Christy Gates, Mathews Technology Specialist
There is little in our lives that is not touched by technology and as all parent surveys demonstrate we want to insure that the kids at Mathews are going to be prepared for an increasingly technological world. To accomplish this goal Christy Gates was hired as our part-time computer technology specialist this year. She spends the morning as a literacy specialist and is in the computer lab in the afternoon. Each class, kindergarten through 6th, has computer lab for 45 minutes a week. Prior to her arrival, our kids were not getting consistent technology training and according to Christy many lacked basic computer skills. In the short time that she has been at Mathews she has seen a remarkable improvement. “I feel like a celebrity with the kids. I work with all the students and they love coming to computer class.”, Christy Gates tells me when I ask how she has settled in at Mathews.
AISD established technology TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and skills) requirements for each grade level. Christy has developed a curriculum that reflects those goals. The younger grades learn the basics while doing a fun activity that reinforces classroom learning using Pixie and Kidspiration. In 2nd grade students begin to focus on the skills necessary for reports and slide shows. The goals for 3rd through 6th graders are to develop progressive competency in Word, Excel and Power Point as well as the confidence to seek out and incorporate new technologies. Christy observes, “The more they come to computer lab, the more comfortable they feel, the more they want to explore on their own.”
Christy works with teachers to integrate and reinforce the importance of technology in learning, processing and sharing information with meaningful projects. As a by-product teachers are becoming more comfortable with technology too. “The teachers often do not have time to go through new programs and find what is most relevant for their class.” Christy explains, “My job is to sit down and play with the programs and give teachers ideas that will translate well.” She has become a valuable resource for the teachers.
Before arriving at Mathews, Christy spent 2 years in the Peace Corp after graduating form UT in 2006. She lived in Schoemansdal, South Africa, a rural village near Kruger National Park where she taught adults and children computer skills and initiated a library for the village. She also volunteered with a community organization that focused on HIV education as well as at an orphanage where she taught and led camps. During her time in Africa she learned to speak two languages, siSwati and Zulu.
This school year we are lucky to have Christy at Mathews. Her position was expanded to include technology specialist because of a special fundraising effort launched last summer under the direction of Amy Kinkade and led by parent, Garry Mauro. Although AISD has technology TEKS, the district does not provide funding for this position. The PTA has decided to follow a course that many other schools have taken and ask our community to help us raise the $22,000 needed to continue the position. Our plan is to expand the HEB grocery card program, implement a similar program for Randalls and organize a fundraising campaign with the long term goal of the grocery programs sustaining the staff position. Please find a way to contribute to our effort through participation in the grocery card program and/or a donation. As Christy remarked, “It would be a shame not to continue the momentum.”
