About
As your Learning Technologies team, we are here to help you integrate technology into your curriculum. We will be there with you from concept to lesson plan, from instruction to publication. Schedule an appointment…and let’s start planning!
Mission:
The mission of BISD Instructional Technology is to positively impact student learning as we Engage, Equip, Enable, and Encourage teachers, through staff development and resources, to use emerging technology effectively and efficiently in the classroom.
Values:
- Integrity is the foundation for building relationships that inspire trust and promote ethical behavior.
- Dependability is essential for creating an environment of mutual respect and support.
- Collaboration is vital for opening lines of communication, encouraging partnerships and creating transparency in decision making.
- Dedication is providing committed, loyal support with a servant’s heart.
- Respect allows for the appreciation of each person’s value and contribution as a human being.
Director of Learning Technologies: Sandra Hines
Elementary Learning Technologist: Teresa Sumrall
Secondary Learning Technologist: Kim Estes
Learning Technologies Director: Sandra Hines
Website | Blog | shines@burlesonisd.net
This is Sandra’s eighth year in the district. She served two years as the IC/assistant principal of the Academy at Nola Dunn, one year as the Instructional Technology Coordinator, a year back in the classroom as a math specialist when the district cut back on funds, and then the remaining years back as the Instructional Technology Coordinator. She thinks she has the absolute best job in the district. Before coming to Burleson, she taught nine years in Birdville ISD. She loves teaching and occasionally works as an adjunct professor at TCU’s School of Education, her alma mater. Some highlights of Sandra’s teaching career include an 18 month endeavor that ended in her students having the opportunity to ask questions of astronauts as they orbited the earth aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as part of the SAREX payload in 1994 and helping to dig up a dinosaur while participating in the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s first annual Lone Star Dino Dig. She loves spending time with her grandchildren, is active in her church, and enjoys reading Christian fiction and working and relaxing in her backyard eclectic garden area. One of her favorite restaurants is Fuzzy’s Tacos across from her beloved TCU campus. She is dedicated to serving the teachers of Burleson by supporting their use of technology as they develop world class learners.
Sandra’s Take on Technology: “Technology can make the ordinary extraordinary, the mundane enjoyable, and the dreaded bearable. Technology, when used appropriately in our classrooms can stimulate creativity and allow students to be more imaginative and productive with their work. ”
Just the Facts, Ma’am:…
Favorite Drink: Diet vanilla coke, raspberry tea, coffee with hazelnut creamer and lots of sweetner
Favorite Food/Snack: Chocolate, ice cream, Mexican food
Favorite Author: Dee Henderson, Frank Peretti, Jan Karon
College & Mascot: TCU Horned Frogs Rule!
Favorite Song: Through It All
Favorite Movie: Calendar Girls
Favorite Gadget: My Treo
Favorite Cartoon Character: Charlie Brown
Certification: Elementary Education, Master Technology Teacher, Principal certifications
What do you want to be when you grow up? a killer whale trainer or a professor
Your Passion? Living for Christ and helping teachers use technology.
Elementary Learning Technologist: Teresa Sumrall
Website | Blog | tsumrall@burlesonisd.net
This is Teresa’s first year with Burleson. She served four years as the Instructional Technology Specialist at Barton Elementary in Irving ISD, eight years as classroom teacher, and two years as Computer Lab Manager. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. She also earned her Master of Science in Computer Education & Cognitive Systems from the University of North Texas. As she embarks upon a new experience in her career, she is looking forward to this new challenge and to starting a new phase of her profession. Teresa is married and has one daughter, Kristine and one son, Jason. Kristine is a student at Texas State working on her EC – 4th teaching degree. Jason has completed two years at Blinn Jr. College. He is interested in attending the Columbia School of Broadcast starting in the Fall.
Teresa’s Take on Technology: My objective is to use my teaching experience and technology training to effectively use technology in the teaching and learning process in a public school setting.
Just the Facts, Ma’am…
Favorite Drink: Peach Tea
Favorite Food/Snack: Mexican food, chocolate candy bars with almonds or peanuts
Favorite Author: Nicholas Sparks
College & Mascot: University of Texas (my husband’s favorite)
Favorite Song: Walking on Sunshine
Favorite Movie: Gone With the Wind
Favorite Gadget: Cell Phone
Favorite Cartoon Character: Thumper, from the movie Bambi “If you can’t say somethin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.”
Certification: Elementary Education Grades (1-8), Technology Applications EC-12th Grade
What do you want to be when you grow up? A fun-loving individual that always strives to put others first.
Your Passion? To live by example, it is not what is outside, but what is inside that counts.
Secondary Learning Technologist: Kim Estes
Website | Blog | Wiki | kestes@burlesonisd.net
An Army Brat and a Navy wife, Kim Estes has seen quite a bit of the world. She has lived in several countries on three different continents. She attended Florida State University (Panama Canal Campus) and graduated from Jacksonville State University with a degree in English with an Art History minor. This August she earned a Masters’ Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an specialization in Technology and begins her second Masters’ in Educational Technology Leadership in the spring of 2009. Kim has worked at BHS for one year as an English teacher, and held the same position in Alvarado for seven years. She has been a yearbook sponsor, prom sponsor, implemented the first AHS Fish Camp, and is proud to say that her daughter, Amanda, is studying Theatre at Sam Houston State University. Speaking of Kim’s children, she has five children ranging in age from 5 years-old to 18. She has been happily married for 14 years to retired Navy Chief, Tony Estes. Some of you may have seen Kim in the Burleson Community Theater’s production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe. She loves the theatre, and even co-directed a State-Competing UIL One-Act Play troupe in 2005. She is very excited to work with teachers and looks forward to helping them integrate useful technology into their curriculum to better student understanding and to promote student success.
Kim’s Take on Technology: “Technology is neither inherently good, nor inherently evil. It is what we choose to DO with that technology that determines it’s beneficial or detrimental effect on society. We have to take technology back from those who would exploit it’s baser, destructive, demeaning applications, and use it to help foster improvement, understanding, and positive growth.”
Just the Facts, Ma’am…
Favorite Drink: Diet Coke with Lime, Double Chocolate Coconut Latte with a double shot of espresso (JJ’s) or a Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino with Creme (Starbucks)
Favorite Food/Snack: Chocolate…and, um…Chocolate
Favorite Author: William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Kahlil Gibran, Dean R. Koontz, James Michner, Dan Brown
College & Mascot: Jacksonville State University…Go Gamecocks!
Favorite Song: Why by Annie Lennox
Favorite Movie: Sense and Sensibility, The Quiet Man, White Christmas, Under the Tuscan Sun, Going My Way, An Ideal Husband, and ANY cheesy 80′s film
Favorite Gadget: My 60G Video iPod…4456 songs and counting!
Favorite Cartoon Character: Betty Boop
Certification: Secondary English
What do you want to be when you grow up? If I can be even half the woman my mother is…I will be blessed.
Your Passion? Computers (duh), Shakespeare, Theatre, Music, Finding the Ulitimate Cup of Coffee, Fine Chocolate, and Viggo Mortneson!