Experienced+Voices

I am starting my 22nd year in education. I taught 5th and 6th grade for 11 years. I have spent the past 10 years working as an educational technology specialist and currently oversee a team of 8 other specialists. While in the classroom I developed an interest in using filmmaking as a learning tool in the classroom. I began having students write scripts, rehearse and record movies. The tools were crude, but the process and the outcome far exceeded my hopes. The filmmaking process is not only a creative process but helps teach students valuable skills. For the past 6 years, I have organized a district film festival. Over 1,000 students have participated in those 6 years. For me, there is nothing like the faces of students seeing their work on the big screen. Outside of work, my beautiful wife and I have 6 children, and 7 grandchildren whom we love spending time with as often as possible. I enjoy learning and practicing photography and videography. I enjoy watching sports, especially when my kids and grandkids are playing. I have coached baseball for nearly 20 years, (2 boys spread out has made it a long time) but am hoping to retire my coaching and watch for the next couple of years. It's hard to take photos and video while coaching.
 * Kelly Dumont**

Kathy Cassidy works in the same district as Dean Shareski, our Community Leader. Kathy's group will be called Primary Possibilities. Kathy is a grade one teacher in Moose Jaw, SK, Canada, who is continuing to learn along with her grade one students. She incorporates technology into her daily classroom activities to give her students an authentic audience for their work and a portal to the world. She uses a wide variety of tools to enhance her students’ learning, including blogs, wikis Skype and video**.**
 * Cathy Cassidy**

Lee Kolbert has been an educator in Palm Beach County, FL for 25 years. She spent 20 years as an elementary school teacher and five as a district technology program specialist. Her primary focus as an administrator has been engaging teachers in new conversations to help them take that next step towards technology integration. Over the last year, teaching students directly began to pull at her heart, so Lee chose to return to teaching and is now once again a classroom teacher. Lee LOVES the students and being able to use her creative ideas with her students who are eager to explore. She is also excited to learn along with them on a daily basis. Also a blogger and “hockeymom,” Lee loves everything about bringing the benefits of social media to the classroom. Lee co-hosts a local cable TV show, PalmBreeze CAFÉ. Her segments focus on online tools useful for educators and the community. Lee has presented at various local and national conferences and has recently started consulting. More information and session resources can be found here:
 * Lee Kolbert**