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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

New episode just dropped! Give it a listen and reach out if you want to be part of the conversation. Where have you found joy in your journey at school? #JoyatSchool podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j...

podcasts.apple.com

Our Joy Journeys Ep.2

Podcast Episode · Joy At School · September 27 · 26m

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

So excited to get this book in the mail today! Thank you, @mrschureads.bsky.social for a lovely book and a beautiful idea! #Joywalking #JoyAtSchool

Teacher smiles while holding a copy of a new picture book, Lily-May’s Joyful Day.

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I’m excited for this new venture, exploring how to cultivate joy and what that looks like in real schools. @gregbagby.bsky.social and I will be chatting with folks from kindergarten to superintendents. I invite you to listen in! #JoyatSchool #SpreadtheJoy

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Joy At School | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

This is the intro to the new Podcast Joy at School!

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Today is my first official day of summer after my 28th year in public education. I had the joy of celebrating the graduation of kids I welcomed as kindergarteners at my K-12 school. As an instructional coach, I’ve been with them through it all. I love teaching alongside teachers I coach. A 🧵

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

My amazing school is hiring! CSLA is a K-12 Paideia school in Chattanooga. We are looking for amazing people for 2 positions: 🔭 5th grade Science/social studies (full time) 🪅Middle school Spanish (.75 part time) Check us out: csla.hcde.org Apply here: careers.hcde.org/jobs (search for CSLA)

csla.hcde.org

CSLA – Hamilton County Schools

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Louder for the folks in the back…

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Chanea Bond @heymrsbond.com · 11/04/2026

Every single one of the astronauts who went to the moon and back on Artemis II was educated at a public school. Thinking of the teachers who poured into Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen tonight. You helped send a kid to the moon! 🌕 💛

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

Thank you, @marcusluther.bsky.social, for putting words to how so many of us are feeling. I often feel I live in that space in between, holding two contradictory things at once.

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Chanea Bond @heymrsbond.com · 26/10/2025

Hey institutions that host professional development, podcasts, ed news, ed conferences, etc: Educators are desperate to hear from other educators about what’s working in their classrooms TODAY. Find the practicing educators and give them resources to teach other educators.

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The National Paideia Center @paideiacenter.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

✨ It’s here! National Paideia Seminar Day ✨ Today we celebrate the heart of the Paideia philosophy—the Seminar. Across the country, students and educators are coming together to practice thoughtful dialogue, ask big questions, and grow as lifelong learners. #NationalPaideiaSeminarDay

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Our small group of alumni & retirees had a lovely conversation tonight for #NationalPaideiaSeminarDay. We discussed the poem Shoulders by Naomi Shihab Nye. Let’s take care of each other! #JoyAtSchool @paideiacenter.bsky.social

Four retirees, two young alumni, and one teacher pose, smiling, in the school library after doing a seminar on Shoulders by Naomi Shihab Nye. Behind them is the slide with the seminar follow up that contains an image of a related art print (Father and Child by John Wilson).

Seminar circle from the point of view of the facilitator. In the foreground is the seminar plan, the poem (Shoulders by Naomi Shihab Nye), and a seminar map. In the background, seminar participants are discussing the poem.

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

During seminar at @WeAreCSLA today, a kindergartener said, “Sometimes we don’t agree with each other. That’s OK.” Their second seminar ever, and they already have the basics! #NationalPaideiaSeminarDay #PaideiaLearning #JoyAtSchool

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

For #NationalPaideiaSeminarDay, 8th gr discussed a political cartoon from Rev War. Discussion was lively. Points were hotly debated. When a student came in late as seminar was ending, the teacher heard her friend say, "Girl, you missed the best seminar!" We are so glad she approved! #JoyAtSchool

Students sit in a circle in a classroom. They are hotly debating a Revolutionary War era political cartoon. Their body language (leaning in, gesturing with hands) shows their engagement in the dialogue.

Panoramic shot of students sitting in a circle in a classroom. They are hotly debating a Revolutionary War era political cartoon. Their body language (leaning in, gesturing with hands) shows their engagement in the dialogue.

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Happy National Paideia Seminar Day! We kicked off last night with a parent seminar: Shoulders by Naomi Shihab Nye. Amazing discussion! So honored to hear varied perspectives of our parents! From strangers to caring community in one seminar! #PaideiaSeminar #JoyAtSchool @paideiacenter.bsky.social

Parents sit at tables in a library doing pre-seminar work on Shoulders (poem).

