2008-2009 TIE Network Advisory Board Leaders

Jeanne Auensen: Media Specialist at Manning Oaks Elementary School in Fulton County

Jeanne has a B.A. in English and a M.S. in School Library Media.  She was the media specialist at Esther Jackson Elementary School in Fulton County for ten years and spent the last five years at nearby Holcomb Bridge Middle School .  In August 2008, Jeanne will return to the elementary school environment as the media specialist at Manning Oaks Elementary School in Alpharetta.  Jeanne has presented staff development classes in video streaming, as well as workshops for media specialists and paraprofessionals in digital photography and movie making with Photo Story 3 . 

"There's always new technology to learn, and the TIE Network members use it and teach it and load resources and lessons to share it.  I love to learn as much as I can and then turn around to teach other media specialists and staff members.  Learning to integrate technology and use it with our students to keep them engaged as learners is the ultimate goal."

Becky grew up on a college campus in Jackson, MS, where her father was a professor. They moved to Shreveport, LA for four years, finally landing in Georgia at Oxford College. Education has been a big part of her life. She attended Emory University for her undergraduate degree and earned her MEd from GSU.

Becky taught in DeKalb County School s for 9 ½ years before moving to Kentucky. There she worked at the GE Answer Center. She moved to  Valdosta in 1985. Becky taught for one year in the Valdosta City School System . She has worked at Valdosta State University for 10 years – in the PALS (adult literacy) Lab, Middle Grades Department, and currently with the ETTC. There she teaches a PreService class for Middle Grades; does training for the faculty and staff; helps with customized trainings for many grant schools and non-grant schools. 

Becky is excited about the possibilities of the TIE network and very happy to be serving on the advisory board.

Jim Fincher: Local School Technology Coordinator for Trickum Middle School in Gwinnett County

Jeff Giddens: Instructional Technology Specialist for the First District ETTC

Jeff taught sixth grade for nine years at Glynn County Middle School in Brunswick, Georgia and encouraged his peers to incorporate technology in the classroom.  He received a B.A. in Middle Grades Education from Valdosta State University and a M.Ed. in Middle Grades Education from Georgia Southern University .  Jeff conducts training classes at the technology training center at First District ETTC and provides customized training classes for the school systems that First District ETTC serves.

LaQuita Hutchinson: Technology Specialist at Armstrong-Atlantic State University 

LaQuita has been an educator for over 20 years. During this time she has taught at the high school, middle school, and collegiate levels. Realizing that learning must be fun, LaQuita has always searched for ways to enhance classroom instruction. Her philosophy has always been to teach a lesson that is personally inspiring. She has a Bachelors Degree in Business Education and a Masters Degree in Instructional Technology. She is currently an Instructional Technology Specialist with the Armstrong Atlantic State University ETC.

LaQuita has presented to educators in Georgia and South Carolina. During these presentations, not only has she been able to share, but what is even more important is that she has been able to gain ideas and resources from other educators who also share her passion for integrating technology into the classroom. LaQuita is dedicated to assisting Georgia educators to develop a first class network of TIE members to successfully engage those digital natives who enter their classrooms.

Kara Leonard: Technology Specialist in Murray County

Kara has a Bachelors Degree in Social Science Education, a Masters Degree in Administration and Leadership in Education and a Specialist Degree in Curriculum. She taught history at Murray County High School and is currently an Instructional Technology Specialist at the district level in Murray County . During her second year of teaching, she was awarded the Murray County High School Teacher of the Year and was also named the Murray County School District Teacher of Year. She was also named the Impact Person of the Year in the same year.

Kara's goal is to help inspire teachers to reach students in new and fun ways while using some type of technology. Kara has taught in the classroom and has seen first hand how effective technology can be, if applied correctly. Kara has been a TIE member since the network began and has been amazed at how quickly the TIE Network has grown. Kara admires Georgia Public Broadcasting’s dedication to educators and willingness to go that extra mile to help teachers collaborate. Kara is honored and excited to be a member of the advisory board for GPB and TIE along with so many other dedicated educators! Go TIE!

Pattie Morton: Media Specialist at Chapel Hill Elementary School in Douglas County

Pattie Morton the Media Specialist at Chapel Hill Elementary School in the Douglas County School District.  She was formerly a classroom teacher for 20 years and has always utilized technology.  Pattie moved into the Media Center to help more of her colleagues and students.  She has used the FREE video resources provided by GPB Education for several years and has also been the building trainer when she worked at Turner Elementary Scchool.  She enjoys teaching her colleagues new technologies and how to incorporate them into their lessons and classes. She also enjoys teaching new technology to students and showing them how to incorporate it into their projects.

Shaun Owen: Social Studies Teacher on Special Assignment with the GA Department of Education

Shaun has a Bachelors Degree in Middle Grades Education, a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership, and a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership.  She has presented to thousands of educators throughout the United States and has even presented in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Through her research and application of technology, she has created a "paperless classroom" via the use of only one computer in the class.  She loves teaching and has a strong desire to spread her knowledge and passion for teaching to other educators throughout the United States.  By applying a myriad of teaching techniques, she is able to get students excited about learning and motivated to achieve incredible results.  

Shaun has been an educator for thirteen years.  She has won numerous awards including Marquis' Who's Who of American Women, Greenbrier Middle School Teacher of the Year, Columbia County Teacher of the Year, Georgia Teacher of the Year State Finalist, and Richmond County Sallie Mae First Class Teacher Award.  Shaun Owen has appeared in Georgia Public Broadcasting ’s Achieving Excellence program, and she has been featured in The Journal and The District Administrator magazines.  She has served on State Superintendent Kathy Cox's Teacher Advisory Committee and Governor Perdue's Master Teacher and Academic Coach Implementation Committee.

Kristi Richburg: Instructional Technology Specialist fo Chattahoochee-Flint RESA Educational Technology Center

Kristi began her career in Clay County District Schools in Florida as a sixth grade reading teacher. She served students as a self-contained fourth and fifth grade teacher, Title I math specialist, K-6 gifted enrichment teacher and as a school-based technology specialist. She worked part-time coaching teachers and administrators on effective technology integration at the Schultz Center for Teaching and Learning. Mrs. Richburg moved back home to Alabama in 2006 to teach third grade in Auburn City Schools. During her tenure she was a member of the 21st Century Learning Team for Ogletree Elementary. She designed a wiki to help teachers organize and share grade-level specific curriculum files and links.

Kristi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University of Montgomery and a Masters degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Instructional Technology from the University of North Florida. She also earned a gifted endorsement through a program with Duval County Schools in Jacksonville, Florida. Her current research interests include: effective web 2.0 integration, 21st Century educational reform and using virtual learning communities for professional development.

Donna Smith: Instructional Technology Specialist for Pioneer ETC

Donna has been an Instructional Technology Specialist with Pioneer ETC for a total of 3½ years. During the past three years, she has worked mostly with supporting Title II-D competitive technology grants, teaching technology integration content courses, delivering customized professional development to area schools, and presenting at district and state-level conferences. Her experience as a classroom teacher includes 21 years in elementary education and one year in middle school. She has taught kindergarten, second grade, third grade, remedial reading, and health and physical education. Currently, Donna is working toward her Education Specialist degree in curriculum and instruction.