CURRENT PROJECTS
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND LIBRARY MEDIA LEADERS
Lead the Library Media Leaders group and work with Instructional Technology Leaders in Wayne County to assist and model the effective use of instructional technology in the classroom. Develop and facilitate various technology related workshops based on the needs of the participants. Share best practices for cultivating a culture of literacy, building instructional collaboration, empowering students to be creators, and curating digital and print resources in library media centers.
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RESA MAKERSLead the Maker Movement in Wayne County through professional learning opportunities and the sharing of STEM and maker materials. Serve as the project lead for hosting a Maker-STEM Summit for educators throughout Wayne County and beyond. The goal is to support educators in developing a maker mindset and implementing maker centered learning in their classrooms and/or libraries to engage students in iterative thinking, creative thinking, and critical thinking.
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PROMOTING STEM THROUGH LITERATUREWorked collaboratively to develop a project designed to get students excited about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by actively involving them in the design thinking process through the use of literature. Each of the selected stories shares something that was built or invented by designing, planning, gathering materials, and creating. In addition to strengthening literacy skills, students will develop inquiry and problem-solving skills. Each project begins with a reading activity and moves into the design thinking process, focusing on one of the Maker Kit items available for checkout through the local REMCs in Michigan.
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PROMOTING STEM THROUGH LITERATURE KITS FOR KIDSHelped develop a project in collaboration with the MiSTEM Network that was designed to get students reading, to give them practice applying the Engineering Design Cycle, to bolster their imaginations through innovation and creativity, and to explore the wonders of STEM. Teachers received lessons, resources, and materials to facilitate instruction. Students received books and materials to engage in all of the activities.
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AREN PROJECTWorked with teachers at Cooper Upper Elementary on a NASA funded project called AEROKATS and ROVER Education Network (AREN), which aims to bolster STEM education through experiential learning using kite-borne NASA instruments to collect and analyze data to better understand our environment. NASA operations concepts, teamwork, design and engineering, geographic information systems, and GLOBE data collection protocols are used throughout the project.
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FOLLETT DESTINY PROJECT MANAGERServe as the Project Manager for the Follett Destiny Library Consortium in Wayne County. Lead all Wayne County media center/library staff in Follett Destiny library training, help and ongoing support. I am also responsible for the handing of all contracts and licensing.
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PAST PROJECTS
LEVEL UP LPSI worked collaboratively with a district team for three consecutive years (2014-2016) to bring a full day of professional development to all staff in Livonia Public Schools designed around the effective use of instructional technology to improve student learning. We held the event every year in August to kick off the school year. We brought in keynote speakers such as Adam Bellow, Eric Sheninger, and George Couros to inspire and encourage staff to think differently about how they use technology in their classrooms. The day was designed as a mini-conference filled with breakout sessions being led by teachers from within the district. Staff chose their learning path, networked with colleagues, and practiced what they learned. It was an incredible learning experience!
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COOPER MAKERSPACEIn 2015, I along with a team of volunteers, transformed a dreary storage room into a vibrant makerspace where students were inspired to invent, create, tinker, design, and innovate. The maker mindset was cultivated in this space and was the catalyst for bringing design thinking into the curriculum. Student choice and voice was an instrumental component in the success of this space!
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ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTThroughout my entire Livonia Public Schools career, I have facilitated many professional learning opportunities based on the needs of the various buildings I have served. In an attempt to meet the needs of all participants, this professional development took on many forms. I facilitated monthly Tech Lunches as well as after school professional development. I worked with our school planning team to model and embed instructional technology into our staff meetings. I have presented at district level professional development such as Level Up LPS, LivCamp, and the Livonia Tech Expo and have helped prepare and deliver professional development for our K-12 media specialists.
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BATTLE OF THE BOOKSFor twelve years, I facilitated Cooper Upper Elementary's annual Battle of the Books. This event averaged 250-300 student participants each year along with 80-100 volunteers who were instrumental in helping make it such a success. Each team read the same seven books and prepared for the battle for months. On the night of the battle, questions were asked from each book and they had to work collaboratively to answer each question. The buzz of excitement generated each year by kids celebrating books was exhilarating!
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