About C.A.S.T.L.E. Technology Consultants

Prior to founding C.A.S.T.L.E., she served as an elementary school teacher, magnet lead teacher, curriculum specialist, grant writer, technology coordinator, and district consultant for mathematics, science and technology. Her diverse school-based experience brings strong practical knowledge of what works in the classroom and a unique first-hand understanding of today's schools' needs to districts implementing technology-based programs. 

In 1994 Mrs. Kuperstein developed and implemented Computers Assisting Students To Learn Everywhere (C.A.S.T.L.E.), a school-wide technology program at Greynolds Park Elementary School in Miami, Florida. Her successful efforts with the C.A.S.T.L.E. initiative (which included designing an award winning web site, creating thematic integrated elementary school curricula, implementing staff development programs, developing school/community partnerships, and procuring grant funds) brought her local and national recognition. 

Since founding C.A.S.T.L.E. Technology Consultants, Mrs. Kuperstein has served as technology/curriculum adviser to Dade County Public Schools, the fourth largest school District in the nation. She was a featured speaker at Microsoft's 1997 Education Summit, contributes articles to Microsoft's K-12 Connection Web site, and develops presentations for Microsoft that provide schools with practical strategies for developing and implementing successful school technology programs. 

Recently, Ms. Kuperstein has collaborated with Dr. Gary Bitter of Arizona State University to present C.A.S.T.L.E. Technology Online, LC, a K-12 online curriculum of master's degree credit courses for teachers. Each course can be accessed via the Internet twenty-four hours a day as a compliment to traditional staff development programs or as a dynamic, standardized stand-alone professional development program. 

Mrs. Kuperstein is also co-author of Microsoft's K-12 Technology Roadmap, a print and online publication that guides schools and districts toward developing a connected learning environment in which teachers, students, and staff have access to and make effective use of PC-based productivity tools and advanced technology. Her other recent publication credits include a series of articles for Dell Corporation's Tech Trends teacher newsletter, development of the Lucent Technologies WaveLAN Education Web Site and online grant writing workshop, and train-the-trainer programs designed for use in customized staff development programs in schools across the United States. 

National education publishers, technology vendors and schools throughout the United States have sought C.A.S.T.L.E. technology consultants out for their expertise in staff development programs for education. In 1999, Joan launched a new program assisting the six hundred schools of the Chicago Public School District with creating Engaged Learning environments that focus on technology integration throughout the curriculum. This project is one of several ongoing staff development programs under development or delivery by C.A.S.T.L.E. for schools in the Chicago Area. 

You can contact Joan via e-mail at joan@castletechnology.com or through the C.A.S.T.L.E. Web site at http://www.castletechnology.com

Dr. Bitter is a past president of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and served on the NCATE Technology Task Force releasing the report, "Technology and the New Professional Teacher: Preparing for the 21st Century Classroom." Dr. Bitter has also served as Co-Principal Investigator for the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project. The NETS Project has developed educational technology standards and performance indicators for Prek-12 students with examples of how those standards are integrated with content instruction; developed a resource book of lessons and multidisciplinary units connecting the lesson activities to both content and NETS standards. Dr. Bitter is presently on the leadership team for the ISTE Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology Grant as well as Principal Investigator of a FIPSE Learning Anytime Anywhere Grant. 

You can contact Gary via e-mail at gary@castletechonline.com. To learn more about Dr. Bitter's expertise, clickhere. 

A certified educator in Illinois, Stephanie currently serves as an adjunct instructor of technology at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL and at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. Through designing and teaching workshops specifically for educators, Stephanie is able to combine her passion for improving professional development with her interest in emerging technologies. Her workshops cater to the specific needs of educators, providing teachers with practical ideas for integrating technology into the curriculum. 

Stephanie has been involved in all phases of integrating technology into schools. She has designed comprehensive technology plans and actively shares her knowledge through speaking, writing, and workshop facilitation. Stephanie has created comprehensive plans for school districts and launches engaged learning into classrooms. Her approach to professional development is dynamic, hands-on, and always interactive. 

