My name is Ashley Swinney, and I am the Director of Educational Technology and Innovation at The Brook Hill School in Bullard, TX. I married the love of my life, Drew, on July 17, 2010. Together, we have two incredible boys, Noah (5) and Micah (2).  I've had quite the journey getting to this point in  my career. I graduated from Texas A&M University (Whoop!) in December of 2009. I was incredibly fortunate that the administrators at the school where I had previously been student teaching, Stephen F. Austin Middle School in Bryan ISD, saw something in me and gave me an incredibly opportunity as a teaching consultant. That spring I did everything from co-teaching, PLC training, technology support, individual tutoring, and eventually took over a class when a teacher left.  I moved to East Texas and took a job at Bullard Middle School where I stayed for three years. I often tell people that I did a little bit of everything and that is the truth. I taught 7th and 8th grade ELAR, 8th grade History, co-founded and co-directed the Pom Squad, coached varsity softball, and provided technology training in the summers. From there, I took a job in Tyler ISD at Hogg Middle School teaching 6th grade World Cultures. This was a learning year for me. I learned that I will literally do anything to ensure that we are doing what is best for kids when I took over a double-blocked group of 7th grade ELAR kiddos and made my 6th grade classes larger. I learned that not only was I good at integrating technology, but that it was a passion of mine. Our district ITS, Jaime Donally, became my good friend and mentor that year. With her support, I was able to create a campus Instructional Technology Specialist position that was approved!! The next year, I learned so much about supporting teachers and students from an instructional role. After that year, I was able to pursue a dream of working in Whitehouse ISD! I taught 7th grade Writing and Reading at Whitehouse Junior High for two years. Then, the district created a Technology Integration Specialist position, and I was blessed to be offered the opportunity. I served in that role for two years before making the move to the Brook Hill School in Bullard. In this new role, I am getting to combine all of my favorites: Jesus, family, students, and technology!