EdTechTalk

Personal Digital Story - youtube link

Script:

Updated Personal Digital Story Script

You can take the girl outta Oklahoma, but you can’t take the Oklahoma outta the girl.  I was born and raised in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.  It was there that my love for learning began.  I was always encouraged by my family, friends, pastors, and teachers.  These special people shaped the person who I am today, therefore I wanted to introduce them first.  My family has always been my biggest support.  One teacher in particular was Mrs. Rathbone, my fifth grade teacher at Leisure Park Elementary School.  She taught us the important things, but she also taught us the gift of laughter.  Mrs. Rathbone’s love for teaching had a major impact on the course my life took.  I left Broken Arrow, and headed south to Norman, Oklahoma where I attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in elementary education.  I was a proud Sooner, and took part in everything the university had to offer.  Building relationships along the way was something that I enjoyed.  I had many teacher friends with connections all around the United States.  Upon Graduation, I began to question if Oklahoma was where I wanted to be planted.  I started the interview process, and kept my options open.  One of my favorite interviews was in Plano, Texas.  I knew that moving to Texas would be hard for my family to swallow considering we came from a long line of OU grads!  But, after leaving my interview in Plano, I knew where I needed to be.  That summer, I headed south again, this time to start a new chapter in Dallas, Texas.  I never thought I would be living in Texas, but it was here that I have built a career teaching 3^rd grade,  it is here that I will take on a new role as our campus instructional specialist,  it is here that I met my husband, and it is here that I want to start my own family.  I think of my beloved Oklahoma, and everything that it has taught me.  Oklahoma will always be in my heart.  I still talk to Mrs. Rathbone.  In fact, just this week she told me that I was now an inspiration to her.  She’s still encouraging her same students 18 years later.  That’s the type of love that I hope to still have for my students when I am 60 years old.