AcknowledgmentsIf you take a look around my house, mixed in with the historical artifacts, the pictures that pay homage to my ancestral home in Italy, and the photos of my children at various stages of their lives are flying pigs. I first became enamored with flying pigs after reading David Weisner's Tuesday. When I found an actual wooden figure of a flying pig, I began to seek them out and scatter them around my house. These seemingly misplaced items serve as a reminder, not only to me and my family but anyone entering my home, that anything is possible. That message has been a mantra throughout my whole life, taught to me by immigrant grandparents who came here to make a better life for themselves and their families, and my parents, Jessie and Mike Di Michele, who provided me with support to achieve my goals. It is a message that I have tried to pass down to my children. I have been rewarded in seeing how they work hard to achieve their goals and establish their place in life; William as he pursues his degree as a physician assistant, Catherine as she works as a cardiac-thoracic ICU nurse, and Joseph as he begins college as an English major. My belief that anything is possible was tested during the long months of March, April, and May 2020, when I watched Catherine come and go from North Shore University Hospital, caring for COVID-19 patients. She and her fellow nurses, the doctors, and staff in the cardiac-thoracic ICU were pushed to their limits. While they were used to taking caring of critically ill patients, never so many at one time, and with so much uncertainty. Yet they did it and once again proved anything is possible. They, and others like them, have my appreciation and admiration. "Anything is possible" is also the basis for this book. Creating a curriculum that matters takes time. It is a process that involves deep reflection and change. But it is possible … and necessary so that all students can live their lives fully. In writing this book, I have many people to thank. I would not have been able to complete it without their support. I want to first thank ASCD editor Genny Ostertag, who believed in the message of this book and worked with me so it was framed in a way educators could practically implement these valued priorities in the classroom. I am particularly grateful for the schools and educators I have seen work to provide the best possible learning environments for their students, particularly those whose stories I share in this book. The majority of my time in education has been as an educational consultant. To grow in my own practice, I rely on the willingness of others to think through different ideas, try new strategies, and give me feedback. All of these educators have been willing to do these things for me and, as a result, have allowed me to write this book. I especially thank those educators who welcomed me as colleague and friend, including Larrilee Jemiola, Virginia McGovern, Kim Milton, Nancy Wicker, Julio Delgado, John Wendt, Lori Ferraro, and Charles Sperrazzo. I particularly want to thank Charles for taking time out of his busy schedule to provide me with thoughtful feedback, especially when the writing wasn't easy. I am grateful to the women of Learner-Centered Initiatives: Giselle Martin-Kniep, Joanne Picone-Zocchia, Diane Cunningham, Jennifer Borgioli Binis, Liz Locatelli, Jonelle Rocke, Reshma Ramkellawan-Arteaga, Marianne Mueller, and Patti Miller. We have spent years learning together, and I am a better person and consultant because of it. I miss our meetings and adventures. I thank Giselle for starting me on this path and, along with Joanne, supporting me on my journey. Thank you to Diane for her ongoing friendship and for giving me feedback throughout the writing process, and a special thank you to Liz who helped me to form my ideas into words. A big thank you to Jenn for her feedback and advice particularly on the equity chapter. I also want to thank Diana Fiege, who was willing to share her experiences with service learning. Our conversations helped shape my thinking about civic engagement and equity. Thank you also to Kerin Cunningham, whose illustration I share at the beginning of the acknowledgments—may you all be inspired by her version of the flying pig! I am very lucky to be surrounded by friends and family who I can always rely on. I greatly appreciate the many years of friendship from Kathleen Wallace, and whose daughter, my goddaughter, Paige Wallace, works tirelessly to be the best hockey player she can be and embodies "anything is possible" in the way she lives her 14-year-old life. My dear friends Pamela Slack Damboise, Ann Chauvin, Stephanie Forman, and Kristen Usaitis: I looked forward every week to our Zoom calls and can't wait until we are all able to gather together again. I dedicate this book to my family—all of them—my husband and children, my first family, and my extended family. I am very lucky to have them as a constant presence in my life. I am thankful that my brother Michael Di Michele, my sister-in-law Lisa, and my nephews and niece Michael, Matthew, and Maddalyn have managed family vacations all these years. I appreciate family holidays with my sister- and brother-in-law Ann and Paul Pearson and my nephew and niece Eric and Sara. My extended family, who despite distance and busy lives, manage to be a solid foundation for me and for each other: my Aunt Rose, who we miss, Uncle Joe, Joseph, Kate, Rich, Ludmila, Julianne, Larry, and their children; Uncle Al, Aunt Jeannie, Robert, Cynthia, Lisa, Anthony, and their children; and Lou, JoEllen, Daniel, Julia, and Thomas. My mother continues to be an inspiration to me. She has always believed that if you work hard enough you can do anything and has said it to my children over and over again, and now they believe it too. Most of all, thank you to my husband Bill and our children, William, Catherine, and Joseph, who have learned that my constant praise, excitement, questions, reminders, and speeches are expressions of love—I only want what is best for you. I hope that one day, you, too, will tell your children, anything is possible. Printed by for personal use only |
