1-background_info

 and learn about Eric Postman

I came into this world on November 13, 1957. For the first 18 years, I lived in [|Oceanside, NY], in the shadows of New York City. The year 1979 was a monumental year for me. I graduated from [|college], bought my first car, moved to Virginia, began my teaching career, and met my future wife. I taught 3rd and 4th grade in rural [|Cape Charles, VA]for three years. From Long Island to small town Virginia was culture shock, but being the chameleon that I like to think I am, I adjusted rather well.

In 1982, I began an almost 22-year association with the [|city of Poquoson]. For the most of that time, I taught 3rd grade. For three of those years, I was the "Extend" teachers, providing language arts enrichment as part of a parallel schedule. After I returned to the regular classroom, I had the opportunity to loop up to 4th grade with one of my classes. During this time, I got married, bought a house in Newport News, had a son, moved to York County, had another son, and moved to another house in York County.

It was also in 1982 that I bought my first computer, an [|Atari 800]. I enjoyed programming activities that were specifically designed to meet my students' needs. In the late 80s, Poquoson Elementary School became an Apple school. Soon after, we received our first Mac, I clicked my first mouse, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In 1997, I earned my [|Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction]. I had no intention of leaving the classroom, but a few years later I started to get an itch to expand my horizons. I began entertaining the idea of becoming a technology integration specialist. In 2002, my path took an unexpected turn when I was encouraged to apply for the position of [|SOL Lead Teacher in Newport News]. I had a more formalized leadership role, and I still got to use technology every day as I helped my 4th and 5th grade teachers and their students prepare for their SOL tests.

Hearing that a new technology position would soon be created back at [|Poquoson Elementary School], I decided that my best shot at landing that job was to be back working in the division. I returned for a year as a 5th grade teacher. When I heard the news that the new technology position was not in the budget, I started to look elsewhere. [|Gloucester County]was hiring four new [|ITRTs], part of a new state mandate. My wife had been teaching there for a couple of years, and I was excited about finally getting to utilize my skills in a whole new way.

So, for the last four years I have ventured over the Coleman Bridge each day, sometimes working at [|Achilles Elementary School], and sometimes working at [|Abingdon], doing the job I love. Helping teachers to transition from 20th century to 21st century instruction has made me grow in ways that still excite me today. And, I still get lots of daily student contact, keeping me connected to the reason I went into education in the first place.