Erin M. Thaler
Kennesaw, GA
Erin.Thaler@cobbk12.org

Education

University of Kansas
Doctoral Candidate in Teaching and Leadership, Anticipated graduation August 2005
Proposed dissertation topic: Interdisciplinary Education in the Secondary Classroom
Kansas Standard 3 Year Certification - Secondary English through April 2005

Emory University
Master in Education, August 1999
Bachelor of Arts in English, May 1996
Georgia Secondary T-5 English Certification and Teacher Support Specialist Certification through June 2006

Experience

Osborne High School
Marietta, Georgia
English Teacher, 2003-present

• Courses:
  Multicultural Literature - 12th grade College Prep
  World Literature Honors - 10th grade College Prep
• Initial team member trained for Learning Focused Schools
• Data Team Committee

University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Learning Generation Graduate Research Assistant, 2002-2003

• Develop and document process for matching preservice teachers and cooperating teachers with an interest in technology
  http://learngen.org/cohorts/field
• Create surveys (paper and online) for faculty, preservice teachers, and cooperating teachers to discern potential match-characteristics in student teaching placements
• Select participants based on survey results, interviews, and observations for pilot program
• Support Office of Field Experience

KU Math and Science Center Writing Across the Curriculum Coordinator, Summers 2002 and 2003

• Designed and implemented writing activities that naturally integrate and involve students’ learning in the summer program
• Collaborated with classroom teachers on ways to effectively introduce writing into their math, science, and foreign language curriculum
• Assembled a 65-page resource guide inserted into student organizers. Content included goal setting, thinking skills, grammar and literary analysis information, source documentation, science and social studies charts, and solving math word problem

KU Professional Development Schools (PDS) Support, Spring 2002

• Analyze and synthesize data from national study of initial preparation of preservice teachers
• Develop PowerPoint presentation of study for AACTE National Conference
• Maintain and provide technical support for Web site
• Coordinate administrative aspects of Action Research Workshop
• Attend and facilitate technology demonstrations at monthly Executive Council meetings
• Support Office of Field Experiences

Field Service Supervisor, 2000-2004

• Observe and evaluate elementary and secondary preservice teachers
• Assist in production of new formative and summative assessments for student teaching and internship experiences

Latino Summer Science Academy
Saint Mary College - Leavenworth, Kansas
Teacher, Summers 2001 - 2003

• Taught Latino high school students to build a computer
• Instructed and tested students on the hardware parts of the computers built
• Taught computer applications: word processing, presentation software, and Internet use

Tech Corps Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Director of Programs, 2000-2001

• Distributed donated hardware and software, met with potential contributors, and represented Tech Corps at national conference
• Mentored middle school students to construct Living Legacy project

Sprayberry High School
Marietta, Georgia
English Teacher, 1996-2000

• Lead-teacher of vocational English classes
• Courses taught:
  • College Preparatory - 9^th grade, 10^th grade, 12^th grade World Literature
  • Vocational - 9^th grade Communication Skills, 12^th grade Technical Communications
• Technology Committee member (school and county levels)
• United Colors Cultural Diversity Club cosponsor
• English Department Writing Lab Manager

The Temple
Atlanta, Georgia
Retreat Coordinator/Teacher, 1992-1998

• Coordinated and supervised eight 4^th-8^th grade overnight retreats a year
• Religious School Committee member
• Taught weekly 4^th and 5^th grade Hebrew Sunday School classes

Professional Development

"Enhancing Cross-Curricular Projects with Technology" ­ Piper USD 203
Co-presenter for 8 hour hands-on workshop, April 2001
/drthaler/piper.html

"What the Sidewalk Hides: Understanding and Sustaining Students at Risk"
Speaker at Saint Mary College ASCD Chapter, February 2001
PowerPoint Presentation

Question-Answer Relationship (QAR) Presentation - Holy Trinity Schools
August 2000

"Meeting at the Crossroads: Enhancing Cross-curricular Projects with Technology"
Co-presenter for 3 hour hands-on workshop - National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), June 2000

"Multiculturalism Among the Genres in the High School Classroom"
Co-presenter for 2 hour session - Georgia Council of Teachers of English (GCTE) Conference, February 2000

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Cultural Diversity in Metro Atlanta High School Literature Curriculum
Participant in bimonthly meetings throughout the school year, 1996
Presented "Adjusting the Mirror" article describing methods for viewing literature as a representation of culture as a panel member at GCTE Conference, February 1998

Honors and Awards

• Pi Lambda Theta - 2001
• Who's Who Among America's Teachers - 2000 Edition
• Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges - 2000 Edition
• Faculty Appreciation Award - Class of 2000 Sprayberry High School

Web-Based Curriculum Support Materials

DRThaler's Method of Madness, created 1997
Personal site housing curriculum support materials for doctoral work, professional development, and high school teaching experiences
http://www.geocities.com/drthaler

Field Experience Cohort: Placing Student Teachers in Technology-Appropriate Schools
Developed site to support the work and findings of this Learning Generation cohort
http://learngen.org/cohorts/field

Knowledgeable Neighbors Embrace the World
Co-creator of site to promote understanding and knowledge of American cultures
http://www25.brinkster.com/kneworld

A Guide to James Gunn’s The Road to Science Fiction #3: From Heinlein to Here
Conceived this teacher’s guide as a discovery of science fiction organized by theme, structured by the carbon atom
http://people.ku.edu/~drthaler/

Light Our Candles
Assisted in Web site development and coordinated the information for the Judaism section
http://lightourcandles.tripod.com/

Meeting at the Crossroads: Enhancing Cross-Curricular Projects with Technology
Agenda, activities, and resultant participant unit tracks from the NECC 2000 Workshop
http://www.geocities.com/drthaler/necc.html

Georgia Learning Connections - Ambassador June 1999 to 2000
Created annotated links for the Georgia Department of Education's online curriculum resource. Promoted and trained colleagues in effective use of site.
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/

TrackStar Tracks
Tracks were used to investigate cultural aspects of literature to establish prior knowledge and frame of reference for reading. Track IDs in ().
Human Rights Exploration (42770, Track-A-Day); The Pearl (31993, Premier Track); Things Fall Apart Nigeria Study (394, Premier Track); In the Time of the Butterflies (42732); Multi-culture Research (350); The Chosen and World Religions (626)
http://trackstar.hprtec.org

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References

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