The team behind Digital Language Arts believes that today’s students not only want to be engaged with digital tools, but deserve to be. Reading and writing instruction has certain timeless, proven elements… but those elements can be enacted through the lens of instructional technology to promote higher student engagement, deeper and more frequent student communication, and more fruitful student understanding. Our hope is to engage educators from around the world in idea exchanges in order to bring effective digital strategies into elementary language arts instruction.
Shannon Panko (M.A. Educational Administration, shannon.panko@nn.k12.va.us) currently serves as principal of Riverside Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. She works hard to create structures and environments where technological innovation can flourish in her school. This effort has led to Riverside being chosen for several pilot projects, including technology “incubation” classrooms. She has been recognized as the 2009 Technology Administrator of the Year by WHRO, the southeastern-Virgina educational service provider and PBS affiliate. Previously she acted as an assistant principal and a curriculum coordinator in Georgia. Additionally, she was a district staff developer in Florida, working with teachers on instructional strategies and National Board certification. She has taught both in the United States and overseas for Department of Defense Dependents Schools.
Nicole Sneddon (M.S. Instructional Design and Technology, nicole.sneddon@nn.k12.va.us) began her career in education as an elementary school teacher, becoming a leading member of fifth grade teams where she was at the forefront of using technology to improve the learning of her students. In her school, she piloted the use of elements such as web 2.0 tools, interactive whiteboards, and online research collaborations which she subsequently helped spread into the classrooms of her colleagues. By doing so she earned the status of WHRO’s 2008 Technology Educator of the Year as well as being honored as one of the seven ASCD Outstanding Young Educators in 2009. Currently she serves as a fifth grade teacher at Riverside Elementary. She has also served as an instructor for pre-service educators at the university level.
James Maxlow (M.S. Applied Physics and Computer Science, james.maxlow@nn.k12.va.us) has served as a technology curriculum integration specialist at the elementary level for four years, training staff on strategies for the effective integration of instructional technology and supporting their efforts for improved teaching through data analysis, lesson planning and collaboration. He now supervises and guides the efforts of all technology curriculum integration specialists for the Newport News Public Schools district. Previously he taught mathematics in middle school and computer science at the university level. Currently working on his doctoral degree in Curriculum and Educational Technology, he has also authored several successful grant proposals, award nominations, and educational technology conference presentation proposals.
January 13, 2009 9:27 pm 
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Bravo to three incredible, tech-savvy advocates for literacy and engaging students in the modern classroom! This is a fantastic resource that I will share with colleagues. Thank you for your hard work!
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