iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

ILSTOY @ilstoy.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week from the 2026 Illinois State Teachers of the Year Cohort! To every teacher: thank you for the impact you make each day. Your work matters, and your students are better because of you. #TeacherAppreciationWeek #ILSTOY

011

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

ILSTOY @ilstoy.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

001

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

ILSTOY @ilstoy.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

101

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

ILSTOY @ilstoy.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

101

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

ILSTOY @ilstoy.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

101

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

ILSTOY @ilstoy.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Congratulations to the 2025 Illinois Teacher of the Year, Víctor Gómez! Your passion and impact inspire us all. We also celebrate the full ISTOY cohort—an extraordinary group of changemakers representing the very best of Illinois education. Thank you for all you do! 🧵

132

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Biane Denjamine @ellsworthnews.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Bloomington residents discover the one event Dan Brady won't show up to.

0436

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Shana V. White (she/her) @shanavwhite.blacksky.app · 20/02/2025

For the last 8 years.

2171

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Renee D @dawsonedtech.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

A7. Make it more than a month. Make celebrating black innovation & inspiration (past, present, & future) part of your classroom culture throughout the whole school year. #T2Tchat #EduSky

021

Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton @teachwitht.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

THIS! It is not our job to help them reach OUR dreams — which often center on grades and graduation; it is our job to nurture theirs! The grades will fall into place once you do that!

110

Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton @teachwitht.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

A6: I believe them. If they tell me their dreams, I believe them. It’s that simple. I used to approach this so incorrectly. I thought showing my degrees would inspire them, when really it drove a wedge between some of them. Find the thing that makes them sprout, and water it. #T2Tchat

020

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Adrienne Baytops Paul @abpaul3.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

One of the most powerful videos I’ve watched recently is Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Forging Resilience. I posted about it recently. It’s outstanding and inspiring. www.pbs.org/video/forgin...

pbs.org

Journeys of Black Mathematicians | Forging Resilience | Episode 101

This episode traces the role of HBCUs and mentors in growing the community of Black mathematicians.

121

Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton @teachwitht.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

A4: I think Black students are hyper aware of how society views them. Schools must affirm that we view them as more than a month, more than a costume, and more than a lesson. Black voices should be apart of the decision-making, curriculum, and student advocacy/leadership of the school. #T2Tchat

240

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Adrienne Baytops Paul @abpaul3.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

This level of prep will help ensure that you know which sites students are using rather than sending them on a time-wasting hunt for info. Please don’t send students to search Google willy-nilly; it’s not wise or safe. Here's a few resources to support your work: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

docs.google.com

Black History resources

Black History Resources 28 Days of Black History 28daysofblackhistory.com National Museum of African American History & Culture LEARN units for grades 3-12 National Archives African American History ...

021

Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton @teachwitht.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

A2: One way I make sure students see themselves represented in my classroom year-round is making sure the texts truly sees them as THEY feel seen. While our struggles may be similar, it’s unfair for me (and authors) to assume our lived experiences are! #T2Tchat

020

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Renee D @dawsonedtech.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

A2. One way I make sure students see themselves represented in my classroom year-round is through the literature I incorporate in my curriculum. It is so powerful for my students to see themselves reflected in the books available to them in my room and taught in my class. #t2tchat #EduSky

121

Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton @teachwitht.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

A1: I teach special education junior lit/comp! In Lit, we’ve been exploring the American Dream. Rather than focus on the 1920s/Gatsby, I’ve had students track the pursuit of the Dream over the last century from different diverse perspectives! #T2Tchat

120

Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton @teachwitht.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Hi everyone! Thank you for joining tonight’s #T2Tchat on elevating Black history beyond February! @abpaul3.bsky.social and I will be moderating, and we are excited to be here! #T2Tchat

020

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Teacher2Teacher @teacher2teacher.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

What's on the agenda tonight? 🗓️ We hope it's joining our Bluesky #T2Tchat! Moderators @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social will lead an exchange of ideas for honoring Black history this month and all year long!

Join this week's #T2Tchat tonight at 7 p.m. ET!

043

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Teacher2Teacher @teacher2teacher.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Wondering how teachers like you honor Black History Month with students? Get some new ideas – and build your #Edusky PLN – in Thursday's #T2Tchat moderated by @teachwitht.bsky.social and @abpaul3.bsky.social

Join our next #T2Tchat this Thursday at 7 p.m. ET!

031

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

World of Statistics @statistics-feed.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Number of shootings at schools within the United States: 2000: 31 2001: 26 2002: 19 2003: 34 2004: 35 2005: 52 2006: 59 2007: 46 2008: 37 2009: 32 2010: 15 2011: 16 2012: 20 2013: 34 2014: 47 2015: 41 2016: 50 2017: 60 2018: 119 2019: 124 2020: 116 2021: 257 2022: 308 2023: 349 2024: 330 2025: 1

126

Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton @teachwitht.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

I’m getting SO much better at not saying yes all of the time!

040

Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton @teachwitht.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

- Published a book of poems - Ran for a state teacher Union position (and won) - Got to tour where the Constitution was signed - Finished my doctoral degree - Said no without feeling guilty - Explored new music artists - Attempted a boundary between work and home (failed) - Coached with intention

060

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Butter Pecan Ice Cream Connoisseur @moniselseward.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

I need y'all to accept that they know the true history of Country music, much like everything else. The best way to celebrate your favorite artist is to enjoy the art, without going into a history of Country's origins, every single time. Let them ppl be mad & age from their hatred & jealousy.

1384

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

Shana V. White (she/her) @shanavwhite.blacksky.app · 27/12/2024

Turn this up!!

0305

Reposted by Dr. Brandon Garrett Thornton

BlackEduSky @blackedusky.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Want to be added to our #BlackEduSky starter pack? Post to @phonisha.bsky.social to be added. 🗣️ We're growing ✊🏾 go.bsky.app/R1Fhqjw

144625