Success from the Start: How to Survive and Thrive Your First Three Years in the Classroom by Alton Ballance https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo So that we can make the most of our time at NCCAT--as well as begin to build supportive networks with other educators across North Carolina--let's get to know one another. Please share where you live, and one thing professional, personal and peculiar. Also, in a separate paragraph, please share any specific teaching concern you'd like to discuss or learn more about at NCCAT. en-us 2016-09-22 20:25:39 UTC 2016-09-27 21:05:22 UTC hello@padlet.com Alton Ballance - Ocracoke ballancea https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/125869928 Professional: I am a faculty member at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), where I design and conduct programs for public school teachers, mostly at our Ocracoke campus. 

Personal: I still live in the same Ocracoke house where my mother was born and lived all of her 77 years. I have two daughters, Maddie and Emma Reese.

Peculiar:  Before working for NCCAT I taught at Ocracoke School, the same school where I was once a student, graduating with six other classmates. Today there are approximately 170 students in this PreK - 12th grade island school.
]]> 2016-09-22 20:34:11 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/125869928 Amanda Hedden-Burlington https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126039420 Professional:  I am a Social Studies teacher at Cummings High School in Burlington, NC.  I teach Civics and Economics and American History II.

Personal:  I teach in the same district from which I graduated high school.  I live in my great-grandparents house that was built in 1948.

Peculiar:  I love the outdoors.  I also love to travel.  I have already visited seven countries and hope to add to the list!

I am interested in learning about how to make classes more interactive and moving while also maintaining management. I am also interested in learning how to bridge the gap in a high-poverty environment.]]> 2016-09-23 15:01:06 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126039420 Maddi Abrams- Raleigh https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126051381 Professional: I am a Blended Pre-K teacher at Poe Magnet Elementary in downtown Raleigh. Blended means that a little less than half of the children in my class have special needs and the other half are at-risk for a variety of other reasons. This is my second year teaching pre-k at Poe though last year I had a Title I class.

Personal: I live in Cary, NC with my pitbull mix Zoe who I just adopted in July. She is about 9 months old and we love going to the local dog park together.

Peculiar: I have never been to Ocracoke before. Or on a ferry where I could bring my car. Pretty excited to change this!

I am interested in learning more about positive behavior management systems as well as strategies for working with children in poverty.]]> 2016-09-23 15:34:29 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126051381 Paula Finn https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126053006 Professional: This is my 2nd year teaching 6th grade math at Forest Hills Middle School in Wilson, NC. I also coach our Heart and Sole team (middle school version of Girls on the Run).

Personal: Before I started teaching, I worked on cruise ships for 5 years (Disney and Carnival). While working in Australia on a ship, I met my husband, who is from England.

Peculiar: Each summer I go to the Bronx to be a Senior Camp Director with my husband. Through working on the cruise ships, and then traveling to visit friends from the ships, I have been able to visit 45 different countries around the world. 

I am interested in learning more about how to get some of our low-performing students to genuinely care and see the value their education.]]> 2016-09-23 15:39:21 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126053006 Carly Deal carly_deal https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126081876 Professional: I am a 2nd grade teacher at Wolf Meadow Elementary School in Concord, NC. This is my second year as a 2nd grade teacher and I love it!

Personal: I live in Charlotte, NC with my new puppy Bailey that I rescued in June.  She is the best thing to come home to after a day of teaching!

Peculiar: My love of travel was sparked by my family's road trips when I was a young girl- one (by car) to California that took over a month and the other to Niagara Falls (also by car) that lasted a few weeks.  We visited over 30 states.   I loved exploring our country and plan to continue exploring other parts of the word.

I'm looking forward to learning more about how to increase success for students living in poverty.]]> 2016-09-23 17:08:26 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126081876 Leon Dockery https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126115507 Professional:  I am an Air Force Junior ROTC Instructor (9-12) at Rocky Mount High School in Rocky Mount NC.  I just completed my 3rd year and know that learning is a lifetime adventure.

Personal:  I am married with 3 kids (2 girls and a boy), served 23 years in the military and am blessed to be living in NC doing something I love to do.

Peculiar:  I was not raised on a farm, however I we have chickens and a garden!  

I look forward to learning more about classroom management.]]> 2016-09-23 18:59:22 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126115507 Lyndsey Pelusi https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126116145 Professional: I am the Assistant Principal at Fred L. Wilson Elementary School in Kannapolis City Schools. Prior to becoming an AP, I taught 6th grade social studies and ELA at Kannapolis Intermediate School. I've also served as a teacher assistant and bus driver in Cabarrus County Schools.
Personal: I am married to a soldier and have a great dane, Stella! She looks just like Scooby-Doo! I live in Concord, just north of Charlotte.
Peculiar: I LOVE playing Call of Duty on X-Box One and killing zombies! :)]]> 2016-09-23 19:01:46 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126116145 Jessica Gordon https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126131772 Professional:  I am the Agriculture teacher at Northeastern Randolph Middle.  I teach Exploring Agriculture Science, Exploring Biotechnology and Exploring Environmental and Natural resources.  I have just entered my 3rd year of teaching.
Personal: My pets include 20 head of cattle, 4 pygmy goats and a puppy named Milo!  I live in Staley, NC, which is near the North Carolina Zoo.
Peculiar: I love to travel and see new places.  My future goal is to visit all 50 states!

