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Lisa Smith
Powell, WY
I am a technology teacher and media director. I am passionate about the environment and global education. I am a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 1. I want to be part of the solution not part of the problem.
Recent Activity
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Lisa signed the petition | -
Lisa signed the petition | -
Lisa commented on the article |I use all "FOSS" or free web-based products in my technology classes. I am the only one in the district that does. I have been trying to get our administrators and tech director on the band-wagon, to no avail. I have even suggested that I would teach staff or anyone interested "for free" how to use the products.
Our district still purchases extremely expensive software from companies and is in the process of purchasing a math/reading product that costs an enormous amount of money. I am on the committee to find a product and suggested many free products but for some reason they think "free" means bad.
Another way to save money....
I would love to see administrators and technology directors stop traveling to conferences that costs $$$ and start having conferences via webinar. This would save airfare, hotel costs, dining etc. Ironically in our district supposedly we don't have any money for workmans compensation and our district chose to cut it out all together. But they do have money to fly our administrators and technology department to Cupertino, Seatle etc. several times a year. With the money saved from no more business trips, "FOSS" products, we might be able to hire more Title One teachers to help our ever-growing population of At-risk and needy students. I am sure our district isn't the only district that chooses to spend money on the frivolous verses what is best for students.
A great product that I use with my students is called J2e. It is a free web-based word-processing program/web page maker. Very easy to use, fun to use, and excellent for all grade levels. The technical support is fantastic and the company is eager to help teachers. -
Lisa signed the petition | -
Lisa commented on the article |I have been teaching only 10 years. I began teaching later in life (30's) I am a school librarian/technology teacher. I work in a rural community. When I began my teaching job I got paid 29,000/year, which qualified my family for food stamps. I teach 6 classes per day mostly technology. When I began my job I had a vision of what a progressive library should be like. I developed the only elementary technology program in the district. Because of my skills and insight my district let me design a computer lab and we have the only computer lab in a library setting in our district. I have received a teacher of the year award, an award for innovative teaching, outstanding website and many other certificates, but still I am not considered a teacher in my district. I am considered support staff. Each year I loose teaching ground. I am a very educated babysitter so that teachers have prep time. I am not allowed to give grades. Now, instead of teaching technology, which I excel at (Masters in educational technology with a specialization in technology integration k-20) I have now been delegated to picking up each K-5 class from recess or from other classes, deliver them to the library, take them to recess or back to their classes, take kindergarten and first grade classes an extra hour every week so that teachers have planning time. Take the 40 kindergartners to the bathroom and get drinks so that teachers have more planning time. (This is during what was my planning time...but I am not a teacher, I am a support staff).
I was once teaching students how to make webpages, now I am taking students to recess. I have had teachers ask me if one has to have a degree to be a librarian. I replied, I have 3 degrees.
I have wanted to be a teacher since I was around 8 years old. I came in thinking I could change the World...and I did in my district for a short while. Each year my job becomes less about teaching and more about providing free time for teachers.
I used to wonder how people in the teaching profession could get so burned out. I vowed it would never happen to me. I was naive. The only thing that makes me stay is the kids. They love learning technology, they love reading books and I still love seeing the spark in a student's eyes when I reach them or excite them in some way. Because of my masters degree, I now make 50,000/year. My brother in law has a bachelors degree in engineering and makes a six figure income. I constantly hear how easy teaching is, how you get summers off ( I am in charge of technology every summer school so I can make $2500.00 to help pay off a $50,000 student loan debt from my first degree)I also hear "those that can't, teach." Do people forget that behind every successful person there was a teacher somewhere in their life that made a difference.
Things need to change. I know teachers are required to do too much and are overwhelmed. I have students that are on survival mode because of their home life, family drug use, foster care etc. How do you help everybody? I teach 350 kids every week with every imaginable disability...but yet I am not a teacher, I am just a librarian.
My goal is to teach pre-service teachers children's literature and technology integration. In my mind, I believe that college teachers are more respected. I want to teach pre-service teachers the reality of public education. I would like to be involved in some dynamic new education system that incorporates web 2.o tools and global education. I am still an optimistic dreamer.
It is time to revamp the entire system...it doesn't work. We now teach to the test. It is all about the test score. My students can't critically think. When I blog with my students, I ask them for their opinion on a topic...they are afraid to give it because it might be the wrong answer.
But I am a teacher, it is something that is a part of me and although I get paid crap and get no respect from faculty and administrators, I am what I am, and I hope and pray our educational system changes and embraces the 21st century someday soon! I have to constantly remind myself I am here for the kids, and when I hear "I love you Mrs. Smith you are a cool teacher," it makes me hang in there a little bit longer. -
Lisa signed the petition | -
Lisa commented on the article |As an elementary Media Director (technology teacher) I have been using web 2.0 tools since the conception. I have also butted my head against the wall trying to get our district on board. It is very frustrating. We do have one-to-one laptops in our middle school and our high school. But they are not willing to use open source and web 2.o products it doesn't make sense to me. My daughter who has a laptop tells me all they use them for is playing games and that is all I see at home. They use iWorks for all their school products...why not OpenOffice, Zoho, J2E.
It is very frustrating as an educator to see the great educational potential web 2.0 has, but having administrators and teachers and technology directors unwilling to even look at it.
I loved your article! My dream someday is to work in a progressive, cutting edge school that is willing to embrace new ideas and new ways of teaching. -
Lisa signed the petition |
