The Brain Trust

Have taught, Math, Computers, and History. Worked 20 years as the Director of Technology. (Just a retired teacher trying to supplement her income :-)

“Playful Tech Empowerment”

Pioneering Technology Leader: One of the first women to serve as a Technology Director in the state of Michigan, leading district‑wide digital transformation. Internet Implementation Trailblazer: Successfully brought the internet into the school district at a time when most schools were still offline, building the infrastructure from the ground up. Teacher Technology Mentor: Trained the entire teaching staff on how to integrate computers into instruction, long before “ed‑tech” was a common term. Cloud Computing Innovator: When Google introduced cloud tools, led district adoption and taught educators how to use Google’s early cloud services for collaboration and instruction. Student‑Centered Digital Literacy Advocate: Built a culture where students and teachers felt confident, capable, and excited to use technology.

I began my technology journey the unconventional way — by teaching myself how to use one of the earliest DOS‑based home computers, the Commodore 64, all while raising my children and attending college. Those late‑night sessions with a glowing screen and a command prompt became the foundation of my lifelong love for computers. While studying at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) in Michigan, I earned degrees in Mathematics and History, blending analytical thinking with a deep understanding of human stories. Later, driven by my growing passion for technology, I returned to earn additional credentials in Computer Science, formalizing the skills I had already been using to solve real problems. My education wasn’t just academic — it was hands‑on, self‑driven, and fueled by curiosity. I learned computers at a time when there were no tutorials, no YouTube, no Google. Just a keyboard, a blinking cursor, and determination. That combination — self‑taught tech pioneer + formally trained educator — became the backbone of my entire career.

In retirement, I’ve continued doing what I’ve always loved: learning, creating, and building things that help others. I currently run two websites that reflect my two favorite hobbies and keep my mind active and challenged: CrochetMeThat.com — where I design, write, and publish my own original crochet patterns. StepGenerator.com — a home for the classroom tools, tech projects, and creative digital experiments that keep me learning new skills. Both sites supplement my retirement, but more importantly, they keep me connected to the things that have always energized me: technology, creativity, and teaching others. I love exploring new and fascinating things on the computer and the internet — whether it’s building a new web tool, learning a new platform, or designing a pattern from scratch. Creating my own websites has become a natural extension of the curiosity that first led me to teach myself the Commodore 64 all those years ago. Even now, I’m happiest when I’m learning something new, solving a problem, or creating something that someone else can enjoy.