I would like to know how to teach/help lower level learners without having to constantly stay by their side and help them with their work.]]> 2016-09-23 20:51:02 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126131772 David Gould - Jacksonville, NC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126161223 Professional:  Hello, I am the K-5 Visual Arts teacher at Parkwood Elementary in Jacksonville, NC.  I teach around 555 students once a week. A large portion of the students have parents who are: deployed, training, or retired. This is my fourth year at Parkwood. Prior to this, I taught both publicly and privately for ages 2-92, serving in a wide variety of roles.   
Personal:  My wife, Suzanne, is a retired art teacher, and is always a great source of inspiration to me.  We have three cats and four dogs, most of whom are rescues.
Pecular: I did a foreign exchange year right out of high school, and studied for about 2 1/2 years in Sweden, where I almost went native.  I did an old school apprenticeship in Ceramics, then did journeyman work in Norway and Greece for another 8 months.

Goal: I would like to be much more competent using technology to be global and differentiate for all students, especially students with special gifts, needs, and circumstantial challenges.]]> 2016-09-24 12:07:53 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126161223 Cindy Melton - Durham, NC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126161389 Professional: I'm on my third year of teaching Physical Education at Easley Year-Round Elementary in Durham, NC.

Personal: I've never been to the Outer Banks. I travel to the beach often, but it's usually to Emerald Isle or Wrightsville Beach.

Peculiar:  Despite being more of a "dog person," I live with two cats. Oh, and they do not get along whatsoever.]]> 2016-09-24 12:12:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126161389 Ruth Gourley-Wilmington, NC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126193015 Professional: I'm a second year elementary school teacher. Taught 5th grade science and am currently teaching 3rd grade. Before teaching I was a marine science educator for the NC Aquarium.
Personal: I am a wife and mother of a kindergartener and two spoiled dogs.
Peculiar: I'm a nature show junkie and love pop culture references and movie quotes.

Goals: To feel more confident in my classroom management skills as well as differentiation.]]> 2016-09-25 06:11:39 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126193015 Logan Macon - Greensboro, NC  https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126255501 Professional:
I am currently teaching for my second year at the Early Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro. I know, it's a mouthful. I teach Civics and Economics and World History. 

Personal: 
I graduated from UNCG and now live in Greensboro, NC. I grew up in Seagrove, NC which ironically is not on the coast but in the middle of the state. 

Peculiar:
I am an avid movie buff and often find ways to incorporate film into the classroom. In case you're curious, Star Wars is a fun way to teach Taoism. 

#Goals
I would love to learn more innovative ways to teach and manage my classroom.

]]> 2016-09-26 02:39:12 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126255501 Becky Holt-Wake Forest, NC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126255649 Professional: I'm a third year teacher and I teach 5th grade at Abbotts Creek Elementary in Raleigh. Teaching is my 3rd and last career!

Personal: I have two grown sons and have been married for 27 yrs.
 
Peculiar: I've taught at 3 different school in 3 years! I was following my principal...she's awesome!


]]> 2016-09-26 02:41:30 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126255649 Stephanie Roddy - New Bern, NC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126367625 Professional:  I am a second-year biology teacher at Early College EAST in Havelock. 
Personal: I have a red Australian Cattle dog named Red Molly (from the Richard Thompson song "1952 Vincent Black Lightning.").  She is ALL cattle dog, which can make life interesting sometimes. 
Peculiar: I once snowshoed Vermont's tallest mountain, completely by accident. 
Goals: To learn to better differentiate for very low and very high performing students in the same class.  To figure out some better classroom management strategies.  Also, as a lateral entry teacher, to try to pick up some of what I think I may have missed not actually doing education classes.  ]]> 2016-09-26 13:48:25 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126367625 Kriston Haynes- Wilson, NC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126817749 Professional: I'm a first year teacher in 8th grade math at Forest Hills Middle School in Wilson, NC.

Personal: I really enjoy traveling and spent the summer in Spain teaching English and learning Spanish culture.

Peculiar: One of my favorite jobs I have had is being a table games dealer at Harrah's Casino and Resort in Cherokee, NC so I'm really good at counting to 21.

Goals: Learning better classroom management skills and learning more teacher resources.]]> 2016-09-27 21:02:56 UTC https://padlet.com/ballancea/gmlvhkkjjpuo/wish/126817749