Becoming @TannenbaumTech #FCPSsbts @Saratoga_ES
They say that you are uniquely positioned to help the person you once were. That’s where my story begins. I was an elementary school tech coach who struggled to use technology with my young learners. I looked everywhere for the answers and couldn’t find them. So I began a journey to find them myself.
Hi, I'm Debbie Tannenbaum and I am a School Based Technology Specialist in Fairfax County, Virginia. I am in my seventh year in this position and my twenty-sixth year in education. This is an exciting and innovative position and I love it! As you can see, I love learning and have a growth mindset. I love helping students and teachers use technology as a tool for creation to activate and amplify student learning.
It all depends on the learning outcomes.
I have always loved using technology. I got my Masters in Educational Technology from Johns Hopkins University back in 2002. (Wow, a lot has changed since then!) As technology tools changed, I continued using technology to enhance student learning. Before becoming a Technology Specialist, I was a classroom teacher (mostly 4th and 5th grades) for 19 years after graduating from University of Maryland, College Park (Go Terps!). Most of my teaching career, I taught in Montgomery County Public Schools.
In the fall of 2017, I began working in Fairfax County Public Schools. My principal @tchrwithatitle encouraged us to join Twitter. Through my experiences with Twitter, I built an amazing #PLN and that lead me to my current position as a School Based Technology Specialist- my dream job! I love my job. I still get to work with students and share amazing technology tools with them to help them learn, Plus, I get to work with teachers and other staff to help them discover the opportunity technology can provide them and their students.
In addition to my "day job," I blog and speak regularly. My first book, TRANSFORM: Techy Notes To Make Learning Sticky was published on May 20, 2021. I am currently working on book #2.