Lifetime Channel Deal; Please Vote for Spring of Hope

Today, I would like to announce that I've signed a contract with the Lifetime Channel and will become one of the bloggers for their morning show, the Balancing Act. Cool Cat Teacher is still here and I'm writing about educational topics and you'll keep getting what you've been getting here. As soon as my blog goes "live" over there, I'll write for a slightly different audience - primarily women - about balancing your life and also pull in my parenting and classroom experience.

Additionally, over here, about once a month, you'll see me share some of the things going on in Lifetime's Balancing Act show that relate to you as they have a whole segment every Friday about the classroom and education, the Parent/ Teacher corner and are part of a campaign called the "war on obesity." Two things which I'm passionate about. This will bring Cool Cat Teacher to a wider audience but also let me write about some other things I've been wanting to share but didn't really feel were appropriate to the context of my blog.

This is exciting for me and has been in the works for some time. It means that the show can call on me as a resource if they wish, but most importantly that my passion of writing can spread past this blog. I can also share YOUR stories with a wider audience that needs to hear about the GREAT things happening in classrooms around the world. 

Vote for a Spring of Hope to Help Drill Wells in Africa
Today, I'd like to share something that is totally in with you all and I hope you'll help me get out the vote for A Spring of Hope. A Spring of hope was founded by Brittany Young when she was just a senior in High School. It raises money to drill wells in rural Africa. This frees the women and children of the community to be able to go to school and work because much of the burden of getting water is literally on their shoulders. (View the documentary and look at their current projects.)

Of course, feel free to donate or let your classroom raise money for a well, but right now, they are up for the Chase American Giving Awards. If they get enough votes, they will win 1 million dollars towards the drilling of wells in Africa.

Could you imagine what this one award could mean to the whole continent of Africa?

So, if you are able and have a Facebook account, please go out and vote for "A Spring of Hope" on their Facebook page and spread the word with your tweets. This is the kind of volunteerism that we can all do as can our students.

Thank you
Thank you and I look forward to sharing more with you as it fits with the mission of Cool Cat Teacher! The fact is that every one of you who subscribes to my blog, reads what I write, comments, likes me on Facebook, or follows me on Twitter has "voted me up" to let opportunities like this happen.

I am very grateful to all of you reading this for truly you are part of this story. The fact that some anonymous teacher in south Georgia can have the dream of STAYING IN THE CLASSROOM and still be able to reach a wider audience with cool projects, books and blogs and speaking is a dream come  true. I don't have to leave the classroom in order to have my dream and it is my goal to help as many of you and as many good causes as possible to reach their dreams as well. Thank you, my friends.

Now, off to Homecoming week. Today is Geek Day! Guess I don't have to dress up -- much. ;-)