Teachers Take Vegas {Part 2}

Hey yall! Happy Friday!

 

I've finally had some time to rest and I'm ready to finish telling you about the big trip to Vegas.

Yes, it took me a full 5 days to catch up on my rest....seriously.

This girl was T.I.R.E.D.

 

So Friday was the first ever Teachers Pay Teachers conference at the Venetian.

 

 

We started out with some breakfast, where I got to meet the lovely ladies from Fluttering Through First Grade!

 

Tammy and Christy from Fluttering Through First Grade

 

Please excuse my wet hair and squinty eyes. It was early, yall.

 

After breakfast was the keynote speech.

Yall.

These speeches were INCREDIBLE.

 

We got to hear Amy, John, and Paul from TPT speak.

Yes, Paul....as in Paul Edelman aka founder of TPT.

 

Paul's speech was beyond incredible and made me so proud to be a part of Teachers Pay Teachers. He truly believes in the company and in every one of his buyers/sellers. His passion for education was evident in his speech and he even got a bit choked up {so did I!}.

 

 

Then Deanna Jump spoke.

I'm sure you've all heard of Deanna. The 3 million dollar teacher.

It would be easy for Deanna to be cocky and pompous.

I mean, she is THE Deanna Jump!

 

But....the girl is HUMBLE, yall.

Thankful.

Inspiring.

Amazing.

And SWEET!

 

Her speech had everyone in tears and I think I was just in awe of how incredible she is.

She is such an amazing role model for ALL teachers.

And....she's from Georgia, yall!

 

Credit to Schroeder Shenanigans in 2nd for the poster

After the speeches, we went to the sessions.

Each attendee got to choose 4 sessions {2 morning and 2 afternoon}.

 

The task of choosing sessions was not an easy one, but I'm happy with the ones I chose. I got to see more inspiring ladies, like Deanna, Deedee, Kelly, Cara, Erica, Rachel, and Laura.

 

I was so into every session that I totally failed about taking pictures.

Well, except this one.

 

 

And this one!

 

 

I got to meet Paul, yall!

He gave me a big ol' hug and I expressed my gratitude for his vision.

We even talked about how blogging/TPT have made such a huge difference in classrooms and I told him about my thesis on that very topic. He asked me to send it to him! Which reminds me...I still haven't done that yet!

 

Between the morning and afternoon sessions, I had lunch with these sweet girls! We all really hit it off and have some fun things in the works!

 

Top row: Chrissy from Buzzing with Ms. B, Angela from The Daily Alphabet, LaToya from Flying Into First Grade, and CaseyJane from Wiggling Scholars
Bottom row: Cheryl from Crayons and Curls, Tamara from Mrs. Russell's Room, Katie from Kindergarten Craftiness, and Haley from My Silly Firsties

 

After the conference came the TPT happy hour! This was so much fun and I got to meet even more amazing folks.

 

Kristin from A Teeny Tiny Teacher and Cheryl from Crayons and Curls

Yes....this is what you think it is. A duck-face selfie with TPT's CEO John.
I know...it rocks!

Some of the sellers got together and presented the members of TPT with a thank you gift. I was so glad I was able to be a part of that!

 

 

 

 

Even though we had all been up super early, we were on a TPT high so we decided to keep going and hit up Fremont Street!

 

It was....interesting...but fun!

We met some very intriguing people :)

 

 

 

 

Saturday morning came early and I had to say goodbye to my roomies :(

I did get in one last lunch and some gelato with my newfound friends, though!

 

Haley from My Silly Firsties and Jennifer from Rowdy in First Grade

 

Overall, this trip was one of the best trips of my life.

I learned, I laughed, I cried.

But best of all....I made LOTS of new friends that I will cherish forever!