Introduce Yourself

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

I suspect the first thing we need to do is to Introduce ourselves. If you are a student in my TECS 290 class, tell us where you grew up (town, state), what is you major (i.e. elementary, math, science, etc) and what inspired you to decide you to become a teacher.

If you are a teacher out there in the trenches, tell us where you are in the world, what you teach and of course how long have you taught and what is your favorite thing about using technology in the classroom.

[Deidra Chestnut]

She picked a good day to come early...my birthday!! Ironically enough...my husband & I are expecting our first baby in August & we've decided on Avery if she's a girl!

[Crystal Plante]

Hi ya! I'm Crystal Plante. I grew up in Hill City, Kansas, earned my Bachelor's in Elementary Ed from FHSU, then returned to Hill City so my kids could grow up knowing their grandparents. I have just finished up my 7th year of teaching and have taught 2nd grade, 5th grade, and am currently doing my tour of duty in 4th grade while working on a degree as a Reading Specialist. I am one of Jerry's "hormonal teachers" on the TRC grant! The technology we have received as part of the TRC grant is amazing and I use it for everything. It has truly transformed the way I teach. It opens so many doors for new opportunities. I wouldn't want to go back to the old textbook driven instruction methods. It's great!

[Kim Pfeifer]

Cool picture! :) It seems like just yesterday you were observing in my classroom. What a super teacher you have become! You all did great things with the TRC grant! Way to go!

[Karli Sherwood]

My name is Karli Sherwood. I grew up in Holly, Colorado. I got my associate of arts degree from Colby Community College and transfered to Hays. I have been in Hays for 3 years now. It doesn't seem like its been that long. I was on the rodeo team at Colby and Hays. I also rodeo during the summer. I am a physical education major. I love working with kids and helping people. Along with my HHP degree I will also have a bachelor degree in speech language pathology.

[Nick Perez]

My name is Nick Perez and I am from Larned, Kansas. I am currently and Elementary Education/Special Education major. I was inspired to be a teacher from a couple of kids that I had last year working in a school as a para-educator. Even with thier many challenges they still came to school with a smile on thier faces. After working with them for a year I figured I really enjoyed the idea of helping kids get a good education if with all the mental or physical challenges they face.

[Robert Young]

My name is Bob Young and I am the Director of Curriculum and Technology for the Ellis KS school district. I have been in education for 18 years. I was a Sec. Math & Psychology teacher while in the classroom. I have a MS degree in Instructional Technology and a MS in Education Administration.

At Ellis, I maintain a 1-to-1 laptop initiative for grades 4-12 as well as laptops for all teachers. We have over 400 computers currently online. My latest undertaking for the school district is the development and alignment of the K-12 curriculum. I stay very busy, but enjoy it very much.

[Nancy Brodsky]

Category: In The Trenches

Hello, All. I teach in the South Bronx, in New York City. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the area, the South Bronx is infamous for being the poorest congressional district in the country though you wouldn't know it by looking. I am a teacher of English at a vocational high school. In the past, I've taught all 9th grade, all the time with the exception of a tenth grade class my first year. This year, I co-taught two sections of a 9th grade inclusion class, one section of AP English Language and Composition and two sections of seniors. Though I have three different preps, I definitely appreciated having variety in my teaching program, especially the challenge of teaching AP. I've been teaching professionally for almost 6 years, but I've worked in classrooms nearly every day since my freshman year of college!
My favorite thing about using technology in the classroom is the engagement factor, the ability to differentiate instruction and to introduce information and resources that I would never be able to use otherwise.

[Sue R.]

Hallo, all,
I'm a "specials" teacher teaching library skills and technology at a small, non-profit K-8 school set off in the countryside of central Pennsylvania. We have a few Amish farms nearby, but we are north of most of the Amish country (Lancaster county). Our school is a small, Quaker one where the students are in multi-age classrooms (Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, and 6-8) and we are so in the middle of nowhere that we can only get internet through telephone or satellite (no cable, no dsl). I get to teach every student in the school--so I am just finishing up the end of year student evaluations!

I began teaching at this school in 2000, and before that took time off to have children, and before that was a law librarian in Massachusetts, where I came from. No law libraries around here, but that's ok. Teaching has been the most rewarding, and least well paid, job I've had.

I have a Master's in Ed, and hope to be testing in to additional reading and library cert via Praxis, when I get a moment! I have a blog that I infrequently post to, bookwyrmish.edublogs.org which details some of my reflections about teaching and tech.

I also have a huge thunderstorm brewing here, so Good Nite!

[Paul Carver]

I grew up in a small town in Kansas called Delphos. Its a small farming community. My dad farms and my mom teaches k-12 music in a nearby school. I am an elementary education major. I hope to teach upper elementary school. I have always wanted to teach. I'll be at least a fifth generation teacher so i guess you could say it's in my blood. I started in English Ed, but after working at a local elementary school I felt a calling to switch to working with younger kids.

[Catelyn Manly]

I grew up in Lakin, KS. I know you've probably never heard of it. What surprises me is when people have never heard of Garden City. Lakin is 1/2 hour west of Garden. Garden City is basically the capital of southwestern Kansas (I know you're all impressed.)

Anyway- I'm a Math Education major.

It's really difficult to put into words why I want to be a teacher. But I love to be around people. And I love math.

[Emily Higgins]

I am 21 years old, and I just finished my senior year at Fort Hays State University. I am taking a couple online courses this summer and I will be student teaching in Hays next semester, at Lincoln Elementary in a second grade class and at Felten Middle School in 6th grade for special education. After student teaching I will graduate in December, and like most I am incredibly excited to get out into the real world and start teaching! I have wanted to be a teacher since I was little, and have always had a juge interest in helping people. I have a twin brother and growing up I often wanted to play "school" where I was always his pretend teacher and he was my student. It was fun then and I still enjoy it today, only with "real" students :) I guess somethings never change, I just really enjoy the satisfaction I get from teaching children new things and being a role model for them. I am living back at home for the summer in Wichita with my parents, just working and taking clasess. I am working where I worked last summer, at Via-Christi St. Francis hospital in the Child Development Center. I love being around children of all ages, all day, every day, and wouldn't trade the experiences and time I have had at the Center for anything, it is a great summer job! If you want to know anything else...JUST ASK!!

[Elizabeth Davis]

Hi everyone,
My name is Elizabeth Davis and I am an Educational Technology Specialist at a K-8 public school in Brookline, MA (a suburb of Boston). I have been in the field of education for 14 years. I was 6th grade teacher for 7 years, then worked for an educational software company (Tom Snyder Productions) doing professional development workshops around the country. I have been working with teachers at the Runkle School in Brookline to help them integrate technology into their teaching for the the last 3 years.

I love my job. It is great to be able to work with both adults and children. It is the best of all worlds. My favorite thing about using technology in the classroom is the way it excites students who might otherwise not be interested and the way it connects people around the world. Technology has so much potential in education. I sometimes feel overwhelmed with the possibilities.