This article was contributed by Ryan Lombardozzi, NCEA Social Media Coordinator.
In September 2015, NCEA hosted its first “Send a Teacher to NCEA Convention” social media contest. After rounds of bracket-style voting via the NCEA Facebook page, Laura Webster emerged as the winner. Laura is an eighth-grade literature and English teacher at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School in Aiken, South Carolina. She is also no newcomer to NCEA conventions. A loyal NCEA attendee – only missing one convention in the past twelve years – Laura is chock-full of knowledge, ready to share with those experienced and new to this year’s convention. NCEA Social Media Coordinator Ryan Lombardozzi took some time to pick Laura’s brain:
Ryan Lombardozzi: What does it mean to you as a Catholic educator to have the opportunity to attend NCEA convention each year?
Laura Webster: I have been so fortunate to be able to attend NCEA conventions. There has never been a year where I haven’t brought back proven educational practices and product ideas for our school. At one of my first conferences, I attended a session called “Disney in the Classroom.” This one class became an integral part of my educational philosophy. I was also introduced to electronic Jeopardy during NCEA 2006 in Atlanta. This began my interest in technology in the classroom and two years ago I helped lead in the bringing of iPads into our junior high classrooms.
RL: Can you elaborate on some of your most memorable experiences at conventions?
LW: I was in awe when Smartboards hit the Expo! They opened so many doors for our students. Even though technology has made leaps and bounds since then, my creative juices grew with the installation of my own Smartboard. The conventions are also a great time to get to know colleagues outside of the busy classroom life. We have had many fun times and laughs walking down Bourbon Street in New Orleans, enjoying a drink in the Cheers bar in Boston, visiting the Dance Moms studio in Pittsburgh … the list goes on and on.
RL: What advice would you give to someone who is attending an NCEA convention for the first time?
LW: Make the most out of it. The first thing you should do is plan two to three sessions that you want to attend during each offering time. If you are with other colleagues, communicate with one another so that you are not attending the same sessions, unless it is something you all want to hear so you can work as a team and take it back to your own school. Don’t forget the Expo Hall! It is okay to skip a conference session or two to get to every table; even if you don’t buy a thing, you will hear about the latest in every educational topic.
The other thing is to please not forget about taking time for yourself to see just a little bit of the city. Sometimes the convention offers tickets to private events. And, by the way, have a convention center map handy at all times, I learned that the hard way in Houston!
RL: It was mentioned that you take the NCEA Convention and Expo very seriously. If a group attends, you lead the delegation with morning planning sessions and solicit requests from the teachers prior to attending the sessions to get information for others. What ignites your passion to lead these groups?
LW: The thought of igniting fires underneath my teachers so that they will come home and ignite fires underneath our students. If I can get teachers fired up about education, especially Catholic education, imagine with their influence, what they can do for our students. I want to help teachers get the tools they need to feel successful and be successful in the classrooms. The NCEA conventions can do this with the right mindset. But it has to remain fun, and teachers must be treated as the professionals that they are. Lead by example!
RL: Is there anything else you would like to mention about the convention?
LW: My first convention was in Philadelphia and I attended it all by myself. It was overwhelming. It was amazing how the NCEA workers were so friendly and nice from the moment I walked into the convention center surrounded by thousands of people. It was the advice of some of those first volunteers that set me on what has now been over a decade of conventions. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to as many other educators as possible. I will have lunch at the roundtables in the Expo and just start talking about what is happening in our different schools. I have never left those tables without giving an idea and receiving an idea to bring in return.
Those participating represent all aspects of Catholic school and faith-based education from preschool, elementary, secondary, adult education, colleges and universities. NCEA Convention & Expo is a time to celebrate, to acquire new knowledge, and to renew your spirit. Don’t forget to check out the preliminary program at the end of this issue of Momentum to learn more about this year’s offering. And, be sure to congratulate Laura Webster when you see her in San Diego!
