Long appreciation post ... Sending love to my friends from Flipgrid that are moving on in their professional journeys. 💚 Their work was a community building, passion-affirming, empowering effort to build up and encourage teachers. Here's what I know about these exceptional people: @annkozma723 is a never-ending bottle of energy and optimism. She makes everyone feel seen, heard, appreciated, and loved. I'm one of many that'd run through a wall for her. @jessxbo is caring, positive and one of the easiest people to like that I've ever met. @AdamShortShorts is a brilliant creative mind, an endlessly hard worker ... someone who easily brightens up a room when he walks in. @GridPalGeorge uplifts others relentlessly, using all of his many skills to support and encourage others. @sdtitmas is an encourager to the end, whether it's himself or hidden behind a social media account. He's one of the nicest human beings I know. (And how could I not find a photo of us together?) @Savvy_Educator is fierce, determined, and at the same time kind, encouraging, and a community builder -- now and from the first moment I met her at ISTE years ago. @Taralson is a selfless, caring leader who is always looking to build up and connect people. (And he's a heck of a disc golfer.) @MrCoachK15 is perpetually smiling and relentlessly positive. Anyone that has ever met him is a better, happier person because of him. @FelyTeachnology is one of the kindest, happiest, most mission-driven people I've ever met. If it's not in pursuit of lifting up students -- "her babies" -- she's not interested. "Todo con amor." There are so many others that I've met or that have come and gone over the years -- and they all contributed to this incredible culture and community -- one that is still the gold standard as far as I'm concerned. That culture and community was formative in the educator and person that I have become. And I thank all of you for the impact you've had on me personally. If you have the power to hire people in the education/technology world, you're welcome ... because I just gave you your short list of people you need to go hire -- and go hire now, before they get hired by someone else and change the world on their behalf. (Because they are going to.) To my friends -- I believe in you. I love you. I know you're going to succeed and keep making a difference. And if there's anything I can do to support you in it, I'm here for you. 💚💚💚