Dr. Spike C. Cook is currently serving in a leadership position as the Principal of RM Bacon Elementary for the Millville Public School District located in the City of Millville, New Jersey. He joined RM Bacon staff in April of 2011. Since that time, he has been influential in increasing technology use with students and teachers, reorganized the Basic Skills Program, and worked on improving the climate and culture of the building.  He began his educational career in 1999 and has worked in higher education, middle school and elementary school. Dr. Cook has served as a counselor, teacher, adjunct professor, Executive Director, vice principal, guidance director and principal. His blog “Insights Into Learning” received a nomination for the Best Administrator Blog by Edublogs. Dr. Cook has presented at numerous state and local conferences. In addition, he has presented at the 2012 ASCD Texas in Dallas, 2013 ASCD National Conference in Chicago, and the 2013 National Association for Elementary School Principals in Baltimore. He was the keynote speaker at the Millville Public Schools Opening Day for over 1,200 staff. Dr. Cook was one of the featured “connected educators” in the 2014 Corwin Press book, “Digital Leadership” by Eric Sheninger.

"How relevant are you as a school leader? This is the essential question that Dr. Cook succinctly addresses in this handbook that is positioned to be an essential reading for any 21st Century leader.  His work details the power of connectivity to break down silos of information and get school leaders off isolated islands to improve professional practice and transform schools.  By weaving stories of how practitioners have benefited from connecting through social media, Dr. Cook presents the necessary ingredients for change that can be implemented immediately."

• Preface by Peter DeWittIntroduction: Message to Prospective Connected Educator1. A Thousand Mile JourneyGetting StartedNavitaging the WebThe Digital FootprintPersonal Story From a Connected Educator - Brad Gustafson2. Time and PrioritiesHow Will I Have the Time?When Can I Connect?Lurking and LearningPersonal Story From a Connected Educator - Thad HainesWhat Do the Researchers Say?3. Inner Reflection, Global ExposureBlogging, Tweeting, PinningI Don′t Have Anything to Say or WriteWho Will Read This?Personal Story From a Connected Educator - Ben Gilpin5. Building an AllianceProfessional Learning NetworkChats and Supporting the PLNPersonal Story From a Connected Educator - Amber Teaman5. TransformationPaying It ForwardUnderstanding Your Leadership Color: What Will You Reveal?Losing My Leadership MojoPaying It ForwardImproving the Learning EnvironmentTransformation Takes on Many FormsPersonal Story from a Connected Educator - Theresa StagerConclusionReflection of a Trailblazer: Melinda Miller

Dr. Spike C. Cook is currently serving in a leadership position as the Principal of RM Bacon Elementary for the Millville Public School District located in the City of Millville, New Jersey. He joined RM Bacon staff in April of 2011. Since that time, he has been influential in increasing technology use with students and teachers, reorganized the Basic Skills Program, and worked on improving the climate and culture of the building.  He began his educational career in 1999 and has worked in higher education, middle school and elementary school. Dr. Cook has served as a counselor, teacher, adjunct professor, Executive Director, vice principal, guidance director and principal. His blog “Insights Into Learning” received a nomination for the Best Administrator Blog by Edublogs. Dr. Cook has presented at numerous state and local conferences. In addition, he has presented at the 2012 ASCD Texas in Dallas, 2013 ASCD National Conference in Chicago, and the 2013 National Association for Elementary School Principals in Baltimore. He was the keynote speaker at the Millville Public Schools Opening Day for over 1,200 staff. Dr. Cook was one of the featured “connected educators” in the 2014 Corwin Press book, “Digital Leadership” by Eric Sheninger.

"How relevant are you as a school leader? This is the essential question that Dr. Cook succinctly addresses in this handbook that is positioned to be an essential reading for any 21st Century leader.  His work details the power of connectivity to break down silos of information and get school leaders off isolated islands to improve professional practice and transform schools.  By weaving stories of how practitioners have benefited from connecting through social media, Dr. Cook presents the necessary ingredients for change that can be implemented immediately."

• Preface by Peter DeWittIntroduction: Message to Prospective Connected Educator1. A Thousand Mile JourneyGetting StartedNavitaging the WebThe Digital FootprintPersonal Story From a Connected Educator - Brad Gustafson2. Time and PrioritiesHow Will I Have the Time?When Can I Connect?Lurking and LearningPersonal Story From a Connected Educator - Thad HainesWhat Do the Researchers Say?3. Inner Reflection, Global ExposureBlogging, Tweeting, PinningI Don′t Have Anything to Say or WriteWho Will Read This?Personal Story From a Connected Educator - Ben Gilpin5. Building an AllianceProfessional Learning NetworkChats and Supporting the PLNPersonal Story From a Connected Educator - Amber Teaman5. TransformationPaying It ForwardUnderstanding Your Leadership Color: What Will You Reveal?Losing My Leadership MojoPaying It ForwardImproving the Learning EnvironmentTransformation Takes on Many FormsPersonal Story from a Connected Educator - Theresa StagerConclusionReflection of a Trailblazer: Melinda Miller

Dr. Spike C. Cook is currently serving in a leadership position as the Principal of RM Bacon Elementary for the Millville Public School District located in the City of Millville, New Jersey. He joined RM Bacon staff in April of 2011. Since that time, he has been influential in increasing technology use with students and teachers, reorganized the Basic Skills Program, and worked on improving the climate and culture of the building.  He began his educational career in 1999 and has worked in higher education, middle school and elementary school. Dr. Cook has served as a counselor, teacher, adjunct professor, Executive Director, vice principal, guidance director and principal. His blog “Insights Into Learning” received a nomination for the Best Administrator Blog by Edublogs. Dr. Cook has presented at numerous state and local conferences. In addition, he has presented at the 2012 ASCD Texas in Dallas, 2013 ASCD National Conference in Chicago, and the 2013 National Association for Elementary School Principals in Baltimore. He was the keynote speaker at the Millville Public Schools Opening Day for over 1,200 staff. Dr. Cook was one of the featured “connected educators” in the 2014 Corwin Press book, “Digital Leadership” by Eric Sheninger.

"How relevant are you as a school leader? This is the essential question that Dr. Cook succinctly addresses in this handbook that is positioned to be an essential reading for any 21st Century leader.  His work details the power of connectivity to break down silos of information and get school leaders off isolated islands to improve professional practice and transform schools.  By weaving stories of how practitioners have benefited from connecting through social media, Dr. Cook presents the necessary ingredients for change that can be implemented immediately."

• Preface by Peter DeWittIntroduction: Message to Prospective Connected Educator1. A Thousand Mile JourneyGetting StartedNavitaging the WebThe Digital FootprintPersonal Story From a Connected Educator - Brad Gustafson2. Time and PrioritiesHow Will I Have the Time?When Can I Connect?Lurking and LearningPersonal Story From a Connected Educator - Thad HainesWhat Do the Researchers Say?3. Inner Reflection, Global ExposureBlogging, Tweeting, PinningI Don′t Have Anything to Say or WriteWho Will Read This?Personal Story From a Connected Educator - Ben Gilpin5. Building an AllianceProfessional Learning NetworkChats and Supporting the PLNPersonal Story From a Connected Educator - Amber Teaman5. TransformationPaying It ForwardUnderstanding Your Leadership Color: What Will You Reveal?Losing My Leadership MojoPaying It ForwardImproving the Learning EnvironmentTransformation Takes on Many FormsPersonal Story from a Connected Educator - Theresa StagerConclusionReflection of a Trailblazer: Melinda Miller