Tech Integration Specialist Team
MPS Tech Diaries is a blog written by the Technology Integration Specialist TOSA team. We are all experienced classroom teachers who currently train and support MPS staff with technology integration. This blog features posts addressing common educational technology questions and issues.
Our role is constantly growing and changing, but a few things you might see us doing include:
- Developing and delivering group training and professional development
- Providing 1:1 support to educators
- Providing intensive Technology Coaching support to teachers
- Responding to technology integration questions via email and eTicket
- Creating online resources and trainings on The Source & SuccessFactors
Get to Know Us
Meet Beth
Hi! I’m Beth Halbach and I have been a Tech Integration Specialist since March 2020. You may remember me from webinars on Google and Seesaw during distance learning. Before this role, I was a middle school science teacher for 15 years with most of that time teaching in MPS at Justice Page.
As a classroom teacher, I utilized a blended learning style that allowed my lessons to be more flexible and differentiated. I love working with and coaching teachers to improve and enhance technology use in their classroom to support student learning.
Outside of this role, my family and I enjoy being outside and take advantage of living close to Lake Nokomis. In the summer, we jump in our camper and visit as many state parks as we can. I love living and working in Minneapolis!
Beth supports: Anderson United, Anwatin, Armatage, Bancroft, Burroughs, Ella Baker, Franklin, Justice Page, Lake Harriet Lower, Lake Harriet Upper, LNCS-Wenonah, Northeast, Roosevelt and Windom.
Meet Wendy
Greetings all! My Wendy Wolfe, I started my career teaching Social Studies for 21 years in White Bear Lake, Albert Lea, and Totino-Grace High School, and over the past 20 years, have shifted to be a full-time Educational Technologist, joining our team in August of 2021.
I also teach edtech graduate courses and workshops; I love to partner with K-12 teachers to find and create new and exciting ways to integrate educational technology to support amazing teaching and learning.
Outside of all–things-edtech, I love to spend time with my husband and our 6th grade son, garden, dream about the book(s) I will write someday, attend (and score) live baseball, and sail Lake Superior.
Wendy supports: Bethune, Emerson, FAIR School, Hall, Heritage, Kenwood, Las Estrellas, Patrick Henry, Pillsbury, Pratt, South, Southwest, Waite Park and Washburn.
Meet Ben
Hey everyone! I’m Ben Knaus. I’ve been working in Minneapolis since 2001. Since 2005, I have taught the middle school AVID elective at Cityview, Olson, Seward, and Andersen. I was also an AVID coordinator for most of that time. I taught a year of middle school ELA and a year of 3-5 technology at Jenny Lind.
I’ve also taught graduate-level technology and education at Saint Mary’s University-Twin Cities and Concordia Saint Paul. I’m excited to bring my knowledge of technology and education to this position and help our staff grow with teaching, learning, and technology!
I live in north Minneapolis with my family. My wife and I have freshmen at Saint Scholastica in Duluth and a 9th grader at Henry. In my free time, I love camping and exploring Minnesota. Whenever the weather is nice enough, you can find me on the patio enjoying the sun and fresh air.
Ben supports: Anthony, Bryn Mawr, Cityview, Edison, Field, Hmong Academy, Jenny Lind, Loving, Lucy Craft Laney, North, Olson, Sanford, Seward, Sullivan, Webster and Wellstone.
Meet Kate
Hello! I’m excited to be a member of the Tech Integration Specialist TOSA team at MPS! I’ve been working in Minneapolis Public Schools since 2014, teaching kindergarten and second grade at Wenonah and Keewaydin. Prior to teaching, I worked for more than 12 years in communications, community outreach and fund development in Minneapolis nonprofits.
I’m excited to bring my experience and interest in using educational technology in the classroom. I look forward to partnering with teachers to find ways edtech can engage and inspire students equitably to improve learning outcomes AND help make teaching manageable and rewarding.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time at Lake Nokomis, singing and taking road trips to my home state of West Virginia. I’ve lived in Minneapolis for the last twenty years, and have two MPS students, a ninth grader at Roosevelt and a fifth grader at Keewaydin.
Kate supports: Anishinabe, Barton, Dowling, Folwell, Green Central, Hale, HC- Hiawatha, HC- Howe, Kenny, LNCS- Keewaydin, Lyndale, Marcy, Nellie Stone Johnson, Northrop, and Whittier.
