CHECK OUT MY BLOG!

 Hello Richland One! My name is Jennifer (Jenny) Thornsberry and I am the new Technology Educator for the Columbia Cluster along with Perry Middle School, Burnside Elementary and Arden Elementary. I thought it would be helpful to tell you a little about myself and where I come from.  My husband, son, dog and cat moved from Ypsilanti, Michigan so I could accept this position in Richland One.

I was raised in South Lyon, Michigan. After high school, I attended Saginaw Valley State University near Saginaw, Michigan and received a BA in History Education. After college, I was a guest teacher for a 1 1/2 years and really questioned if I wanted to teach. So, for the next 1 1/2 I worked for a local hospital in their Patient Financial Services Department. However, being away from education, made me realize that was my calling. So, in 1999 I accepted a position with the Alternative Education Program at Willow Run Community Schools. After a couple of years there, I was transferred to the high school where I taught 9th and 10th grade Language Arts as well as the Yearbook. During my tenure at Willow Run, I had the opportunity to develop several new technology classes such as Digital Imaging (Photoshop), Desktop Publishing, Intro to Print & Broadcast Media. I also took on the high school newspaper.

Technology really became my passion during this time. I was heavily involved in writing technology curriculum for the district not only at the high school level, but at the middle school and elementary as well. I also worked with a team of Mixed Arts teachers making sure the technology courses met the Michigan Benchmarks and Standards. One of my greatest accomplishments during my time in Willow Run was the productions of both the yearbook and newspaper. Both became award winning publications. In 2007, the newspaper, won a Spartan Award (highest award) from the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. In 2008, I was nominated by my students for the Golden Pen award sponsored by MIPA, in the world of Michigan Yearbook, it is like Coach of the Year.

One of the goals of the Instructional Technology Department this year is to work with more teachers in their classrooms with their students. If there is a project you need help with, please let me know. I am here to help. I am also creating on my blog a list of resources for teachers on different ways to integrate technology into their classrooms and their curriculum. Each idea presented will also list the specific benchmark and standard it addresses. Some of my tech passions: Photoshop Photography Elements of Design Digital Ethics Visual Literacy