As promised, today’s post will share my journey this past year after graduating from the Google Innovator Academy. I have my cup of Chai ready, and I’m glad you are settling in to hear my story.
The Journey Begins
For years, I used Google for Education tools regularly as part of my practice in the classroom. As I moved from the classroom into Instructional Technology, I earned my Google Certified Educator Levels I and II. This eventually led to becoming a Google Certified Trainer. However, the one step I never managed to take was applying for Google Certified Innovator. The Google Certified Innovator program allows academy graduates to pursue projects that address problems seen in education. Projects could become educational learning brands, podcasts, applications, etc. To me, becoming an Innovator always felt like something other, more talented and experienced people did. The kind of people I listened to on the podcasts they created or followed on social media or met at conferences, but definitely not someone insignificant and inexperienced like me.
Fast forward to 2023. For the first time since COVID-19 shut down the world, Google for Education would be bringing people back together to learn from each other live and in person at Google Innovator Academy #CHI24! Applications were open, and I had no intention of filling one out. It didn’t matter that I really wanted to be an Innovator. I still believed being one was for people better than me. Imposter Syndrome had come out to play, and it was winning.
Then a good friend*, asked a simple question, “Why not?” That is all it took. It was the catalyst I needed. I thought about who I’d become over the previous 8 years when I first moved into instructional technology. I’d presented numerous times at local and national conferences on a variety of topics. I’d participated in my local Google Educator Group. I’d honed my coaching and leadership skills. I’d even successfully defended a doctoral dissertation the same year applications opened. Why not me indeed? So I sat down and began working on my application.
For this round of applications, Google partnered with various organizations to help participants focus on the type of problem they wanted to look at. I selected the partnership with Ted-Ed that highlighted teacher and student voices. Eventually, I found my driving question: How might we invest in Gen Z educators to help them engage their Gen Alpha students? which brought together my passions of generational study, new teacher support, and digital tools for learning. That passion must have shone through because I was accepted and on my way to Chicago!
The Windy City
July 2024 arrived, and I made my way to Chicago, Illinois. I’d never been in a Google Office before. I could feel my nerves amp up as I walked in hoping I belonged, hoping I could get past my introversion enough to make conversation with total strangers.
I had absolutely nothing to worry about! Everyone’s excitement at being at the Academy was infectious. Everyone was kind and welcoming. We were even greeted by the Innovator Coaches with pom-poms and words of encouragement. I fit in perfectly! I was with my people!
Before the Academy began, we were put in groups and given an Innovator Coach to support our learning over the year ahead. Meeting my group in person helped ease my anxieties especially since everyone in my group, which we affectionately call The Sparkle Squad, is an exceptional person who I came to adore over our time together.
The three days flew by as we participated in Design Sprints, feedback sessions, games, and connecting! While I initially struggled with the Design Sprints because I wanted more time to get it “just right” (hello perfectionism), my project began to take shape. It was a big shape, but more of a shape than when I arrived. My absolute favorite activity involved walking around and looking at everyone’s essential questions and top ways to address it. We go to put stickers next to ideas that resonated with us. It was a great visual to see which of my ideas held the most potential for my project. The most nerve-wracking moment involved pitching my project in front of everyone. However, in true Google Innovator fashion, everyone encouraged and cheered after every pitch made proving that no idea was too crazy, big, weird, or whatever.
By the time I boarded the plane, I knew I had a dauntingly exciting year ahead of me as I continued to build out my project to completion.
From July 2024 to July 2025
One of the best things to come from Google Innovator Academy is all the support. The Sparkle Squad gives me life. Melissa was an excellent Coach and continues to be a good friend. Then there is my Innovator Mentor: Bonnie Chelette. I could not have dreamed up a better Mentor. We began to meet monthly, and I knew this was a connection I would keep forever. Bonnie always knew how to frame questions and perspectives as I worked through my project’s details. She encouraged every step I took and praised the work I put into it.
Additionally, the #CHI24 group keeps a regular chat going continuing to support each other and share experiences. I may not jump into discussions as often as I would like, but I love seeing where everyone is and how things are going. I even participated in a couple of online meetups to share progress and receive feedback. Of course, I also do my best to see The Sparkle Squad online as often as possible. I cannot imagine this journey without them!
The most eye-opening moment happened during a Ted-Ed Innovator meetup. During our first meetup to share progress, I realized how tightly I held on to my project. I didn’t see it as “ready.” I had more I wanted to do. While I had spoken with a few people about it and even participated in a Charrette Protocol to get feedback from other educators, I still kept it close without releasing it to a wider audience. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone in the Innovator Program with a not-quite-finished project, so I hadn’t shared it. What the group at the meetup helped me see was that you have to get it out there and see what happens! How else will I know what to tweak or update or remove or include? I needed real world feedback. Yikes. This was a hard pill for me to swallow. I only ever want to put out perfection in my finished projects, ideas, whatever. That is not what this was about. This was about the process of learning, reflecting, evaluating, and trying again.
And THAT is the biggest lesson I learned from being a Google Innovator: it is about the process and progression not perfection. Some people were able to complete the process and share a final project within the first year. Others, like me, were probably going to need a little more time. And that was perfectly fine. Once I got out of my head, I was able to start inviting people to participate in my project. Now, at exactly the one year mark, I will be sharing it with everyone and seeing where it goes. It could be insanely successful or flop in a glorious manner. The point is, I won’t know which if I never put it out there.
Needless to say, it’s been a year-long journey of research, design, collaboration, self-growth, and courage. In my next post, I’m excited to introduce you to the project that grew from it all — a community I hope to build called The OWL’s Perch.
An Educational Cup of Tea 