Stephanie holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Reading and Literacy. Stephanie's ten years of classroom experience paired with her comprehensive understanding of the ever-changing world of technology creates a unique blend of qualities that make her a highly respected member of the educational community. 

You can contact Stephanie via e-mail at
stephanie@castletechnology.com

Working as a professional development program design consultant, Dana now works with teachers and students from preschool to high school developing & implementing technology integrated projects and activities. She brings significant experience in training teachers to use technology and assisting them in its curriculum integration. Her workshop participants appreciate her patience, value her ability to meet individual needs, and relate to her as an educator in a technological world. 

Dana received her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a Masters in Teaching and Leadership from Saint Xavier University. Dana can be reached at dana@castletechnology.com. 

Stacey Mladic is a qualified technology consultant who has devoted her educational career to students with special needs. As an experienced classroom teacher, Stacey has educated students with a variety of special needs including Behavior and Emotional Disorders and the Educably Mentally Handicapped.

Stacey has been most excited about her role in teaching educators, administrators, and parents about the increasing technological advances available to children with special needs and how they benefit all children. She specializes in creating customized workshops for your needs including: Strategies for Visual Learners, Technology and Classroom Adaptations, Assistive Technology, Internet Literacy for Parents & Teachers of Special Needs Children, Technology Applications for Alternative Assessment Portfolios, Engaged Learning, and Web Design.

The busy mother of two children, Stacey also devotes her time as Executive Officer of a foundation to benefit children’s hospitals. She also chairs a social support group for mothers of young children.

Stacey received her Special Education degree from Illinois State University specializing in Learning Disabilities, Behavior and Emotional Disorders, and Educably Mentally Handicapped. She earned her Masters of Arts in Teaching and Leadership from St. Xavier University.

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Shannon Grossi has worked in the school systems for 6 years, as a classroom teacher and as a gifted facilitator. During Shannon’s position as gifted facilitator she helped introduce new software to the district staff.  Helping the teachers merge this into their daily lessons was an important goal. She understands the challenges of integrating technology into the classroom and feels that this is necessary for all classrooms to achieve.

Shannon significantly increased her computer knowledge when she made a career change and transitioned into a position as a full-time computer instructor. Shannon has been an instructor for over 2 years working at a large computer training facility. She teaches a variety of computer classes and is always upgrading her computer skills as well. She has found a love of computers and enjoys passing that knowledge on to others. 

Shannon received her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University.  In addition, Shannon has obtained many computer application certifications that show she demonstrates a proficient and diverse knowledge of many computer programs.

She garnered national attention when her struggle to provide technology for her students was shared in a July 1997 column in Business Week magazine. At one point in her quest she had offered to sleep in her classroom to qualify for the lower residential telephone rates. 

While a classroom teacher, she and her students were featured in several NASA productions as part of the Passport to Knowledge (PTK) electronic field trip program. She has served as a curriculum reviewer for PTK and has also authored regional science publications. She is a member of the American Chemical Society's Operation Chemistry team and has participated in educational institutes led by the American Physical Society. 

For the past three years she has provided support and training to teachers in science and technology. Through videoconferencing she has connected students and scientists around the globe. She seeks to assist teachers in providing a seamless educational environment where technology is an instructional tool. 

Rhonda has a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and a master's degree in education from Mercer University. She has presented at a number of national, international, and regional conferences including the National Science Teacher's Association, the International Reading Association, and the National Congress for Aerospace Education. She has spoken about technology integration to audiences in New Zealand and has provided staff development for schools across the country. 

You can contact Rhonda via e-mail at
rhonda@castletechnology.com

Jeff Zwier

Jeff Zwier is a technology/management consultant specializing in improving human performance with and through technology. He has consulted to both Fortune 500 companies and schools in the areas of technology skills training, change management, corporate education strategy, course design, recruiting, technology integration and performance management. 