Parents sit on a circle in the library with name tents in front of them. In the foreground, the facilitator’s text and map are visible on her clipboard.

Awesome group of parents pose after the seminar with big smiles. In the background is the seminar follow up on a slide: “Set a goal to do something to care for a colleague or a friend in the next few weeks. Write down your intention.”

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

My feed needs a cleanse, so here are some things that brought me joy today at Eagles’ Nest, our K-12 school-wide assembly to celebrate our philosophy, #Paideia. #JoyAtSchool 1/6

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

We had a district walkthrough in our middle and high school the other day. The feedback was largely about the joy and respectful collaboration they saw all over the school. JOY. In middle and high school! That is worth celebrating! #JoyAtSchool #PaideiaLearning

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Our librarian just said, “Oh, you guys are 3rd graders. You can get 3 books, not just 2!” The buzz of pure joy that went through library is giving me life! #JoyAtSchool

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

My district had a session on JOY at the summer leadership institute! Session included brain science and strategies for joy. Each school team created a vision board for cultivating joy. Joy matters! #JoyAtSchool

Displayed slide says, “Joy is a strategy.” Text is surrounded by photos of joyful children in various settings. The foreground shows the backs of adult educators looking at the slide.

Displayed slide has two photos (athletes in a gym and a student holding up a piece of artwork). The text on the slide says:
Joy’s Connection to Learning
What Joy does to students:
- Increased engagement and motivation
- Enhanced creativity and problem-solving
- Improved cognitive abilities
- Stronger relationships
- Deeper understanding and retention
- Improves physical and mental health

Photo shows a gym with educators working around crowded tables. The group in the foreground has 4 school leaders working to create a vision board of joy at school. Three of them are leaned over, arranging and taping down photos that represent joy. The fourth is looking on as they work.

A white poster made from chart paper hangs on red bleachers. The poster is a Joy vision board. It has 15 photos scattered about the page that represent joyful moments at schools (students being creative, sports team posing, graduates in caps and gowns, people in silly costumes, etc.) the text at the top says, “Joy @ CSLA!” and #joyatschool. There are words scattered around the poster with curly arrows pointing to the photos. Each word represents how joy is cultivated at our school. The words are:
- Can-do attitude
- Big dreams and dreams realized
- Creating readers and writers
- Curiosity
- Diverse cultures
- Community service
- Hands-on
- Caring and connectedness
- Fun
- Creativity
- Community
- Laughter

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

K-12 gathered to honor our first *ever* senior class & 3 retirees: 2 beloved teachers & our principal. I have been a part of this class’s education at CSLA since they were in K, and have had the honor of serving with the principal for 16 yrs. I cried bittersweet tears, but mostly felt #JoyAtSchool!

A female student with curly brown hair stands at the podium addressing the gym with a microphone in her hand. She is honoring two teachers and a principal who are retiring. In the background, watching from the side, and the 3 retirees. They are smiling at the student with arms around each other’s shoulders. Students look on from the bleachers.

Rows of seniors in royal blue caps and gowns sit in chairs in a school gym. Students from elementary to high school look on from the bleachers.

An educator poses with a senior, who is dressed in a royal blue cap and gown. She has a gold stole and several cords around her neck. They are side by side, smiling, with arms around each others’ shoulders. In the background are other seniors and a banner declaring, “Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle!”

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Have you found any #JoyAtSchool lately? Please share the good stuff happening at your school! We can always use more joy!

Interactive bulletin board at a school asks, “What brings you joy?” The wise joy is spelled out in huge chunky tan letters on a black background. A pocket on the bottom right provides sharpies for students to write responses. Letters are filled with their responses, things like tacos, snow days, friends, even specific names. One student wrote, “Dance brings me JOY!” Bulletin board has a border with snowflakes and the black background is dotted with paper snowflakes made by students.

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Yesterday our 7th graders helped their kindergarten buddies fly kites. Kite Day always is always full of #JoyAtSchool!

Soccer field is scattered with students (7th graders and kindergarteners) and their teachers. Students are attempting to fly kites, and sometimes succeeding! A few kites can be seen flying against the backdrop of tress behind the field.

