Sharon D. Amolo

Article: The Influence of Interactive Whiteboards on Fifth-Grade Student Perceptions and Learning Experiences

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 Sharon Amolo has been a media specialist at Gwin Oaks Elementary in Lawrenceville, Georgia since 2000. Prior to becoming a media specialist she was a fourth grade teacher for five years and a sixth grade language arts teacher for two years. Sharon’s job as a media specialist allows her to combine her love of reading, teaching, and technology.

Sharon has been married to Robert for 13 years and they have two children, Imani (11) and Adera (5). In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, and scrapbooking.

Educational Background

• B.A., Elementary Education, Howard University, 1993

• M.A., Library Media, Georgia State University,  2000

• Ed.S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007

Rebecca Carpenter

Article: Comparing and Contrasting Non-Computer Based and Computer Based Critical Thinking Skills Lessons

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Rebecca is currently serving as the Media Specialist at Tattnall Square Academy, a private school in Macon, GA. She taught first, second, third, and fourth grades prior to becoming a media specialist in 1992. Rebecca has been the driving force behind the development of the media program and staff development programs that now exist at Tattnall Square Academy.

 Rebecca married Mike Carpenter in 1971 and they have four daughters and four grandchildren. Rebecca has two daughters who are nurses and two who are in the educational field, one being a media specialist also. Needlework and sports are her hobbies.

 Educational background:

• B.S. Early Childhood Education, Georgia Southern College, 1973
• M.Ed. Instructional Technology, Georgia College, 1992
• Ed. S. Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007

Janet Gaddy

Article: The Influence of Technology-Based Instruction on Student Learning, Motivation and Teacher Perceptions Toward Science Instruction

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Janet Gaddy is in her twenty-fifth year of teaching and has taught first, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. She currently teaches at Lakeside Middle School in Evans, Georgia (Columbia County), where she is the lead seventh grade science teacher and sponsor of the Junior Beta Club.  The next school year, Janet will be a fourth grade teacher at Lewiston Elementary School. Janet is a member of NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) and is currently in the process of completing an add-on certification in media at Georgia College and State University.

Janet lives in Martinez with her husband, Bruce, who is a teacher and football coach.  They have two children, Drew (16) and Sean (13). Janet and her family are very active in Boy Scouts. Her oldest son recently was awarded his Eagle Award. She is active in her church, Wesley United Methodist, and she serves as a Sunday School Teacher and Youth Counselor.  She enjoys scrap booking, reading, cooking, seeing her family, and traveling.

Educational background:

• B.S., Elementary Education, Troy State University, 1982
• M.S., Leadership and Supervision, Troy University, 2002
• Ed.S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007

Laura Herring

Article: Online High School World History: Does Interaction Make a Difference?

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Laura Herring currently teaches high school social studies for Gwinnett County Online Campus in Norcross, Georgia.  She previously taught in two different Gwinnett County high schools for eight years.

Laura has been married to her husband Mike for four years.  They have two sons, Owen (2) and Steven (15 months).   In her spare time, Laura enjoys reading and playing tennis and golf.

Educational Background:

• B.A., Political Science, Furman University, 1993

• M.Ed., Social Science Education, University of Georgia, 1995

• Ed.S., Valdosta State University, 2007

Amy Long

Article: The Effects of Soundfield Amplification on Reading Achievement

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Amy Long is in her twelfth year of teaching.  She has been at Washington Wilkes Primary School for the past ten years.  Amy has been the Media Specialist at WWPS for the past seven years.  Amy is a member of the International Reading Association (IRA) and serves on the STARS team at her school as well as the Wilkes County School Improvement Team.

Amy and her husband Will have been married for two years and share three children ages 8, 10 and 13.

Educational Background:

• B. A., Early Childhood Education, Augusta College, 1993
• M. Ed., Instructional Technology, University of Georgia, 2001
• Ed. S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007

Kate Matthews

Article: Use of Web-Based Instruction and an Interactive Whiteboard to Prepare Third-Grade Students for a High-Stakes, Standardized Mathematics Test

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Kate Matthews is the instructional technology specialist at Tyrone Elementary School in Fayette County. This is her ninth year in technology and her sixteenth year as an educator. She enjoys combining her two passions, working with elementary students and computer technology. She is a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and the ISTE Special Interest Group for Computing Teachers (SIGCT).

Kate and her husband, Jim, live in Newnan and have three daughters, Emily (11), Mary (8), and Sarah (3). She spends most of her free time managing a household and reading for pleasure every chance she gets!

Educational Background:

• B.A., LaGrange College, 1991
• M.Ed., State University of West Georgia, 1994

• Ed. S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007

Elisabeth Moody

Article: Educational Alternatives to Improving Academic Achievement in Struggling Students: Is Computer-assisted Instruction within an After-school Tutoring Program the Solution?

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Beth Moody is one of three gifted teachers at St. Marys Elementary School in Camden County. She works with students ranging in grades kindergarten through third. This is her second year as a gifted teacher and her fifth year as an educator. She is a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and serves as the teacher representative on the St. Marys Elementary School Council.  She is the coordinator of two school programs, S.W.A.T. (Students with an Aptitude for Tutoring) and the SMES Fitness Club. 

