2006 Networking Summit Facilitator Biographies
Alan R. Bailey
East Carolina University
(252) 328-2579
baileya@mail.ecu.edu
Over his 21-year career as a librarian, Alan Bailey has served as a public school media coordinator, branch manager of a public library and worked in community college and university libraries. This storyteller, facilitator, researcher, and aspiring children’s author received his undergraduate degree from East Carolina University. Alan also holds master’s degrees from both East Carolina University and North Carolina Central University. Alan currently serves as Assistant Professor & Curriculum Specialist in the Teaching Resources Center (TRC) at J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University.
Frances Bradburn
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Division of Instructional Technologies
(919) 807-3292
fbradbur@dpi.state.nc.us
Frances Bryant Bradburn, Director of Instructional Technology for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, is a graduate of Wake Forest University and UNCG’s Department of Library and Information Science. She has worked at the K-12, university and state levels in a variety of media and technology positions. Ms. Bradburn is the author of Output Measures for School Library Programs, reviews young adult titles for Booklist and has written a variety of journal articles on both media and technology. Her current professional affiliations are with the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the North Carolina School Library Media Association (NCSLMA), the North Carolina Association of Educational Communications Technology (NCaect), the American Library Association (ALA) and the North Carolina Library Association (NCLA). Ms. Bradburn was awarded the Mary Peacock Douglas Award (NCASL) in 1998, the UNCG/SLIS Outstanding Alumnus in 1995, and was featured in the Center for Digital Education’s September 2003 column “In the Arena.”
Carol A. Brown
East Carolina University
(252) 328-1624
browncar@mail.ecu.edu
Carol Brown holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction leadership from the University of Memphis and a master’s degree in instructional resources from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is assistant professor and program coordinator for the Master of Education in Instructional Technology for the department of Library Science and Instructional Technology in the College of Education at East Carolina University. She has also worked in the public schools as a classroom teacher and an elementary school library media specialist. Her research interests include best practices for multimedia technology integration in the K-12 curriculum, the use of digital information for teaching research skills, and information literacy in education.
Debbie Dupree, NBCT
Salem Middle School
(919) 363-2692
ddupree@wcpss.net
Debbie Dupree received her M.L.S. from UNCCH in 1997, and earned National Board Certification in 2003. During her nine years of experience as a middle school library media coordinator, she has seen the popularity of graphic novels soar. She possesses a genuine enthusiasm for graphic novels because she has witnessed the positive influence these novels have had on reluctant readers in her school.
Angela D. Foss
Education Consultant
(919)556-4017
JAFoss@nc.rr.com
Angela Foss is a graduate of Meredith College, where she was a NC Teaching Fellow who lived and studied in Central America. She also attended East Carolina University, where she completed her master of school administration and doctor of education degrees. The focus of her doctoral dissertation was students learning English as a Second Language (ESL)–with special emphasis on Latino/Hispanic students. She has taught and worked in leadership roles at the school, district, state, and university levels. Her specialty areas are education law/policy and program administration as they pertain to cultural and linguistic minorities. She is bilingual (Spanish/English), licensed in ESL and Spanish as well as in several leadership areas, and is a published author of research on ESL and American Indian students.
Deborah Goodman
Educator on Loan/North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Instructional Technology Division
(919) 270-1388
deborah_goodman@dpi.state.nc.us
Deborah Goodman is a 16 year veteran educator with a B.S. degree in elementary education with AIG certification. She earned NBCT in 2003 as an Early Childhood Generalist. She is an adjunct instructor for ExplorNet’s QTL Program and a certified Thinking Map instructor. Deborah is presently employed as an educator-on-loan for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). This position provides her the opportunity to travel to counties across the state teaching and modeling technology integration strategies to grades K-12. Deborah is currently working on a M.A.Ed. at East Carolina University.
Gail Holloman Holmes
Guilford County/North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
(336) 207-0258
gail_holmes@dpi.state.nc.us
Gail Holloman Holmes is a 27 year veteran teacher with a master of business education degree with an endorsement in computer education. She is presently employed by Guilford County, working as an educator-on-loan for NCDPI. This position provides her the opportunity to travel to counties across the state teaching and modeling technology integration strategies to grades K-12.
