We interviewed Sarah this past December at Godfrey Lee High School.  Here are some questions that she answered:

Can you describe your roles and responsibilities in your current job?
I am a Technology and Media Integration Specialist for Godfrey-Lee Public Schools.  My primary job is to assist teachers with planning and utilizing technology and STEAM resources.  I am also teaching several overload elementary STEAM classes this year.  In addition to coaching and teaching, I assist with professional development delivery and other curriculum-related items.  

What experiences or influences motivated you to enter technology education as a career?
I have always been fascinated with design and technology, which led me to pursue a major in Computer Science and Math while I was working towards my teaching certification in my undergrad at Aquinas College.  I realized quickly that as a female, I was in the minority and I had an opportunity to not only explore my career interest, but make an impact on future students.  The professors and experiences I had during college made a big impact on the person that I am today and instilled a personal love of learning that have hopefully translated over to my students and colleagues that I work with every day!

Who are role models that inspire you?
One of my awesome teacher friends, Mary Wever (@weverworld), has been an inspiration to me even before I met her face to face.  She is an amazing educator and a personal cheerleader to all she comes in contact with!  Some other role models that I look to for inspiration in the classroom are Hope and Wade King.  Their book "The Wild Card" was a game changer for me in feeling empowered and creative in my job.  I am fascinated with the Ron Clark Academy and have dream goals of attending one of their professional developments to see education done differently and students owning and striving for their best selves and education.

What advice would you give to young people who are considering entering the teaching profession?
A piece of advice I would give to young people who are considering entering the teaching profession is to be okay with things not being okay.  The world of education is constantly changing and evolving based on student needs and sometimes it feels as though you might not be doing anything right.  And the great thing is that, mostly likely you are doing things right, growing professionally, and being the best advocate for your students, but it is really just that hard.  Taking care of yourself so that you can help others' needs be met is crucial and trying your best each and every day is all anyone can ask for!

What are your top go-to websites, Facebook pages, and/or Twitter feeds for resources or ideas for your job?
Right now, my go-to place for resources and ideas for my work is on Instagram.  Over a year ago I discovered that teachers were using Instagram to not only share what they were doing in their classrooms, but also build a supportive community.  I have connected with many people across the state and country in which I have learned a lot from and have definitely made me more passionate about my work and the learning experiences I provide students.  I am @myedtechworld on Instagram (as well as Facebook and Twitter) - I am always looking to connect with new people in the state, so feel free to follow me!

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is when I give students a difficult challenge and they struggle.  And struggle.  And struggle some more before they finally have an "ah-ha" moment or they work through the challenge.  Knowing that I have helped them through that process that is transferable to many other aspects in life is satisfying and hopefully they can learn from their experiences and apply those skills in other situations.

What is the most difficult part of your job?
The most difficult part of my job is juggling all the hats that I wear.  I am a self-admitted perfectionist who is constantly thinking outside the box for new and innovative approaches to teaching and learning, so it is hard to sometimes stop and focus while on working on multiple projects.  Although this is difficult, I believe it is what challenges me and fuels me professionally.

Why do you believe in project-based learning?
I believe in project-based learning because I believe that this is what truly helps students make meaning of the content and understand why they would need to use that information in real life.  PBL helps lead students down a learning path where they ask more questions and deeper questions because of the relevancy.  It takes learning beyond sitting in a desk all day and adds flexibility to not only the physical aspect of a classroom, but the content, and how to make an impact now on the world.

How has design thinking influenced your teaching and what benefits do you see in your students when they use a design thinking approach?
Design thinking has influenced my teaching because it helps me understand the design process of STEAM.  This is beneficial in helping students understand the "why" and "how" of content and it's applications.  When I see students going through aspects of a design cycle, I see their thoughts and ideas constantly evolving, which is exactly what I love to see.  I want them to understand that just because you had an idea of how to complete a challenge when it was presented, the process may change with new and different thoughts and that is great!  When they look at their initial work compared their completed work, it is easy to see their sense of pride.

Can you give more information about the presentations that you have made in the last few years?
Last year at the annual MACUL Conference, I was a featured speaker and shared my "Your Greatest Show" and" You Can Do It! Visual Notetaking with Sketchnotes" presentations.  This was a truly humbling experience and so grateful for the opportunity.  I also have a tab on my website for "Conferences" in which I share all of my past presentations.

Can you describe a recent successful project or lesson that illustrates/embodies your teaching approach?
A recent lesson/unit that I have taught that illustrates/embodies my teaching approach is actually one that I am teaching right now to my 4th grade STEAM classes.  As we are now back from Winter Break, it can be a bit of an adjustment getting back into routines and content. Other than knowing what STEAM stands for, I want my students to understand what STEAM means and how they see it in action every day whether they realize it or not.  So to start our new year off, I am launching into our Glow STEAM Games.  We are starting off by just learning how to play different games, how to be a respectful player, and taking a moment to reflect after playing about what kind of player we were in the game.  Once the students have tested and played the games, hello black lights!  We are going to light up the room with black light and introduce STEAM content where students will dig in to the elements of STEAM, people in STEAM, and other STEAM topics.  This unit is heavily focused on collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence in addition to the content.  It is exciting to hear students engage in conversation and activities that are outside their norm and delve into a deeper personal meaning of STEAM (beyond building, coding, and constructing, because it is so much more than that!).  I share all of my activities on my blog, so feel free to check out this and other activities I have done with students at https://myedtechworld.weebly.com/blog.