All about Mrs. Tarabulski
My Black Lab Elle
I was raised in Ottumwa, Iowa. I graduated from Ottumwa High School and attended Indian Hills Community College. I earned an AA degree in Liberal Arts and transferred to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa
At Iowa State I received a BS degree in Elementary Education.I then moved to the east coast and taught 4th grade for two years at Pawling Elementary School, in Pawling, NY. During those two years, I completed my Master's Degree at SUNY New Paltz in New York in Microcomputers in Education. . I decided to pursue a masters that involved technology within the classroom since I was motivated by using new hardware and software with students.
I moved back to the midwest and for five years taught high school reading and writing classes to Graff Vocational High School students during the day, using the PLATO computer system. At night, I taught beginning and advanced "Microcomputer Application" courses to all students that attended Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, MO. I actually taught DOS, Windows 3.1, Lotus 123, MS Works, Dbase IV, CADD5, and a simple Desktop Publishing Program similar to Publisher all the time progressing to the next versions.
I again moved to the east coast and taught computer applications/integration at Newtown Middle School in Newtown, CT. The middle school had just started using a network with a Mac Server and 25 clients. I actually set that network up and used Network Assistant Management Software, similar to Net Support Pro that I am currently using here at BJHS. The software allows you to monitor students, control student screens, exhibit students screens to the class, send messages, talk to students, block websites, etc. I taught Apple Works, then MS Word, Excel for Macs, Inspiration, Hyper Studio, United Streaming, Teacher Web, and various stand alone applications to staff and students. I was the Technology Liaison, or 1st in line of defense, for trouble shooting in the building that housed 900 students and 100 teachers. I also served on the Technology Curriculum Committee, and the District Technology Committee for 10 years. After finishing my 10th year at NMS I moved to Chillicothe, IL.
In October, 2007 I started the job here at Bloomington Junior High. I teach Photo Story 3, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint to every 6th grader. Google Earth virtual tours with embedded United Streaming/Youtube videos, FrontPage, and Excel to 7th graders, and Movie Maker, Google Earth, Outlook, Advanced Word, and FrontPage to 8th graders. I really enjoy the awesome kids, equipment, and software available here in the IT2 room.
I taught one week of the 2008 Feast this year. It was nice become more familiar with more staff in District 87 as well as surrounding districts, and sharing any knowledge I have while continuing to expand my own technology knowledge.