Sally was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 at Chattahoochee Elementary in Duluth, Georgia, where she teaches first grade and is also a Mimio Trainer. A 28-year veteran teacher, she began using a Mimio interactive system in her first-grade classroom two years ago, and says she is now “teaching smarter, not harder.”
“Mimio brings learning to life in my classroom,” she explains. “Developing lesson plans for the Mimio based on our system’s Academic Knowledge and Skills encourages students to become engaged learners. Importing documents and game templates makes explaining center activities quicker, and the Mimio then becomes a center.”
Sally is always trying to find new ways to use technology in the classroom. “I love to import lessons I have created,” she says. She advises others to just “play” with technology with their students. “What better way to learn new technology than to enjoy it?” She highly recommends the MimioStudio™ Gallery, saying, “There are so many items here to use with teaching.” She also suggests that teachers join the free MimioConnect® interactive teaching community at mimioconnect.com. “Don’t recreate lessons until you have looked at MimioConnect. If you find a Mimio lesson you like, you can unlock it and reprogram it to fit your needs.”
In May of this year, Sally was named the winner of The Complete MimioClassroom™ Family of Products Sweepstakes, sponsored by DYMO/Mimio and Scholastic. She was awarded a complete MimioClassroom suite of products and a $500 gift certificate to scholastic.com. “I’m very excited to be able to use all of the wonderful Mimio products,” she says. Her students have quickly picked up all of this new technology, including the MimioPad™ wireless tablet. “Mimio in the classroom helps us compete in the new technology age.”
Sally is Grade Chair for First Grade at Chattahoochee Elementary and a ParaEducator Cohort instructor for Gwinnett County. She also develops lesson plans for Gwinnett County Profession Learning classes for first grade Social Studies, using Quality Plus Teaching Strategies. She holds a B.S. Ed. and an M.Ed. from the University of Georgia, and an Ed.S. from Piedmont College. In her spare time she loves reading, gardening, camping, and attending University of Georgia football games.