Publisher’s Note

For most of us, “the cloud” is this mysterious, technical place that files, passwords, and photos go to live. We store, drop, download from, and even lose things there. But how does it exist and where did it come from? What does it know? Why does it get full? Who owns it? Who runs it? Do we really care to find out these answers as long as it’s working? 

Fortunately, we don’t have to know these answers because tech experts like Wade Foster, founder of Zapier (page 113), and Chris Harbert, founder of Testerty (page 65 and 68), do. It’s people like them who’ve created their careers from building software and technologies that make our work and lives easier and more efficient. 

But where do they get their smarts from? I’m sure it’s a long list of experiences, mentors, self-development, and peers, but we can’t dismiss the foundation that the teachers in their lives provided. 

Do you remember your favorite teacher? I do. Mine was my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Higgins, at North Elementary School. She was always so nice and smelled really good. Is that weird? You know what I mean though, right? It’s the little things you remember from your 5-year-old self. . . . Anyway, that woman taught me how to write with one of those fat, red pencils. I just remember how much fun we had in her class — especially at this grocery store playset she had in there. That was everything. 

In the same way our communications have advanced from rotary phones to being able to take a call on your watch, the way we educate students is evolving. Did you know at our new Capital City High School, they didn’t even install lockers? And at Jefferson City High School, they’re simply nostalgia? We’ve moved from personal-sized chalkboards to personal tablets and Chromebooks for each student. Teachers have to keep up with it all. From the way they present their lessons, deal with bullying, communicate with parents — teachers are under a unique set of adaptations in their current workload. 

Because of this, I want to say thank you to the teachers out there. Thanks for teaching us how to write, read, play with others, and push ourselves to be better. We know you’re under more stress than usual as this school year kicks off, and none of it has to do with what you really signed up for when you became an educator. Just know you’re needed. You might not see it today or tomorrow, but know you are changing the world even if you can’t see it because it’s “in the clouds.”

Cheers to being lifelong learners, 
Missy Creed McFerron, Publisher (she/her/hers)