04-09-08 Hi Everyone! I am glad you stopped by. I am Susan VanDyke. I worked in the corporate world for 20 + years and when I was 48 decided that I wanted to get back into teaching. I taught ESL for two years in Taipei from 1970-72, and Sunday School in California for several years during the mid 70's. I went back to school and received my B.A. from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1993. I love teaching because, not only is it the most noble of professions, but it is the only job I have ever had that challenges me to give 200% and yet is so rewarding. My teaching credentials include an A.A. in Liberal Arts, Marymount University, 1969 and a B.A. in Art and Performance (Photography) with a Business Management minor, University of Texas at Dallas. I completed a non-degree post-baccalaureate teacher certification program at the University of North Texas from 1996-1998 in Education with a reading specialization completing 45 hours. Upon receiving my Texas State Teacher's Provisional Elementary and Reading Texas Educator Certificate for Life, in 1999, I decided to continue my studies in order to become better equipped to help meet my goal of being the best educator I can be. I completed my M.Ed. in All-Level Early Childhood Education with a specialization in reading in 2001 at the University of North Texas, and an M.S. in Computer Technology with a specialization in Computer Education and Cognitive Systems in 2002. I also received my TESOL Certification in 2002, a Graduate Academic Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and a Graduate Academic Certification in Web Development in Education and Training Environments in 2002, from the University of North Texas, and an Information Processing Technology (IPT) Endorsement/Texas Educator Certificate in 2002. While teaching Computer Technology at Richland and Brookhaven Community Colleges in Dallas I opened La La's Kindergarten Preparatory Preschool, and Family Home Childcare in 2003, and eventually retired as a college professor to run my registered in-home child care business full time. I love teaching students of all ages. I have a few passions in life. I love to travel to exotic destinations and share things I have learned with children. I am very proud of my daughter's Katherine and Erika, and my sons in law Doug and Ryan. Kathy and Doug are very successful in the world of technology, and have three sons. Erika and Ryan received their Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Saint Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio in May, 03. They have one daughter born August 30, 2007. I am a very proud grandma (La La, Chinese for Grandma). I love to go scuba diving, and hiking in beautiful places. I love to read all the literature I can get my hands on about education, second language acquisition, educational technology, and early childhood education. I love all kinds of animals. I love all the students I have had an opportunity to teach. Each and every one of them has given me a new perspective on life. I want to someday be counted among those in whom students, colleagues, and student teachers found inspiration. Providing support to other teachers, those studying to become teachers, and parents is one of my main career goals. So if you need something, let me know and I'll try and help out. I am a pretty cheery and bubbly person so if you have comments or suggestions, or just want to chat about teaching, please feel free to e-mail me!! Please let me know if you have any trouble while visiting this site.
Susan |
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