Using iPods in the Classroom

Tami Lenker
tamilenker@hotmail.com

Tami is a native of the South Carolina midlands area.  She attended high school at Spring Valley High and then crossed the United States to Brigham Young University to earn her Bachelors degree in English. 

Tami has worked in education in various forms for the past twelve years. She began her career as a ninth and tenth grade English teacher at her alma mater Spring Valley High School and later moved to Ridgeview High School where she taught a wide range of students from those who could barely read to those on an honors level.

After she left the full time classroom, she worked in Richland Two schools as a classroom evaluator; she taught fourteen and fifteen year-old Sunday school classes; and she ran an in-home preschool where she taught children ages 3-6. For nearly three years, she has served as the director of the children’s Sunday school in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Blythewood ward. Overseeing the large children’s program involves organizing the teaching of 150 children ages 18 months to 12 years old during a two hour block on Sundays as well as various weekly activities including Cub Scouts and quarterly teacher training classes.

Last fall, Tami returned to college for the first time since 1993. She is pursuing a Masters degree in Educational Technology from USC. It has been an exciting and challenging few months as she learns to juggle the responsibilities of home and school.  Tami purchased her first iPod three months ago and wonders what she ever did without it.

Neshunda Walters is a post graduate student seeking an Educational Specialists' degree in Education Administration.  She completed both her undergraduate and master's degrees at the University of South Carolina.  Neshunda has spent the past twelve years working in education where she has served as a biology teacher, student activities director and assitant administrator.  She is currently an Assistant Principal at Spring Valley High School in Richland School District Two.

Karen Pardue is a first grade teacher at Arden Elementary, Columbia, South Carolina. She serves as department chair and mentors new teachers in the induction program at the district level. Currently pursuing a Masters Degree of Educational Technology at the University of South Carolina, she enjoys using technology in the classroom and is constantly searching for innovative ways to engage her students in learning. One of Karen’s greatest joys is teaching young students to read, as this is a life-long skill that will help students reach their full potential in unlimited future possibilities. Technology plays an important role in her reading curriculum. Karen earned her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from USC in 1993 and achieved certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2005.