Instructors

TeckTalk PD Course Instructors

All of TechTalk PD's Course Instructors have real classroom experience.

Matt England

Bio: Matt England has been working with technology in and out of the classroom for the past four years. As a computer technology teacher at Rocky River Middle School near Cleveland, Ohio, he has relevant experience teaching what works in the classroom. After earning his Google Certified Trainer certification, Matt has offered many professional development sessions from one-on-one to district-wide implementation. Matt graduated with a Technology Education degree from Kent State University, has a Masters degree in Education Media Design & Technology from Full Sail University, and is also an Adjunct Professor at Ashland University.

Courses taught: Collaboration in the Classroom: An Introduction to Google Apps, @yourclassroom: Social Media for Education, Connecting Beyond the Traditional Classroom

Kurt Kohls

Bio: A Technology Support Specialist in Fairfax County, Virginia, Kurt works with educators to engage their students through innovative ideas, including the use of QR Codes in elementary education. Kurt successfully presented sessions at NECC 2008, 2009, and ISTE from 2010 to 2014 with his colleagues. Participants of these sessions left excited and energized by new Web 2.0 multimedia tools and their potential to help teachers reach higher levels of the NETS*T. He continues to explore ways to best impact learning and help educators as they strive to be Transformative Technology Teachers. He holds a Bachelor's degree in History, and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Courses taught: QR Codes in the Classroom

Kathy Korty

Bio: Kathy Korty has 30+ years of experience in education. She began her career as a second-grade teacher. She entered the technology field 8 years ago and serves as Technology Integration Specialist for Edgewood City Schools in Trenton, Ohio. Each summer Kathy has coordinated and taught at the district’s Summer Tech Academy. In 2012, she co-coordinated the move to make the Academy an online experience for the district's staff. Through this program she has been able to help move teachers in her district toward the goal of becoming 21st century educators. She has also written numerous grants to bring new technology resources to district classrooms. Kathy has presented at the Ohio E-Tech, NCTM and TCEA Conferences. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University, and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Administration from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Courses taught: Rigorous Assessments with Online Resources, The iPad Revolution, Teaching in the Interactive Classroom, Communicating with a Classroom Blog, The 21st Century Research Project, The Blended Learning Classroom

Mary Ann Linville

Bio: Mary Ann Linville first became excited about technology when a brand new projector was rolled into her Pre-Kindergarten classroom on a cart way back in 2004. Since that day, she enjoyed working with her colleagues to implement new and exciting tech tools into her instruction. With 8 years of experience teaching in a Pre-K classroom and 5 years in First Grade, Mary Ann’s passion for ed tech continues to grow in her new career as a Technology Integration Specialist who works with elementary teachers and students. Mary Ann has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, and a 4th/5th Grade Teaching Endorsement, all through Xavier University. She is also finishing up her Educational Technology Endorsement through Miami University.

Courses taught: Elementary EdTech Explorers

Robin Phares

Bio: Robin Phares entered the field of Educational Technology fifteen years ago with the purchase of her first Apple computer. Teaching in the music classroom, she instantly became intrigued with Garage Band. This attraction led to the completion of a Master of Arts In Education/Curriculum and Instruction-Computer Education from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science Education, Integrating Technology into the Classroom from the Walden University. After teaching chorus, band and general music for 19 years, she moved into the role of Technology Integration Specialist in the Edgewood City Schools. Robin is a regular speaker at the Ohio Etech Conference and maintains the website Talking Tech with Robin.

Courses taught: Integrating Technology into the Common Core, The 21st Century Secondary Educator, Chromebooks in Your Classroom, Using Video for our 21st Century Learners, Flipping Your Classroom, KidPads 1.0, KidPads 2.0, Special Education and Technology

Lynn Erickson

Bio: Lynn Erickson has over 20 years of experience in Education. She began her career as a language arts and math teacher. During the past twelve years, she has been working as an Educational Technology Specialist, assisting various schools both in Connecticut and Mississippi with technology integration in all subject areas. In 2006, Lynn was awarded the Mississippi Technology Educator of the Year from the Mississippi Technology Educators Association. Over the past 8 years, Lynn has presented about Educational Technology at national conferences such as CECA, FETC, Discovery Education Days, Celebration of Teaching and Learning, and ISTE. She is currently a Mimio Certified Trainer and moderates webinars for Mimio, instructing teachers how to effectively utilize Mimio products in the classroom. Lynn has also written numerous grants for districts and has been awarded over $500,000 in grant funding for Educational Technology. Lynn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Mississippi and a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She is currently working on completing the Certified Google Educator program.

Courses taught: Project Based Learning in the 21st Century Classroom, Full STEAM Ahead with Coding in the Elementary Classroom