Beth and her husband, Randy, live in St. Marys and have three daughters, Josie Mae (8), Abigail Lee (6), and Stella Marie (3 months). She spends most of her free time running and exercising, working in the yard, and supporting her kids in their many after-school activities.

Educational Background:

• B.A., Mercer University, 1994
• M.Ed., Armstrong State University, 2004

• Ed. S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007

Misty Robinette

Article: The Results of a Computer-Based Extended Learning Time on the Math Achievement and Perceptions of Low-Performing Students

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Misty Robinette has been teaching seventh grade mathematics at Walker Middle School in Long County for five years and is a member of PAGE.  She is married with four children, two boys and two girls. Her husband, Richard, is an electrical contractor.  She and her family reside in Hinesville, Georgia. 

Educational Background

• B. S., Middle Grades Education, Armstrong Atlantic State University, 2001
• M. Ed., Adult Education, Armstrong Atlantic State University, 2003
• Ed. S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007

Diane M. Shaw

Article: Video Streaming and Traditional Texts in Second-Grade Science Classes

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Diane M. Shaw is currently in her nineteenth year of early childhood education. She worked as a paraprofessional for four years while earning her undergraduate degree. She has taught second grade and third grade. She is currently teaching science to K-2 students at Worth County Primary School (WCPS) in Sylvester, Georgia. She has chaired the Wee Deliver in-school post office at WCPS for eleven years. Diane has been elected teacher of the year twice. In 2006-2007, she was chosen as Worth County Teacher of the Year. She is a member of the National Educators Association, Georgia Environmental Educators Alliance and the National Science Teachers Association.

Diane resides in Sylvester and has been married to her husband Keith for thirty-two years. They have three sons; Heath (28), Justin (25), and Chad (24). Diane enjoys home renovations, reading, and the company of her many pets.

Education Background:

• B.S. Ed., Early Childhood Education, Valdosta State College - 1992

• M.Ed., Early Childhood Education, Valdosta State University - 1996

• Ed.S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University - 2007

Suzanne R. Skeen

Article: Use of Subscribed Online Research Resources by Fifth-Grade Students

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Suzanne Skeen is the media specialist at Parsons Elementary in Suwanee, Georgia. Prior to becoming a media specialist, she taught kindergarten and first grade for twelve years. She is a member of the Shared Leadership Team at Parsons, the Media Leadership Committee for Gwinnett County Public Schools, and GLMA. She was voted Teacher of the Year in 2005 by her faculty at Parsons and was voted one of the top twenty teachers in Gwinnett County that same year.

Suzanne lives in Duluth, Georgia, with her husband, Gary.  They have been married 33 years. They have two sons – Jonathan, a senior at UGA and Matt, a senior in high school. In her spare time, Suzanne enjoys spending time with her family, reading, scrapbooking, and boating.

Educational background:

• B.A., Elementary Ed./Early Childhood Ed., University of South Florida, 1973
• M.A., Library Media, Georgia State University, 2000
• Ed.S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007

Michael Slaven

Article: Eighth-Grade Student Use of Computer-Mediated Communication for the Development of Social Studies Projects: Student Experiences, Perceptions, and Social Studies Achievement

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Michael Slaven is currently completing his fifth year teaching eighth-grade social studies at Dooly Middle in Pinehurst, Georgia, where he also serves as chair of the eighth-grade department and works with various school-wide and system-wide committees. Prior to teaching at Dooly Middle, Michael taught economics, political science, and comparative religions at Fullington Academy in Pinehurst. In the fall of 2007, Michael will begin teaching eighth-grade social studies at Northside Middle in Warner Robins, Georgia.

Michael lives in Pinehurst with his wife, Tammy, who is also a fifth-year elementary teacher. They have one daughter, Rebekah and are awaiting the birth of their second child. In his spare time, Michael enjoys reading, shopping on the Internet, and working around the house.

Educational background:

• B.A., Theology, Florida Baptist Theological College, 1996
• Teacher Certification Program, Valdosta State University, 2002
• M.A., Secondary Social Studies, Georgia Southwestern State University, 2005
• Ed.S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007
• Leadership Certificate Program, University of Georgia, 2007

Kathy Williams

Article: Online or Face-to-face, That Is the Question: Differences in Learning Experiences for Teachers Receiving Technology Professional Development Using Two Different Delivery Methods

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Kathy Williams is the Local School Technology Coordinator at Fort Daniel Elementary School in Gwinnett County in Dacula, Georgia. As LSTC, she teaches the Technology Special, supports the administration and staff, collects and helps to analyze data for the administration, and teaches technology Professional Development classes. She has been the LSTC at Fort Daniel for four years. Kathy has been on the School Council for three years, has represented her faculty on the Teacher Advisory Council for three years, and serves on the school Data committee. She is a member of ISTE and GAIT. Prior to coming to Fort Daniel, she was the principal at First Presbyterian Church School in Hinesville, Georgia for 20 years.

Kathy lives in Chestnut Mountain, Georgia and has been happily married to Marshall for 32 years. She is the mother of two wonderful sons, Matthew and Michael.

Educational Background:

•  BA, English, Tift College, 1973

• M.Ed., Early Childhood, Armstrong State University, 1991

• M.Ed., Instructional Technology, Georgia Southern University, 2003

• Ed. S., Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University, 2007