Personal Background
My name is Cindy Underwood and I live in Gorman, Texas. Gorman is a small agricultural community located in Eastland County. For decades the Gorman area was the peanut growing and marketing capital of the southwest. However, times change; the United States Department of Agriculture calculates that since 1992, peanut acreage has dropped from near 26,000 acres to approximately 12, 454 acres in Eastland County. With the peanut acreage dropping and more expected to be dropped the farmers are being forced to develop alternative crops, chiefly cattle and hay production. My husband, Justin and I, have two girls, Lauren 2, and Hannah 7 months. Change is very much a part of my life.
My childhood was spent on a typical farm, located 12 miles form Cisco, a town slightly larger than Gorman, located on the western edge of Eastland County. My brother, sister and myself attended Cisco Independent School District for our primary education. I chose to attend college at Texas Tech University in Lubbock for two years, transferring in 1992 to Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas to complete my degree plan in 1994. I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education with a minor in Life and Earth Science.
I am currently serving as a Secondary Teacher at Priddy Independent School District. My primary educational responsibilities lie in teaching science and technology courses at the junior high and high school level. I serve as the Technology Director of our school district, not only teaching the Technology Applications courses but also I am responsible for the procurement of new software and hardware and the maintenance of our network.
Technology constantly changes just as life brings constant change, growth and adaptation. I further my educational and personal growth daily. I enjoy all the duties and privileges that my personal life, as wife and mother brings, to the duties I have to my students as their teacher. Change is inevitable, but personally, I would not change my role as a teacher except to expand my abilities and horizons.
Significant Personal and Technology Events in My Life
In August when I began the journey of TATC Justin, my husband, and I were to have our second child. This was going to be another big change in my life. Hannah arrived just as the first semester of TATC was coming to a close. Hannah arrived on October 28, 2002. I was to take Extended Web Mastering at this time; however, I got to switch to Extended Desktop Publishing in the Spring. Hannah and Lauren are pictured above and they both have contributed to a lot of change in my life. Enduring TATC, a new family member and school has really been a challenge this past year. I have grown this year as an mother, wife and educator. I am truly blessed to have had this opportunity.
Reasons for Wanting to be a Technology Applications Teacher
I believe technology is a valuable tool that each teacher should be using to further their students' skill level. We are in an age of technology and those who do not grasp this advancement will be left behind. No student should be left behind due to the limited knowledge of the teacher. If technology will bring the leaders of tomorrow, ahead today, we must teach and train the students and ourselves. If I can contribute to the knowledge my students they take with them, my job as a teacher has been worth while. I often hear people say, "I am not in it for the money," I believe this to be true. No amount of money can compare to the payback when one student learns or simply finds confidence in their own knowledge based skills.
Preparing to Teach
I graduated on a Friday and went to work as a teacher on the following Monday. I graduated non-certified and taught for two years then took my EXCET test. I had never set foot into a classroom, skipping the student teaching portion when I graduated non-certified. I was very nervous. The students I were to teach were only four years younger than myself. I had a lot of change to make and quickly. I was also starting out as the Varsity Coach for the Softball Team. I was very excited about the changing of events that were unfolding. The only thing that seemed to stick out in my mind was that I was responsible for the youth that I was teaching and coaching. I was not lucky enough to have a mentor teacher who cared one ounce for my success as a teacher or coach. I found most of my strength through a fellow teacher. She was a great teacher and more importantly a great Christian. She taught me more about getting help and strength from above than from any person. Getting through the first year was tough but we I made it with tears, sweat and dedication. The years that followed taught me many things and I am still learning every day. I am no longer four years older than my students and I feel confident that I can teach them without failure. Many lessons in teaching have taught me when to pick your battles and when to walk away. Some battles are worth fighting but the war is not. It took me a long time to decide which was which. I currently am teaching a group of students that the battle is worth fighting for. They are all "college" material, even if that is not what the records at school say. I believe that all students have the ability to learn. Some faster than others, but the ability is still there. I hope to foster the slower learners, excite the average learners, and challenge the faster learners where every need is met.
Resume
Education
1989 Graduate of Cisco High School
1994 Graduate Tarleton State University
1994 Gifted and Talented Certification
Secondary Science Certification
Elementary Certification
Physical Education Certification
1998 K-12 NT 4.0 Certification
2002 TATC Participant
Grants
1998 E-Rate for DeLeon ISD- $300,000
1998 TIF PS 3 Grant $50,000
2000 TIF PS 9 Grant $50,000
2002 LB 13 $35,000
Positions Held
1994 Gorman ISD -Teacher and Coach
Physical Science
Chemistry
Physics
Life Science
Earth Science
Basketball
Cross Country
Track
Softball
Cheerleading
1996 Cisco ISD-Teacher and Coach
History
Biology
Softball Varsity
JV Basketball
7 and 8 Physical Education
Teen Leadership
Cheerleading
1998-De Leon ISD-Technology Director and Teacher
6th Grade Science
Technology Director
2000-Present Priddy ISD-Technology Director and Teacher
Multimedia Presentations
Desktop Publishing
Biology
Life Science
Chemistry
Independent Studies
Tennis Coach
6-8 Technology Applications
Technology Director
Librarian
Gifted and Talented Committee
Site Based Decision Making Committee
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