Fran Baldwin is an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher serving three elementary schools in Pulaski County. She received a BA in Education from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL and a MS in Educational Media and Technology from Radford University in 2004. She is the 2003 recipient of Virginia's Region VII Teacher of the Year, McGlothlin Award finalist, and Virginia Lottery Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2002 she was selected as Pulaski County's Teacher of the Year and Virginia NTTI Teacher of the Year for 2000. She considers her greatest professional accomplishment to be the first in her county to earn National Board Teacher Certification in 2000. In her 30+ years of teaching she has stayed actively involved in activities such as mentoring student teachers, providing instructional support for her faculty, and conducting seminars and workshops. She continues to serve as a special consultant to Radford University and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to recruit and mentor future National Board candidates. Fran lives on Claytor Lake, in Dublin, VA, and enjoys boating, traveling, reading, woodworking, arts and crafts and of course, technology.

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Sharon Bolan

Sharon Bolan is a library media specialist at Central High School in Lunenburg County. She has previously taught second grade and fifth grade at Victoria Elementary School and has been a part of the Lunenburg Educational System for eighteen years. As well as maintaining an active media center, Sharon conducts Instructional Television and Instructional Technology workshops for teachers and staff in the county. She has been a TTI Master teacher for eleven years. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education for grades K-8, a reading endorsement for grades K-12, and a Masters of Education degree for the School Library Media Program. Sharon was the recipient of the Master Teacher of the Year for the WCVE region for the year 1999 and the WBRA region for the year 2003. Sharon enjoys gardening, swimming, church activities, reading, and spending time with her husband and two sons.
 

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Liesl Combs

Liesl Combs is currently in a post-doctoral position as an instructional designer at Virginia Tech. She recently earned her Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology from Virginia Tech, where she was also name IDT Graduate Student of the Year in 2008. Liesl also has a B.S. in Middle Education and an M.S. in Educational Technology, both from Radford University. She spent five years teaching math and language arts at Christiansburg Middle School, where she also served as yearbook advisor and a track coach. In addition to her work at Virginia Tech, Liesl is also adjunct faculty at Radford University where she teaches the technology methods course for the middle school cohort. When she is not working, Liesl enjoys traveling with friends and family, visiting family in New Jersey, photography, reading and cooking. Liesl lives in Radford with her two dogs, Rex and Cougar.
 

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Amy Cummings is the Coordinator of Social Studies for Roanoke County Public Schools. She is a graduate of Averett University with a BA in history and social studies. She graduated from Radford University in 2003 with an MS in Educational Media Technology/Library Media, and graduated in 2007 from the University of Virginia with an Ed.S. degree in Administration and Supervision. In 2005 Amy received the Governor's Innovative Technology in Education Award for Region Six. She and her husband live in Boones Mill. They enjoy travel, cooking, reading and hiking.

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Joleen Feazell

Joleen Feazell teaches in the Alleghany County Public School System. She graduated from Alleghany High School and Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, where she received an Associate's degree in Psychology. Later she graduated with a BA in Psychology from Roanoke College and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from UVA. She is certified to teach NK- 8 and is currently teaching kindergarten at Mountain View Elementary School. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family. She is active in her church and community. She enjoys tutoring, taking classes and learning new concepts to try in her classroom. Joleen resides in Clifton Forge with her husband, John.

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DeWayne Harrell is a Media Specialist at South Salem Elementary School. Before becoming a Library Media Specialist, DeWayne taught high school English for nine years. DeWayne began his teaching career in Newport News, Virginia after graduating from Radford University.. After leaving Newport News, he moved back to Radford and taught in Montgomery County at Shawsville High School. During his five year stay at Shawsville, DeWayne was a member of the Diversity Committee, Monogram sponsor, Forensics coach, and Varsity Basketball Coach for both the mens' and women's programs. In terms of educational opportunities, DeWayne has attained two Michael Jordan Fundamental Grants. Now teaching at Salem, DeWayne is involved in the Diversity Coalition Committee, School Improvement Committee, Technology Committee, and is the varsity women's basketball coach. DeWayne has recently completed a master's program in educational leadership, and in December 2007, he became a National Certified Teacher in library media.

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Bruce H. Hemp, mathematics teacher at Fort Defiance High School in Fort Defiance, VA, currently teaches Geometry and Calculus. She is also an adjunct professor in the Mathematics Department at Mary Baldwin College. During her 30 years of teaching, she has taught in the middle school and designed and implemented the math program at Valley Vocational Technical Center (VVTC) for students who had not succeeded in the normal classroom. Bruce holds a BA in Mathematics and Speech Communication from Westhampton College, University of Richmond, and a MEd degree in Mathematics from the University of Virginia. She has been a participant in the NASA Educational Workshop for Mathematics, Science and Technology Teachers (NEWMAST) and has been a recipient of several grants allowing her greater access to technology in the classroom. She currently is one of NASA's Educator Ambassadors for GLAST, a multi-wavelength observatory dedicated to the study of gamma-ray burst (GRB) science. Bruce also chairs the board of directors of Jacob's Ladder, a 5 year summer residential program for exceptionally gifted 4th - 8th graders who are at-risk of not reaching their educational potential. She was the 1998 recipient of NTTI's Teacher of the Year Award.

