1) Sallie Hill - I am in charge of Instructional Technology for the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor's School a hybrid (half live classroom/ half virtual collaborative) school in VA. I work with 7 different public high schools. I do all the professional development for our teachers and students and manage all aspects of technology. I LOVE it! I live on a 600 acre beef cattle farm that has been in my family for generations (my parents live about 5 min away on the other end of the farm from my husband and I). We have 2 dogs, 2 horses, 1 pony, about 400 cows, some barn cats, and some geese that think they own the place. I enjoy anything outdoors, riding horses, reading, sports, traveling, snowboarding, etc. My TV demographic is ESPN, PBS, MTV, and the Discovery Channel :)





6) Vicki Davis CoolCatTeacher -I'm coming in to be a part of the proceedings and share at the keynote lunch! It is very exciting! Will be flying out on Friday for San Antonio and NECC.

Vicki Davisis a teacher and the IT director at Westwood Schools in Camilla, Georgia, where she co-created three award winning international projects, the Flat Classroom project, the Horizon project, and Digiteen. These projects have linked more than 500 students from 8 countries in collaborative projects harnessing the most powerful Web 2.0 tools available. Vicki blogs at the award winning Cool Cat Teacher blog. I love everything Web 2.0, love my kids, my pets, my students, and TEACHING! (Oh, I'm a total technology geek too!)





7) Brian Van Dyck PodPirate I am a local boy born in Mt. View, CA, raised in neighboring Los Altos, CA, and teaching just down the road from Google in Sunnyvale, CA. I remember when most of the Silicon Valley was nothing but rail road tracks and orchards. Things certainly have changed. My entire classroom teaching career of 14 years has taken place in middle school grades. I currently team teach on a 6th grade Core team, where I am the team Math specialist. My lovely wife of 8 years has supported me in every way, she shot the video for my GTA application. I am a Web 2.0 evangelist and work very hard with other teachers to bring the power of the Web to their rooms. I have gotten to know many GCTs through a Twitter network and at various technology conferences on the West Coast. I am extremely excited about this opportunity. You will know be by my Hawaiian Aloha shirt ( I have 100+ in my collection), my slightly elevated energy level, and a very pronounced voice. I look forward to sharing and learning with all of you. I will put on my Hospitality Hat, as I know all the fun places to eat and drink. Anyone staying in the area for a day or two, I have 4 passes to the Monterey Bay Aquarium just 90 minutes away and would be happy to include you as my guest.



8) Eric Marcos (Mathtrain) Hi! I'm a 6th grade math teacher living and teaching in Santa Monica, CA. I have also taught in the San Diego City Schools and Boston Public Schools. In addition to spending much of my time editing and posting our student-created math video lessons, I also write songs. I was (and I guess I still am) in a band called, Normal Noises.

I used to work in the music business, back in Boston, as a club talent booker and at a great recording studio called Fort Apache Studios (anyone heard of Juliana Hatfield, Tanya Donelly (Belly), Buffalo Tom, Natalie Merchant?) See everyone soon! I guess since this just aired, I'll post it. It's an Australian Podcast which explains what we do and introduces me a bit better than what I wrote (I hope).






9) Hello, Cheryl Davis here. I'm attending the academy to help out. I'm a GCT from the first "class" in Mt. View, CA (November of 2006). I live in the San Francisco Bay Area in Orinda , CA. I'm a technology specialist for a high school district. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you!


10. Hello, I'm Youssef Elias. I live in Downey, CA with my wife and two daughters. I've been an LAUSD educator for over 12 years.

I HAVE THE BEST JOB IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY. I work for a grant that help math and science teachers integratetechnology into their curriculum. I love it. My teachers have been so willing to learn. They invite me into their classrooms on a daily basis to assist. I really fell like the luckiest teacher in the world.

I'm really excited to meet you all! I'm a huge Sketch-Up fan.
AIM=usefelias
twitter=yelias
ning= http://www.classroom20.com/profile/yelias






11. Hello, I'm Christine Archer-Davison. I work at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, Colorado as the Instructional Technology Coordinator. I wear many hats but the hat I love the most is that of staff developer. I love to learn!

