Childhood

I was born in South Carolina in 1979. My father worked for the Clemson Extension Service and my mother was a homemaker. Early in life, my mother, a former teacher, instilled in me a love of reading. About once a week we would take a trip to the library and pick out books to read. I never realized until I started this program how instrumental my mother was in creating in me a love of reading.

I had a wonderful childhood and was very blessed to have a strong, loving family. I always looked up to my teachers, and loved the fact that they could show me new things. I decided at a very early age that I wanted to become a teacher. I still remember playing “school” with my dolls at home.

As I moved into high school, I knew I wanted to teach, but I wasn’t sure what area my focus would be. I always enjoyed social studies, but it wasn’t until I was in Mrs. Stewart’s class in eleventh grade that I knew that was what I wanted to teach. Mrs. Stewart was such a non-traditional teacher for the time. She loved cooperative learning and incorporated music, videos, and different teaching activities into the class.

College

After high school, I attended Clemson University, where I was able to purchase my first computer. Thanks to the Clemson labs and my new computer, I fell in love with technology. Having never been exposed to much in high school, I was amazed at what I could do with a computer. I also realized that the potential for using technology to enhance a lesson was huge.

Teaching

I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education: History and Geography in 2001. I graduated in December and wasn’t able to find a full-time teaching job until August of the next year. Right after I graduated, however, I ran into one of my old principals and he offered me a long-term substitute position at McCants Middle School for a teacher on maternity leave. I taught there from February to May and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed teaching middle school students. That job showed me that I enjoyed working with any age students, not just teenagers.

I obtained my first teaching job at Stephens County High School in Toccoa, Georgia. I taught US History and Government/Economics and was the assistant band director my first year. At the end of my first year, the principal was desperately looking for someone to take over as yearbook sponsor. I loved working with technology, so I agreed to take on the yearbook. Working with the yearbook was the first time that I truly got to use computers for the majority of the instruction in class. I loved it! In 2004, I married my wonderful husband John, who was a technology specialist for the school system. John really expanded my knowledge of technology in schools by helping me understand networking, instructional software, and emerging technology. As I learned more about technology, I became the “go-to girl” for people in my department with technology problems. I loved it.

Continuing Education

After three years of teaching, I knew that I wanted to continue my education. I wanted something a little different than my undergraduate focus. I wanted a degree that would incorporate technology and my love for reading, but would allow me to still interact with students every day and teach occasionally. I talked to my media specialist and she suggested the school library media program at UGA. After finding out more about the program, I decided that it was a perfect fit!

I know that this program was the right choice for me. I have learned so much that has helped me as an educator. This program draws on many different aspects of education: reading, technology, professional development, teaching, etc. I can’t wait to get into my own media center and put into practice all that I have learned!