Penny Hornsby
State Library
(919) 807-7420
phornsby@library.dcr.state.nc.us
Stephanie Issette
Hunt High School
(252) 399-7930
wiissett@hotmail.com
Stephanie Issette is the media specialist at Hunt High School in Wilson, North Carolina. She has served as the head of cataloging at the Wilson County Public Library, head of reference, periodicals and serials at Atlantic Christian College as well as a media specialist at Toisnot Middle School. Stephanie received her B.A. in English & Library Science at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, and her master of science degree in library science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Stephanie has dual teaching certificates in North Carolina and Illinois as well as her Public Library Certification for North Carolina. Currently, she serves as a member of her school technology team, and she has served as the President of the Wilson County School Librarians’ Association for two years.
Gwen G. Jackson
Library Service Unlimited
(252) 393-2651
gjackson@coastalnet.com
Gwen Jackson graduated from UNC at Greensboro with a degree in chemistry and a teaching certification in secondary science. Her career in education began as a middle and high school science teacher. After receiving an M.L.S. from East Carolina University, she served as a school media coordinator at B.O. Barnes Primary School in Wilson and Morehead City Elementary School in Morehead City. For ten and one-half years, Gwen served as the regional media and technology coordinator for the southeast educational region of the NC Department of Public Instruction. During this time, she earned an Ed.S. in administration and curriculum and Instruction from ECU. When the regional centers were phased out, Gwen returned to a school media coordinator position at Tarawa Terrace I Primary School, Camp Lejeune where she retired in 2005. Gwen served as the president of the North Carolina Library Association from 1993 to 1995.
Laura Barden Mangum
North Pitt High School
(252) 825-0054
manguml.npitt@pitt.k12.nc.us
Laura Mangum is currently the media coordinator at North Pitt High School in Bethel, North Carolina. She has over five years of library experience with many notable accomplishments. She has served as a media coordinator in grades K-12. In 2004-2005, Laura achieved National Board Certification. Also during that year, she received a $15,000, 3M Salute Schools grant for a library security system. She has also received a LSTA grant with which she purchased $6,000 of new books for her library. She received her B.S. in elementary education and her master of library science degree from East Carolina University. Laura received the North Carolina Library Association Scholarship in 1999.
Sheila Mendoza
South Central High School
(252) 321-3232
mendozs.schs@pitt.k12.nc.us
Shelia Mendoza earned her B.S. in library science and her M.A.Ed. from East Carolina University. Her experience includes: two years in public librarianship, five years as a reference librarian at the community college level and 22 years as an elementary media coordinator. Currently, she is the media coordinator at South Central High School in Pitt County. She was the 1991-1992 Elmhurst Teacher of the Year, the 2002-2003 Northwest Teacher of the Year, and the 2005-2006 Pitt County Schools Media Coordinator of the Year. Shelia was awarded National Board Teacher Certification in 2003.
Lesley Richardson
Learn NC
lesleyr@email.unc.edu
Lesley Richardson joined LEARN NC in April 1998, having previously worked with LEARN through UNC Chapel Hill’s Institute for Academic Technology. As Information Resource Specialist, she locates and reviews Web sites and provides customer service for the “Best of the Web” and the Student Media Center. Lesley has developed Discover NC, a guide to local educational resources throughout North Carolina for field trips, classroom use, and student research. In addition, she has worked with NC ECHO to bring North Carolina historical and cultural resources to the attention of North Carolina teachers. Through LEARN NC/NC ECHO workshops, teachers learn how to integrate these rich resources in teaching the K-12 curriculum. Lesley has a Bachelor of Science Degree in sociology and urban studies from Jacksonville, University, Jacksonville, Florida.
Lesley formerly participated in the Wake County Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program and worked with Wake County school children in developing classroom garden plots and teaching them about plants. She has lived in Cary, North Carolina with her family for the past 20 years and has a daughter currently attending East Carolina University.
Christine M. Shea
East Carolina University
(252) 328-1134
sheac@mail.ecu.edu
Christine Shea joined the College of Education at East Carolina University in 1998. She is a tenured full professor in the department where she teaches undergraduate and graduate coursework in the historical, philosophical, and social foundations of education. Chris teaches the core coursework in “diversity education” taken by all the master’s degree students in the C&I department at ECU. She has previously taught at Hampshire College, the University of Illinois, West Virginia University and Georgia Southern University. She worked as a preschool educator with the Peace Corps in Tunisia, North Africa and taught 5th grade in an urban school in Rochester, New York. Her ongoing research interests focus on: the development of constructive post-modern theories of schooling, issues in educational diversity, current North Carolina educational policy and programs and historical models of remedial and preventive mental health in American public schools.