I live in Parker, Colorado which is just south of Aurora. I am married to a computer programmer and have two girls, one is age 7 and the other is age 3. When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with friends and family. I love movies, the theatre, reading and scrapbooking but rarely have time between work and being a mom. This summer is a "staycation" for us so just planning on hanging with the girls at the pool and enjoying time away from school before I start up again.

So excited to meet everyone!


12. Hi, my name is Molly Schroeder and I am an Elementary Technology Integration Specialist for Edina Public Schools in Edina, Minnesota. Edina is a first ring suburb of Minneapolis. I taught 5th grade for 7 years before accepting this position last fall. I just finished my first year in my new position and just loved it.

When I'm not working, I like to run, hike, ski (not in MN), play tennis, be at our cabin, and hang out with friends and family. We have a summer cabin in northern Minnesota so my goal is to be up there as many days as I can this summer. I'll also take a trip out to Colorado to do some hiking.

I'm excited for the Google Teacher's Academy and can't wait to get to know everyone! I'm a huge fan of San Fran so I'll be coming in on Monday night to spend some time on Tuesday up in the city!
See you soon!



13. Hello everyone, my name is Colette Cassinelli and I am from Portland, Oregon. I am a 7-12 technology teacher at a private Catholic school in Beaverton, OR. I have over 20+ yrs experience teaching - including the last 8 in tech. I am thrilled to be attending Google Teacher Academy. I recently completed by Masters of Educational Technology at Pepperdine University [online - great program!!!] and got involved in an Oregon EdTech Cadre this past year. I have met so many great educators through those two programs - I try to seek out other passionate teachers to bring into my learning circle. I occasionally blog at http://www.edtechvision.org and am involved in several online communities: http://classroom20.ning.com and twitter (ccassinelli).

I am married to Dave (who works at NIKE) and have two sons, Alan (21) a soon-to-be Senior at Oregon State University and Matthew (18) who will head to Gonzaga University in the Fall. Our family likes to go camping, boating and enjoy the beautiful NW. Alan and I will be road-tripping it to see the sites in CA before GTA.





14. Hi guys. My name is Spiro Bolos and I am a Social Studies teacher at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois (a north suburb of Chicago). This past year my duties have included a class concession in the form of Technology Staff Development for my particular department. Next year I am also helping teachers integrate more multimedia into the curriculum, though after editing this document, it would appear that I need more practice :)

I teach American Studies and Integrated Psychology/Sociology and have been blogging with my English teaching partner this past school year as a model for our students. Each of our students in turn have also created blogs, with links featured on our page.

Outside of school, I'm into music production and have played in a few bands on and off.
Last, but not least, my lovely wife and 2 daughters (plus our awesome dog) are featured in these pictures:



Hi! I'm Darren 'the Doc' Murphy, I'm currently working at the International School of Manila, in the Philippines, on leave from Melton Primary School, Victoria Australia. My role is that of ES IT Specialist Teacher. It involves the support of teachers and students with the integration of technology. I look forward to flying in and meeting you on the way to NECC! My catch phrase is 'Create and Update!'




15.


Hello everyone. My name is Martha Thornburgh and I am very excited for the opportunity to go to the Google Teachers Academy and get to meet all of you wonderful educators. Took me a bit to get online to do this because I was busy finishing up my year as a looping 5th/6th grade teacher. (Students moving on to middle school). and transistioning to my new position as our district's Technology Professional Development Specialist. ( I need a better title. )I have had the blessing to teach in some really cool places in my 20 years of teaching including, the Navajo Nation, Texas, Ecuador, Kenya, Indonesia and now beautiful Mount Vernon,Washington. I love using technology to create, connect and communicate. I am proud to be a STAR Discovery Educator and a member of the Northwest DEN LC where I am the blogger. I also blog at Digtital Doors. I look forward to going to both GTA and NECC this summer.

Besides being a geeky teacher, I have a great husband and a giant mutt. I enjoy travel, gardening and photography. I am a volunteer Educational Resource person for Heifer International.


