Our+Creators!

**__This site was constructed by the following members:__ ** **Amanda Jourdan ** I am an elementary teacher who has taught 5th Grade and is now venturing into the world of a Reading Specialist. It is totally different than anything I have ever experienced, but it will worth in the end. I love teaching and I know there is nothing I would rather do. Our school has recently installed projectors, document cameras, and smartboards in many of the classrooms, so they have been our "projects" this year. All the new technology is great and the students have really been responsive to it. I look forward to being able to use a lot of what we are learning in our classes online, in my school. I think everything that we have learned so far has been great and will prove to be a useful resource in the future. Besides being a teacher, I am married to one as well. My husband teaches Computer Science in Middle School. He has been helping me out with some of our assignments if i get stuck. We both love what we do and love being able to help teach the students here in Maryland.

I teach high school business and computer technology in northern Minnesota. I did not always want to be a teacher, but took this path after much thought my junior year in college. After seven years of teaching, I have found that assisting in the growth of children is a very large part of who I now am. I would not be satisfied with any other career. Teaching is an honor and I honor my students by doing all I can do for them. Teaching in this manner has allowed me to sleep well at night knowing I am making a positive difference in this problematic world. Teaching also allows me to wake up knowing I have an important task at hand and this helps me to live a more purposeful life.
 * Kenny Bellino **

This past summer my wife and I welcomed our first child, a baby girl. Being a dad is quite an experience, and it has no doubt modified my perspective on teaching. Jesse Blunn **

I teach junior high P.E. and Health. I live in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This is my second year teaching as I just graduated from the University of Wyoming in May of 2008. We have decent technology throughout our school. Smart boards are in almost every classroom. We have limited access to computers though because they are so old and outdated it takes more time to get them up and running for the students, then it does to teach a whole different lesson. I am also a high school football coach, and high school girls basketball coach.


 * Albert Beierle**

I have taught in the states of Alaska, Washington and California. I have worked my way through the ranks as school custodian, caretaker, bus driver, school bus route cartographer substitute teacher, basketball and softball coach, classroom teacher and principal / teacher. I have been able to be a principal and classroom teacher for all but three and a half years of my teaching career, so far. Of the seven schools I have been associated with, I have been privileged and challenged in the change of format from state certified K-8 to state certified K-9 schools for two of those schools. I have also had the privilege to be a part of building and serving as the principal of a new K-10 school. Though trained in the public education system and graduated from U of CA schools I have taught exclusively in private parochial schools. I presently serve as principal / teacher, onsite equipment tech guy, in a multigrade format K-8 private school in Northern California. I serve with a fantastic vice principal who happens to be my wife. In all the schools I have served, technology acquisition and integration have been of personal interest and concentrated effort. Though my expertise has been mostly in the procuring, upgrading and installation of equipment, I am presently concentrating on learning more about how to better use the technology in all classrooms, all grade levels throughout the school curriculum.

Melissa Keenan ** I currently teach 9th grade Algebra at Saginaw High School in Saginaw, Michigan. It is a challenging role, but a rewarding one as well. I am really excited about this year because I am working with a great 9th grade team. We have so many ideas for how to get these kids motivated and on the right track, I hope they pay off. We currently do not have any type of positive reinforcement at a school or district level, so as a team we've been creating our own rewards for those students who are "doing the right thing". I also coach competitive cheerleading at Merrill High School in Merrill, Michigan, which is where I graduated from. I've also only been married for one year and we have a four month old chocolate lab. In addition to working on my masters, I have a lot on my plate, but I enjoy keeping busy (most of the time).
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**Janice O'Brien**

Currently, I am a substitute elementary teacher in Des Moines, Iowa. Prior to receiving my teaching degree, I worked in the same district for 9 years as a Special Education Associate. Through the diversity of my experiences in my roles as a Parent, Special Education Associate, and Student Teacher in the elementary schools, I have developed a strong passion for educating young minds and helping them blossom into well-rounded, responsible, and successful individuals.

I have had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students including students with different levels of learning disabilities and autism, students on grade level and students above grade level, some of which had been identified as gifted and talented. I strongly believe that every child is teachable. This was made real for me in my experience as an associate when a second-grade student who has severe learning disabilities, and with whom I had been working one-on-one for nearly a semester, had a breakthrough in his reading ability that surprised even his classroom teacher. He became my inspiration to this new chapter in my life.

While I continue to look for a full time teaching position, I decided to continue with my education. Technology was a natural choice for me, as I have always been interested in the ways students become more motivated and engaged in learning when using technology.

**Matt McDonald**

I have the pleasure of teaching middle school Health and P.E in Dacula Georgia (suburb of Atlanta). One thing is for certain, there is never a dull day and each day offers a unique challenge but I do love it because it keeps me on my toes. I am fortunate to work for Gwinnett County Schools where the primary focus is on the students. We have seen some budget cuts and even fulough days for teachers and staff fot the financial shortage has not hit the classroom. We have great facilities and state of the art equipment and I am very blessed to have the support and resources available to me.

My life right now is a bit crazy because along with teaching, I coach football and baseball, got engaged three months ago to another teacher (boy planning a wedding is a lot of work), and closed on a house last week. Sometimes I don't know how I'm going to get everything done but somehow it just happens. This class has really kept me busy but I have really enjoyed it. However, I do wish some of this technical stuff came a little easier to me...but, I guess that's one of the reasons I chose this degree program.