About Me  

Link to My Resume                                                               

L. SUZANNE SHANKS, M.Ed.

Instructional Technology Coach

"Preparing students for their future instead of my past."

I have a Masters in Education with a specialization in Educational Technology from The Colorado College. My B.A. is in Communications from the University of Colorado.

Although I have taught many subjects from Kindergarten to Grade 8, currently I wear several hats:

1. I teach face-to-face and online teacher professional development courses, most often about Project Based Learning, Digital Storytelling, 21st Century Skills, Web 2.0, ThinkQuest, and other similar topics.

2. I teach full-time Digital Technologies electives to 11- to 14-year-olds. I’m grateful to have such a fun job; however, in my opinion it’s a position that shouldn’t exist in the 21st Century. Technology should never be viewed or taught as a separate curriculum–it should be embedded in instruction like every other effective teaching tool.

3. I’m frequently a de facto educational technology coach among my peers. I try to offer a few seminars every year on topics my staff is interested in and I am constantly working one-on-one with teachers on specific questions they have about technology in education.

In my former life before teaching I was a paralegal and co-owned an audio/video production business specializing in recording continuing education conferences. I’ve also been a catering sous-chef, a landlord, a competitive swimmer, a Girl Scout leader, an amateur ballerina, and a temporary secretary.

In the near future I hope to teach overseas and/or serve as a Technology Coordinator or Trainer at the district or corporate level. I hope to become a much better blogger, too.

I live in beautiful Colorado in the United States. Interests: teaching, my son, his wife and my granddaughter, traveling, mentoring, coaching, professional development, amateur web design, green and tiny homes, reading, blogs, cooking, learning Italian, French and Spanish, cycling, weight training, gadgets, dancing, health & fitness, podiobooks and podcasts, science fiction, personal and spiritual growth, coffee, gardening, and of course, spending as much time as possible with family and friends instead of living in front of electronic screens.

Teaching & Training Experience

2007- Present Oracle Education Foundation Facilitator/Trainer

• Attend and Facilitate International 21^st Century Learning Institutes

   

• Teach online professional development courses to international educators

   

• Present 21^st Century Skills and Project-Based Learning sessions at conferences

   

2001- Present Mann Middle School, Colorado Springs D-11

Computer Electives Instructor, 6 - 8th Grade

• Met Information Literacy Standards and reinforced content-area State Standards through units on various educational and productivity software, i.e. Microsoft Office and Inspiration. Also taught Web 2.0 Practices, International Collaboration, Online Research, Web Site Evaluation, Internet Safety and Web Site Design for 6th, 7th and 8th grades.

   

   

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  CQI Leadership Team Member, CQI Technology Team Chair and Technology Curriculum Chair.

   

• Frequently coached colleagues and conducted mini-seminars on staff productivity tools and how-to's for embedding technology.

   

• Participant and Facilitator Oracle Education Foundation's 21st Century Institutes.

   

• El Paso County PTA / School District 11 Crystal Apple Award Nominee, 2006.

   

• Mentored fourfirst-year teachers and two pre-service teachers.

   

• Runner-up, El Paso County PTSA "Learning in the Spotlight" Crystal Apple Award

   

• Sponsored Computer Club and Designed/Maintained Learning With Technology web site. (www.d11.org/mann/computerliteracy).

   

• Member of International Society for Technology in Education and Colorado Council on Social Studies.

   

World Studies Teacher, 7th Grade

• Emphasis on Economics, Civics, History and Geography standards on a 4-person 7th grade team, especially using data to drive instruction in an Eastern Hemisphere curriculum.

   

• Developed Social Studies Resources web site for district-wide staff use.

   

• Mentored a pre-service teacher.

   

Summer Literacy Program Instructor (4 Summers), 6 - 8th Grades

• Taught Intensive Literacy, SRA, and "Reading and Writing Through Technology" courses in Summer Institutes.

   

• Designed resourcesweb site to supplement reading and writing classes and offer additional individualized instruction through technology.

   

1999-2001 High Plains Elementary, Academy District 20

Elementary Teacher, 5th Grade

• Emphasis on integrating technology, flexible grouping, data-driven instruction, and CSAP readiness in Math, Language Arts, and Social Studies curricula.

   

• Mentored a first-year teacher.

   

• Member of Community Outreach and Volunteer Committees, and Colorado Council of the International Reading Association.

   

1998-1999 Emerson Middle School, Colorado Springs D-11

Social Studies and Earth Science Teacher, 6th Grade

• Emphasis on cross-curriculum integration, teaming, technology integration and data-driven instruction in an Earth Science and a Western Hemisphere curriculum.

   

• Socio-economically challenged, at-risk, SIED magnet and unusually high SPED population.

   

1997-1998 Canon Elementary School, Cheyenne District 12

Elementary Teacher, 6th Grade

• Emphasis on 6-Trait Writing, Differentiated Instruction, and Test Preparation.

   

• Sponsored Student Council.

   

• Socio-economically advantaged, significantly higher-achieving population.

   

1995-1997 Calhan K-12 School, Rural District RJT-1

Multi-Age Multi-Subject Teacher

• Taught kindergarten PE, 5^th Grade Gifted and Talented, 6^th Grade PE, 7^th Grade Math, 7^th Grade Language Arts Technology Lab, 8^th Grade Advisory, and French, Cooking, Ancient Mysteries and similar Mini-Courses (9 weeks).

   

• Middle School Language Arts Curriculum Chair.

   

• Middle School Textbook Adoption Committee

   

1994-1995 Rockrimmon Elementary, Academy District 20

Elementary Teacher, 2nd Grade

Taught Math, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies Curricula.

Education

1995 – Present Continuing Professional Development

Over 100hours of continuing education and in-service credit hours, predominantly in the areas of educational technology and social studies.

1994-1995 The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO

Master of Arts in Teaching, K-8 License(Emphasis: Technology In Education)

1992-1999 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, CO

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

1983-1985 Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs, CO

Office Administration coursework

1980-1983 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

64 credit-hours in Business and Home Economics coursework

Non-Teaching Experience

1985-1994 Law Firms in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Aspen

Full-Time Legal Assistant and Freelance Paralegal

1985-1992 Summit Audio-Video Productions, Colorado Springs, CO

Co-Owner, Small Business - Administration, Audio Production, Editing, and Duplication

1993-1994 Royal Family Summer Camps, Woodland Park, CO

Volunteer Counselor - Summer Residential Program for Abused and Neglected Children