My name is Carrie Franz and this is my fifth year teaching elementary school. I have been "playing teacher" since I myself was in elementary school. I was lucky enough to have a younger brother who would let me play teacher as he would sit back taking pretend spelling tests! After graduating from the University of Washington, I moved back home to California to pursue my teaching credentials through the ACT program at the California State University of Northridge. After receiving my credentials, I almost immediately landed a job with the Newhall School District. I have been at McGrath Elementary School for 5 years now where I have taught 1, 2, & 3 grade. I can honestly say I have the best job in America!

As a 5th year teacher, I have quickly learned that I have an incredibly profound influence on the lives of my students. It is important to me that my students feel worthy, safe, and capable of overcoming any challenges that come their way. It is my job to provide them with a vast array of strategies and skills to be able to be successful learners. Every year I look forward to building new relationships with my students that will last a lifetime. After all, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire!" -William Butler Yeates

This course is an advanced level course in technology that is completed online via a program called WebCT. The assignments in the course are designed specifically for elementary school teachers and their students. The major software programs used are word processing, database programs, spreadsheets, drawing and paint programs, Web publishing software, Internet search engines, and presentation programs like Powerpoint. At the end of the semester, students turn in a portfolio which showcases these assignments.