Category Archives: Meet the EdCampers

Meet Shawn Beard, Google for Education Certified Trainer / Dir. or Career Tech & Virtual Learning

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What’s your first and last name?

  • Shawn Beard

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Google for Education Certified Trainer / Dir. or Career Tech & Virtual Learning

How are you involved in education?

  • I wear many hats as an educator. I have been involved in education since 1996. Currently I serve as the Director of Career Tech and Virtual Learning at Sand Springs Schools. I also serve as a district Professional Development Trainer. In my spare time/side job, I provide training to districts in Google Apps as a Google for Education Certified Trainer.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • My ideal classroom would be an open concept with no desks in rows. Students would be able to work in groups, but still have the ability to move about freely. Wifi would be available, as they would be using mobile devices for research and to produce work. Students would have the ability to engage with technology as a learning tool, but would also be expected to teach others using technology.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • Everything you want to know about…
    Google Apps for Education
    Learning Styles & Teaching

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampTulsa, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Kristi Merchant, Library Media Specialist at Carver Middle School

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What’s your first and last name?

  • Kristi Merchant

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Library Media Specialist at Carver Middle School

How are you involved in education?

  • My goals are to not only provide quality resources (technology included!), but also provide learning opportunities to use them.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • Library is truly the hub of learning activity. Students are engaged in inquiry driven projects. Colleagues are motivated to try new strategies. I’m smack in the middle of this amazing education experience challenging others to take it to the next level.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • I enjoy sharing my ninja search strategies using Google.

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampTulsa, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Michelle Butler, Principal, Tulsa MET Jr. High & High School

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What’s your first and last name?

  • Michelle Butler

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Principal, Tulsa MET Jr. High & High School

How are you involved in education?

  • I am the principal of Tulsa MET Jr. High & High School. I work with students who enjoying thinking outside of the box and who are looking for a more personalized approach to learning.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • I see students and teachers involved in interdisciplinary units with lots of student choice and student voice. Students are working on personal projects that cover topics of their choosing while also including lots of depth and rigor. Real-world learning and movement are evident in all assignments.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • Interdisciplinary units – lessons that combine multiple academic areas so students learn the connections between the subjects

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampTulsa, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Cindy Barber, Coordinator of Instructional Materials

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What’s your first and last name?

  • Cindy Barber

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Coordinator of Instructional Materials

How are you involved in education?

  • I am the Instructional Materials Coordinator for TPS.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • My ideal classroom is a giant room filled with students. Students seated and standing. Students working is small groups and independently. Students questioning, exploring and inspiring each other to think outside the box and share their ideas without inhibition.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • Newest spark on the horizon of my interest is PechaKucha, a fast-paced presentation style from Japan.

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampTulsa, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet LeeAnne Pepper, Academic Coordinator for Instructional Technology & Elementary Mathematics

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What’s your first and last name?

  • LeeAnne Pepper

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Academic Coordinator for Instructional Technology & Elementary Mathematics

How are you involved in education?

  • I support TPS educators with elementary mathematics instruction and curriculum resources.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • My ideal classroom would be a classroom where students and teachers have what they need on any given day at their fingertips. Students are actively involved in their learning and with making choices about their learning. The teacher is guiding student to conceptualize information and then practice with that understanding. My ideal school and classroom is a place where fun and excitement is on the forefront for everyone!

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • How does a teacher know they are ready to teach a lesson?

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampTulsa, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Vicki Ruzicka, Academic Coordinator for Instructional Media and Library Services

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What’s your first and last name?

  • Vicki Ruzicka

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Academic Coordinator for Instructional Media and Library Services

How are you involved in education?

  • I support librarians with consultancy and training for TPS

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • My ideal library features students readily working combining technology with research to create new learning for sharing with thier classmates and other learners beyond the structures of their school building.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • Digital Storytelling

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampTulsa, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Drew Robinson, Instructional Technology Coach

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What’s your first and last name?

  • Drew Robinson

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Instructional Technology Coach

How are you involved in education?

  • I help teachers integrate technology into their classrooms and curriculum.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • Lots of bean bags! Ha! But actually, I’d love to see open meeting space with comfortable seating. Desks, not so much!

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • Google Cardboard

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampTulsa, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.

Meet Valarie Farrow, Assistant Prinicpal

What’s your first and last name?

  • Valarie Farrow

What do you teach / what is your ‘title’ at school?

  • Assistant Prinicpal

How are you involved in education?

  • As an Assistant Prinicpal at Will Rogers College JH & HS I oversee various departments such as SPED, ELL Gifted & Talented, PLC’s, and Athletics. I am also the lead principal over the freshman class. I am currently in my 25th year of education in Oklahoma, serving as a classroom teacher and athletic coach at several smaller districts across the northeastern portion of the state before joining Tulsa Public Schools in 2004.

What does your ideal school or classroom look like?

  • An ideal classroom will see all students actively engaged in learning centers, that are differentiated to reach multiple learning styles. The use of technology is being used as an extension of the teacher to enhance a blended learning model.

If you were to lead a session at Edcamp, what would it be about?

  • I have presented pervious sessions at Northeastern State University/Broken Arrow and Tulsa Public Schools EdTech Plugged In on Building Your PLN through Twitter and Branding Your School or Classroom.

Do you have a website or blog?

Are you on Twitter?


If you are attending EdCampTulsa, we’d love to feature your information here too! Please submit this contribution form, including a small photo we can use in your post.