What do you do?
I’m a K-4 Technology Facilitator (”Computer Teacher,” professional developer, technology integration specialist, etc.) at an elementary school in southern New Jersey. When I’m not with my students, I’m helping other teachers infuse their lessons with technology, mingling with my Personal Learning Network (PLN) colleagues from around the world, or strategically conniving with other district and community leaders about improving education in our school and the world. I’m pretty clickable, just Google me…
What do you wish you did?
Exactly what I’m doing, except that instead of teaching in a lab, I want someday to be a regular classroom teacher in my district. I love what I do, and it’s awesome to know (on a good day) literally every kid in my town by first name (I have 540+ students). I’ve only been teaching seven years. I walked away from the corporate world after 9/11 to pursue teaching as a second career. Today, by the grace of God, I have the job of my dreams in the town where I live (and I walk 1.5 blocks to work every day…)
Have you ever been to a BarCamp before? If so, which one(s)?
Never before. Missed BarCamp Philly in 2008 and swore I would NOT miss it in 2009!
If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?
TEACHING AS A SECOND CAREER: DREAM COME TRUE OR NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET? With the current state of the economy, many people are looking at getting into teaching. Some because they seemingly have no other choice, others because it’s something they’ve always wanted to do. States across the country are either ramping up or implementing programs for these career-changers. Will they succeed in the classroom? Why or why not? What awaits them? Will they be able to leverage their past work experience and expertise and create and energized classroom environment? Will they be able to deal with the bureaucracy? High-stakes testing? The low pay? Will the intrinsic rewards be enough to sustain them? This could be an awesome talk…
Give us one interesting fact about yourself!
I willingly (and enthusiastically) took a $62,000 pay cut to become an elementary schoolteacher!
Got a website or blog?
ncs-tech.org
Twitter?
@kjarrett
One Comment
As a colleague I want to say that Kevin Jarrett is what education is all about… he “gets it”! That being said, $62,000? Dude! That’s more than most teachers annual! Sadly, says volumes about how we value education.
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