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

State testing is hard on everyone, but we found #JoyAtSchool in the middle of it with ArtsFest! There was art and music from elem, MS, and HS. Perfect evening for our school community! (4 photos aren’t enough to show all the awesomeness and joy!)

A high school choir sings in an outdoor courtyard. The backs of family members watching are visible in the foreground.

Display of 7th grade art entitled Creative Color Wheels. Each piece in the array has the color wheel depicted with different shapes on black backgrounds.

Interactive station called Mini Masterpieces encouraged visitors to make small art. Table in the foreground has sticky notes and art supplies. In the background is a piece of black butcher paper with sticky note art displayed.

Third grade students play recorders on the stage at ArtsFest.

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

When your HS science teacher hatches ducklings in her classroom, there is so much #JoyAtSchool!

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Some 2nd graders learned the hard way that aggressively stabbing a hot sauce packet with a spork is NOT the most efficient way to open it. #LunchDuty

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

I had some first graders rolling with the knock knock classic, “Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?” #JoyAtSchool #LunchDuty

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

I’m having a healthy debate with a kindergartener about whether or not spaghetti is are pasta. I’m not winning. #JoyAtSchool #LunchDuty

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

I’m working on an online coaching course. One of the reflections today helped me see how well my work aligns with my values. I’m so very grateful! #Paideia #LifelongLearner

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Pernille Schmidt Ripp @pernille.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Fostering reading joy isn’t about joyful reading. It’s about co-creating the conditions for joyful readers. Because joyful readers exist even when they’re not reading

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

This is on the money! I would add that tools need an easy way for teachers to see which students have NOT completed things. It needs to be across various classes so we don’t have to go into every class to check.

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

A2 I feel more focused this year! Having a coach partner has been a game changer. I’ve been able to do more actual coaching with teachers than I have the past few years. Also finally getting some traction with one particularly resistant teacher. Feeling the #JoyatSchool! #leadlap

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

I’m wrestling with the balance between engaging reading instruction/magical learning and the need for kids to perform well on the (too numerous) standardized tests. I want more magic, but we also have to keep scores up to be allowed to keep doing the magic! #leadlap

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

It was an honor to present with @gregbagby.bsky.social, Adrianne Cowan, Michelle Bettis, and @juliedavisedu.bsky.social at #TETC. Also enjoyed the amazing keynote by @lesliefisher.bsky.social. #LifelongLearning

Three educators pose in front of a screen with the title slide for their presentation at TETC. The title of the presentation is Coaching for the Masses.

Three educators pose in front of a screen with the title slide for their presentation at TETC. The title of the presentation is Ultimate EdTech Showdown.

Three educators pose in front of a screen with the title slide for their presentation at TETC. The title of the presentation is Helping Students See the Value of Originality and Creativity.

A group of 9 educators pose together wearing conference badges for TETC. In front is the Keynote speaker, Leslie Fisher.

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

It was fun to connect with friends last night! Looking forward to a day of learning at #TETC today!

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

In case you missed the big parade today, here’s a snippet of balloons on parade from #STEAM classes. Kids are awesome! Enjoy! #PaideiaLearning #JoyatSchool #Thanksgiving #EduSky

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Today a 3rd grader shyly asked me, “Do you remember when I used to come in your office and cry every day?” That was when she was a kinder (the first time). I hugged her and said I did, and I love seeing her happier and reading and thriving now. She smiled and hugged me back. Day made #JoyatSchool

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Genuine question for my new #EduSky community: How do you balance genuine, meaningful teaching of reading (deep discussions, great texts, joy of a good book) with prep for how reading is tested on standardized tests? Mainly thinking about gr 3-5 this week.

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Amazing parent seminar last night discussing the big ideas in Persistence of Memory: Time, Memory & Imagination, Experience, Creativity. So many perspectives! Parents appreciated insight into what their kids do each week in seminar. #PaideiaLearning #PaideiaSeminar #JoyatSchool

en.wikipedia.org

The Persistence of Memory - Wikipedia

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Cindy Gaston @gastoncindy.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

I’m an Instructional Coach at a K-12 public school where #PaideiaLearning gets kids and teens talking, thinking, reasoning, and creating. I am determined to look for, celebrate, and cultivate #JoyAtSchool. I’m here to learn! #LifelongLearner

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