16. Hi, I'm Mary Fran Lynch. I've just completed my 4th year teaching third grade at Alta Vista Elementary in Los Gatos, California. Like the rest of you I am very excited to be joining the group convening at Google on June 25th. One of the fun parts of my job as a multiple subject teacher is integrating technology just about whenever I can. I'm recognized as a Google enthusiast and will be helping about 40 teachers become more familiar with Google tools over the course of two Technology Institutes offered by my district this summer. I am really excited to find out about some really neat ways you all are using Google in your lesson planning and curriculum so I can make converts out of some of my fellow educators here in Silicon Valley.

Whenever I have spare time, I enjoy eating, cooking, wine tasting at some of the wonderful wineries in the area, and gardening. I have been married for many years to Denis, a software engineer, and have a beautiful daughter, Colleen, who recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara.








17. Kyle Brumbaugh: I am just like Cheryl Davis, I am a member of the November 2006 group that will be on hand to help out. I have been a school and district technology coordinator for the past ten years at Capuchino High School and in the San Mateo Union High School District.
One of the things I set up for the day was a spreadsheet to see where everyone is from and the distances people have traveled to get to the Googleplex. Check this out!
Blog: EdTech from the Valley
Twitter: Brumbaugh

18. Jesse Spevack – I am just finishing my third year teaching sixth grade at CIS 339 in the South Bronx. I teach English Language arts in a one to one mobile computing environment. Since this past March my students have used Google documents instead of traditional composition notebooks to draft essays and reflect on classroom readings. I’ve experimented with the idea of using Google forms as quick assessment tools. I lead a team of teachers responsible for about 130 students and I am the content area leader for the sixth grade Literacy department. To top it all off, I am now my schools data specialist, which means I am in charge of systematizing the way in which my school uses data to drive instruction. I see incredible potential for Google applications and other tech tools to bring about a much needed education revolution in our country.

Aside from teaching, I love running through Central Park, playing and listening to music, reading (particularly science fiction and fantasy) and skiing. I am looking forward to meeting everyone, sharing my work, and learning a lot from all of the incredible educators coming to the Googleplex next week.

19. Dorothy Burt.
Kia ora. I am very excited to be coming to the GTA from Auckland New Zealand. I have been teaching at my current school, Pt England Primary School, since 1991 and have had many roles there. I currently lead the eLearning team at the school and work with a talented bunch of teachers and students on some fun projects. One of these has been our podcast, KPE (Korero Pt England). I am also facilitator for our cluster of schools (would this be Professional Development leader for my district in US talk?) on an exciting Literacy project called Manaiakalani, using eLearning/Web 2.0 tools to raise student engagement and achievement. I am also enjoying my role as ADE since being awarded that in 2007. I am looking forward to meeting you all and learning new things to bring back to NZ and share with the teachers I work with.
I am travelling to the USA on Sunday June 22nd with my husband, Russell, and we will be going on to NECC in Texas on Friday 29th. Our 3 kids in their late teens/early 20's will be in charge at home!
The picture below is the group of boys whohelped me try to win a place at the GTA. Ka kite ano...







20. Jac de Haan
Tech Integration Coordinator | Billings Middle School | Seattle, WA
blog: http://www.billingsmiddleschool.net/beta

21. Joseph Williams
I am a Reading Intervention Teacher and Data Lead on my campus. I integrate technology to give struggling readers the opportunity to improve their reading skills. You can view some information about me on my eChalk page. PVHS eChalk

22. (my favorite number) DEVERY RODGERS
I'm the Coordinator of all things non-categorical at my high school in LAUSD. What does that include? Namely WASC Accreditation, Grants Administration, Technology Coordination, Professional Development and Career-Technical Education. I'm also an instructor of Educational Technology at National University.

I'm a Toyota International Teacher (in the action plan for green technology), Jordan Foundation Innovation Teacher (seeing the culmination of the animation-to-film action plan), and now happy to have received the Golden Ticket to join your ranks as a Google Certified Teacher.

