Challenge
Often innovators feel alone in their efforts. They can even be seen as showoffs instead of leaders. The line between sharing/caring can blur into self-promotion/bragging. This can create a feeling of being alone, even if these individuals have thousands of online connections. What would happen if the innovators within our schools, stopped being innovative due to the isolation and stereotyping? Many teacher innovators are leaving my district due to the feeling of seclusion and suffocation of their efforts. How can we possibly continue to grow innovators if current ones only want to leave or there is a negative connotation with being an innovator? Add to that, at a certain level of technology proficiency it is difficult to find affordable and challenging professional development opportunities for continued growth. How do we continue to challenge the technology proficient of advanced individuals without isolation?