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LeAnna Holmes

LeAnna Holmes is an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher in Wythe County. LeAnna received her Bachelor's degree from Emory & Henry College with an endorsement in biology and chemistry. She taught biology and physics at Rural Retreat High School before switching to the ITRT position. She received her Master's degree in Science Education with a concentration in physics and an endorsement for K-12 Administration from Radford University. LeAnna lives in Rural Retreat with her husband, two sons and one dog. LeAnna enjoys learning new technology, traveling, and spending time with her family.

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Judy Honaker

Judy Honaker earned her first degree in business administration and worked in banking before entering the education field. Mrs. Honaker earned her Bachelor's degree in mathematics (1989) from University of VA.-Wise (Magna Cum Laude), an endorsement in special education (1997) from Old Dominion University, and a Master's Degree in administration and supervision (2003) from Virginia Polytechnic. University. She is currently enrolled in a National Technology Certification Program through James Madison University.  She currently serves as an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher for Washington County. Her duties include staff development, scheduling and running report cards, benchmark testing, and maintaining the school's web pages. Mrs. Honaker served on the 2003 Virginia Department of Education End of Course Geometry SOL committee and was chosen 2001 Teacher of the Year.  In addition to staff development in-services for Washington County teachers, she has conducted professional development in-services for Lee County and Dickenson County teachers, presented for the 2005 Technology Splash, the SVETN Middle School Celebration, and the Regional Technology Conference. She also facilitated an on-line class through Educational Technology Leaders Organization (ETLO).  Along with her teaching and staff development duties, Mrs. Honaker is involved in a number of other community activities, including working as part of the tech crew at her church and as the boys' junior varsity golf coach.  Mrs. Honaker and her husband, Steve, reside in Abingdon and are both avid golfers.
 

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From the sidelines of the NFL to a tank of goldfish in a seventh grade science classroom, Loretta Hypes enjoys what she is doing and the people she is working with. She graduated from Bluefield College in 1988 with a BS degree in business education and a minor in general mathematics. In 1996 she received a middle school endorsement that has enabled her to teach life science and math at Tazewell Middle School, which is what she is doing now.
Loretta started working when she was nineteen years old as an office manager at a cattle ranch. Thirty years and a few relocations later, her work day has included, working as a legal secretary, a substitute teacher and a social worker, but she found her true passion was in the field of education. Loretta is married and they have three children. When she and her husband are not working, they cover NASCAR races, music festivals, high school sports, war re-enactments, and professional football games for their local newspaper.

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Michael King

Mike is the Assistant Principal at Dublin Middle School in Pulaski County. He began teaching in Wythe County and later moved to Pulaski where he taught first grade at Riverlawn Elementary School for 7 years. He is a native of Pulaski County and graduated from PCHS. After high school, he attended New River Community College where he received two Associate's Degrees, one in general studies and the other in early childhood education. He then transferred to Radford University where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a K-5 certification. Mike also received his Master's at Radford University in Curriculum and Instruction and completed a program for licensure in administration. His wife is a teacher in Pulaski County and they have a young daughter. Other than teaching, his passions include family, Hokie football, technology, and reading.
 

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Mairlyn teaches 8th grade physical science at Tazewell Middle School in Tazewell, Virginia.  She has been teaching in Virginia for over 15 years.  She has taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 8th grade.  This is her 8th year with TTI and she loves it.  She credits TTI with her increasing use of technology in the classroom.  She presented one of her TTI lessons at the Middle School Conference in Norfolk, Virginia a few years back.   Mairlyn takes every effort to take as many classes as she can to continue to grow as an educator and to improve her teaching strategies and to learn more about technology.  She is married, has three children, and three grandchildren.  Mairlyn graduated from Bluefield College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.  In her small amount of free time, she attends a dance class every week and tries to attend 2 to 3 dance workshops in Raleigh, NC and Charleston and  Beckley, WVA.  This is her relaxation and exercise.

Currently, Melanie is the Instructional Technology Resource Teacher for four of Amherst County's elementary schools. Prior to the fall of 2005, she spent the last five years teaching second and third grade in Amherst County at Madison Heights Elementary School. She has been teaching for a total of 20 years. She graduated from Liberty University, although it was known as Liberty Baptist College at the time she was there. Along with TTI, Melanie also participates in her church's Recovery Ministry program and sits on the committee of her son's Boy Scout troop. She is the past president of the educational society, Delta Kappa Gamma. Additionally, she serves her school and division as a mentor teacher. Melanie is married and has two children.

