I have been with the Wichita School District since 1992. During that time I taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. In addition to teaching, I was the Site Technology Specialist at Beech Elementary for 9 years. I joined the Instructional Technology team during the summer of 2003.

In 1992 I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education from Minnesota State University. I received a Masters in Curriculum with a Specialization in Technology from Wichita State University. In 2003, I became an Intel Master teacher.

Besides being an Instructional Technology Specialist for the last 3 years, I wore the hat of a Technology Rich Classrooms facilitator. But as of the summer 2006, I have given up the roll of being a Technology Rich Classrooms facilitator to become the district's new Interactive Distance Learning facilitator. I look forward to this new endeavor along with retaining my roll as an Instructional Technology Specialist.

Some of my specialties include:

• Interactive Distance Learning
• Project-based Learning
• Laptop Initiatives
• 21st Century Digital Literacy
• Web 2.0 Tools or the Read/Write Web
• Interactive Whiteboards
• Video Conferencing
• Telecollaboration / iProjects
• iPods in the Classroom and Podcasting
• Latest trends in technology
• Hardware

I teach technology courses for Baker University and for Ottawa University. My greatest joys in life are my wife Nicole, my six year old son Brayden, and my three year old daughter Chloe, our new son Eli. We enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, going to church, working on the house, playing in the yard and garden, and spending time with friends and family.

I can be contacted at bniessen@usd259.net.