We all need Inspired!

This is my first go-round (southern term) at blogging.  It is something I have wanted to do for a long time.  With that being said it is only appropriate that I pay tribute to people that have been inspirations for me both personally and professionally.  I have often needed inspiration in recent times as educator. There have been times in the last couple of years that I have even doubted as to whether I was in the right profession.  However, I want to dedicate this blog to talk about educators and friends who have encouraged me, aided me, and most of all inspired me in renewing my passion for education.

I want to first of all thank my family. That has to start with my beautiful wife Theresa, my two great kids Aaron and Megan as well as their spouses Ashton and Will.  There is nothing more important than family!  However, they deserve an entry all to their own.  They all continue to inspire me daily. With that being said, here are six educators who have and continue to be an inspiration to me.

• Sally Bennett (@sallyebennett) has been my superintendent the last two years.  As I leave Armorel I will always be indebted to Mrs. Bennett.  She has been a tremendous influence, and given me incredible support the previous two years.  She has held me accountable and forced me to reflect in ways that I wasn't comfortable with and that has allowed me to have tremendous growth.  I am so thankful for her support as an administrator and person.  I will be forever influenced by the lessons taught to me during my time with her.  

• Daisy Dyer Duerr (@DaisyDyerDuerr) is a fellow Arkansan (Woo Pig Sooie) and educator that I recommend you follow on Twitter.  I started following Daisy two years ago during spring break.  I was pretty new to Twitter at the time, and I was looking for good educators to follow.  I have since become friends with Daisy, and she is an even better person than she is an educator.  That is saying a lot!  She is not only a fountain of knowledge but is so passionate and caring for students and their educational and personal well being.  She holds me accountable in my educational endeavors.  She once told me that I needed to get my mojo back.  She has been a wonderful inspiration but a little mean at times. Her website is daisydyerduerr.com.

• Dr. Avis Williams (@DrAvisW) is an educator in North Carolina who is a diehard Alabama Crimson Tide fan.  Please don't hold that against her though.  She too has provided me with inspiration and great knowledge and encouragement. I met Avis as well by following her on Twitter. I think the conversation started because of her allegiance to Alabama football.  I quickly discovered her vast educational knowledge as well as great passion to educate young people. She has a great passion for reading which she promotes every chance she gets. She is a great person as well.  She continues to inspire me with her wisdom and friendship.  Read her blog at readingwithdravis.blogspot.com.

• Matt Irwin (@mmirwin3) is my very best friend in the world.  I had the privilege of working with Matt for several years at the same school.  I continue to learn from him as time goes by.  He is one of the most positive and calm people that I have ever met.  He always has an unbiased perspective that helps me see things clearly.  More than being a great educator he is an incredibly generous person.  I admire and respect him greatly as an educator and more importantly as a person.  

• James Anthony (@wdisneywfan) is my brother and fellow educator.  He does have a Twitter account but isn't active on social media.  However, he is a great educator and a very dedicated special education teacher at the Nettleton School District in Arkansas.  He has to vent on occasion, but he is very passionate and meticulous about his work and his job.  Some might say a little OCD.  I need to be a little more meticulous in my daily job as well. 

• Last but not least my daughter Megan Smith Strain (@msmith1461).  She gets two mentions, one as a daughter and one as an educator.  Megan recently graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a degree in social studies and a minor in Biology.  She is looking to find a teaching job somewhere in SW Arkansas if any administrators from that area of the state are reading.  She helped me recover a fire and passion that I had partially lost.  She has two things that I think help all educators succeed: passion and vision!  She has helped me recover my passion and gain a clearer vision of education.  I love her dearly and I am extremely proud of her.
  Inspiration is something we all need from time to time.  We need to be inspired and we need to pay that forward and try to inspire others.  As I finish my first blog, I leave you with three questions: Who inspires you?  What inspires you?  Do you inspire others?