Back in 2023, right before the AMLE conference, I recorded a little TikTok series answering a question I get a lot: how did you get started as a speaker? This episode strings those videos together into one story, from being a 22-year-old alternatively certified educator who wasn’t exactly welcomed into the field, to my first conference, my first presentation (and my first bad reviews lol), a brand new Twitter account, EdScape with Mom and Dad, ISTE with Shelley Sanchez Terrell, and eventually EduMatch and my very first keynote. I close with a few tips for anyone thinking about dipping their toe into presenting.

Shout-outs to T3, Sandy Paul, Shelley Sanchez Terrell, Dr. Will Deyamport, Dr. Nicole Taylor, Tony Sinanis and Joe Sanfilippo.

Publish It: A Summit for Educators is Saturday, November 21, 2:00 to 5:00 PM ET (1:00 PM CT, 11:00 AM PT, 7:00 PM GMT). Claim your free seat at edumatchers.org/publish-it

Say hi at @sarahdateechur or sarah@edumatch.org

Before EduMatch was a company, it was a community, and running it has taught me a lot. In this episode I share five lessons from years of community organizing: check your motivation, welcome every member but choose your collaborators carefully, set boundaries, be transparent, and stay authentic. Whether you're thinking about starting a community or you've been leading one for a while, I hope something here helps.

Come connect with us in the EduMatch community.