Linda N. Smentek
Technology Coordinator / Facilitator
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Linda N. Smentek Technology Coordinator / Facilitator |
Involved in education for many years, I started my career as an Intermediate classroom teacher. Over the years, I have been involved in many jobs related to educational technology. During the summers, I have taught a technology component for the elementary program of a university Gifted department. For many years, I have planned and conducted parent and community continuing education computer classes. I have had the privilege of playing a role in the training of educators incorporating technology into their curriculum while teaching undergraduate and graduate technology courses and served as a Tech Advisor for the Illinois Community College PT3 grant. In addition, I have presented at CPS, Distance Learning and ICE conferences, and Northwestern Collaboratory Project Symposiums. It has been a rewarding learning experience having been a part of our school Quality Review and SIPPPA teams. Awarded Illinois Technology Educator of the Year and an Associate of the Northwestern Collaboratory Project, I now serve on the board developing the new iCollaboratory site for students and educators, and am the technology coordinator/facilitator at Stephen K. Hayt School (CPS). The past two years, I have been on the Administrator's Academy Conference Committee for the ICE (Illinois Computing Educators) annual conference.
* Winter, 1996 Interactive CD Student Authored Math Tutorial, $600, Oppenheimer Teacher Incentive Grant, Oppenheimer Foundation.
* Spring, 1996 Curriculum suggestions printed in the book "The Teacher's Guide to Cyberspace", Impact II - The Teachers Network.
* November, 1997 WDMS PTA Grant, $100 for Connectix Cam digital video camera for Grade 4 pod newspaper gifted program.
* January, 1998 "See the USA - The Disney Magnet Way", $200, Chicago Foundation Impact II Adaptor Grant.
* Winter, 2000 Wrote grant that allowed school to be accepted into the CPS Technology Infusion Planning Program
* May, 2000 Northwestern University Collaboratory Model Project of the Year: The Hayt Patriot Press On-line School Newspaper
* October, 2000 Accepted into the International Who's Who of Information Technology Professionals; Published January, 2002
* November, 2000-ICE Conference; March, 2001-Springfield Awarded Illinois Technology Educator of the Year, ICE & AT&T;
* June, 2001 Resolution and Recognition Ceremony re Accomplishments at the Board of Education for the City of Chicago Meeting
* March, 2002 Named Collaboratory Associate for The Collaboratory Project at Northwestern University
* C.A.S. Educational Leadership - Type 75 Certificate - National-Louis University
* M.Ed. Computer Education - National College of Education (National-Louis University)
* A.B. - Loyola University
* Additional coursework in Technology
* ASCD (Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development)
* ICE (Illinois Computing Educators)
* iCollaboratory Project
* ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)
* NICE (Northern Illinois Computing Educators)
One of the most important skills I bring to the Hayt School Technology Program is the experience of having been a successful classroom teacher. My intermediate classroom years have provided me the awareness, knowledge, expertise, and training for knowing the routines and needs of teachers and students. During those years, I encountered the different learning styles of students, which required me to discover and provide different modes for delivering the same information.
While working on my master's degree in educational technology, I worked at the university as a lab technician. I have been able to take the skills I developed troubleshooting PC and Macintosh hardware problems to the various schools in which I have worked. In addition, during those university experiences, I was fortunate to be able to assist technology instructors prepare software / projects for their colleagues and grad students. Those acquired skills allowed me to teach university staff, undergraduate / graduate, and continuing education / community technology classes. At Hayt School, I am able to share these experiences and skills with my colleagues, students, and community members.
Over the years, I have been a member of various technology organizations. Many of these associations include the option to apply for educational technology related subscriptions. I have taken advantage of many professional magazines and journals that keep me current in my field. I share these with my fellow staff members. Because my membership in technology related groups, I have made many personal connections with talented and experienced educators. I am able to share these connections with the Hayt School administration and staff, many of whom have provided staff development.
Working closely with the administration, and having helped developed professional relationships with my colleagues, I have been able to establish and institute a cross-curricular, project-based technology program at Hayt School.