23. Patty MacIntyre
What a great day at the GTA and such a privilege to be a part of this talented group! I am the acting director of TechSETS, one of the four CA state technology services. I also work closely with the Region 9 CA Technology Assistance Project (CTAP) staff. I have worked at the San Diego County Office of Education for the past 8 years. I was a middle school math and computer teacher for 20 years prior to SDCOE. My gmail username is Answermom, a nickname bestowed many years ago by my two daughters (now ages 19 and 21). :)

23. Terry Roberts

	I currently teach the Computers Elective courses at Altimira Middle School in Sonoma, and I am the yearbook advisor as well. Four years ago I was lucky enough to participate in Earn While You Learn Sonoma , an amazing summer institute and yearlong program that teaches teachers how to infuse technology into their curriculum. (That's it in a nutshell...there's lots more.) For the last three years I have been the coordinator of that same program, now called MERIT (Making Education Relevant and Interactive through Technology).Additionally, I am the Site Tech Coach at Altimira, which means that I teach a few tech workshops during the school year and also help individual teachers with their tech needs. I also am an adjunct instructor for Foothill Community College which means I get to teach fun classes on (a few) weekends which are designed with teachers in mind, but anyone can take them. Originally, I taught English for many years (19!), but computers, cameras, iPods, etc. have captivated me. I love the amazing things we can create with our students and technology. My husband, Bryan Tedrick, is a sculptor. If you enjoy art, you might check out his work at http://bryantedrick.com/. We have been married for 22 years and have two children, Nathalie (21) and Jakob (18). My daughter is a dancer with the Bellydance Superstars - a very exciting time for her! My son just graduated and is trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. For the last few years he has studied martial arts and loves it. In my spare time I try to keep up with all of the brilliant educators out there who are way more tech savvy than I am, and learn as much as I can from them. I also love to exercise, garden, cook, and watch movies. 24. Scott Moss I am ecstatic to be part of this elite group of educators. I have worked in public education for the past 21 years and been fortunate enough to work with students at all levels; from pre-school through graduate university students. I work as an Associate Faculty member in Educational Technology at National University. In the fall, I will be teaching at Innovation Middle School in San Diego. I enjoy traveling, skiing, and the great outdoors. My 10-year-old daughter is the light of my life..
25. Lucie deLaBruere The geek in me was so excited to see Googleplex, while the educator in me was so looking forward to expanding my personal learning network to include all of you. I was not disappointed. I live and teach in northern Vermont -- so close to the border that I've had students who sleep in Canada and eat breakfast in the U.S.and when the basketball rolls out of their driveway it rolls into another country. Most of my career has been spent with high school students in Career and Technical Education, but most recently I'm the tech integration specialist in a K-8 school in St. Albans, Vermont. I post all resources to professional development that I offer at www.LearningWithLucie.com and blog at www.InfiniteThinking.org. As part of my commitment to digital equity I've created initiatives such as Tech Savvy Girls, Tech Savvy Kids, and Teach Savvy Teachers to address some of the digital divide related to gender, poverty, and experience-gaps. My children have all flown the nest, but that didn't stop me from asking them to help me with my Google Teachers Academy video (they helped me by composing and producing the music for the video).

26. Debbie Lindemann
Third Grade Teacher
Livermore, California


They don't call me "Sunshine" for nothing! In addition to my optimistic outlook onlife, I love to be outside in the sun and around water. I love water sports, scuba, paddling my kayak and cross country skiing. I am entering my 36th year as an elementary classroom teacher and I would do it all over again..... I LOVE my job and am thankful everyday that I chose the teaching profession as a career. It’s extremely satisfying knowing that I make a difference in so many lives. Yeah, I’m the wild and crazy, fun and emotionally connected teacher who loves to incorporate music and dance into the classroom, dresses up at the drop of a hat and loves to organize our annual Halloween extravaganzas! Take a look at some of our staff productions...an 18 year tradition at our school!

Super Teacher skit video

Einstein Clones Skit Video




I applied to the Academy because I was feeling like I was alone on an island in terms of technology integration in the classroom setting. I wanted to expand and grow my knowledge and put some more color into my classroom lessons. Although others were interested, no one was really incorporating it into their daily lessons. Decided it was time to widen my world and begin some inter island travel--Google’s Island (some of you are old enough to remember Gilligan's Island......) Well never in my dreams did I expect to travel with such tech savvy, friendly and helpful people. Looking forward to learning from you all! I'm the newbie aboard but ready to jump in with both feet! Take me to the trailhead and point me in the right direction!

(Better late than never in posting to this wiki--I'm trying out some of my new learnings from GTA and the tidal wave of info that followed.)