LISA SMITH

EDUCATION

My name is Lisa Smith and I am in my last year at Boise State University completing my Master's degree in Educational Technology specializing in technology integration K-20.

I received my Bachelor's degree from Idaho State University in Secondary Education - Business Technology Education 6-Adult and an Endorsement in Library Science K-12.

CAREER

Currently I am the Media Director at Eastside School in Cody, Wyoming. I teach media and technology skills to K-5 students. I also manage our Media Center and computer labs in our building. During the summer I am in charge of technology for our K-8 summer school students.

CAREER ACHIEVMENTS

I was very frustrated with the websites that I was finding for my students, everything had advertising! Due to my frustration, I developed a website for my students that has grown into a huge educational resource for teachers and students all over the World. I am very proud of the website and the many awards it has received.

The Golden Apple award for teaching was another highlight of my career. I have only been teaching nine years and was very surprised to have won that honor.

I have developed several International Collaborative Projects. These projects involved students throughout the U.S. and South Africa, Australia, and the United Kingdom. I learned so much from these projects as did my students. Incorporating global projects within my technology curriculum is a goal of mine. Global Education and Humane Education are two areas that I will continually pursue throughout my career and life. Right, is a picture of some the students we worked with from the U.K.

I developed an after school technology club for Gifted and Talented students and teamed them up with At-risk students. Combining the two groups of students proved to be very advantageous for all. We all learned to work with one another and listen to others' opinions. We learned many technology skills. I am currently taking this year off from tech club to finish my degree.

And finally, I have made it a goal of mine to use open source or free web-based software for the majority of my teaching. Keeping up on all the new products that are available is a challenge. I think that using these valuable resources could help diminishing technology budgets. I use open source and free web-based software to reduce the digital divide amongst my students.

FAMILY

I am the mother of three children ranging from twenty to eleven. My husband and I moved from Pocatello, Idaho seven years ago to Cody, Wyoming. We have recently moved to Powell, Wyoming, which is only twenty minutes to Cody. We moved to a very rural area near the Shoshone river. Living in the country on several acres has been a dream of my husband and I for a long time. Below is a picture of Heart Mountain...a view I see every morning!

 

 

This picture shows Heart Mountain. Heart Mountain was once home of a Japanese Relocation Camp.

Currently the Heart Mountain Foundation is building an Interpretive Center. Learn more about the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp by clicking on the picture.

 

 

 

FUN

I find myself struggling to find time to have fun, but when I do find the time, I enjoy cycling, geo caching, hanging out with my husband and kids. Working on our home, reading and needlework. I hope once I graduate, I can begin some new hobbies that I have been wanting to learn: guitar, rowing and traveling.

Back to the Top