2007-2008 Armstrong Teacher Educator Biographies
Pam Fischer has been teaching for the last fifteen years of her nineteen-year career as a high school English teacher at Lawrence Central High School. Pam’s passion for international education was sparked during her student teaching experience in Cheltenham, England. She subsequently had the opportunity to teach at the American Community School in London early in her career. Whether her students are in remedial sophomore English class or Advanced Placement (AP) Literature and Composition, Pam tries to bring the world into her classroom by encouraging her students to read translated works and to foster in them a sense that they are global citizens of the world. She is a frequent guest speaker at the Cultural Immersions Projects spring workshop at Indiana University and had the honor of being the recent keynote speaker at their summer conference. Pam is humbled by honors including being recently selected to be an AP Reader for the AP Literature and Composition Exam, receiving a scholarship to study in Oxford, being named a Golden Apple Award recipient, and being a six-time recipient of the Top 30 Honored Educator Award by her graduating seniors.
Sue Keene, a 32-year teaching veteran and National Board Certified Teacher, works in MSD of Decatur Township. She is presently collaborating with the district and Panther Racing, a local IndyCar team, to develop a rigorous standards-based curriculum focusing on the exciting world of motorsports. The Panther Education Center will provide an experiential racing opportunity focusing on Science, Math, and Language Arts for fifth through ninth grades.
After graduating from Indiana University, Sue began her career teaching fourth grade on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona and returned to Indiana, four years later, to teach fourth grade at Decatur’s West Newton Elementary School. In 2002, she began facilitating the National Challenger Center for Space Science Education’s first EdVenture Lab. The national test site, the EdVenture Lab represents the next generation of multi-media computer labs promoting inquiry. Sue worked with district teachers developing curricula for kindergarten through fifth grade students to create literacy and inquiry-based science and math lessons. In addition, she provides district staff development to support teacher’s professional growth by modeling best classroom practices, inquiry modules, and technology integration in unique EdVenture Lab and Panther Education Center activities. Sue is also a University of Indianapolis adjunct professor teaching Elementary Science Methods to preservice teachers. She loves sharing her enthusiasm of technology and inquiry to help teachers make a positive impact in student learning.
Sue’s awards include the 2005 Indiana Computer Educators (ICE) Technology Advocate of the Year, 1996 ICE Teacher of the Year, IPL Golden Apple, West Newton Elementary Teacher of the Year, and numerous grants for use of innovative technology. She is a state certified mentor teacher, serves as CIESC’s StarLab teacher trainer, and is a member of the ICE Conference Committee.
This Madison County farm girl has been an elementary teacher in Anderson Community Schools since August 1993. She’s taught grades one, three, four, five, and six. She’s also traveled to France for three “Back-to-Back” French-American exchange trips as the bilingual counselor (interpreter).
Her classroom is one of adventure, challenge, high energy, and fun. She incorporates humor, song & dance, and French to keep her students excited about the many hands-on activities she does at school. She has a great rapport with her students, as they (and their parents) usually call her “Miss K.” One of her favorite sounds in the world is children’s laughter.
Angie’s accolades include nominations for the Disney Teacher Award and the Anderson Community Schools’ Teacher of the Year Award. She was recently named to the Board of Directors for the Indiana Education Network.
Her extensive training in mathematics has afforded her opportunities as a district staff development trainer, a district math coach, and a district coordinator with the Indiana Mathematics Initiative. She travels the country as a math consultant and works as an adjunct professor for Anderson University.
Angie’s coached high school volleyball, basketball, and track. She’s currently an assistant track/field coach for Anderson University. She graduated from Purdue University in 1988 and is currently pursuing a masters’ degree in educational administration at Anderson University.
Greg Lineweaver has been an English teacher for nine years. Certified in English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Greg is currently teaching 9th grade English/Humanities at Herron High School, a liberal arts early-college charter school in downtown Indianapolis that opened in 2006. Attracted by its ambitious vision and unique opportunities (including a formal partnership with Marian College), Greg joined Herron after having taught three years at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana, four years at Lake High School in Uniontown, Ohio, and one year at Nicholas Senn High School in Chicago, Illinois. He has taught students of all abilities at all four high school grade levels in settings ranging from urban to rural. Greg has conducted numerous workshops at the district and building level in the areas of: reading, writing and thinking strategies; Writing Across the Curriculum; and educational technology. He has also worked with the Butler University College of Education in an advisory capacity, as a student teacher mentor, as a special methods cooperating teacher, and as a co-presenter of an effective teaching practice summer workshop.
Susan has been a middle school teacher at Tri-County Middle Senior High School for thirteen years. She has taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grade reading, sixth and seventh grade English, and sixth grade Social Studies. She is also currently serving as a part time Reading Coach. She has served on a North Central Evaluation team, currently serves on the School Improvement and Literacy Committee, and recently became a state certified mentor. She sponsors the Reader’s Digest Word Power Challenge and has taken students to the state level competition for the past four years.
Susan is constantly looking for ways to use real life applications in her classroom as well as ways to incorporate the use of technology. She is currently having her students produce an iMovie on metaphors. She created a program entitled “Reading Duets” for struggling readers to get additional reading time at home as well as TREASURE: an acronym that stands for Try Reading for Excitement, Adventure, Suspense, and Unbelievably Rewarding Experiences. This reading incentive program rewards students with an afternoon trip to Barnes & Noble to buy books!
Lori Sampson has been teaching for twenty-five years in the Avon Community School Corporation. She has taught grades kindergarten through eighth. Lori has been actively involved in the creation and development of the school corporation’s gifted and talented (higher ability) program. She is currently teaching sixth grade in the Higher Ability Program. Lori and her sixth grade colleagues have created a standards based interdisciplinary unit entitle Hoosier Hysteria. Lori and Mendy Smith, also a sixth grade teacher, have presented this unit to several teachers from across the state. Lori has also presented information on student-led conferences to her colleagues and at the IMLEA Conference. During the summer, Lori is an instructor for graduate classes. Lori has been named Teacher of the Year for Avon Middle School and Avon Intermediate School. She was also named Avon Community School’s Teacher of the Year. Lori believes that is important to give back to the community. She does this by being involved with her church, the American Cancer Society, and Avon Education Foundation. Lori loves being with her family and friends at family outings and sporting events.
Throughout my 18 years of teaching Spanish, I continually challenge myself to improve my abilities and the cultural content in my classes whether it be at the secondary, post-secondary, or private level. I spent a month in four different Venezuelan cities as a member of a Rotary Club Group Study Exchange in 1997. I have participated in workshops in San Luis Potosí and Querétaro, Mexico. Being from Jamaica and a naturalized American citizen allow me to bring cultural awareness and enrichment to my students.
In the Howard County area, I am a fellow of the VISION Teacher Enhancement Program, (Vision of Industries and Schools In On-going Networks). Teachers can visit local companies and formulate ideas to enhance lessons in the two-week experience. I subsequently became the mentor teacher for two years which gave me valuable experiences in collaborating with many business leaders in Kokomo, Peru, and Tipton.
I presented twice at the Indiana Foreign Language Teachers Association conference. One came after my trip to Venezuela, and in 2005, after collaborating with Social Studies teachers in the Capitol Forum Indiana Program. Currently, I assist in negotiating the teachers’ contract and serve as Northwestern Schools’ teacher representative to the WV/WCI School Insurance Trust.