FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE N.R. #192, 4/15/98

Date: April 15, 1998

Contact: Irene Cromer

703/791-8720

KIMBEL NOMINATED FOR TECHNOLOGY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Sharman Kimbel, teacher of a multi-age class of first and second grade students at McAuliffe Elementary School in Dale City, has been selected to represent Prince William County Public School in the 1998 Teacher of the Year award program sponsored by the Northern Virginia Technology Council. The award program was established to recognize leadership and excellence in the use and support of technology in education. Other teachers who were nominated by their schools for this award are Janet Clark, Independent Hill School, and Donna Stofko, Rockledge Elementary School.

According to McAuliffe Assistant Principal Paula Williams, Kimbel has "totally immersed herself in the study of all the hardware aspects of a computer, including re-building old computers, searching out computer shows and sales to take advantage of low prices."

In addition to attending a number of seminars and taking programming classes, Kimbel has become the school's "resident expert on repairs, so the students in any classroom won't be without this valuable tool for learning."

"Sharman has become the leader of leaders for [McAuliffe's] staff in technology...She set about to encourage her peers to become enthusiastic users of technology," Williams says. Largely self taught, she was encouraged by her administrators to share her knowledge by becoming a technology trainer for the school division. As such, she teaches large groups of teachers throughout the school division using a curriculum that she wrote herself.

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