 

Ferri is the Instructional Technology Specialist at William Ruffner Middle School and Lucy Addison Middle School in Roanoke City, VA. She has been a technology specialist for eleven years but taught Special Education as a Learning Disabled teacher for twelve years before leaving the classroom. Ferri received the Apple Distinguished Educator award in 1996 and again in 1998 for her use of technology in the classroom. She has presented at a variety of workshops and conferences and provides training for numerous school divisions in Virginia. Ferri is a member VSTE, ISTE and is a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Education Sorority. She is also NETS*T certified. She enjoys fishing and camping with her husband.

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Kevin Marcus is an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT) for Wise County Public Schools. He taught kindergarten for 9 years, has been an after-school tutor, and taught after school computer classes for The 21st Century Community Learning Center. He also initiated a greenhouse and botany program for the 21st Century Community Learning Center. Kevin has a Bachelor of Arts in history from The University of Virginia College at Wise and a certification in Early Childhood NK-3. He has also had Post-Graduate studies from Virginia Tech in Instructional Technologies and is currently working on his NETS-T certification. He is married and lives in Wise County Virginia. Kevin enjoys the martial arts, historical reenactment through the Society for Creative Anachronisms, leather working, strategic tactical simulation miniature games, painting miniatures, and reading.
 

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Cindy Perdue is a nationally certified teacher who currently teaches at William Byrd High School in Roanoke County. Previously she taught biology at William Fleming High School in Roanoke City for nine years. She has worked collaboratively in the classroom with special education and English language instructors. She has a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech, and undergraduate degrees in Biology and Communication Studies. When not teaching, Cindy enjoys spending time with her husband and their son, as well as their dogs, cats and horse.

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Donna is a mathematics teacher at Sandusky Middle School in Lynchburg, Virginia. Donna received her B.A. in Mathematics from Westhampton College and her Masters of Music Education degree from James Madison University. She has been teaching for more than 25 years and because of her dual certification in mathematics and music, has taught kindergarten through twelfth grades. Donna has been a TTI presenter since 1998, and in 2002 was selected as Virginia's NTTI Teacher of the Year.
Most recently, Donna was selected to be a member of the Middle School Mathematics Teacher Corps. Along with her teaching responsibilities, and because of her demonstrated success in teaching mathematics, she now works with school administrators and faculty to improve mathematics instruction through workshops, team-taught lessons, and the modeling of effective teaching strategies. She continues to participate in teacher leadership training through the Virginia Middle School Teacher Corps program and spends part of her summers teaching math through the Jacob's Ladder, an enrichment program for gifted at-risk 4th- 8th graders. She and her husband, Aubrey, have a son, Jayand a daughter, Allison. They live in Altavista, Virginia.

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Carol Shields is a math teacher at Andrew Lewis Middle School in Salem, VA. where she is also the coach for the Math Counts team. She has a Masters degree and a Bachelors degree from Virginia Tech. She has taught for 25 years in the City of Salem, Montgomery County, and Amelia County. Carol is very active in technology, particularly with TI technology and has been the moderator for the Hunt for Country Capitols with Kidlink since 1998. She lives in Salem, VA with her family and two dogs.
 

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Rusty Strouth

Rusty Strouth teaches 8th grade Social Studies at Powell Valley Middle School in Big Stone Gap for Wise County Public Schools. In the past, he has taught GED Prep classes, homebound, and high school social studies. Rusty graduated from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee with a BA in history. Rusty is a member of the Safety Committee at PVMS, co-sponsor of the PVMS News Team, head coach of the 7th/8th grade girl's volleyball and basketball teams and an assistant for the JV and Varsity girl's volleyball and basketball teams at Powell Valley High School . He also coaches the 7th/8th grade track team. Rusty and his family live in Wise, VA. He enjoys family time, hunting, competitive target shooting, reading, working out, music and his Labrador retriever, Buster
 

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Meg Collins Swecker is a Technology Resource Teacher for Roanoke County Public Schools. She has been teaching since 1985 in the fields of special education and technology. She is an adjunct faculty member at both the University of Virginia Graduate Center in Roanoke and Virginia Western Community College where she teaches software applications and technology integration for educators. Meg lives in Roanoke County with her husband. In her free time, Meg teaches scuba diving, enjoys gardening, and teaching yoga and Pilates in area health clubs.
 

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Frank Taylor is a science teacher at Radford High School in Radford, VA. He has taught for over 20 years years. Frank has a BS in Biology from Lehigh University, an MS in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds an additional MS from Virginia Tech in Zoology. Frank has received numerous teaching awards including the Presidential Award in Science Teaching, the National Association of Biology Teachers-Outstanding Biology Teacher Award, and the Virginia Environmental Stewardship Award. In 2008, Frank earned his National Board Certification. Frank has authored books, labs, and articles while his students have published illustrated field guides to local natural history as well. Frank and his family live in a log home he built himself in Radford. Frank enjoys nature photography, wood working, and is an avid cyclist.

 

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