My Background

I graduated from a small, wonderful K-12 prep school in New York City. My college prep education did prepare me for high level academics and sports, but there was not a single computer in the building while I was there. Personal computers were not yet available. We were taught how to learn, but not taught how to type. The rationale was that graduates from Kew-Forest would all have high power careers with secretaries and other office staff. It often took me less time to draft a term paper than it took to type it up. I did get an electric typewriter as a high school graduation gift, but I had still not learned how to type. Perhaps this explains my determination to have all students keyboarding proficiently.

My first experiences with computers are a bit of a blur. I visited the NYU computer lab a few times with my mom. She worked there before I was born. She was a music major in grad school at NYU. The computer itself took up one the entire floor of a building that was one “city block.” I remember reel-to-reel tapes and lots of moving parts to watch. My next memory of computers was from the 1964 World's Fair in New York. There are moments while talking or using FaceTime on my iPhone that bring me back to the child in the Future Pavilion with the guide talking about video phones. I never thought that I would have one of these, let alone that almost everyone would. A final and more vivid memory is one of late nights visit to the Princeton University computer lab with my older brother. When most other students were having some fun, we were in the lab with a stack of punch cards playing a Star Wars game. I didn’t think this was any fun at all!

My freshman semester at Syracuse was void of computer technology, but filled with field hockey and six classes. After one term I transferred to Queens College in NYC where I continued to play Varsity field hockey and combined a Physical Eduction major with Education and Psychology, creating an interdisciplinary challenge that I called Psychosocial Human Movement. I graduated with certification to teach Physical Education in NY. Neither Syracuse nor Queens College had any digital technology for students except those studying computer science. The personal computer was still being developed.

In 1982 I moved to Northampton, Massachusetts where I earned my first Master’s Degree in the Exercise Science program as a Teaching Fellow at Smith College. I coached Smith’s field hockey and softball teams and taught a few undergraduate courses. I was required to submit all written class work and projects using a word processor which was a chore on the VAX system at Smith. This was my first hands on experience with a mainframe computer on which I had to input commands. In these years before WYSIWYG, what you saw was not at all what you got, but you didn’t know that until you gave up your seat to the next student and made your way over to the printer to wait for sheets of tractor feed paper to show me what I had produced.

I completed another 300 hours of student teaching at Northampton High School to earn my teaching license in Massachusetts. I spent the next 17 years teaching Physical Education, coaching, and officiating field hockey and softball. I worked at a number of public and private schools as a teacher and athletic director. I began to automate many of the daily and yearly tasks using the computer skills I had acquired, but my first HAPPY computer experiences came with my introduction to the IIC Apple Computer. They worked the way I thought. They were visual and not as sequential. I was finding instant success.

I became quite the techie. Teachers and administrators came to me for help. In 1998, I went back to school to earn a second Masters’ Degree in Internet Strategy Management at the GradCenter of Marlboro College. Thinking that I would go into business and not back into teaching, I studied Internet Business Strategies and created Sport-Spot (this site is no longer maintained) as my Capstone Project. The Internet had not yet arrived in Western MA, so I continued to read and study until a part-time instructional technology position opened in one of the local elementary schools. I got the position and loved teaching computer skills to the students and teachers. I taught my classes for Kindergarten through sixth grade. I attended MassCUE’s Hampshire SIG group meetings to learn and share with other educational technology teachers in the region. I figured out many ways to use technology in the service learning. I worked on pedagogy and researched methods to increase engagement. I learned about assistive technology and software. I facilitated quite a lot of tech PD. I helped develop a new science curriculum and coded a website for K-6 Science for the four elementary schools in the Frontier Regional School District. I created an award winning website for Sunderland Elementary School. I bought Sunderland's first LCD projector and started to project on a big screen for the whole class to see at one time. This was a huge improvement to crowding around one computer screen. It was at this time that I was first introduced to the Diana King Keyboarding Program.

I was awarded my Massachusetts IT teaching license and moved on to a full time position at the Greenfield Middle School where I taught for three years. I created a new website for the Middle School and was appointed to the Leadership Team. During this time, I was also appointed to the MassCUE Board and elected SIG Committee Chair. I worked hard to bring the SIGs into the 21st century by expanding the parameters of SIG leadership and rewriting the SIG Handbook. I was fortunate to attend the NECC conference and Alan November’s Building Learning Communities Conference as part of the Board. NECC morphed into ISTE and I have attended this International Conference almost every year. I worked for Alan November at his conference for 3 summers.

