A journey is about what we learn, both intentionally and by being open. Thanks in large part to the incredible support I received from all of you who have followed and shared this journey, I had the enthusiasm to write up most of those intentional lessons. But I have kept track of some of those “other” insights as well, and hope you will enjoy and share these with me. So, here is the Official List of (Mostly) Non-School Lessons of EdJourney!
- Miles: 9,971
- Days on the road: 86
- States where I visited schools: 24
- Overall fuel efficiency: 48.2 mpg
- Schools visited: 64
- Blog views during trip: approximately 42,000
- Approximate number of educators met and interviewed: 700
- Yellow pads filled with notes: 14
- Perfect song to come on at just the right time: Simon and Garfunkel “America” on the NJ Turnpike; Elvis “Glory, Glory Halleluah” crossing northern Mississippi cotton fields; Springsteen “This Land is Your Land” driving north at dawn from Tucson; Grateful Dead “Truckin” on last day of the trip; Michael Franti “Gloria” a couple of miles from home.
- Best free WiFi spot: Starbucks
- Most frequented hotel chain: Comfort Inn
- Most frequented fast food: Subway
- Most frequented gas station: Who cares?
- Number of auto mechanics in Goodland, Kansas: 1
- Number of mechanics in Goodland, Kansas who know anything about hybrid engines: 0
- Typical lunch in the car between school visits: nuts, raisins, fat-free Fig Newton, water, Tic-Tac
- Rudest drivers: Boston (like that is a surprise to anyone)
- Best shot in two nine-hole rounds of golf: tap in birdie, 167-yard par 3
- Worst shot in those same two rounds: too many to mention
- Best bed: Cousin Paul and Mary’s house, Charlotte
- Best baby (did not cry once in four days): Audrey Grace Moreno
- Music I wish I had at the right time: Blues Brother soundtrack driving north from Joliet to Chicago
- Number of weeks driving through fall foliage: 9
- Prettiest fall foliage spot: Driveway of the Asheville School
- Best maple syrup: Gould’s Sugar House, Shelburne Falls, MA
- Prettiest hour’s drive: tie between late summer Sunday morning east of Richland, Utah and fall mid-day in Hudson River Valley from New Canaan to Poughkeepsie
- Place a California boy prays hardest for GPS to not fail: Cross-Bronx Expressway
- Best dog: Honey Baker
- Most poignant moment: Standing below the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, Memphis
- Northernmost point: Manchester, NH
- Southernmost point: El Paso, TX
- Easternmost point: Boston, MA
- Town with fewest non-pizza restaurants: Naugutuck, Conn.
- Longest drive in one day: 13 hours
- Hours of video shot: about 50
- Best source about what learning should look like in our schools: the students!
Awesome statistical perspective of the trip. I imagine you are happy to be home. Enjoy the holidays and look forward to hearing about your next presentation – sharing of good ideas.
Thanks John; putting together video clips for NAIS presentation; Asheville teachers and students figure heavily!
Amazingly well done Grant. I’ve enjoyed and passed along many of the insights you’ve shared. Looking forward to the book!
Thanks Doug; hopefully there are sparks of innovation out there that will catch fire for more of our young people!
Best sake?
Oh, man, I KNEW I was forgetting something! Best sake: something having to do with a funny fish in Atlanta with Bo and Jill!