Scarlet Sobo’s Post

At my first conference working at Scout, I was completely caught off guard. In the best way possible, though. I was shadowing Noah at the Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC) conference, learning the ropes and trying to absorb as much as possible. At one point, the team from Trivium Charter School, AKA our OGs (as I like to call them), came up to us. But they didn't come to our booth to talk to us about our SIS. Trisha Vais gave Noah a big hug and asked, "Are you getting enough sleep?" (Honestly, a very valid question when you see how tirelessly Noah works.) That was my first real introduction to the unmatched kindness of California independent charter school educators. It’s also where I first met the incredible Cynthia Rachel. Fast forward to the APLUS+ conference. I watched vendors and educators reunite after a long summer away from conference season like they were long-lost family members. And it’s one thing to see educators come together like one big family. But I honestly didn't expect them to welcome us vendors into that family with such open arms, too. I remember watching them and thinking, wow, I hope I can get to that stage with these people. The crazy part? The conference was only three days long, but by day three, I felt like I already had. I knew almost everyone by name, and I felt entirely welcomed into this giant family. I spent these days watching Heidi Gasca in her amazing fits, hugging everyone she crossed paths with, people flocking to "Coach" Joe's booth to soak up his hilarious and magnetic energy, and Kimberly Tumambing lighting up every room with her bubbly energy. (The list of amazing people could go on and on and on, but it would be the longest LinkedIn post ever.) I ran into Cynthia again there. I watched her bounce from booth to booth, saying hi to everyone with this absolutely infectious energy. I remember watching her and literally thinking to myself, I want to be like HER! And what amazes me the most is that genuine care doesn't just stop when the conferences end. A couple of months ago, I posted on here about being sick. Cynthia actually took the time to write out and send me her personal, step-by-step recovery instructions just to make sure I was okay. People talk a lot on here about building your "network," ... but it's really so much more than that. These people aren't just names in a connections list. They're the ones who hug you at conferences, send you homemade recovery instructions when you're sick, and make you feel like family before the week is even over. Working with people who care this deeply, not just about education, but about each other, makes it impossible not to care deeply right back. To all the educators out there pouring your hearts into your schools: you push me every single day to be the best I can be for you. I know it sounds cheesy, but I really mean it. Thank you for welcoming me into the family. 🤍 Excited for the Fall when I see you all again!