I worked for three years at the middle school level teaching a changing set of grades levels from 5-8 in Greenfield. I developed a new website for the middle school, had a seat on the leadership team, and got laid off in their financial meltdown.

I started my own community learning center with my unemployment checks. Serious Fun was a big hit. I ran a homeschool and after school drop-in center, summer and vacation camps for all ages 6-99. I also facilitated professional development for teachers in both technology and mindfulness, Mind Up Power Up! Coding, keyboarding, and animation were the most popular classes.

The next two years I worked 17.5 hours in Northampton as the technology integration specialist at the high school, I worked 7.5 hours at Pelham Elementary School teaching in a K-6 tech lab where I developed the entire edtech curriculum, and I was the Integrated Media Consultant for the Harvard Public Schools.

As part of a large stakeholder group in Harvard, I helped author a new Technology Plan to set the vision for technology across the curriculum. This document dovetailed with the Harvard Strategic Plan that included infrastructure upgrades and a future 1:Many program starting in the Hildreth Elementary School. This program was so successful that it has expanded through Bromfield, the middle and high school.

I then took a position as Technology Integration, Digital Learning, and Data Analytics for the Consolidated District of Orange, Petersham and R.C. Mahar Schools. In this position, I earned my Supervisor/Director License. I worked on the Literacy Committee, help re-write the Acceptable Use Policy, created a data dashboard for the Superintendent, and facilitated PLC's around technology integration and data to set the district on the path to a successful 1:1 initiative. I am proud to say that this is currently in place, expanding each year, and appears to be quite successful.

I returned to Northampton as the district's Assistive Technology Specialist. My academic studies in physical education, psychology, education, and technology contributed to my success in this new field. My understanding of how the body works allowed me to adapt technology and switches to a body with many physical challenges such as cerebral palsy. My understanding of instructional design and pedagogy enabled me make accommodations and modifications to meet the needs of each student and the expectations of each teacher. Understanding the psychological factors at play is always helpful.

I completed the tasks for my Massachusetts Elementary Principal's License. Changing a school from the factory model of education to a 21st Century model takes leadership and trust. Leading a school through this change would be a challenge I would like to meet head on. This can also be accomplished in a district leadership position as a director of the educational side of technology or as a technology director. I have prepared for this path as well by earning an "A" in the METAA/CoSN CTO course in the first half of 2016.

In 2017-2018 I moved to Nantucket to follow a dream and spend a year on my favorite island. I took a technology integration position at the middle school that turned into a teaching position. I taught coding and robotics and intro to technology. Due to scheduling issues, my time to work with teachers on technology integration coincided with their teaching time. Tech integration happened with those willing to work outside of school hours. I continue to provide these former colleagues with tech integration ideas through Twitter, Facebook, Instant Messaging, and phone conversations. I love this aspect of the work!

I am back in western MA. I was chosen to be part of a VIP cohort to complete the new ISTE Teacher Certification Program. I also completed my Google Level I and II Certifications. I did some consulting for the local Collaborative while completing these certifications.

In September 2019, I accepted a position at Hampshire College and have been very active in their Re-Envisioning efforts. I initiated two new programs, Tech Tuesday Drop-In hours and Tech Tuesday Topic workshops. I train users on Drupal and Moodle, focusing on high impact practices for student-centered online learning. I was selected to be a member of the Dean of Faculty / Vice President of Academic Affairs Search Committee, showing that the College has noticed my collaboration and skills in these areas.

As the president of New England ISTE, I continue to moderate the webinar series that I created. I get to choose presenters that I want to learn from and talk to for an hour once or twice a month. I often invite my favorite current author to present. It is so much fun! I was just invited to moderate 6 webinars for the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference collaborators.

You will almost always find me with a book or two or three that I am reading - just ask! I love to share what I am learning whether that is in a passing conversation with a colleague, a workshop, or a conference session. I read, post, and share on social media as part of my professional learning. My PLN is strong. This helps me in my daily work and allows almost instant access to experts 24/7.

What next?

If you have a position for me, I am your candidate! Call or email me! I will travel or relocate!