About+Jean+Thorpe

I have taught both children and adults of all ages throughout in my career, at each level from elementary, to middle, to high school. I have enjoyed each different job in education from first grade teacher, to educational supervisor, to college adjunct professor, to my current position, reading specialist at Roberts School in Upper Merion Area School District.

I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science degree and certification in early childhood and elementary education and a Master of Education degree with a concentration in elementary mathematics education. I also hold certifications as an Elementary and Early Childhood Supervisor, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction K-12, and Reading Specialist K-12.

I have been at UMASD for 21 years. I taught 8th grade reading at the middle school and was the first IST teacher in the district (at Caley and Bridgeport schools). I have also served as a Subject Area Leader for elementary math, science and social studies as well as on various district-wide and school committees including technology, language arts, IST, and Faculty Advisory. Two highlights of my tenure at UMASD have been working on Caley's //National Blue Ribbon Schools// application, which we were awarded ranking number 1 in Pennsylvania, and being nominated for and inducted into the //UMASD Wall of Fame//.

Outside of the district, I have served on the Keystone Technology Integrators Advisory Committe e and on the PDE //Mathematics and Reading Assessment Advisory Committees// for 3rd through 5th grade since 1998. I also served on the //Governor's Institutes for Middle School and High School Content Area Literacy// steering committees and was a facilitator at the Middle School Institute. I also teach at Widener and St. Joseph's Universities. I am proud to say that I was nominated as the //Outstanding University College Faculty Member// at Widener in 2004 and 2006.

As much as I love teaching reading and math, I caught the "technology bug" when I booted up my first Apple IIe in 1985! Each year I see my students’ academic skills, motivation to learn, and ability to share and collaborate with their classmates increase as I infuse more technology into my teaching such as podcasting//,// streaming video and the Smart Board to bring the ideas in the books we are reading to life. A UMAEF grant provided Palm handheld computers and keyboards which gave my students daily access to a tool that made writing a pleasure rather than a chore.

I have enjoyed participating in three innovative technology projects at UMASD over the past 10 years - //Technology Enhanced Instructional Design in Mathematics// (1999-2000), //TechPD// (fall 2000) and the //Palm Pioneers// grant in 2001-2003, as well as serving on the district technology committee and providing technology training to district staff. In 2006, I was chosen as a State level Keystones: Technology Integrator and enjoyed attending the Keystones Summit at St. Francis University in August 2006.

I have also been a facilitator of online professional development courses such as Data-Driven Decision Making, Content Area Reading and Webquests. I also worked with a colleague from Hershey, PA to develop an online course specifically for Pennsylvania educational professionals which focuses on using online resources to enhance elementary reading and writing skills. This course was offered by Pa e-Learning for Educators in 2010 and 2011.

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