Introduce Yourself

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Teachers from the Trenches, please tell us about where you teach, what you teach and how long you have taught. What inspired you to become a teacher and if you have a piece of advice or pearl of wisdom for my "future teachers" (education majors), please share.

I would like to thank you in advance for helping to teach this class of future teachers by sharing your expertise. Cyndi

[Judy Beam]

Congratulations on choosing one of the most fullfilling professions ever! I taught in the classrooms for 34 years mostly at the middle school level. The past three years I have been working in technology integration, which is an entirely new challenge. My best advice for you is to be FLEXIBLE; your life will be so much easier if you learn to "roll with the punches".

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

You betcha, FLEXIBLE, sometimes I think it needs to be tattooed to my forehead!

[samccoy]

Judy, glad to hear from another middle school teacher. Even though I did teach other grades, my most recent experiences were at the middle school level. Glad to be interacting with you in this Professional Learning Network.

[Michelle Hudiburg]

Hey everybody! My name is Mrs. Michelle Hudiburg (you notice there's no Dr. there. I'm starting to work on that..........but I digress.). You know my name, but you might not know that this is my third semester at Pittsburg State University (as an instructor anyway). I come here from the world of public education. I spent 10 glorious years teaching math at the middle and high school level in St. Paul, Thayer, and Fort Scott, Kansas. In 1994 I received my BSEd from PSU and then got my MS in Educational Technology in 1999 with emphasis in Tech Facilitator and Library Media. I am beginning my PhD in Instructional Design and Technology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia this semester. I am hoping to learn some things that will make what I teach even better!

I am married and have 3 beautiful children (ages 10 and 5). The two youngest are twins, so life at my house is CRAZY fun, especially now that they've started kindergarten! My husband is also a college instructor, but he works at Fort Scott Community College and is a CRAZY Biology/A&P instructor.

As I post here, I hope you get a feel of how passionate I am about using technology in education, both in the classroom and our media centers. I absolutely LOVE gadgets (I am currently "coveting" the new iPhones - and have been told I can get one if I prove they get reception in Fort Scott - can anybody help me with that one?) and when I was in the classroom I was always looking for ways to incorporate them into my lessons. I hope to convey that love to you and help you find ways to use these technologies to make your instruction more robust.

Along with being a gadget geek, I love to read. My choice of reading material leans toward children and young adult fiction, especially fantasy (Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl anyone?). Right now I am reading the Twilight series, which I find intriguing. I think that's why I am adoring my role as director of the Instructional Resource Center here at PSU. I get to work with technology and books everyday. For me, it's the job of a lifetime!

Cooking, digital scrapbooking, watching movies, playing with my kids, sports (football, volleyball, and softball especially) and shopping round out my list of things to do when I've got a free moment. As you can see I like to keep busy. I look forward to talking with you this semester. Best of luck, and welcome to a wonderful profession!

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

I love your passion!!

[samccoy]

Glad to know that you and Cyndi Danner-Kuhn collaborating. I have enjoyed seeing what wonderful changes are happening at my own alma mater, Pittsburg State University. Keep up the great, creative impetus for collaboration and learning in educational technology.

[Jess Buchanan]

I am Jess Buchanan and I teach at Hutchinson High School, home of the Salthawks! I teach Spanish and Math for 10 years now, boy does that sound like a long time. Both my parents are teachers, so I think growing up I never really considered any other profession that seriously. I was inspired by the great teachers I had. In particular a 3rd grade teacher who I thought walked on water. I was blessed to have great teachers but by high school realized there were bad ones out there. An Algebra teacher in particular made me want to teach math. Not everybody just "gets it" like he wanted us too. I feel because I have been there, I can be a better teacher for my students.
Surround yourself with the positive teachers, the negative ones out there will do you NO GOOD!
Cyndi- Congrats on your new position, a bit selfish side of me will miss seeing you!

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Wow do I feel old, can't believe you have taught 10 years!!! Yes, missing folks a bunch right now, but really enjoying Manhattan and liking the job and people. So all is good.

[samccoy]

Glad to meet you Jess! I am looking forward to working with other teachers and Cyndi's pre-service students. She has developed a great class for students and teachers to collaborate. I think this is one of the most practical ways to learn about educational technology and its use in the classroom. BTW, my parents, as well as some of my aunts and uncles. are teachers also. It can be a great life.

[Diana Parker]

Hi! I am in my twentieth year of teaching-I'm old :) . I am in my fourth year of teaching fourth grade in Hill City. I started teaching in Leavenworth, Kansas, in a small Christian school with seven third and fourth graders. For my second year of teaching, I taught in a school called Operation Discovery School in Kansas City where every student had an IEP..WOW! That was an experience! My husband and I then moved to Hill City where I taught kindergarten for one year and 3-5 Language Arts in Bogue before moving my teaching up to Hill City where I taught third grade for ten years before moving up to fourth. I just finished a two year GREAT experience with receiving the EETT grant-I learned so much about technology and how to integrate it into my classroom. It has taught me so many different ways to teach! I have a husband who teaches and is technology coordinator for the Hill City Grade School/Longfellow Middle School and a thirteen year old daughter who just started junior high volleyball/cheerleading and loving both!

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Chelsie is in New York City now, She actually has a job dancing!!! whoo hoo!! Glad you are join us.

[samccoy]

You have had so many wonderful teaching experiences. I look forward to collaborating with you here in this great Professional Learning Network.

I think that the Kansas Future Teachers Network is an exceptional opportunity for students and teachers to collaborate in a synergistic manner. It benefits all our professional development.

Can't wait to learn more about what you are working on this year.