Quantum EducationQuantum Education

A Survival Guide and A Survival Guide and Celebration of Homeless Celebration of Homeless

Education LiaisonsEducation Liaisons

Beth McCullough Beth McCullough

Adrian, MichiganAdrian, Michigan

• Quantum Physics reveals what is Quantum Physics reveals what is going on in the smallest unseen going on in the smallest unseen makeup of everything. makeup of everything.

• It studies the sub-atomic level of the It studies the sub-atomic level of the universe and of us.universe and of us.

• The rules of Physics do no not apply The rules of Physics do no not apply to Quantum Physics. The chair you to Quantum Physics. The chair you sit on is solid. At the molecule level, sit on is solid. At the molecule level, the electrons are in constant motion.the electrons are in constant motion.

• I learned about Quantum EducationI learned about Quantum Education•from the BLUE GROUPfrom the BLUE GROUP•From a mean old nunFrom a mean old nun

I saw Quantum Education again when I I saw Quantum Education again when I started working in Homeless started working in Homeless Education.Education.

““I don’t know if we have any homeless I don’t know if we have any homeless kids here, but the feds say we need kids here, but the feds say we need to hire someone to go look for them.”to hire someone to go look for them.”

Homeless liaisons are the only one Homeless liaisons are the only one doing what we do in the district.doing what we do in the district.

Many of us do not have other staff.Many of us do not have other staff.

……10 years later…10 years later…

• ““Write about success” was a job Write about success” was a job goal.goal.

• ““I want to feel less isolated.”I want to feel less isolated.”

• I made a commitment to 4 women I made a commitment to 4 women that I would write weekly.that I would write weekly.

Themes emergedThemes emerged

Power of the jobPower of the job• We have unique opportunities to make We have unique opportunities to make

such a significant difference.such a significant difference.

• ““Sticky frantic, wringing hands, Sticky frantic, wringing hands, miracles and getting home late”miracles and getting home late”

• 99.9% of each atom is made up of 99.9% of each atom is made up of empty spaceempty space

• If all of the empty space was taken If all of the empty space was taken out of all of the atoms in the out of all of the atoms in the universe, the universe would fit…universe, the universe would fit…

into a sugar cubeinto a sugar cube• What is in the empty space?What is in the empty space?• Can I affect it?Can I affect it?

Quantum Quantum PhysicsPhysics

• Electrons don’t orbit the nucleus in a Electrons don’t orbit the nucleus in a continuous and consistent mannercontinuous and consistent manner

• Electrons disappear and then appear Electrons disappear and then appear in another place without traveling in another place without traveling the distancethe distance

• These are quantum leapsThese are quantum leaps• An electron travels all of the possible An electron travels all of the possible

routes from A to Broutes from A to B• It only reveals the path it took when It only reveals the path it took when

observedobserved

We are doing quantum We are doing quantum educationeducation

• There is power in paying attentionThere is power in paying attention

• Liaisons are part of the empty space Liaisons are part of the empty space that fills children’s livesthat fills children’s lives

• ““But she lied to me…”But she lied to me…”

Know your limitationsKnow your limitations

• ““If Mom could be the Mom she If Mom could be the Mom she wanted to be”wanted to be”

• Check in with your gut and pay Check in with your gut and pay attention to your physical reactionsattention to your physical reactions

Gertie the galloping goatGertie the galloping goat

If someone gets If someone gets

your goat, your goat,

move your goat!move your goat!

“ “A big lug of a guy.”A big lug of a guy.”

Savor the SuccessSavor the Success

– ““Pomp and Circumstance”Pomp and Circumstance”

“Someday I will tell my grandchildren,

‘Your great-grandmother was a part of the movement to allow all children to go to school. I know it is hard to believe, but schools once kept children out or made them change schools all the time, just because the children were homeless. It wasn’t like it is today. We actually had kids who were hungry and couldn’t go to a doctor because they didn’t have money. Your great-grandmother helped fix that.’

Today we can’t imagine women not having the vote and someday we won’t be able to imagine children not being allowed to go to school.”

-Christian McCullough

Beth McCullough M.A., L.L.P,

Adrian Public Schools

785 Riverside Ave.

Adrian, MI 49221

(517) 266-4529

bmccullough@adrian.k12.mi.us