Long time no write!

Wow...life sure has been busy since my last post. I did visit a few schools on the west coast of Florida when I was there after I gave myself a good week and a half off. I'm still amazed at how impressive the schools have been especially Naples High School. I was even more impressed with the fact that they had a place on their web site where they listed good news, something we could all use a bit more of these days. The school pictured above is Estero High School.

When I got back up north, the weather was atrocious for many weeks. I learned early on that traveling and visiting on rainy days was not the best way to make a good impression on the schools so I used the time to catch up on all the work that had piled up in the office in my absence. I also continued to work on my current book whch I hope will be ready by mid July. Titled "When Am I Every Going to Use This? 101 Tips to Survive and Thrive in the High School Classroom", it details all the little strategies that I used over 28 years of teaching to connect with my students in an effective way.

I did get back on the road last week finally getting to Connecticut. I had wantd to visit all 6 New England states before the school year was up but still need to see Vermont. I did have one of the best visits I've ever had to a school. I had walked into the building with a man in jeans and polo shirt who was very friendly. Little did I know at that moment in time that he was the principal of the school on dress down day! We had a very exciting and interesting interchange about how we need to rev up what we're offering in schools as well as the methods of delivery. I'm happy to say that he booked me to speak to his staff at one of the opening professional development days so I will get to go back. A very exciting prospect for education in my book!

Going to wait until schools wind down in the next few weeks before I go on the road again. I know how busy everyone is right about now and the last thing they need is company! Plus with gas prices the way they are, it's important to maximize the visits! Hopefully the temps won't be in the high 90's like they are today but I'm looking forward to continuing my visits to the high schools of America!

Florida

I didn't get a chance to log the schools that I visited last week from Vero Beach to Deerfield Beach. Distances are long here so I didn't get to as many as I would have liked but wih it being Friday and also the end of spring vacation for schools up north, traffic was busy. Did get to Ft. Pierce I think (I'm beginning to lose track!) and I know that they at least looked at the web site because they entered the contest to win the program. That's all I ask from schools...just look at the web site and decide from there.

I know money is tight these days with schools so it's not the ideal time financially to purchase this success system. But it's also a time where teens need it more than ever. They need to learn to be self sufficient, to have the strategies and tools to survive in a world that's already quite different from the one their parents grew up in. One of the main benefits of taking this course is that the principles are universal and have been around for centuries. Bottom line is they work and our teens deserve to learn them in an atmosphere that works well for them.

I'm on the west coast of Florida in Ft. Myers Beach now. When I was teaching, this was my school vacation week and I've used this week to wind down too. I'm staying an additional week and I will visit the schools in Lee and Collier counties next week. Then back to the northeast where the weather is finally conducive to travel!

Back on the road again!

Finally a way to get online! I've been on the road for the past couple of days here in Florida. I usually come down here for 2 weeks for my yearly vacation but this year, I extended my time so that I could visit schools here.

I flew into Orlando but started on the east coasst. Started out at Cocoa High School and then Cocoa Beach. Followed with a couple of the high schools in Melbourne and continued down the coast the first day. Some of these schools are quite impressive and very different in appearance from the schools up north. With the warm weather, schools are built with inner courtyards and lots of areas of outside classes. We were seldom 'allowed' to take our classes outside in my school but here it's more the norm.

As usual, I enjoyed sharing my 'goody' bag with the secretaries and especially having the chance to thank them for all they do for schools. I don't have a chance to meet the principals but with my goal being to visit as many schools as I can fit into my schedule, that's ok. I'll follow the visit up as always with a postcard, a letter and whatever else I can think of to let them know about the program.

That's it for now. I've not been able to get online for 3 days due to faulty wireless issues at a Melbourne Panera, and various other technical problems. More later this week as I figure out how to send myself the pictures I took of the schools from my new cell phone and find another place to log on. Off to the west coast of Florida tomorrow...

What a winter!

Still no travel lately. The weather has either been raining, snowing or brutally cold. But that's what winter is so no complaints here. Still plenty to do to get the word out. Sent out postcards to all the superintendents in South Carolina this week. When I sent a letter to each of the state commissioners of education, SC was one of the 4 states that responded. So I know that they're at least marginally interested in what this program can do for the teens in that state.

Also got the invoice from the school in Texas. Will be sending out their full packet tomorrow. And I might be getting an intern from a local college which would be phenomenal. I really need help. One person is not enough to do all the things that this business requires. Hopefully I'll be able to hire someone at least part time before the year is out.

I did book airfare to Florida for April this week. I have a time share that I have been going to for many years. I've extended the trip on either end so that I can visit the high schools around that state. I'm flying into Orlando and plan to go down one coast and up the other. They're got some great schools in that state. I'm really looking forward to visiting them. By then the weather here should have been good enough to visit a few more schools in NH, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut.