Meet Christine Calvert, 1st grade teacher

Christine Calvert

What’s your first and last name?

  • Christine Calvert

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • 1st grade teacher

How are you involved in education?

  • I teach 21 precious first graders. I am always looking for new ideas to help prepare my students for their futures.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • My ideal classroom looks like students using technology to learn all the skills they need to be successful learners.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • I would like to learn more about “all things” google, twitter, and using technology to further common core standard lessons.

If you are attending EdCampOKC, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Michelle Barnes, Educational Technology Integration Specialist/MS ELA

Michelle Barnes

What’s your first and last name?

  • Michelle Barnes

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Educational Technology Integration Specialist/MS ELA

How are you involved in education?

  • I am currently a 6th and 7th grade ELA teacher in a rural school just north of Tahlequah, OK.
    As the school’s Educational Technology Integration Specialist (ETIS), I helped to launch and maintain our 1:1 program alongside my team teachers and administrators.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • At the core of an ideal learning environment is a safe and healthy learning space with positive teacher/student relationships at its core. Students are challenged to interact with curriculum, solve problems, and create. Teachers and students are empowered to collaborate and value others’ strengths.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • I would love to attend or lead a session on embedding technology into instruction to promote higher order thinking skills and student engagement with an emphasis on Middle School students and their developmental needs.
    or
    Exploring digital citizenship in an age of over sharing. How can educators model positive behaviors and when and how is it to intervene and interact with students via social media.

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampOKC, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet toby brown, phd student/learner/obsessive edcamper

Toby Brown

What’s your first and last name?

  • toby brown

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • phd student/learner/obsessive edcamper

How are you involved in education?

  • i’m working on a phd in educational technology…i can’t wait to teach undergraduate and graduate students full-time. i’ve taught an undergraduate course for five semesters and have found my calling…i love the classroom and learning with students!i’m excited about #edcampokc…it will be my 7th! edcamp in the last two years or so 🙂

    i’m looking forward to meeting and learning with you next saturday in yukon.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • my ideal classroom:

    transparent technology so we can converse with each other and the world.

    lots of books that are appreciated and well-cared-for.

    one desk only-mine.

    bean bags.

    water fountain & healthy snacks.

    a window.

    it would look like what we make it–a place of support, caring, and learning.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • you mean lead a session, again? :)i’ve done several on gifted ed with my friend @ktvee, one on Rocks & Sucks with my friend @amandacdykes, and one fantastic session on undergraduate education which no one came to, so i voted myself out and went next door to one of the best sessions ever.

    i’m planning on leading one at #edcampokc. hope to see you in there!

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampOKC, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Doug Brown, Principal

Doug Brown

What’s your first and last name?

  • Doug Brown

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Principal

How are you involved in education?

  • Planning, evaluating curriculum, Technology integration, Twitter for school, instructional leadership

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • Students actively engaged in multiple projects or activities with the teacher moving through the classroom managing student participation and directing learning through modeling and allowing students to investigate and search for the skills and information that they need.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • Twitter for Administrators and/or Classrooms

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampOKC, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Beth Richert, Director of Instructional Technology

Screen-Shot-2013-02-13-at-4.00.27-PM

What’s your first and last name?

  • Beth Richert

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Director of Instructional Technology

How are you involved in education?

  • I am a former science teacher of 19 years, principal of 5 years and Ed. Tech Director of 1 year!

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • My ideal classroom would be something outside the box. An environment with no rows of desks but comfortable think stations. This could be comfy sofa’s, tables and chairs with built in plug in for mobile devices. The students would be working individually or in collaborative teams on real world, authentic projects that not only sparked their intellect but their passions. The teacher would be found milling around checking on student progress and possibly delivering mini-content lessons as needed. Students would be checked in, connected and self-motivated because they have ownership of their own learning.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • The Paperless Classroom
  • Google Apps and other Great Things for Education
  • What not to do in a 1:1 mobile device roll out!

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampOKC, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Jonathan Atchley, Language Arts Facilitator

Jonathan Atchley

What’s your first and last name?

  • Jonathan Atchley

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Language Arts Facilitator

How are you involved in education?

  • In the past, I have taught 7th and 12th grades at Guthrie and Mustang respectively. Currently, I work with ELA teachers PreK-12 in Mustang. Embedding literacy into every subject is one of my current focuses. Also, I’m currently working with teachers to create online collaboration and communication communities for teachers and students.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • My ideal classroom would start by having some element of a 1:1 initiative whether that be phones, tablets, or computers. It would also have varying methods of seating, none of which are traditional and all of which are comfotable. Large windows are a big plus; there is nothing like being in a classroom all day and feeling like you are in a dungeon.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • If I were to present, it would probably involve Evernote and how teachers can use that to make their lives easier and have students submit work. I may also be willing to present on creating communities for teachers and students on Google+.

Do you have a website or blog?

  • not presently

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampOKC, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Tammy Parks, Instructional Tech Facilitator/Fed Programs Director/Broadcast Journalism Teacher

Tammy-Parks

What’s your first and last name?

  • Tammy Parks

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Instructional Technology Facilitator/Federal Programs Director/Broadcast Journalism Teacher

How are you involved in education?

  • I have been blessed to work in public education for 21 years . . . I started out as an administrative assistant, worked for a Special Education Coop as a Medicaid Coordinator, served as the Director of a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant for a five school consortium, taught MS/HS broadcast journalism, and currently serve as an Instructional Technology Facilitator/Tech Director and Federal Programs Director for Howe Public Schools – a small, rural school in Southeastern Oklahoma. So needless to say, I have a unique perspective on many aspects of the public education system. I am also proud to say I am married to a Superintendent (it’s a 24/7 love of all things EDU)! I lead the professional development efforts for my school and enjoy sharing new learning strategies with colleagues and others in my PLN. I am an Oklahoma A+ Schools’ Fellow which also allows me to work with other amazing educators across the state of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, and I serve as a FableVision Teacher Ambassador!  I am also very honored to be an Executive Board Member for the Oklahoma Technology Association.  Be sure to save the date for the 2013 OTA Encyclo-Media Conference, Oct. 1-2, 2013!

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • Student-centered, hands-on, ongoing opportunities for S.T.E.A.M. focused projects, technology-rich, differentiated and enriched assessment, learning styles are valued, students are not bound by class periods, seat-time, and grade-levels! Global collaboration is part of everyday . . . students and teachers are willing to share and show what they know with the world . . . authentic audiences for student work. Blended learning environments to include both bricks/mortar and virtual learning opportunities.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • Project Based Learning; Global Collaboration; 1:1 learning environments; iPads in the classroom, Edmodo, Tech Int in small, rural schools

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampOKC, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Janalyn Taylor, Principal, PreK-K-1

Janalyn Taylor

What’s your first and last name?

  • Janalyn Taylor

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Principal, PreK- K,-1

How are you involved in education?

  • My role includes school management, student discipline, plus much more. Most importantly, my role includes student learning and being an effective instructional leader!

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • The ideal school and classroom would have student work posted as well as graphic organizers, charts, and student generated projects. Technology would be clearly evident with students creating and collaborating. Teachers would be facilitators for trident learning.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • Using literature in the elementary classroom, with and without technology.

Do you have a website or blog?

  • not presently

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampOKC, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Nicole Power, SLP & RTI Coordinator

nicole-power-150

What’s your first and last name?

  • Nicole Power

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • SLP & RTI Coordinator

How are you involved in education?

  • I teach 3-5th grade speech/language with an emphasis on language and literacy. I am involved in school committees focused on reading and writing. I enjoy collaborating with teachers to develop ideas and locate resources that will help students read and understand.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • My ideal classroom has a well organized and diverse library. Space for students to learn from and about each other would be a priority. There would be no test prep items in my ideal classroom. Equal time and resources would be spent on struggling students and gifted students. There would be an absence of terms such as “lazy” and “unmotivated.” Finally, my ideal school would have a faculty that is pumped and enthused about attending a free Saturday “unconference!”

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • It would be fun to facilitate a conversation on recent multicultural trade books for teaching a diverse population at the elementary level

Do you have a website or blog?

  • not presently

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampOKC, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.