While I didn't formally declare #oneword last year, 2017 was a year of DISCOVERY. I spent a significant amount of time this year finding myself and sought to create the best version of myself.  This included a lot of reading and reflecting on who I am and where I've been.  It meant letting go of things that happened in the past in order to re-discover a new me.  One of the greatest things about leadership is the ability to constantly challenge and re-invent yourself.  It also involved taking time for myself, whether that meant Andi date nights or trips to the mothership (the Disney Outlet in Gurnee).  This year unfortunately did not involve any trips across the country to either of my favorite Disney parks. 2017 was also a year of discovery in pursuing my faith.  Halfway through the year I decided to take the leap and join a church that I had been test driving for the past two years.  I hadn't been a regular attendee of church since my family left our church when I was

This year was a big year for me both personally and professionally and it wasn't because of any big accolades or successes.  It was because I rediscovered who I am as a person, a teacher, an instructional coach, a graduate student, a runner, and a follower of my faith. Last night's 11pm Christmas Service it all became more clear to me.  Brodie Swanson (one of Elmbrook's Pastors) shared the story of the birth of Jesus and he shared that Christmas is "A Day of Small Things."   He followed that up with, "A Day of Small Things That Make A Big Difference."   This made me question how I am living my life.  Am I searching and seeking the big things, or am I celebrating the small things (ie. small wins, successes, gratitude, and the moments that each day brings)? I find it really easy for me to get caught up in this struggle and I feel a bit of it has to do with how I am wired based on my strengths identified on the StrengthsFinder Assessment: 1) Achi

Call me crazy, maybe? This weekend I ran back to back 5k's on Friday night and Saturday morning to support two organizations that I am extremely passionate about. It felt great, but it was comfortable. I even surprised myself and fell seconds short of achieving a PR on Friday night's race. I met my personal goal, but I didn't set the bar high enough to PR. I sold myself short. There have been a few instances this week in which others have amplified the importance of taking risks and it reminded me of the importance of risk not only as human beings but also as leaders...and that's what sprung me out of my comfort zone tonight. We must practice what we preach. Turn the clock a few years back to a time that I could not be seen out in the public running. I ran alone (usually close to dusk) where few people could see me and I was always by myself.  Sometimes I was desperate enough to run around the basement in circles (prior to acquiring my first treadmill).  At t

This is the beginning of a series of a few blog entries on KMIT Summer Academy Boot Camp. KMIT is our "Kettle Moraine Innovation Team" (learner tech team). In an effort to train our learners prior to next school year we ran a Boot Camp for learners in grades 5-9 (for 6 weeks, 2 hours/day) to learn the ropes of what KMIT is, be challenged to exercise leadership and good customer service, create videos, design websites, and create the vision for our KMMS Makerspace. This is another instances in which learners became co-creators of a learning experience. Whether you currently have a makerspace, are looking to start a makerspace, or are looking to add greater learner ownership to your makerspace, this blog might be worth a read! Last summer at Ledyen's 1:1 Teaching and Learning Symposium, a participant from PA shared that learners created the vision for their makerspace within their school. I immediately thought this was genius. Why are we as adults creating the spac

One of the things that I am most passionate about in education is leveraging learner voice and finding opportunities for learners to lead in the classroom and throughout our building, in an effort to positively impact school culture.  This year I had the greatest opportunity in my career as an educator to seek opportunities for that in classrooms as an instructional coach, facilitator of KMIT our student innovation/tech team, and through advising Media Club which creates our Friday video announcements. When you leverage learner voice and allow learners to lead, you shift from                   Compliant --> Engaged --> Empowered learners. Empowered learners should be our Moonshot goal as educators.  A recent blog entry by  +George Couros  inspired my thinking around this topic.  Where I was inspired was to seek to provide greater opportunities for student voice and leadership within our building.  We already have a handful of leadership opportunities for our learners throug

This weekend's race marked the 12th race that I've participated in since I began my first ever winter series back in November 2016.  Upon completion of the winter series I decided to take on a trail race series; something that was completely out of my comfort zone, especially when my record on the sidewalks of Waukesha hasn't been so great.  July 14th marks a year since my epic spill that sidelined me for about 6 weeks.  I had been about halfway through training for my first 10k when I caught the sidewalk wrong with my foot and did a superman across the sidewalk landing hard on both knees (giving road rash an entirely new meaning), scraping my face across the sidewalk and catching myself with my right hand, resulting in a small chipped bone in my hand. Don't worry...I saved my phone in the spill and lived to tell the kids that I was teaching that I was being chased by a Pokemon.  When they asked "Which one?" I responded with, "I'm not sure, I turned a

My name is Andrea Kornowski and I might have an addiction to edcamps.  Edcamps are unquestionably some of the best professional development and professional learning opportunities that exist for educators.  I can't imagine a learning opportunity that is more collaborative or more personalized.  Each time I go to an edcamp I usually have a session in mind to propose that aligns with the work that I am currently doing and work that I am interested in engaging in (the near future). It wasn't until #EdcampELM that I was questioned:   "Why do you continue to attend so many edcamps and maintain such a willingness to share?"   Truthfully, I feel a professional obligation in my heart to attend for the following reasons:  a: To support my own personal and professional learning. b: To help support the learning of others.  c. It's what's best for kids. And for those reasons, I am ALL IN.  If I didn't go to edcamps my thinking wouldn't be challenged