Mr. Zwier's experience includes over 1,000 hours of classroom and seminar experience teaching the effective use of technology to achieve corporate goals, as well as skills training for end-user software tools such as Microsoft Office.

Amanda has used video-conferencing to connect her students with real scientists. Her most memorable video-conferencing experience was having her students connect with Bill Gates, the Microsoft team, and Rhonda Toon during the launch of Internet Explorer 4.0. She is featured in a Microsoft Webzine article, "Meet Me on the Net". 

Amanda has a degree in early childhood education from the University of Georgia and a master's degree in education from Mercer University, where she also served as an adjunct professor. She has served on several technology committees and has provided professional development for teachers across the United States. During her nine years as a teacher, Amanda has presented at a number of national and regional conferences including the National Science Teacher's Association and the International Reading Association. Amanda is a member of the NSTA, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Society for Elementary Presidential Awardees. You can reach her by electronic mail at amanda@castletechonline.com.

Nancy Clemens is an Instructional Designer specializing in content coordination. Having taught for six years in an inner-city Phoenix high school, Nancy became familiar with the difficulties of obtaining and integrating technology into the classroom. As an English and English as a Second Language teacher, she often used the computer lab, but she felt that something was missing, that technology wasn't being used to its full advantage. As a second year teacher, she took on the responsibility of Yearbook advisor, which she held for two years, bringing technology to the publication process. During her third year, she shifted to the position of Newspaper Advisor, where she again worked with her students on the integration of technology. She also began to work with the technology specialists of her school to plan technology-rich lessons for all of her students, finding new ways of integrating different programs and methods into her curriculum and serving as a designated pioneer teacher in her school's Title One Technology Program.

Looking for even more ways to bring technology and education together, Nancy entered the Masters program in Educational Media and Computers at Arizona State University, from which she received her Master of Education Degree in December of 1999. Nancy also holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and is certified to teach English, English as a Second Language and Social Studies in the secondary grades.

Sally’s experience includes both a BA and MA in Special Education along with over five years of practical classroom teaching. Her computer knowledge extends to most operating systems and end-user tools. Certifications obtained include Microsoft and Novell Certified Network Engineer. 

She has used her experience in providing computer training and consulting for several Fortune 500 companies, law firms and educational facilities. These projects have consisted of software and technology transitions and have required planning, implementation, training and support. 

This mixture of a strong educational background combined with a vast amount of computer expertise allows Sally to provide a positive and practical experience for the K-12 educator.  Sally has an energetic, systematic and direct approach mixed with humor and patience.  Meeting the needs of the individual, even in a group setting, understanding the challenges of technology and the practical use of it in the educational classroom are just some of her strengths. You can reach Sally at sally@castletechnology.com.

Mr. Mastrodonato holds an Associate of Applied Sciences from City University of New York, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and Sciences from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Education in Educational Computing form Governor’s State University. 

Lee has been a contributor to the National Science Teachers magazine Science Scope, examining ways that technology can be integrated in the science classroom. He has been a participant in the GLOBE program, an international environmental science that engages students as scientists collecting authentic data and sharing their findings with members of the scientific community. 

Understanding the different ways students learn is an important element in designing effective lessons. Lee maintains a working dialogue with David Lazear, author of Seven Ways Of Knowing, The Rubrics Way, The Intelligent Curriculum and other works developing Multiple Intelligence theory. That ongoing connection influences how Lee integrates technology ensuring that the students use of technology is founded in current learning theory

Incorporating technology on a day-to-day basis presents a challenge that requires
energy, commitment and creativity on the part of  teachers and administrators. Lee has created and incorporated numerous projects and engaged learning activities designed to expose his students to technology. He frequently works with his fellow teachers encouraging and assisting them to further increase the students’ exposure to technology across the curriculum. You can reach Lee at lee@castletechnology.com.

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