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Interview date: Nov 25, 2013

What is your current job of position? Superintendent of Tuscola CUSD #301 – Tuscola, Illinois.  A rural district of a little over 1,000 students in East Central Illinois.

What is your educational background? High School Business/Junior High Social Studies Teacher, Basketball Coach, K-12 Principal, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent

Describe your educational philosophy and educational vision? Common Sense (I hope) with an eye towards the future.  You can’t be afraid of changes.

How do you grow and engage your professional learning network? Because of my location and finances of the district most of it is online.  Twitter primarily.

What is the greatest benefit of your professional network? Knowledge and experience I don’t have.

If you blog, what is the focus of it? How long have you been writing? Who is your audience? Blogthe everyday life of a school administrator.  July 2007 – although not as consistently in the last 6 months.  Teachers/Parents/Administrators/College students.

How do you use social media to connect with other educators? What is your advice to teachers on social media and education? I try to get my name out on Twitter which results in opportunities and information from others coming my way.  All teachers should be interacting with their peers – and the easiest way in my opinion is Twitter.

What advice in general do you have to teachers today? Be open to change.  It’s here to stay.

Describe a teacher who has had a significant impact on your professional development? Every teacher who has ever told me a story of student success as I stand in the hallway.

What book would you recommend to teachers? Any book that gets their mind off the day-to-day challenges of teaching in today’s world.  For administrators:  The Art of School Boarding by Jim Burgett.