Usually I like to play the game of "pick out the teacher." They are so easy to spot, and I like trying to catch them out in the wild – on the streets of the conference town. Today I had the tables turned.
During a lunch discussion with a couple of attendees from Arkansas, I was told that I "looked like an administrator." I had to get details, so I asked what tipped them off. The difference between teachers and administrators (or so I was told) was that teachers tend to walk head down, or are gabbing with colleagues. Adminstrators, on the other hand, are constantly looking around, constantly aware of those with agendas. Who wants you to buy something, fix something, or solve something. Suits and cell phones (especially Blackberries) are also dead giveaways.
While I’m not so sure I agree with that assessment entirely, I’ll try to be more aware of the signals I give off. Maybe I can keep the vendors at bay a bit longer.
[tags]NECC, NECC2007, vendors, teachers, administrators[/tags]