Hey Everyone!
I wanted to provide all of you with an update on RESURGENCE and the pathway I have been on since you placed your order. As I mentioned in a previous email, I have been at work on rewrites since publication was confirmed in early 2020. I received some incredible feedback from the editors at Inkshares, and I have been planning out a story that will certainly leave all of you at the edges of your seats until the very last page. That being said, I am still working on transferring these ideas into the story. While I had hoped to have been done with these edits and rewrites at this point in the process, the pandemic has totally transformed my career as an educator.
The teaching profession has been extremely challenging since the pandemic hit in early 2020. Passionate educators like myself have poured our hearts and souls into our students, hoping to ensure a positive, productive, safe, and caring learning environment. While there have certainly been some incredible moments, some of which I will detail below, the task of working with students both online and in-person has left all of us completely drained...not to mention the fact that kids all across the nation are in need of far more support than they are currently receiving. All of this being said, I absolutely love teaching and working with future innovators, leaders, and inventors on a daily basis. I am determined to do everything I can to help them lead successful lives, including seeking better ways to instruct my students.
At the height of the pandemic, I was offered half-off tuition to obtain an educational technology degree from Central Michigan University. While I had planned to wait until the publication process was over to pursue higher education, the offer was too good to pass up on. After a year and a half program, I am proud to say that I have graduated from CMU with a degree in learning, design, and technology. The skills I have throughout this program have been extraordinary. As a result, I have been able to provide students with a truly innovative technology learning experience, one that allows students to collaborate with local businesses, write meaningful fiction, display their learning in local bookstores, etc.
I am proud to share with all of you that my efforts have been acknowledged by the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL). On March 17th, I will be awarded the MACUL Innovative Teacher of the year award at DeVos Place. Please check out the official press release. I was asked to share this with local radio, newspaper, or other media outlets. If you know of anyone, I would be incredibly grateful if you shared it with them!
While these past two years have been exhausting, I now see light at the end of the tunnel, and I can’t wait to get back into RESURGENCE. I don’t like to provide excuses, but I thought it was important to share the journey I have been on since first connecting with you. I appreciate your understanding. Stay tuned for more updates as I move forward and let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you,
Alec