the ball.

The mercy rule was invoked.    Final score: Ms. Martinez’ class: 8, me: goose egg.