Judith J. Smith, Ed.D
Lenoir County Public Schools
(252) 527-2487 x225
jsmith@lenoir.k12.nc.us
Judith J. Smith is the director of the Lenoir County Even Start Family Literacy Program. Family Literacy is a collaborative between the local community college and the public school system. The program includes adult education, early childhood education, parenting, and interactive parent/child activities. Judy earned her undergraduate degree, her Masters in Education, and her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University. The focus of her doctoral dissertation was organizational behavior and leadership characteristics that promote success and sustainability of Even Start Family Literacy programs in North Carolina. Judy’s research interests include grants management, emergent literacy, early childhood literacy, adolescent literacy interventions, and family literacy.
Gerry Solomon
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
(919) 807-3286
gsolomon@dpi.state.nc.us
Gerry Solomon is the School Library Media Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Her responsibilities include providing consulting services and professional development for school library media programs as well as management of the review process for software and online resources recommended for North Carolina schools. She also is an adjunct faculty member of the UNC Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science where she teaches courses in school library media administration. Gerry is a former media coordinator with the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia and the Orange County Public Schools in North Carolina. Degrees: B.A. – elementary education; M.L.S. – school library media.
Evan St. Lifer
Vice President & General Manager
Scholastic Library Publishing
est.lifer@scholasticlibrary.com
Evan St. Lifer is the Vice President and General Manager of Scholastic Library Publishing. In his role as Vice President and General Manager, he oversees the editorial, marketing and sales efforts for the Company’s library publishing businesses. He has day-to-day oversight of Scholastic Library Publishing’s major reference and nonfiction imprints including Grolier®, Grolier Online®, Children’s Press® and Franklin Watts®, which include such notable reference resources as Encyclopedia Americana®, the newly released Encyclopedia Latina, New Book of Knowledge®, and Nueva Enciclopedia Cumbre en Linea. Mr. St. Lifer is also instrumental in leading Scholastic’s advocacy efforts regarding the important role of libraries in improving student achievement. Mr. St. Lifer joined Scholastic from School Library Journal (SLJ) where he served as Editor-In-Chief. As an outspoken advocate for children, education and literacy, he is a member of the Association of Educational Publishers, the American Library Association and serves on the advisory board of the Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries. A veteran journalist and editor, Mr. St Lifer has written for such publications as the New York Times, Crain’s New York Business and New Jersey Monthly. He holds a B.A. in journalism and economics from Rutgers University. He possesses an unparalleled expertise and commitment to supporting school and public library media specialists in their contributions to student achievement. He is instrumental in SLP’s continued efforts to ensure that all children benefit from access to quality books and enriching reference materials at school and in the home.
Alesia Stevenson, M.L.S.
Scholastic Library Publishing
252-432-5583
AStevenson@ScholasticLibrary.com
Alesia Stevenson received her B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill and her M.L.S. from NCCU, graduating both with honors. She served five years as an elementary school media specialist with 15 years total experience in education.
Alesia is the cofounder and president of the Community Literacy Initiative for Vance County (a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and supporting programs that increase literacy through out the community) She is also actively involved in projects designed to transform Henderson into a 21st Century Learning Community.
Linda M. Teel
East Carolina University
(252) 328-2287
teell@mail.ecu.edu
In her 28 years of experience, Linda has served as a public school media coordinator in grades ranging from Kindergarten to 12th grade, as a high school vocational coordinator teacher and as a director of library services in the community college system. Currently, Linda serves as Assistant Professor and Department Head of the Teaching Resources Center (TRC) at J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University.
She received her undergraduate degree in library science and computer science from East Carolina University and master’s degrees from East Carolina University and North Carolina Central University.
Mindy Tomasevich
Media Coordinator
Davis Drive Middle School
2101 Davis Drive
Cary NC 27519
(919) 363-2133
mtomasevich@wcpss.net
Mindy has been a media coordinator at Davis Drive Middle School in Cary, North Carolina for five years. In 2004, she was awarded an NCSLMA Read2Succeed Grant for “Literature Circles Go Graphic,” a program that integrated graphic novels into literature circle reading groups. With grant funds, she selected and purchased over 100 graphic novels. Circulation remarkablly increased after adding this wildly popular genre to the media center collection. Mindy received her M.L.S. in 2003, from North Carolina Central University.
Hazel J. Walker
East Carolina University
(252) 328-4994
walkerh@mail.ecu.edu
Hazel Walker received her undergraduate degree from East Carolina University and master’s degrees from East Carolina University and North Carolina Central University. Hazel currently serves as Assistant Professor & Outreach Coordinator in the Teaching Resources Center (TRC) at J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University. Her previous experience spans from being a special collections librarian in a chemical research company to a reference librarian in the community college.